March 24, 2025 • 21 mins
Have you ever felt exhausted by the pressure to curate a perfect spiritual image? In this soul-stirring episode, we confront the gap between religious performance and authentic transformation in Christ. Drawing from Philippians 3:1-3, we explore how Paul strips away the spiritual showmanship that often masquerades as faith.
The parallels between social media's highlight reels and religious posturing are striking. Just as we carefully craft our online presence to appear virtuous, we can fall into treating faith as a performance metric rather than a transformative relationship. Tim Keller captures this perfectly: "Religion says I obey, so I'm accepted. The gospel says I'm accepted, so I obey."
Through the stories of Scripture's most infamous characters, we discover how their messes illuminate God's extraordinary grace. King Saul's unauthorized sacrifice reveals our tendency to substitute religious ritual for genuine trust. Judas walked alongside Jesus for years yet missed the transformation that Peter embraced after his own failure. Even Cain, after committing history's first murder, received God's protective mark—grace extended to the seemingly undeserving.
We also tackle mental health through Jonah's breakdown in the belly of the fish, acknowledging that spiritual growth often happens in our darkest moments. From Moses' insecurities to Jesus weeping in Gethsemane, Scripture doesn't gloss over emotional struggles but shows how God meets us in them.
This isn't about adding more spiritual tasks to your to-do list. It's about embracing a righteousness that leans on Christ rather than self-effort—worshipping through the Spirit rather than religious performance. Whether you're worn out from striving or wondering if grace extends to your specific failure, this message offers hope: God doesn't want your polished persona; He wants your authentic heart.
I would love to hear from you!
For listeners looking to deepen their engagement with the topics discussed, visit our website or check out our devotionals and poetry on Amazon, with all proceeds supporting The New York School of The Bible at Calvary Baptist Church. Stay connected and enriched on your spiritual path with us!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 0 (00:00):
Welcome to the Faith Compass Podcast.
I'm your host, javier, andtoday we're diving into a
conversation that cuts throughthe noise of our everyday lives
and grounds us in the reality ofa life shaped by God.
This episode is called MessyFaith Discovering Redemption
Beyond Religion.
We're building on Philippians,chapter 3, verses 1 through 3,
where Paul strips away the fluffand shows us the difference
between anti-religiousshowmanship and the real
(00:20):
transformative power ofrighteousness in Christ.
Along the way, we'll look atsome of Scripture's most
infamous characters, not topoint fingers, but to see how
their messes highlight God'sgrace in surprising ways.
No platitudes or churchy jargonhere, just honest questions,
real struggles and a faith thathits us right where we live.
Before we jump in, let's take amoment to seek God's guidance.
Heavenly Father, we come to youtoday hungry for your wisdom
(00:41):
and insight.
Open our hearts to the truth ofyour word, move us past surface
habits or appearances and pullus deep into what you're showing
us through scripture.
Lead this time, lord, and turnour eyes and the eyes of
everyone listening, toward you.
In Jesus' name, amen, alright,let's dig into our passage.
Here's Philippians, chapter 3,verses 1 through 3, from the
English Standard Version.
Finally, my brothers rejoice inthe Lord.
(01:04):
Writing the same things to youis no trouble to me and is safe
for you.
Look out for the dogs, look outfor the evildoers, look out for
those who mutilate the flesh,for we are the circumcision who
worship.
Let's think about this in terms.
We all understand social mediathese days.
People carefully curate theironline presence, sharing good
deeds, motivational quotes andpictures that scream look at me,
I matter.
It's like a highlight reel,designed to appear virtuous or
(01:25):
successful.
In Paul's time it lookeddifferent, maybe showing off
circumcision or participating intemple rituals tangible ways to
prove you were part of the incrowd.
But Paul slices through that.
Religion gone wrong is just aperformance, a costume for the
crowd.
Righteousness, that's different.
It's not about likes orapplause, it's about God
reshaping us deep down.
Tim Keller puts it perfectlyReligion says I obey, so I'm
(01:47):
accepted.
The gospel says I'm accepted,so I obey.
Paul's pushing us toward thatgospel truth a heart turned by
grace, not a trophy case forpraise.
We feel this pressure all thetime.
In our wired world it's temptingto flaunt our faith.
A mission trip photo, a Bibleand coffee shot, a snappy
spiritual post that's the fleshkicking in, craving a nod of
approval, needing to feel enough.
It's not new.
(02:08):
The Pharisees love their loudstreet corner prayers for the
same reason as we see in Matthew, chapter 6, verse 5.
And when you pray, you must notbe like the hypocrites, for
they love to stand and pray inthe synagogues and at the street
corners that they may be seenby others.
Truly, I say to you, they havereceived their reward, but the
Spirit sets us free from thattrap, planting our worth in
Christ's finished work, not ourfiltered moments.
(02:28):
Paul's dogs and evildoers gobeyond just those obsessed with
circumcision.
They're anyone twisting faithinto a performance metric.
Take a glance at Christianinfluencer culture.
Some craft a persona drippingwith spiritual buzzwords,
stacking likes with polishedposts, yet their hearts can
remain untouched.
It's faith as a facade hollowat the core.
Romans, chapter 12, verse 2,hits harder.
Do not conform to the patternof this world, but be
(02:50):
transformed by the renewing ofyour mind.
Then you will be able to testand approve what God's will is
His good, pleasing and perfectwill.
That's the real pivot pause,driving at a mind remade by God,
not just a trendy label we wear.
Social media is not the villain, it's just a trendy label we
wear.
Social media is not the villain.
It's just a megaphone for ourhabits.
Ever feel that twinge ofjealousy scrolling someone's
perfect faith post or the itchto top it with your own?
That's the flesh whisperingyour values, tied to what people
(03:13):
see.
