Sunday Sermons at the Una Church of Christ: Being Joyful: What Really Matters

December 7, 2014

Being Joyful

What Really Matters

Philippians 3:1-11

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

In the movie ‘City Slickers’ Billy Crystal and a group of his executive city friends decide it was time to take an adventure vacation.

An adventure vacation is not just laying on the beach it’s doing some activity with a guide that takes you out to the edge...it was a cattle drive in the wild west.
The character played by Billy crystal has problems at work and problems in his marriage - he has having a midlife crisis.
The guide for this adventurous cattle drive is Curly played by Jack palance.
Near the end of the movie, nearly being killed Curly said the Billy: “It’s the one thing.”
Billy said what’s the one thing? Curly said “that’s for you to discover for yourself.”

That that matters most to you...you need to decide!

(Advance Slide #2)

Today we will be discussing what really matters.

This is a great time of year to hear this.

We are bring so inundated with things that we "need."
We have this toy and that gadget, but which is the most important?

Paul would say, "None of it is...do you know The Lord?"

(Advance Slide #3)

Text

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Paul begins this chapter with something a word we would usually end with.

(Advance Slide #4)

“Finally” - this is Paul’s way of saying “the heart of the message is…”

NOTICE - once again Paul calls the Philippians to rejoice!

Why repeat this?

It was something that they needed to hear.
Also, joy was something that would safeguard them!

(Advance Slide #5)

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also.

There is a significant shift in the tone that Paul uses.

While he addressed some possible sources of division, the letter has been upbeat and positive.
Paul is now going to come down hard on false teachers!

(Advance Slide #6)

These false teachers are apparently boasting about their spiritual credentials and heritage.
Paul calls them ‘dogs.’

(Advance Slide #7)

We must not think of Rover...domesticated dogs.

Dogs were used to describe something that was worthless and vulgar...it was used of mongrels!
This is always used as something contemptuous.

Paul is arguing that these Judaizers (Jews or proselytes trying to win Christians at the synagogue) are the real Gentiles.

(Advance Slide #8)

These false teachers are ‘evil workers.’
They are the ‘false circumcision.’
They were boasting of their deeds, heritage, and their righteousness.

(Advance Slide #9)

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

(Advance Slide #10)

Paul, unlike the false teachers, has a right to boast!

His heritage was that of a Jew.
He came from the right, wealthy family.
He had all the right training and the right connections

(Advance Slide #11)

There are two areas in which he might have boasted:

FIRST - regarding his birth!

Circumcised on the 8th day.
He was not a proselyte but a part of the nation of Israel...tribe of Benjamin!

SECOND - about his choices!

Paul declares that he was a Pharisee.
Not all Pharisees were hypocrites...they were dedicated to the oral and written law!
Paul is saying, “Check my record!”
He could never be convicted as a ‘law breaker’...he lived in conformity to the OT.
He even acknowledges that in all that ‘zeal’ he was also a ‘persecutor of the church.’

(Advance Slide #12)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

(Advance Slide #13)

Many suggest that these verses are the ‘essence of Pauline thought.’

He does not elevate his Christian life by putting down his own heritage.
He doesn’t go so far as to call his heritage bad/worthless, but that knowing Jesus was more important!

Paul describes what really matters.

(Advance Slide #14)

True circumcision is an inner thing...it was never the external mark that God really wanted.

It was suppose to be a symbol of an inner commitment.
The real prize comes from ‘knowing Jesus.’

(Advance Slide #15)

Knowing Him is more than intellectual knowledge...it is experiencing Him deep within your life!

NOTICE - what Paul gave up for his knowledge of Jesus was ‘rubbish.’

Lesson

What do we learn from Paul here?

(Advance Slide #16)

Justification - vs. 9
Sanctification - vs. 10
Glorification - vs. 11

This is all about righteousness!

(Advance Slide #17)

However, this is not a righteousness based on Paul’s accomplishments.

This is righteousness that comes from an identification with Christ’s death.
Paul has learned the meaning of faith and it’s being found in Him
Our lives are shaped in the pattern of the cross.

Because Christians are in union with Christ, there will be suffering and service.

The difference difference between Paul and the false teachers is the fact that he had learned what really matters.

CONSIDER - Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13:44-46.

(Advance Slide #18)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.