Spiritual Grit
True Grit describes a man who is firm and steadfast in mind and spirit. A man
of true spiritual grit is unyielding in courage in the face of hardship and
danger. He has intestinal fortitude. He stands firm in the faith and is
spiritually strong, courageous in his Lord Jesus Christ.
As men of God, Christ likeness is our goal. The book of Philippians reminds us
of who we are in Christ. In this epistle of joy Paul exhorts followers of
Christ to “rejoice in the Lord and again I say rejoice.” According to .1
Corinthians 5, “ye are not your own…. Ye were bought with a price.” A man of
God is God’s man. The most important thing is not who we are but rather whose
we are.
According to Philippians 3 beginning in verse 1:
1. FINALLY, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you,
to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
False teachers were coming into the fellowship of the believers and said that
they needed to follow the Old Testament law of circumcision. However, Paul
reminds them that true spiritual grit means that we are circumcised according
to the spirit of life in Christ and not according tot he flesh:
3. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Paul reminds them of his own credentials as a “Hebrew of Hebrews:”
4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh
that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5. Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is
in the law, blameless.
Paul had impeccable credentials according to the traditions of the Old
Testament law. He was born into one of the elite tribes of the southern kingdom
of Judah. In the eyes of the Hebrew religious leaders, he had a lot to brag
about. However, according to verses 7-10, Paul came to the conclusion that his
earthly credentials were worth nothing compared to his credentials in the
spirit of Christ:
7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, everything the world
considers valuable is “counted but dung.”
9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith:
10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship
of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
It’s not what we know that’s important but rather who we know. The important
question is, “Do you know Him?” To know Jesus Christ is to know the power of
his resurrection. Because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, we who have
confessed Jesus is Lord have been raised in the newness of life. Since we have
received his holy spirit through faith, he will open the eyes of our spiritual
understanding as we walk in close proximity in fellowship with him. When we
walk with him he will take us through the suffering and endurance of the trials
of life. To be conformed unto his death, we must die to self so that we can
live for him. According to Galatians 2:20, I was crucified with Christ,
nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now
live, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. It’s not about
us. Christianity is all about Him. Philippians 1:10 says that we should be
conformed to the likeness of his death. According to Philippians 2:2-11:
2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one
accord, of one mind.
3. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.
4. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of
others.
5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men:
8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Spiritual grit is the nature of Jesus Christ himself. To become Christlike is
to serve others from a heart of love. Humility is the character of true
spiritual grit. He humbled himself and became obedient even unto death of the
cross. At the cross, We were reconciled to God through Christ’s sacrifice for
sin on our behalf.
Those who persecute others are held captive by the devil against their wills.
This is why our exhortation is according to verses 9-11:
9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name:
10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth;
11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.”
Jesus Christ is our access to God’s throne of grace. This is the life God
called us to live. To reconcile with God and others within the household of
believers, we must meet each other at the foot of the cross. For there is one
God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Therefore, be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication
let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all
understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ. Therefore, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise
think on these things.
He has called us as men of God, standing steadfast in his power….men of true
spiritual grit faithfully walking in fellowship with our Lord.
As we align our thoughts with His thoughts and our hearts with His heart, may
we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