Paul's fix is simple Rejoice inthe Lord.
From Philippians, chapter 3,verse 1.
That's a joy no trend or metriccan shake.
Rooted in what Jesus did.
Picture living that way, freefrom proving yourself, resting
in grace.
It's wild, even revolutionary,in a world hooked on image.
That's the righteousness Paullifts up, not a spotlight we
grab, but a light glowing fromthe inside.
Let's see this in action withKing Saul.
(03:35):
From 1 Samuel Saul starts strong, israel's first king, god's
pick, tall and magnetic, the guyeveryone cheers for, as 1
Samuel, chapter 9, verse 2, says.
And he had a son whose name wasSaul, a handsome young man.
There was not a man among thepeople of Israel more handsome
than he.
From his shoulders upward hewas taller than any of the
people.
But it falls apart fast In 1Samuel 13, verses 8-14, he's
(03:57):
facing the Philistines.
Samuel's late for the pre-battlesacrifice.
His men are bailing and Saulpanics.
He steps in, offers thesacrifice himself, something
only priests should do.
Samuel shows up and calls himout in verse 13.
It's not just impatience.
(04:18):
Saul trusted the ritual morethan God.
His religion was a tool to calmhis nerves, not a surrender to
God's plan.
Zoom in on that moment His armyshrinking, the enemies near
Saul scared, and it shows hecouldn't wait on God's timing.
He leaned on his own movesinstead.
That's the flesh graspingscheming, stuck on what's in
front of you.
Religion propped him up, but itwasn't his anchor.
Still, grace beats through.
(04:39):
God doesn't ditch him rightaway.
He gives him chances to turnback Later, in 1 Samuel, chapter
15, saul messes up again,sparing King Agag and some
livestock against God's orders,saying it's for a sacrifice.
Samuel hits him hard in verse22.
And Samuel said Saul's outwardacts hit an unchanged heart, a
(05:04):
red flag for us.
Saul's story feels familiar.
Ever hit the spiritual panicbutton.
A fast prayer to dodge stress,a donation to feel better.
Religion as a deal, not achange.
Saul wanted control, not trust,and it cost him.
But God's grace didn't quit.
Even after these flops, godkept reaching, fretting mercy
through Saul's spiral.
His tragedy goes beyond the fallitself.
It's the absence of grace hefails to grasp.
(05:30):
By 1 Samuel 28,.
He's desperate, pleading with amedium for answers.
God no longer provides hisreliance on fleshly solutions
crashing hard.
The lesson External actionscan't substitute for inner faith
.
It's a pattern.
We still see the executive atchurch chasing, networking the
student praying just to passexams.
Religion, when treated as just atool, is not the same as a
transformed way of life.
And yet even their grace waitsfor us.
Saul could have turned back,just like David did in 2 Samuel
(05:51):
12, but he didn't.
The opportunity was there, buthe passed it up.
That's the haunting questionhis story leaves behind.
Are we leaning on religiouscrutches or are we letting the
Holy Spirit actually reshape us?
Now?
Let's shift the angle.
Think outward appearancesversus inward transformation.
Let's talk tattoos.
They're everywhere these days.
People ink their beliefs, theirjourneys, even their faith,
right onto their skin.
(06:11):
It's bold, it's permanent, astatement of identity for the
world to see.
In Paul's days, circumcisionplayed a similar role.
It was the physical mark ofGod's covenant with Abraham.
In Genesis, chapter 17, verses10 through 14, god told Abraham
that every male among hisdescendants must be circumcised
as a lasting sign of thecovenant.
It was serious those whorejected it were cut off from
the people.
But Paul flips the entireconversation.
(06:33):
He says the real covenant, theone that matters, is spiritual.
It's not a mark on your body,it's a transformation of your
heart.
Romans, chapter 2, verses 28and 29, makes this clear.
True identity in God isn'tabout outward signs but about
inward change.
Circumcision is no longer aboutthe flesh, it's a matter of the
heart, done by the spirit, notthe law.
Back then, those outward marksmeant everything.
(06:54):
Circumcision was like aspiritual passport.
But Paul warns in Philippians,chapter 3, verse 2, to beware of
those clinging to physicalrituals as proof of faith.
He calls them mutilators of theflesh, insisting that real
faith doesn't come fromtradition, it comes from
spiritual renewal.
Today, maybe it's a crosstattoo or John, chapter 3, verse
16, on your arm.
Scripture doesn't forbid it.
But Paul would ask is it justskin deep?
(07:16):
Is it a reflection of yourinner life with God or just a
symbol with no substance?
Tattoos can be beautifultestimonies.
Many Christian artists sayfaith-based designs are more
popular than ever and, likecircumcision once was, they can
be marks of commitment.
But Paul's focus is deeper.
He points to the Spirit's work,cutting away pride and self,
anchoring us to Jesus.
Colossians 2, verses 11 and 12,says We've been circumcised
(07:38):
without hands a spiritualsurgery, not a physical one.
When we're buried with Christin baptism and raised through
faith, that is the true mark ofbelonging.
So this isn't about judgingtattoos, it's about checking our
hearts.
Deuteronomy 10.16 calls us to.
(07:58):
In a culture that thrives onsurface-level identity, paul
says our true selves are shapednot by what we show the world
but by what God builds within us.
So we ask are we markingourselves for God or just for
attention?
That's the divide.
Religion craves applause,righteousness craves Christ.
And to drive it home, rememberJudas.
Matthew, chapter 26, verse 14through 16, tells us that Judas,
(08:19):
one of the twelve, went to thereligious leaders and sold Jesus
out for 30 pieces of silver.
He looked the part, but thespirit never marked his heart.
Let's not follow that path.
