Phil. 3:1-6    Losing To Gain !!!

 

Intro: How many of you have had someone tell you the reason they thought they were going to Heaven –Because they were a Good Person

A)Meaning their Good deeds they believed would outweigh the Bad deeds ? How many of you thought that Yourselves before Christ

 

B) That is one of the most common misconceptions that People have  today believing  God certainly won’t reject me I am a good person

 

C) Paul deals w/ that Mentality beginning in Ch. 3 of Phil. – Salvation is not by Human merit of Religious Affiliation – but By Faith in Christ alone

 

1Finally my brethren, rejoice in the Lord

 

D) Finally doesn’t mean that Paul is almost finished - he is a preacher, after all! 

 1) Finally is a word of Transition / not conclusion- could be better rendered Furthermore : Further more , my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

 

Now Paul has been talking in this Letter about Having joy in the mist of difficult circumstances / Looked at some Essential elements for Joy

A) Single mind – For me to live is Christ  / Submitted Mind- Let this mind be in you…..

 

B) But here he reveals the Key – REJOICE IN THE LORD

1)      It is not rejoicing for your circumstances / rejoicing for the Trial / rejoicing for the difficult Situation – But Rejoicing in the Lord

 

C) When you look at this world – Where it is headed – the decline in Morality/ Talk of  Nuclear weapons / Sept. 11th – not much to rejoice about  

1)   But When I think about Jesus – I realize there is plenty to rejoice in Him about !!!

 

 

Think for a moment of all that Christ has done for you/ All that Christ has done In you !!!!

A)Think for a Moment about Who He is/ & how He has made Himself real to you !!! - / then think of Your Problems

 

B) Is there any comparisons – Doesn’t the magnitude of what Christ has done for you & in you far outweigh anything you are currently dealing w/ ?

1)    Go home tonight & write down on a piece of Paper all the benefits to Salvation – what is yours now in Christ

 

C) Put that on one side & then write your problems on the other / see there is no comparison – Much to rejoice in When Rejoicing in Jesus

1)   So the Sphere of their Joy would exist in the DEPTH of their relationship w/ Jesus Christ

 

D) As long as their minds & hearts were focused on him – they would have plenty to rejoice about !!!!!!! LIFE IS HARD BUT GOD IS GOOD!!!

 

1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious,(Not troublesome – not a bother )  but for you it is safe. Safeguard –

 

Paul Knew that as a Pastor He had a responsibility to warn the Churches about False Teachers – those who would deceive the Flock

A)Paul wasn’t about to Shrink back from that Calling or be lazy in that calling

 

B) Because he understood that it was Vital for the Health of the Church – he describes it as a Safe Guard for them .

1)    A Safeguard is any person or thing that Protects or guards against loss of injury

 

C) So Paul viewed his ministry in warning the Church against false teachers as a Safeguard protecting them from that which could injure them spiritually

 

Now Paul is going to warn them about a group of men –commonly  referred to as the Judiazers –

A)The Judiazers were those who Preached Salvation by works – following certain aspects of the Mosaic Law / Focused on Circumcision

 

B) They seemed to Prey on Gentile Converts & would essentially tell them that it was good that they believed in Jesus –

1) but if really wanted to be saved they needed to become Jewish – by being circumcised

 

C) Circumcision was first introduced in the Bible in Gen.17 – in a Covenant. That God made to Abe – Bless him & make him a great nation

1) The Sign of Circumcision – marked Abe & his descendants as belonging to God – ( Almost like an engagement ring – TAKEN )

 

D) The Practice was also symbolic because the cutting away of the foreskin symbolized the cutting away of the flesh.

1)   These Judiazers were saying that this practice was necessary if the Gentiles were going to be saved –

 

E) They had already been to Galatia & caused much trouble there – so much so that Paul wrote to them a letter / Who has Bewitched You

1)    Begun spirit perfected in the flesh So serious that Paul said of them I wish that they would cut themselves off – castration

 

SO it is these men & that type of Teaching – that Paul is talking about when He says in v.2 Beware Watch out for be on guard against of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!

