Divine Transformation

Greetings:

If you have a copy of God’s Word open to Philippians 3

Thank You - Generosity towards the SBC cooperation that supports students like myself.

Wonderful Pastor in Jim Robertson

Introduction:

Picture: Transformation of a Monarch Butterfly in four stages:

Embryo - 4 to 6 days

Larva (Caterpillar) - 2 to 3 weeks

Eats alot of food and sheds its skin 4-5 times

Pupa (Cocoon) - 1 to 2 weeks

The caterpillar’s body dies and a new body forms inside the shell(Chrysalis)

Adult (Butterfly)

No greater visible transformation in the New Testament than Saul of Tarsus

From - Breathing threats and persecuting God’s people

To - Being threatened and persecuted on behalf of God’s people

Paul is a picture of divine transformation and we will see the evidence of that transformation this morning as we read His letter to the Philippians.

Scripture: Phil. 3:8-11 “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 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— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Body:

Story: Watching what my kids love to play with over time:. Some examples:

Legos

Rainbow Looms

Dolls for my girls

Monster trucks and dinosaurs

Shopkins

Paul’s old life valued(v.5-7) :

Legacy - Jewish heritage (Romans. 3:1)

The tribe of Benjamin remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty

Traditions - Language and Jewish customs

Power & Authority - Leader of leaders among pharisees - Equivalent to two doctoral degrees in education

Self-righteousness - Extremey loyal to Judaism

Paul’s transformation is recorded in Acts 9

God hating, Christian murdering, self-righteous Pharisee

20-25 years later he writes the letter to the Philippians from jail

Gives us three marks of a person transformed by Jesus Christ

Mark #1: Christ becomes your greatest treasure(v.8-9a)

Phil. 3:8 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Knowing - Experiential, personal knowledge

i.e. Before marriage I knew of my wife, in covenant I knew my wife and who she is more personally and intimately.

A knowledge that goes beyond good doctrine

Paul knew of Christ and hated Him, but when he was born again He knew Christ and loved Him.

Knowing God informs our view of this world and all that is in it

He’s not saying we cannot enjoy good gifts, but they are no longer ultimate in our lives (1 Tim.6:17 “...richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

Application: How do I know if I treasure Christ above all things?

Is there anything in your life today that if you lost tomorrow, would rob you of joy and peace?

v.8-9 For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him...

How do you know if Christ is your greatest treasure?

When the rubber meets the road and I suffer in this life, my confidence in my God, my joy and peace remain.

God will test you and you will suffer in this life.

Key to the Christian Witness: Does your life match what you profess? Do you walk the walk?

Mark #2: You no longer believe that you can gain God’s approval through your works (v.9)

Phil.3:9 “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—”

Righteousness - state of approval

(Rom. 3:10 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”

Approval as measured before God, not men

There are only two kinds of religions in the world:

False Religion - Works Based

You determine your spiritual condition before God.

Romans 10:5 “For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.”

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

True Religion - Faith Alone

God determines your spiritual condition before God

Rom.3:23-26 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.... so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Application: If Christ is not your Lord, what good works do you perform thinking it makes God pleased with you?

i.e. Give money to homeless people....volunteer time to help family or friends in need..

Rom.10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

Faith is far more than saying with your mouth that you believe in something:

Reliance upon the Word of God (Matt.4:4)

Response to the Holy Spirit’s convictions in your life(John 16:8 “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:” )

Mark#3:Conform to the likeness of Christ (V.10-11)

Phil.3:10-11 “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

1. Die Daily and Rejoice in Trials

a. Conformity to Christ requires self-renouncing faith

Rom. 6:5 “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

Paradox of embracing suffering as a means of transformation

b. Resurrection life is spiritual now, and literal in the future

1 Pet. 4:13 “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

2. Eagerly anticipating the resurrection

a.Not speaking to lack of assurance, but rather eagerness to not be disqualified (1 Co.9:26-27)