Judas had the ultimate markpart of the 12, walking with
Jesus, seeing miracles, holdingthe cash.
As John, chapter 12, verse 6,notes, he said this not because
he cared about the poor, butbecause he was a thief and
having charge of the money baghe used to help himself to what
(08:41):
was put into it.
He looked the part, but inside,unchanged greed or
disappointment festering.
John, chapter 6, verse 64, saysbut there are some of you who do
not believe.
For Jesus knew from thebeginning who those were who did
not believe and who it was whowould betray him.
Yet he kept Judas close,teaching him, even washing his
feet, in John chapter 13, verse5.
(09:01):
Then he poured water into abasin and began to wash the
disciples' feet and to wipe themwith the towel that was wrapped
around them.
That's grace.
Knowing the betrayal is stillloving.
Judas didn't snap overnight.
It simmered.
He stole from the bag a hint ofhis heart, per John 12, verse 6
.
At the last supper he dipsbread with Jesus, then slips out
to sell him.
As John 13, verses 26-27 say.
(09:23):
Jesus answered it is he to whomI will give this morsel of
bread when I have dipped it.
So after Jesus dipped a pieceof bread, he handed it to Judas,
the son of Simon Iscariot, andthe moment Judas took it, satan
entered into him.
Then Jesus told him what you'regoing to do, do it quickly.
The title of apostle didn'tmean a thing without the
presence of the Spirit.
Grace had been pursuing Judasall along.
(09:43):
Jesus didn't expose him early,didn't kick him out, he gave him
time.
But later, in Matthew, chapter27, verses 3 through 5, we see
Judas overcome with regret.
It says.
When Judas, his betrayer, sawthat Jesus was condemned, he
changed his mind and broughtback the thirty pieces of silver
to the chief priest and theelders, saying I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood.
They said what is that to us?
(10:04):
See to it yourself.
And throwing down the pieces ofsilver into the temple, he
departed and he went and hangedhimself.
It's not repentance.
Peter wept and came back in Luke, chapter 22, verse 62,.
And he went out and weptbitterly.
Judas' despair shut grace out.
Jesus called him friend at theend in Matthew, chapter 26,
verse 50.
Jesus said to him Friend, dowhat you came to do.
(10:24):
Chapter 26, verse 50.
Jesus said to him Friend, dowhat you came to do.
Then they came up and laidhands on Jesus and seized him.
The offer stood, but hewouldn't take it.
It's chilling you can be thatclose to Jesus and still miss
him.
Think about the thief on thecross.
In Luke, chapter 23, verses 40through 43.
But the other rebuked him,saying Do you not fear God,
since you are under the samesentence of condemnation, and we
indeed justly, for we arereceiving the due reward of our
(10:45):
deeds.
But this man has done nothingwrong.
And he said Jesus, remember mewhen you come into your kingdom.
And he said to him Truly I sayto you today, you will be with
me in paradise.
No time, just a plea, and Jesussaves him.
Judas had years to get it right.
The thief on the cross had meremoments.
It, the cross, had mere moments.
It's not about the titles youcarry, it's about the state of
your heart.
Today we see churchgoers whocan sing the hymns but don't
(11:07):
truly know the Savior.
Judah's story shouts it loudCredentials mean nothing.
Are we clinging to labels likeChristian leader or giver, or
are we letting the Spirit crackus open and transform us?
His real tragedy wasn't justthe betrayal.
It was the grace he turned hisback on.
Paul hammers this home.
Righteousness isn't aboutproximity to God.
(11:30):
It's about being made new.
Cancel.
Culture today mirrors the rigidreligious undertones Paul
pushes back against.
One misstep, a single unearthedpost, and you're done, canceled
, no forgiveness offered.
Back in Paul's time, religioncould be just as unforgiving
Break a rule, skip a right andyou're cast out.
Those mutilators he calls outprobably wielded circumcision
like a litmus test for you toconform or get lost.
Paul, though, points to arighteousness rooted in grace,
not fallaceness.
It's about growth driven by theSpirit.
(11:51):
Look at Cain in Genesis 4.
He murders Abel in a fit ofjealousy and God responds in
verses 11 and 12.
Now you are cursed from theground, which has opened its
mouth to take your brother'sblood from your hand.
When you till the soil, it willno longer give you its strength
.
You'll be a restless wandereron the earth.
The very ground he worked turnsagainst him swift, brutal
payback.
(12:15):
Then grace breaks in Verse 15.
The Lord said to him Not so.
If anyone kills Cain, vengeancewill fall on them sevenfold.
And the Lord placed a mark onCain so no one who found him
would strike him down.
That mark isn't a deathsentence.
It's a safeguard mercy for amurderer, even as Cain wanders
off, in verse 16.
Then Cain left the Lord'spresence and settled in Nod east
of Eden.
And grace still sticks with him.
Undeserved In his world, murderwarranted instant death.
No debate, cain pleads in verse13.
(12:37):
My punishment is too much tobear.
Expecting the worst.
God turns it around.
It becomes a mark of protection, not retribution.
It's not a free ride.
He's still uprooted but helives.
Contrast that with today.
We tear people apart online.
No redemption allowed.
Cain's mark shows grace doesn'tabandon us.
Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 6,backs this up.
For the Lord disciplines thosehe loves and he corrects every
(12:58):
child he welcomes.
That mark shows God hasn'tabandoned Cain.
We reject, reject God reshapes.
Are we fixated on flawlessness,haunted by mistakes, or
embracing renewal?
Cain roamed, yet the markendured a quiet link to
restoration.
We're not far off pursuingvalidation instead of mercy.
Ambition fits here too.
Paul's mutilators soughtprestige through circumcision, a
status symbol, yearning forapplause.
(13:19):
Then as now, little has shifted.
Real ambition Paul says bragson Christ, not us.