 

A)Paul uses 3 strong descriptions to describe those who would bring this type of False teaching into the Church : 1st is DOGS

 

B) Now he is not talking about Dogs in the sense of a Pet /Fluffy the Poodle / Trixy the Cocker Spaniel / or Lassie

1)   Dogs speaks of Ravenousness scavenger wild dogs …roam in packs

C) Those talks were dirty/ they were Vicious & Dangerous – they would prey on a defenseless animal or person {Dogs Prey on me { Walk w/ Den

1)      that is how Paul felt about these false teachers: Dirty,Vicious, & Dangerous – seeking who they might prey upon

 

 

Next Paul referred to them as Evil workers :

A)Here they thought that they were doing a work for God – but in reality their message of Salvation by works – hindering the Gospel

 

B) Paul said of them in Galatians –if someone preaches a different gospel let them be accursed – DAMNED

1)    Salvation is a gift of God – Jesus did the Work – We receive /

      we respond to it !!!!

 

C) We are not saved by our works – but we have a salvation that works

1)   So Beware of the Dogs / these Evil Workers –

 

3rd Beware of these Mutilators :

A)In this Paul is getting rather graphic – that what these guys were doing in asking these gentile men to be circumcised was Mutilation

 

B) Not Just Physically but more so spiritually – When I try to add to the work of Jesus on the cross/ saying I need the cross plus this to be saved

1) I am Mutilating the work of Christ on the Cross – making it of no affect

 

C) So Paul says Watch out for those who are like a wild pack of Dogs / those who claim to be doing a work of God – in reality an evil work

1)    Because THRU their Proclamation of Salvation by works they are mutilating the Finished work of Christ on the Cross

 

D) In the book of Romans Paul speaks about this same thing in ch.2 where he declares that the true believer has experienced a Circumcision of the heart

1)   That Salvation is not dependent upon some outward fleshly mark on the Body – but that the heart has been surrendered over to the Lord

Here in v.3 Paul gives 3 defining Characteristics  of the Person who has given their life to the Lord  3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, & have no confidence in the flesh,

 

A)1st thing Paul Mentions is their Manner of LIFE– They worship God in the Spirit

 

B) We were created as believers to worship God – Worship is not just an action / Ritual or an Routine / not singing songs

1)   It is a lifestyle –

 

C) In Spirit speaks of the very core of who a person is / Man is Spirit Soul & Body : Spirit is who he is – part that will live forever : heaven or hell

1)    The Soul is the Conscience - / the Body is that part of a man that allows him to express his thoughts / conscience / Spirit who he is

 

D) The true Christian is to have a lifestyle that reflects a deep desire to constantly be expressing affection & Devotion to the Lord

1)   Living our lives for Him – in shear love – like a newly married person seeks to bless their new Husband or wife

 

E) So the true believer lives a life or devotion – worship coming from the depths of their hearts – Core of their Spirit – Saying I love you

1)   Contrasted by that which is external & fleshly – like the Judiazers act of circumcision for devotion

 

 

2nd Motive of their lives:  They rejoice or glory in Christ Jesus

A)The desire of the true believer is that Jesus is the center of attention He is the cause for boasting – not us

 

B) The tendency of the Judiazers was to say LOOK WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR GOD!! 

1) Because we love him so much we are making these SACRIFICES

C) BUT true biblical Christianity is not that which goes around saying look what we are doing for God – but look what God has done for us !!!

   1 Cor 1:31 “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

 

D) We live in a world where People are craving after Glory – they want attention recognition & acclaim –

1)     The Christian stands in stark contrast to the World – because He is glorying not in himself – but in Christ

 

 

3rd Method of their life : having no confidence in the flesh :

A)Jesus said in Jn 6:63 63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.

