3 Big Questions

Identity: Who am I

**2:42 Class schedule**

Fellowship

Prayer requests- personally (i lost 2 friends in the plane crash last Tuesday. Bill and Steve

Erika lost an Aunt in Chicago

Announcements

Teaching Time

Philippians 3:1–14 ESV

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. 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. 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. 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. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The Eistein Story

Identity Purpose and Direction

All of us if we are honest at some point or time struggled/struggle with the concept of identity. We do and our kids do as well. The Book three big question did their own Barna or Pew research with High school and college students and this was the must desired yet unknown idea. Who am I, what am i here to do.

As we walk through life together, many of us have kids who we are trying our best to shape for success. We send them to that perfect school for them, place them in the activities best suited for them wholistic develop, we chase them around from practice and games and events; and at the end of that we think: “man I’m killing it as a parent!”

I challenge you to sit down with them individually and ask them how are you doing as a parent? This conversation will be interesting but I am sure something will be unearthed that rocks you to the core. The question of Identity is one.

You will probably say well: they know who we are. Family name, family business, family affiliations, But is this really all we are supposed to be?

Paul labors in our passage to show he had the concept of Identity all wrong most of his life. He spent the balance of his days relying upon his family background and name, education, social status, his work as the sum total of who he was.

see the descriptions in the text:

From birth: circumcision, of the stock of Israel, tribe of benjamin, hebrew of hebrew

chosen privileges: Pharisee, church persecutor, legalistic righteousness.

what we later see is Paul say all of this is nothing. My Identity as a Christ follower is that matters and dictates how i navigate my life.

Basic information for the text we will not discuss.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (2. The Example to Be Avoided (3:2–3))

2. THE EXAMPLE TO BE AVOIDED (3:2–3)One particular group in Paul’s day was especially guilty of putting confidence in the flesh. These were the Judaizers. They plagued Paul and his converts constantly. Confused about the gospel, they added works of the law to faith in Christ, both for salvation and for Christian living. The Old Testament rite of circumcision was of special concern to them. They insisted that it was necessary for salvation. They did not omit faith in Christ but added works of the flesh. Paul called such men “deceitful workmen” (2 Cor. 11:13).3:2. Paul also called the Judaizers dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. He considered their work dangerous and not of God. The saints were not to follow these people, but to beware of them, to watch out for them.It was common for some Jews to refer to Gentiles as dogs, which were considered unclean animals. Paul used the term to describe those Jews who mutilated the gospel by insisting on the need to mutilate the flesh in order to be rightly related to God. What they did was actually evil, even though they may have had good intentions.3:3. The Old Testament rite of physical circumcision was not only a sign of covenant relationship, but it was also intended to be related to spiritual circumcision of the heart (cf. Deut. 30:6). Writing to Gentiles, Paul made it clear that he and they were the true circumcision. This was because they had no confidence in the flesh and instead worshiped by the Spirit of God and gloried in Christ Jesus alone.Instead of boasting in human accomplishments, as the Judaizers and Jews did, a child of God should glory in Christ Jesus alone. The word glory (kauchōmenoi) used here means “boast” or “exult” (cf. 1:26; 2:16; 2 Cor. 10:17).

the Seven advantages Paul had

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:4–6

Seven advantages listed in Philippians 3:5–6 demonstrate what Paul used to have in the flesh but what he later counted as loss for Christ. Two kinds of advantages are enumerated. First are those things which the apostle had by birth, apart from his choice. Four of these are listed—circumcision, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and a Hebrew son of Hebrew parents. Next he named those privileges which he voluntarily chose—being a Pharisee, being a persecutor of the church, and having a flawless external record of legalistic righteousness.

Circumcision-Circumcision was named first probably because it was a big issue with the Judaizers. Paul’s specific time, the eighth day, stressed that he was not a proselyte or an Ishmaelite but a pure-blooded Jew. Proselytes were circumcised later in life and Ishmaelites after age 13 (cf. Gen. 17:25–26).

Israel-Paul was of the people of Israel, which describes his heritage. His parents were both true Jews, unlike some of the Judaizers. He could trace his family lineage all the way back to Abraham. He was a true member of the covenant people (cf. 2 Cor. 11:22).

Tribe of Benjamin-He was also a Benjamite, from which tribe came Israel’s first king (1 Sam. 9:1–2). This tribe had a special place of honor and was viewed with great esteem. Even after the kingdom was disrupted the tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to the house of David.

Hebrew was Paul’s native tongue. Unlike some of the Israelites, he did not adopt Greek customs. He knew thoroughly both the language and customs of the people of God. He was a Hebrew son of Hebrew parents.

persecutor-What greater zeal for the Jewish religion could anyone boast of than that he persecuted the church? Paul did this relentlessly before his conversion to Christ (Acts 9:1–2). No Judaizer could match such zeal.

The Law-In “legalistic righteousness” Paul also excelled. In fact in his own eyes he was faultless (amemptos; the same word is used in Phil. 2:15 where it is rendered “blameless”).

3:7–9. Any of those who troubled the saints at Philippi would have loved to have been able to list to his credit those things Paul did. On the human side these were reasons to have religious self-confidence. But all those things enumerated in verses 5–6 the apostle considered loss for the sake of Christ (v. 7)

All of this is impressive, all of this is great.

education, success, social status, wealth. . . But its not ALL.

Gains as Loss

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 3:7–9

His former “gains” (kerdē, v. 7) he considered “rubbish” (which can mean food scraps or dung) so that he might gain (kerdēsō) Christ. Nothing else really mattered to him any longer. Having Christ as his Savior and Lord so far surpassed anything he had in Judaism.

see notes swipe left on ipad

Questions

Voices and Vices

God says we are enough, we often listen to the voices and vices of the world to shape and mold Why?

What do people really see, the real you or the pretender?