Pharaoh in Exodus shows the flipside.
In Exodus, chapter 5, verse 2,he laughs off God.
And Pharaoh said who is theLord?
That I should obey his voiceand let Israel go?
I do not know the Lord and,moreover, I will not let Israel
go.
His goals, pyramids, power,god's status, screen success.
Inside he's deaf to the realGod.
(13:41):
The plagues in Exodus, chapters7 through 12, tear his pride
apart, piece by piece.
Pharaoh's no caricature, hisambition gone wrong, egypt's on
top, food, stockpiled, slaveseverywhere, his name in stone.
But he digs in even with frogsflies, darkness piling up.
Exodus, chapter 7, verse 3 saysbut I will harden Pharaoh's
heart and though I multiply mysigns and wonders in the land of
(14:01):
Egypt, not randomly, but toshow his power.
Each plague is a nudge to quit.
Pharaoh won't Exodus.
Chapter 9, verse 16, spells itout.
But for this purpose I haveraised you up, to show you my
power, so that my name may beproclaimed in all the earth.
Grace glows even here.
His fame grows throughPharaoh's crash.
Cs Lewis nails it in mereChristianity.
We are half-hearted creaturesfooling about with drink and sex
(14:24):
and ambition.
When infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who
wants to go on making mud piesin a slum because he cannot
imagine what is meant by theoffer of a holiday at the sea,
we are far too easily pleased.
Pharaoh snatched at the littlethings like control and legacy
and he lost everything thatmattered.
We're not so different,scrambling for the corner office
, the trending post, theflawless Instagram family shot.
(14:44):
He stacked stones into pyramids.
We stacked likes into profiles.
Then Paul flips the script inPhilippians, chapter 3, verse 3,
.
For we are the circumcision,who worship by the Spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus andput no confidence in the flesh.
Ambition's fine.
It's wired into us, but what'sit running?
After Grace came to Pharaoh, alifeline he ignored, it comes to
us too, not to inflate our egos, but to lift our gaze.
(15:06):
His fallen empire raises aquestion what endures?
Not things, but surrender.
Are we chasing dust or eternity?
And now let's tackle mentalhealth a big deal today.
Paul's flesh versus spiritbattle doesn't just strike our
hearts, it hits our minds too.
Religion can mask the hurt.
Do more, pray louder, keepgoing, pretend peace for a
moment.
But Religion can mask the hurt.
Do more, pray louder, keepgoing, pretend peace for a
(15:26):
moment.
But righteousness runs deeper.
It rewires us.
Look at Jonah in chapter 1.
God calls him to Nineveh, buthe bolts the opposite way.
Verse 3 puts it plain.
But Jonah rose to flee toTarshish from the presence of
the Lord.
He went down to Joppa and founda ship going to Tarshish.
He's not just dodging a place,he's freeing his purpose,
obedience and the hard stuff.
What follows A storm?
A raging sea, a whale?
It's not punishment, it's acollapse that cracks open, a
(15:49):
breakthrough.
Three days in a fish's bellyswallowed by his own evasion,
that's rock bottom, panic,darkness, stillness, a mental
and spiritual breaking point.
Then in Jonah, chapter 2, aturn comes.
(16:16):
Verse 7 says when my life was.
Verse 7 says In Philippians 3,paul's not handing out rules,
he's offering healing.
Mental battles aren't moderninventions.
Moses pleaded for God to picksomeone else.
Job wished he'd never been born.
Jesus sobbed in the garden.
Scripture doesn't gloss overpain, it journeys through it,
with us.
Religion dulls the ache,righteousness mends it.
Are we burying ourselves inbusyness or letting the spirit
(16:38):
cut?
Deep Grace didn't abandon Jonahand that fish.
It dragged him back to purpose.
John Orberg nailed it Spiritualgrowth isn't about doing more,
it's about becoming more.
That's the change.
That's the mind reset.
Philippians, chapter 3, verses 1through 3, is an old news.
It's breathing, tugging at ourhearts, speaking to our heads.
Today Paul strips it down,showing how easy it is to cling
to spiritual to-do lists insteadof true change.
(17:00):
But he lifts our gaze to arighteousness that leans on
Christ, not self, worshipsthrough the Spirit and brags on
Jesus, not us.
This isn't about earning God'slove, it's grabbing it, letting
it sink in and living it out.
Saul, judas, cain, pharaoh theirfailures aren't just cautionary
tales.
They reflect our own trips andreveal a grace that keeps coming
.
God didn't ditch them and he'snot ditching us.
(17:20):
It's not our rap sheet thatmatters, it's his, signed at the
cross, sealed at the tomb.
This lands with us now.
Where are we at Holding on toperformance, church points, good
vibes, faith flexes, hopingit's enough or ready to let the
spirit dig in?
Ditch our script and grabChrist's?
That's Philippians, chapter 3,verse 3's gut punch, dumping
confidence in ourselves for asavior who changes everything,
our drives, our goals, even ourquiet battles.
(17:42):
Maybe you're listening, worn outfrom striving, sick of masks.
Maybe you've chased the wrongstuff Saul's rituals, judas'
cash, and it's empty.
Or maybe shame's got youcanceled by your own screw-ups.
Wondering if grace runs out?
It doesn't.
Romans, chapter 5, verse 8,says but God shows his love for
us in that, while we were stillsinners, christ died for us.
That's your invitation, righthere, right now.
Never said yes to Jesus,drifted off.
(18:05):
This is it.
It's not about being perfect,it's trusting he's perfect for
you.
Let's pray, father.
Thank you for a word that showsour cracks and shines your
strength.
Thank you for grace thatdoesn't blink at our flops but
runs to us For everyone.
Tired of the act, ready for youdeeper, meet them now.
