Have you ever tried to build an impressive resume? Whether it’s degrees, achievements, good deeds, or religious accomplishments, we all tend to think that our resume might be good enough to earn favor with God. But in this message from Philippians chapter 3, Pastor Josh White shows us why our resumes are worthless when it comes to eternity—and why only what Jesus did matters.
The World’s Resume Standard
Think about how the world evaluates people. We look at credentials, achievements, titles, and accomplishments. The world tells us that if we just work hard enough and check the right boxes, we can earn our way to success. And here’s the scary part: many people apply this same thinking to their eternal destiny.
But Paul was showing the Philippians something radical. He said, in effect, “If anyone thinks they have a good resume to get into heaven, mine is better than theirs.” Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin—Jacob’s favorite son, the tribe that produced Israel’s first king (Saul), and the tribe of Queen Esther’s cousin Mordecai. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, a pharisee who kept the law perfectly, and he was zealous for God. His resume was as impressive as any human could possibly make it.
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
— Philippians 3:7
The Problem with Building Your Resume
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: no matter how good our resume is, it will never be good enough. Paul understood this. He knew that trying to earn God’s favor through works is like trying to win the lottery and get struck by lightning at the same time—it’s statistically impossible.
Let me give you some basketball statistics. Only 3% of high school basketball players make it to college. Only 1% of college players get drafted into the NBA. Now multiply those odds by thousands, and you still have a better chance of making it to the pros than earning your way into heaven by keeping rules.
The law was never meant to save us. God gave us the law to show us His holiness, to reveal that we can’t earn His favor, and to point us to Christ. The rituals and ceremonies were rich with symbolism pointing to what Jesus would accomplish.
The Only Resume That Counts
Paul didn’t just tear down the idea of earning salvation—he pointed to the only solution. What counts is not what you’ve done, but what Jesus did for you. Your faith in Him, not your works, is what God sees.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
— Philippians 3:12
So What?
If you’re busy trying to build your resume to impress God, stop. Paul couldn’t do it. The most zealous,律法-keeping, accomplished person in history realized it wasn’t about him—it had to be what Jesus Christ did.
Why would you waste another second trying to impress God when you can’t? All you need to do is say: “I am a sinner. I believe You sent Jesus to die for my sins.”
If you’re ready to stop trying to earn what you can never earn and place your faith in the finished work of Christ, pray this with me: Dear Lord, I know I am a sinner and my sins separate me from You. Thank You for sending Jesus Your Son to die in the cross for my sins. I believe He rose again. I place my faith in Him alone for my salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References
- Philippians 3:7 — Counting all as loss for Christ
- Philippians 3:12 — Pressing on to know Christ
- Genesis 35:18 — Benjamin’s birth
- 1 Samuel 9:17 — Saul, first king of Israel
- Esther 2:5 — Mordecai of the tribe of Benjamin