"LVING OUT THE GOSPEL PART II"
Twin Peaks Bible Camp JH 24 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
This morning we saw that as believers we are running the spiritual race that we learn about in 1 Corinthians by Rejoicing in the Lord, Practicing discernment, Worshiping by the Spirit of God, Glorying in Christ Jesus, and by not putting confidence in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (NASB95)
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Proposition - This evening as we look at Philippians 3:4-7 - we will see: 1) the misunderstanding of the Gospel, and 2) the clarification of the Gospel.
Interrogative question - How are you doing at running the race?
Who are the Judizers?
Even though they were not Jews they would try to act life Jews (following the law and the lifestyle of a Jew) (one guy says “adoption of Jewish practice by the Gentiles”) “They were Jewish legalistic false teachers who taught that circumcision and obedience to the Law of Moses were necessary for Salvation”
I believe that Paul thinking in advance writes verse 4-7 to refute what is going through the Judizers mind right now – Remember they teach that you must be circumcised and be obedient in order to be saved -
1. The misunderstanding of the Gospel - vs. 4-6
1. The misunderstanding of the Gospel - vs. 4-6
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:
You must remember that in the previous vs. Paul said “put know confidence in the flesh…”
“Reason for confidence” – confident, boldness – noun – describing a person
“flesh” – body, flesh “thinks” – supposes – (active verb, present, indicative)
“Has reason for confidence” – persuasive, be certain – active verb “More” – even farther, greater
Why does Paul say that he can have such confidence in himself? The next couple of verses tell us exactly why – Remember he is address the Judizers and the works based Salvation -
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.
As Paul describes why he is the best one to put confidence in the flesh he provides us with 7 things. 4 of which are matter of fact, and the other three were achieved through his life – we will look at all of them very quickly – first let us examine the 4 matter of fact things –
Factual - Circumcised the eighth day
“Circumcised” - 1 circumcised. 1a the act or rite of circumcision, “they of the circumcision” is a term used of the Jews. 1a1 of Christians gathered from among the Jews. 1a2 the state of circumcision. 1b metaph. 1b1 of Christians separated from the unclean multitude and truly consecrated to God. 1b2 the extinction of passions and the removal of spiritual impurity.[1] a : the act of circumcising; especially : a Jewish rite performed on male infants as a sign of inclusion in the Jewish religious community
The point is that Paul went through this as a Jew – Paul begins by telling us this is a fact – I am part of the Jewish religious community -
MacArthur – “Paul was not a Gentile proselyte to Judaism”
“Circumcised the eighth day” –
12 “And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. 13 “A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.
59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father.
21 And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Factual - of the Nation of Israel –
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
Paul is a Jew by birth – He did not convert to Judaism –
Factual - of the Tribe of Benjamin –
1 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Northern and Southern Kingdoms – Judah and the tribe of Benjamin encompassed the Southern Kingdom –
King Saul was from the tribe of Benjamin -
Factual - Hebrew of Hebrews -
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
Paul was circumcised, of the nation of Israel, of the Tribe of Benjamin, and a Hebrew – The point is that Paul did not have to try to become a Jew as the Judiazers did, he was born as a Jew. As a result of that alone ought to enable Paul to boast about his life according the Judiazers teaching.
Now let us quickly look at the 3 things that he earned –
Earned - Pharisee
What is a Pharisee?
6 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.
5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
Earned - As to Zeal a Persecutor
“Persecutor” – strive for a purpose
4 “I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, 5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.
3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
9 “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 “And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
“They (Judiazers) merely proselyte. He had been a persecutor even “unto the death.”
Paul was so convinced that what he believed in was right.
13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today.
Earned - As to Righteousness under the law found Blameless
Paul had it all – listen to this quote – “He had undergone the proper rituals, he was a member of God’s chosen people, he was from a favored tribe in Israel, he had scrupulously maintained his orthodox heritage, he was one of the most devout legalists in Judaism, he was zealous to the point that he persecuted Christians, and he rigidly conformed to the outward requirements of Judaism. Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
If Salvation was gained through man’s own abilities then Paul has got without a shadow of a doubt – according to the Judiazers
2. The clarification of the Gospel - vs. 7
2. The clarification of the Gospel - vs. 7
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
“But” – certainly
“Had” – happened to me, or belonged to me
“Gain” – profit
“Counted” – be of the opinion
“For the sake of” – on account of
“loss” – damage, or disadvantage
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
The point that Paul is making is that the Judiazers are putting confidence in their own efforts as it relates to Salvation. Paul provides us with a personal testimony – Paul had all of the external things and he said that they are damage –
SO WHAT?
How did you come to know the Lord? (Do you trust in your parents Salvation, or have you made it your own?)
What is your confidence in?
Who is your confidence in?
What is your value? (sports, shopping, friends, family, fun, they will all be gone)