Tear down our crutches, root usin your Son, in Jesus' name,
(18:33):
amen.
If you're at that crossroads,curious about faith, you don't
have to sort it solo.
Say yes to Jesus, trust Himwith your life.
No prep needed.
He takes you messy.
Try this, lord, I'm a wreck,but I'm yours.
Forgive me, leave me, make menew.
No magic words, just faith.
Hit us up atthecrossroadscollectiveorg or
email me at jm atthecrossroadscollectiveorg.
We'd love to pray with you,chat it out or link you with
(18:55):
someone to walk alongside.
Better yet, find a churchnearby, call a pastor or tell a
Christian friend I'm ready forJesus or I need to get back.
They'll welcome you becausethat's family.
And if you're hurting,overwhelmed, sinking, feeling
like you can't keep going, don'tgo alone.
Text 988 to the SuicidePrevention Hotline or call
1-800-273-8255, free,confidential.
(19:15):
You're not too much.
You're not hopeless.
God sees you, we see you.
You're not fighting solo.
Thanks for tuning in to theFaith Compass Podcast.
Until next time, may God guideyou, guard you and pull you
closer to His heart.
See you soon.
God bless, thank you.
Welcome to the Faith Compass Podcast.
I'm your host, javier, andtoday we're diving into a
conversation that cuts throughthe noise of our everyday lives
and grounds us in the reality ofa life shaped by God.
This episode is called MessyFaith Discovering Redemption
Beyond Religion.
We're building on Philippians,chapter 3, verses 1 through 3,
where Paul strips away the fluffand shows us the difference
between anti-religiousshowmanship and the real
(00:20):
transformative power ofrighteousness in Christ.
Along the way, we'll look atsome of Scripture's most
infamous characters, not topoint fingers, but to see how
their messes highlight God'sgrace in surprising ways.
No platitudes or churchy jargonhere, just honest questions,
real struggles and a faith thathits us right where we live.
Before we jump in, let's take amoment to seek God's guidance.
Heavenly Father, we come to youtoday hungry for your wisdom
(00:41):
and insight.
Open our hearts to the truth ofyour word, move us past surface
habits or appearances and pullus deep into what you're showing
us through scripture.
Lead this time, lord, and turnour eyes and the eyes of
everyone listening, toward you.
In Jesus' name, amen, alright,let's dig into our passage.
Here's Philippians, chapter 3,verses 1 through 3, from the
English Standard Version.
Finally, my brothers rejoice inthe Lord.
(01:04):
Writing the same things to youis no trouble to me and is safe
for you.
Look out for the dogs, look outfor the evildoers, look out for
those who mutilate the flesh,for we are the circumcision who
worship.
Let's think about this in terms.
We all understand social mediathese days.
People carefully curate theironline presence, sharing good
deeds, motivational quotes andpictures that scream look at me,
I matter.
It's like a highlight reel,designed to appear virtuous or
(01:25):
successful.
In Paul's time it lookeddifferent, maybe showing off
circumcision or participating intemple rituals tangible ways to
prove you were part of the incrowd.
But Paul slices through that.
Religion gone wrong is just aperformance, a costume for the
crowd.
Righteousness, that's different.
It's not about likes orapplause, it's about God
reshaping us deep down.
Tim Keller puts it perfectlyReligion says I obey, so I'm
(01:47):
accepted.
The gospel says I'm accepted,so I obey.
Paul's pushing us toward thatgospel truth a heart turned by
grace, not a trophy case forpraise.
We feel this pressure all thetime.
In our wired world it's temptingto flaunt our faith.
A mission trip photo, a Bibleand coffee shot, a snappy
spiritual post that's the fleshkicking in, craving a nod of
approval, needing to feel enough.
It's not new.
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The Pharisees love their loudstreet corner prayers for the
same reason as we see in Matthew, chapter 6, verse 5.
And when you pray, you must notbe like the hypocrites, for
they love to stand and pray inthe synagogues and at the street
corners that they may be seenby others.
Truly, I say to you, they havereceived their reward, but the
Spirit sets us free from thattrap, planting our worth in
Christ's finished work, not ourfiltered moments.
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Paul's dogs and evildoers gobeyond just those obsessed with
circumcision.
They're anyone twisting faithinto a performance metric.
Take a glance at Christianinfluencer culture.
Some craft a persona drippingwith spiritual buzzwords,
stacking likes with polishedposts, yet their hearts can
remain untouched.
It's faith as a facade hollowat the core.
Romans, chapter 12, verse 2,hits harder.
Do not conform to the patternof this world, but be
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transformed by the renewing ofyour mind.
Then you will be able to testand approve what God's will is
His good, pleasing and perfectwill.
That's the real pivot pause,driving at a mind remade by God,
not just a trendy label we wear.
Social media is not the villain, it's just a trendy label we
wear.
Social media is not the villain.
It's just a megaphone for ourhabits.
Ever feel that twinge ofjealousy scrolling someone's
perfect faith post or the itchto top it with your own?
That's the flesh whisperingyour values, tied to what people
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see.
Paul's fix is simple Rejoice inthe Lord.
From Philippians, chapter 3,verse 1.
That's a joy no trend or metriccan shake.
Rooted in what Jesus did.
Picture living that way, freefrom proving yourself, resting
in grace.
It's wild, even revolutionary,in a world hooked on image.
That's the righteousness Paullifts up, not a spotlight we
grab, but a light glowing fromthe inside.
Let's see this in action withKing Saul.
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From 1 Samuel Saul starts strong, israel's first king, god's
pick, tall and magnetic, the guyeveryone cheers for, as 1
Samuel, chapter 9, verse 2, says.
And he had a son whose name wasSaul, a handsome young man.