 

B)The believer in Jesus Christ must come to understand this – that the flesh profits nothing { Big Problem in Church{ Jesus saved me I need to do the rest

1)    Romans 7:18 For I know that in me that is in my flesh nothing good dwells

 

C) My flesh – selfish / prideful / motives get mixed up / Flesh is weak

1)    Peter classic example of this – No one loved Jesus more : Fell asleep when should have been praying – 3 times

 

D) Lashed out to defend when should have been doing nothing

1)   Denied the Lord in his time of Greatest need

 

 

You think that Peter came to understand that his flesh was weak – that he couldn’t put his confidence in his flesh ? Absolutely

A)True believer must understand this – that They do not trust in their own ability to be righteous before God through external works,

 

B) But their only confidence is in Jesus./ His work for them & in them

1)     Carnally minded is death – Carnal = fleshly – living out your Christianity in the Power of the Spirit {Confidence in Christ

 

C) Those who have their confidence in Christ will wait on Him / they will wait for him not take matters into own hands { Isa 40:31

those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

 

D) Digression Soaring to walking – We understand & know how we need the Spirit / Christ Power to Soar / at time to Keep Running

1)   But walking I can handle that !!!

 

So the true Circumcision – those who’s hearts touched by the Lord

Worship God in Spirit, glory in Christ & Put no confidence in the flesh

A)Now as we come to v.4 it is as if Paul anticipates the arguments of the Judiazers who would suggest how these gentiles in Philippi needed to attain to  the rich Heritage of Judaism

 

B) But Paul’s own TESTIMONY radically contradicts that thinking : You see Paul came from the richest of Jewish Heritages

 1) IN writing of his background – looking back before his conversion Paul said in Gal 1:14 I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

 

C) Paul’s background was as Jewish & Religious as they come – yet in this passage Paul speaks of Salvation as a transaction

1) He even uses business terms & accounting terminology in v. 7,8 when he talks about losses & gains

 

D) What Paul reveals is that he spent his life accumulating achievement & ascending to different degrees of Morality & religiosity

1) Imaging that it was those things that would make him righteous or help him earn  Salvation { i.e. The good will outweigh the Bad

 

E) But when Paul met Christ – he realized that all these things that he thought were Pluses w/ God – were really in the loss column

1) He gladly exchanged them all for the Righteousness that comes from Christ alone { read v.4-11

Now we are not going to look at all of these verses tonight – just the first part –

A)Note in this passage Paul dispels SEVEN misconceptions that People have about Salvation - & then tells us where it is found

 

B) 1st Misconception: Salvation is  by ritual : Circumcised the 8th day of Israel

 

C) The greek text literally reads an 8th dayer

1)     The Ishmaelites circumcise their kids on the 13th day / the Jews after Issac – 8th day

 

D) Paul was not a Gentile Proselyte to Judaism he was born & bred –his family followed things so closely – Circumcision was the 8th day

1)     Be Equivalent to someone from a Catholic or Lutheran Background talking about being Baptized as an Infant

 

2nd Misconception: Salvation is  by Race :of the Stock of Israel

A)Israel was God’s Chosen People chosen by God from among all the people of the earth to be Special in God’s eyes –

 

B) Paul was a physical descendant of Abe / Isaac/ Jacob - 

1)     Be like someone thinking – they were saved because they were an American – Does say In God we trust on our money

 

3rd Misconception: Salvation is  be Rank : Of the tribe of Benjamin

A)The tribe of Benjamin was one of the most Prominent in Israel’s history – First King was from that tribe

 

B) It was Benjamin & Judah who stayed loyal to Davidic line after Solomon’s death   when everyone else rebelled

 

C) Being from the tribe of Benjamin would be sort of like someone thinking they would be saved because they were a 4th Generation Episcopalian

 

4th Misconception: Salvation is  by tradition: A Hebrew of Hebrews

A)Paul didn’t personally contribute anything to the first 3 privileges on his list{ he simply inherited them from his parents

