Philippians 3:1-11- Conterfiet Joy

Matthew 6:21 “21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

We are driven by the desires of our heart

what our hearts desire, our feelings feel desirable, our thoughts find reasonable, and our will finds actionable - if our hearts are set on something everything else will follow

Exalting Jesus in Philippians (The Glory of Knowing Christ (Philippians 3:1–11))

This passage is extremely important because it tells us what it means to know Jesus, what it means to find eternal salvation and ultimate satisfaction in life. Paul describes what a Christian isn’t, what a Christian is, and how one can become a Christian.

Elsewhere in the Bible the idea of “knowing Christ” or having the “knowledge of God” involves the idea of salvation and faith. Jesus said these very important words in John 17:This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent—Jesus Christ. (John 17:3)

FIXED

Philippians 3:1-11 “1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

-word could be translated something like “So then”.......He’s only halfway through it. He’s picking up the theme of “rejoicing” (2:17–18) and carrying on the idea of imitation- matching the same life, attitude, mission of Christ Jesus. He’s providing an example that includes a passion to know Christ Jesus as Lord.

-(No Trouble to Me, Safe for You (Philippians 3:1))

Paul says it’s no trouble for him to repeat these things, and it’s safe for the congregation. In other words, the church will be protected from legalism and false gospels by studying the true gospel regularly.

Exalting Jesus in Philippians No Trouble to Me, Safe for You (Philippians 3:1)

We must constantly remind one another of the gospel, rehearse the gospel, sing the gospel, and proclaim the gospel—not only for the good of the unbeliever but also for the building up of the believer. Repeating the gospel is an expression of love for other believers.

Philippians §16 First Conclusion: Call to Rejoice (Phil. 3:1)

Rejoice in the Lord echoes an exhortation repeated in the Psalms (cf. Pss. 32:11; 33:1). The people of God rejoice in him because he is their “exceeding joy” (Ps. 43:4); cf. Rom. 5:11, “we … rejoice in God.” It is not necessary to give “in the Lord” its incorporative sense here.

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,

comparison of religion and our worship is of self and our own righteousness based on religious efforts and works vs worship in Spirit based on what God has done!

The Jews called the Gentiles “dogs,” but here Paul uses the term “dogs” to describe the Jewish teachers who emphasized circumcision and keeping the Law. (We met those teachers in Acts 15 and Galatians.)

revelation 22:15 “15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.”

worship- Paul is talking more then a Sunday service- but our hearts devotion, our life- service, Romans 12:1 “1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Does the Spirit of God dwell in you? Do you worship and serve God by the Spirit? On what are you basing your assurance of salvation? Don’t base it on attendance at meetings or on involvement in social work. Rest and rejoice in the fact that the Spirit of God dwells in you, enabling you to worship and serve God for the praise of His glory.

4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation 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 the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Gal. 1:11–24

Paul adds that the true people of God “boast in Christ Jesus.” Our glory is in Christ alone! Again our minds are drawn to Galatians, particularly where Paul famously says it like this: But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. (Gal 6:14)

The human heart is prone to trust in other things, instead of Christ, for salvation. But this important passage reminds us that our tribe doesn’t provide us with any confidence of being able to stand before God’s awesome presence. When it comes to being accepted before a holy God, your nationality doesn’t matter, your rituals don’t matter, your education doesn’t matter. We can stand safely, securely, and confidently before God because of the work of another, namely, Christ.

What reasons for which to boast. But there was more. He was ardent in his religious practice, a trained Pharisee, blameless in keeping the law, and zealous in persecuting the Christians. What he was by birth and what he had become by conviction and achievement were enough to tally a high level of superiority compared to any who might be preaching circumcision and righteousness by the law.

Privileges of birth and human achievement, however noble, count nothing.

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

aggressive language- dung, manure, dog crap.....

Satisfaction in Christ

Dissatisfaction of this World

“Ever since I saw Christ in the glory of God, I have considered nothing else worth living for. He has so won my heart that nothing now counts with me but the blessedness of knowing Him and of being completely identified with Him in life, in death, and beyond death. Now, even if I could, I would not want to stand before God in my own righteousness. I desire only to be found in Him. I long only to know Him more intimately-let the suffering involved be what it may. I would even die as He died, or die any other way that He might choose, in order to be included in the great rapture of all saints at His coming. I want to follow whatever way will lead me to the glorious ‘out-resurrection from among the dead’ -Ironside

The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes Chapter 3

3:8 “I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.” The very high value that the apostle Paul set on the Savior is most palpable when he speaks of gaining him. This shows that the Savior held the same place in Paul’s esteem as the crown did in the esteem of the runner at the Olympic games. To gain that crown, the competitor strained every nerve and sinew, feeling as though he were content to drop down dead at the goal in order to win it. Paul felt that if he were to run with all his might, straining soul and body to gain Christ, it would be well worth the effort. Christ would be well worth dying to gain.

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

That which has captivated our hearts will impact our thinking and will influence our living!