There was not a man among thepeople of Israel more handsome
than he.
From his shoulders upward hewas taller than any of the
people.
But it falls apart fast In 1Samuel 13, verses 8-14, he's
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facing the Philistines.
Samuel's late for the pre-battlesacrifice.
His men are bailing and Saulpanics.
He steps in, offers thesacrifice himself, something
only priests should do.
Samuel shows up and calls himout in verse 13.
It's not just impatience.
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Saul trusted the ritual morethan God.
His religion was a tool to calmhis nerves, not a surrender to
God's plan.
Zoom in on that moment His armyshrinking, the enemies near
Saul scared, and it shows hecouldn't wait on God's timing.
He leaned on his own movesinstead.
That's the flesh graspingscheming, stuck on what's in
front of you.
Religion propped him up, but itwasn't his anchor.
Still, grace beats through.
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God doesn't ditch him rightaway.
He gives him chances to turnback Later, in 1 Samuel, chapter
15, saul messes up again,sparing King Agag and some
livestock against God's orders,saying it's for a sacrifice.
Samuel hits him hard in verse22.
And Samuel said Saul's outwardacts hit an unchanged heart, a
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red flag for us.
Saul's story feels familiar.
Ever hit the spiritual panicbutton.
A fast prayer to dodge stress,a donation to feel better.
Religion as a deal, not achange.
Saul wanted control, not trust,and it cost him.
But God's grace didn't quit.
Even after these flops, godkept reaching, fretting mercy
through Saul's spiral.
His tragedy goes beyond the fallitself.
It's the absence of grace hefails to grasp.
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By 1 Samuel 28,.
He's desperate, pleading with amedium for answers.
God no longer provides hisreliance on fleshly solutions
crashing hard.
The lesson External actionscan't substitute for inner faith
.
It's a pattern.
We still see the executive atchurch chasing, networking the
student praying just to passexams.
Religion, when treated as just atool, is not the same as a
transformed way of life.
And yet even their grace waitsfor us.
Saul could have turned back,just like David did in 2 Samuel
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12, but he didn't.
The opportunity was there, buthe passed it up.
That's the haunting questionhis story leaves behind.
Are we leaning on religiouscrutches or are we letting the
Holy Spirit actually reshape us?
Now?
Let's shift the angle.
Think outward appearancesversus inward transformation.
Let's talk tattoos.
They're everywhere these days.
People ink their beliefs, theirjourneys, even their faith,
right onto their skin.
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It's bold, it's permanent, astatement of identity for the
world to see.
In Paul's days, circumcisionplayed a similar role.
It was the physical mark ofGod's covenant with Abraham.
In Genesis, chapter 17, verses10 through 14, god told Abraham
that every male among hisdescendants must be circumcised
as a lasting sign of thecovenant.
It was serious those whorejected it were cut off from
the people.
But Paul flips the entireconversation.
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He says the real covenant, theone that matters, is spiritual.
It's not a mark on your body,it's a transformation of your
heart.
Romans, chapter 2, verses 28and 29, makes this clear.
True identity in God isn'tabout outward signs but about
inward change.
Circumcision is no longer aboutthe flesh, it's a matter of the
heart, done by the spirit, notthe law.
Back then, those outward marksmeant everything.
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Circumcision was like aspiritual passport.
But Paul warns in Philippians,chapter 3, verse 2, to beware of
those clinging to physicalrituals as proof of faith.
He calls them mutilators of theflesh, insisting that real
faith doesn't come fromtradition, it comes from
spiritual renewal.
Today, maybe it's a crosstattoo or John, chapter 3, verse
16, on your arm.
Scripture doesn't forbid it.
But Paul would ask is it justskin deep?
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Is it a reflection of yourinner life with God or just a
symbol with no substance?
Tattoos can be beautifultestimonies.
Many Christian artists sayfaith-based designs are more
popular than ever and, likecircumcision once was, they can
be marks of commitment.
But Paul's focus is deeper.
He points to the Spirit's work,cutting away pride and self,
anchoring us to Jesus.
Colossians 2, verses 11 and 12,says We've been circumcised
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without hands a spiritualsurgery, not a physical one.
When we're buried with Christin baptism and raised through
faith, that is the true mark ofbelonging.
So this isn't about judgingtattoos, it's about checking our
hearts.
Deuteronomy 10.16 calls us to.
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In a culture that thrives onsurface-level identity, paul
says our true selves are shapednot by what we show the world
but by what God builds within us.
So we ask are we markingourselves for God or just for
attention?
That's the divide.
Religion craves applause,righteousness craves Christ.
And to drive it home, rememberJudas.
Matthew, chapter 26, verse 14through 16, tells us that Judas,
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one of the twelve, went to thereligious leaders and sold Jesus
out for 30 pieces of silver.
He looked the part, but thespirit never marked his heart.
Let's not follow that path.
Judas had the ultimate markpart of the 12, walking with
Jesus, seeing miracles, holdingthe cash.
As John, chapter 12, verse 6,notes, he said this not because
he cared about the poor, butbecause he was a thief and
having charge of the money baghe used to help himself to what
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was put into it.
He looked the part, but inside,unchanged greed or
disappointment festering.
John, chapter 6, verse 64, saysbut there are some of you who do
not believe.
For Jesus knew from thebeginning who those were who did
not believe and who it was whowould betray him.
Yet he kept Judas close,teaching him, even washing his
feet, in John chapter 13, verse5.
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Then he poured water into abasin and began to wash the
disciples' feet and to wipe themwith the towel that was wrapped
around them.
That's grace.
Knowing the betrayal is stillloving.
Judas didn't snap overnight.
It simmered.
He stole from the bag a hint ofhis heart, per John 12, verse 6
.
At the last supper he dipsbread with Jesus, then slips out
to sell him.