 

B) But the last 4 are things that he himself achieved : This statement a Hebrew of the Hebrews would be best understood in this way

1)   That as Paul grew into adulthood – he strictly maintained the  traditions of his Jewish heritage

 

C) He even left his hometown of Tarsus to go to Jerusalem to study under the famed Rabbi – Gamaliel – where Paul became his best student

 

D) This could be equivalent to someone from some religious background holding true to & following all the religious traditions

1)Going to religious college – having all the Knowledge & Practicing it regularly – following the rituals / traditions { thinking that would save him

 

5th Misconception: Salvation is by Religious Position : as to the law a Pharisee

A)Paul pursued his religious heritage to the extreme – He was so Zealous for the law that he became a Pharisee.

 

B) To the Sanhedrin – Jewish Supreme Court – I am a Pharisee / the son of a Pharisee Acts 23:6

1)   Before Agrippa Acts 26:5 I lived as a Pharisee according to the Strictest sect of our religion

 

C) To become a Pharisee was to reach the highest level of devout legalistic Judaism

1)In being a Pharisee you were a member of an elite Influential & highly respected group of men – whose goal was to know guard & interpret the law

 

D) It would be similar today to someone becoming a Bishop in the Catholic Church & thinking that was going to save them

 

6th Misconception: Salvation is by Sincerity- as to Zeal, a persecutor of the Church

A)Paul was very Sincere as he set out to single-handedly destroy this New religious movement these followers of Jesus & he was very successful

 

B) HE WAS SINCERE – BUT HE WAS SINCERELY WRONG

Road to Damascus – Saul Saul why ……. Hard to kick against the goads {

 

C) There are millions of people in the world today who are very sincere when it comes to their Belief system – but Sincerely wrong

1)   Many very Sincere people are going to end up in Hell – because although they were sincere – they rejected Christ

 

D) JN. 14:6 I am the way – { Other ways why did Jesus need to come & die

     1)So Salvation is not about being Sincere – it is about knowing the truth

 

6th Misconception: Salvation is by Legalistic Righteousness – not in having the good out weigh the bad v.6 as to the righteousness that is in the law I was found blameless

 

A)Now Paul is not suggesting here that he was sinless – blameless speaks of his perception in the sight of men

1)      In other words Paul is saying that I lived such a morally righteous outward life that no one could bring an evil accusation against me

 

B) But Paul would say later on after his conversion of the inward struggle particularly w/ the sin of Covetousness { Probably Position & Power

1)   Others didn’t see it – but Paul Saw it & grieved him

 

C) Romans 7 he speaks of the struggle the things I want to do I don’t do the things I don’t want to do find myself doing – Inward struggle

1)   WHO CAN SAVE – thank God for Jesus !!!!

 

D) A person might appear like the greatest / most giving / kindest person on the planet – but struggling on the inside w/ motives & recognition

So Paul lays out quite a resume concerning all the reasons if anyone had a reason to be confident in the flesh – but notice what he says next v.7-11

A)Counted / count / suffered // count as rubbish -  trophies & certificates and diplomas in the Garbage – they mean nothing

 

B) Reason: That I may gain Christ { Note Paul is saying I can’t have it both ways – if I am going to be saved / have Christ/ must lose those things

1)   Need to put aside any thought of righteousness is in anything that other than the righteousness that is in Jesus Christ { IMPUTED

 

C) His Righteousness transferred to me – while my Sin transferred to Him

1)   How does it come – Thru Faith in Jesus

 

Notice what Paul says about his longing for Christ – essence of Salvation

A)v.8 Gain Christ / v.9 found in Christ = Righteousness / v 10 Know Christ – Ginosko

 

B) That is what makes a person saved – Found in Christ –

1)   After saved – want to Gain Him / Know Him – 30 yrs still his passion

 

C) Look at that more next time -