As John 13, verses 26-27 say.
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Jesus answered it is he to whomI will give this morsel of
bread when I have dipped it.
So after Jesus dipped a pieceof bread, he handed it to Judas,
the son of Simon Iscariot, andthe moment Judas took it, satan
entered into him.
Then Jesus told him what you'regoing to do, do it quickly.
The title of apostle didn'tmean a thing without the
presence of the Spirit.
Grace had been pursuing Judasall along.
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Jesus didn't expose him early,didn't kick him out, he gave him
time.
But later, in Matthew, chapter27, verses 3 through 5, we see
Judas overcome with regret.
It says.
When Judas, his betrayer, sawthat Jesus was condemned, he
changed his mind and broughtback the thirty pieces of silver
to the chief priest and theelders, saying I have sinned by
betraying innocent blood.
They said what is that to us?
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See to it yourself.
And throwing down the pieces ofsilver into the temple, he
departed and he went and hangedhimself.
It's not repentance.
Peter wept and came back in Luke, chapter 22, verse 62,.
And he went out and weptbitterly.
Judas' despair shut grace out.
Jesus called him friend at theend in Matthew, chapter 26,
verse 50.
Jesus said to him Friend, dowhat you came to do.
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Chapter 26, verse 50.
Jesus said to him Friend, dowhat you came to do.
Then they came up and laidhands on Jesus and seized him.
The offer stood, but hewouldn't take it.
It's chilling you can be thatclose to Jesus and still miss
him.
Think about the thief on thecross.
In Luke, chapter 23, verses 40through 43.
But the other rebuked him,saying Do you not fear God,
since you are under the samesentence of condemnation, and we
indeed justly, for we arereceiving the due reward of our
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deeds.
But this man has done nothingwrong.
And he said Jesus, remember mewhen you come into your kingdom.
And he said to him Truly I sayto you today, you will be with
me in paradise.
No time, just a plea, and Jesussaves him.
Judas had years to get it right.
The thief on the cross had meremoments.
It, the cross, had mere moments.
It's not about the titles youcarry, it's about the state of
your heart.
Today we see churchgoers whocan sing the hymns but don't
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truly know the Savior.
Judah's story shouts it loudCredentials mean nothing.
Are we clinging to labels likeChristian leader or giver, or
are we letting the Spirit crackus open and transform us?
His real tragedy wasn't justthe betrayal.
It was the grace he turned hisback on.
Paul hammers this home.
Righteousness isn't aboutproximity to God.
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It's about being made new.
Cancel.
Culture today mirrors the rigidreligious undertones Paul
pushes back against.
One misstep, a single unearthedpost, and you're done, canceled
, no forgiveness offered.
Back in Paul's time, religioncould be just as unforgiving
Break a rule, skip a right andyou're cast out.
Those mutilators he calls outprobably wielded circumcision
like a litmus test for you toconform or get lost.
Paul, though, points to arighteousness rooted in grace,
not fallaceness.
It's about growth driven by theSpirit.
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Look at Cain in Genesis 4.
He murders Abel in a fit ofjealousy and God responds in
verses 11 and 12.
Now you are cursed from theground, which has opened its
mouth to take your brother'sblood from your hand.
When you till the soil, it willno longer give you its strength
.
You'll be a restless wandereron the earth.
The very ground he worked turnsagainst him swift, brutal
payback.
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Then grace breaks in Verse 15.
The Lord said to him Not so.
If anyone kills Cain, vengeancewill fall on them sevenfold.
And the Lord placed a mark onCain so no one who found him
would strike him down.
That mark isn't a deathsentence.
It's a safeguard mercy for amurderer, even as Cain wanders
off, in verse 16.
Then Cain left the Lord'spresence and settled in Nod east
of Eden.
And grace still sticks with him.
Undeserved In his world, murderwarranted instant death.
No debate, cain pleads in verse13.
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My punishment is too much tobear.
Expecting the worst.
God turns it around.
It becomes a mark of protection, not retribution.
It's not a free ride.
He's still uprooted but helives.
Contrast that with today.
We tear people apart online.
No redemption allowed.
Cain's mark shows grace doesn'tabandon us.
Hebrews, chapter 12, verse 6,backs this up.
For the Lord disciplines thosehe loves and he corrects every
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child he welcomes.
That mark shows God hasn'tabandoned Cain.
We reject, reject God reshapes.
Are we fixated on flawlessness,haunted by mistakes, or
embracing renewal?
Cain roamed, yet the markendured a quiet link to
restoration.
We're not far off pursuingvalidation instead of mercy.
Ambition fits here too.
Paul's mutilators soughtprestige through circumcision, a
status symbol, yearning forapplause.
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Then as now, little has shifted.
Real ambition Paul says bragson Christ, not us.
Pharaoh in Exodus shows the flipside.
In Exodus, chapter 5, verse 2,he laughs off God.
And Pharaoh said who is theLord?
That I should obey his voiceand let Israel go?
I do not know the Lord and,moreover, I will not let Israel
go.
His goals, pyramids, power,god's status, screen success.
Inside he's deaf to the realGod.
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The plagues in Exodus, chapters7 through 12, tear his pride
apart, piece by piece.
Pharaoh's no caricature, hisambition gone wrong, egypt's on
top, food, stockpiled, slaveseverywhere, his name in stone.
But he digs in even with frogsflies, darkness piling up.
Exodus, chapter 7, verse 3 saysbut I will harden Pharaoh's
heart and though I multiply mysigns and wonders in the land of
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Egypt, not randomly, but toshow his power.
Each plague is a nudge to quit.
Pharaoh won't Exodus.
Chapter 9, verse 16, spells itout.
But for this purpose I haveraised you up, to show you my
power, so that my name may beproclaimed in all the earth.
Grace glows even here.
His fame grows throughPharaoh's crash.
Cs Lewis nails it in mereChristianity.
We are half-hearted creaturesfooling about with drink and sex
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and ambition.
When infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who
wants to go on making mud piesin a slum because he cannot
imagine what is meant by theoffer of a holiday at the sea,
we are far too easily pleased.
Pharaoh snatched at the littlethings like control and legacy
and he lost everything thatmattered.
We're not so different,scrambling for the corner office
, the trending post, theflawless Instagram family shot.
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He stacked stones into pyramids.
We stacked likes into profiles.
Then Paul flips the script inPhilippians, chapter 3, verse 3,
.
For we are the circumcision,who worship by the Spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus andput no confidence in the flesh.
Ambition's fine.
It's wired into us, but what'sit running?
After Grace came to Pharaoh, alifeline he ignored, it comes to
us too, not to inflate our egos, but to lift our gaze.
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His fallen empire raises aquestion what endures?
Not things, but surrender.
Are we chasing dust or eternity?
And now let's tackle mentalhealth a big deal today.
Paul's flesh versus spiritbattle doesn't just strike our
hearts, it hits our minds too.
Religion can mask the hurt.
Do more, pray louder, keepgoing, pretend peace for a
moment.
But Religion can mask the hurt.
Do more, pray louder, keepgoing, pretend peace for a
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moment.
But righteousness runs deeper.
It rewires us.
Look at Jonah in chapter 1.
God calls him to Nineveh, buthe bolts the opposite way.
Verse 3 puts it plain.
But Jonah rose to flee toTarshish from the presence of
the Lord.
He went down to Joppa and founda ship going to Tarshish.
He's not just dodging a place,he's freeing his purpose,
obedience and the hard stuff.
What follows A storm?
A raging sea, a whale?
It's not punishment, it's acollapse that cracks open, a
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breakthrough.
Three days in a fish's bellyswallowed by his own evasion,
that's rock bottom, panic,darkness, stillness, a mental
and spiritual breaking point.
Then in Jonah, chapter 2, aturn comes.
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Verse 7 says when my life was.
Verse 7 says In Philippians 3,paul's not handing out rules,
he's offering healing.
Mental battles aren't moderninventions.
Moses pleaded for God to picksomeone else.
Job wished he'd never been born.
Jesus sobbed in the garden.
Scripture doesn't gloss overpain, it journeys through it,
with us.
Religion dulls the ache,righteousness mends it.
Are we burying ourselves inbusyness or letting the spirit
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cut?
Deep Grace didn't abandon Jonahand that fish.
It dragged him back to purpose.
John Orberg nailed it Spiritualgrowth isn't about doing more,
it's about becoming more.
That's the change.
That's the mind reset.
Philippians, chapter 3, verses 1through 3, is an old news.
It's breathing, tugging at ourhearts, speaking to our heads.
Today Paul strips it down,showing how easy it is to cling
to spiritual to-do lists insteadof true change.
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But he lifts our gaze to arighteousness that leans on
Christ, not self, worshipsthrough the Spirit and brags on
Jesus, not us.
This isn't about earning God'slove, it's grabbing it, letting
it sink in and living it out.
Saul, judas, cain, pharaoh theirfailures aren't just cautionary
tales.
They reflect our own trips andreveal a grace that keeps coming
.
God didn't ditch them and he'snot ditching us.
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It's not our rap sheet thatmatters, it's his, signed at the
cross, sealed at the tomb.
This lands with us now.
Where are we at Holding on toperformance, church points, good
vibes, faith flexes, hopingit's enough or ready to let the
spirit dig in?
Ditch our script and grabChrist's?
That's Philippians, chapter 3,verse 3's gut punch, dumping
confidence in ourselves for asavior who changes everything,
our drives, our goals, even ourquiet battles.
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Maybe you're listening, worn outfrom striving, sick of masks.
Maybe you've chased the wrongstuff Saul's rituals, judas'
cash, and it's empty.
Or maybe shame's got youcanceled by your own screw-ups.
Wondering if grace runs out?
It doesn't.
Romans, chapter 5, verse 8,says but God shows his love for
us in that, while we were stillsinners, christ died for us.
That's your invitation, righthere, right now.
Never said yes to Jesus,drifted off.
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This is it.
It's not about being perfect,it's trusting he's perfect for
you.
Let's pray, father.
Thank you for a word that showsour cracks and shines your
strength.
Thank you for grace thatdoesn't blink at our flops but
runs to us For everyone.
Tired of the act, ready for youdeeper, meet them now.
Tear down our crutches, root usin your Son, in Jesus' name,
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amen.
If you're at that crossroads,curious about faith, you don't
have to sort it solo.
Say yes to Jesus, trust Himwith your life.
No prep needed.
He takes you messy.
Try this, lord, I'm a wreck,but I'm yours.
Forgive me, leave me, make menew.
No magic words, just faith.
Hit us up atthecrossroadscollectiveorg or
email me at jm atthecrossroadscollectiveorg.
We'd love to pray with you,chat it out or link you with
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someone to walk alongside.
Better yet, find a churchnearby, call a pastor or tell a
Christian friend I'm ready forJesus or I need to get back.
They'll welcome you becausethat's family.
And if you're hurting,overwhelmed, sinking, feeling
like you can't keep going, don'tgo alone.
Text 988 to the SuicidePrevention Hotline or call
1-800-273-8255, free,confidential.
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You're not too much.
You're not hopeless.
God sees you, we see you.
You're not fighting solo.
Thanks for tuning in to theFaith Compass Podcast.
Until next time, may God guideyou, guard you and pull you
closer to His heart.
See you soon.
God bless, thank you.
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