You’re Not “Good Enough” (Philippians 3:4–7)

Philippians 4:4-8

GBCCR DATE \@ "M/d/yy" 7/20/24

Introduction

The are two ends of the spectrum that people think of a good enough life

One sides says give yourself to pleasure

Whoever dies with the most toys wins

So people are in a frenzy to get what they do not have*maybe that’s not actually things, maybe its people.

*maybe that’s not actually things, maybe its people.You know the feeling of having no value unless you have the right people in your life

You know the feeling of having no value unless you have the right people in your life

-large group of friends

-a certain friend

-significant other

-or maybe its enough self respect, right

However, the bible speaks to this midset very clearly in the book of Ecclesiastes

Solomon was the wiseset and greatest king in the world and he gave himself all these things.

Everything he wanted he went after*he had the biggest parties in the world, so that no one could compete with his popularity.

*he had the biggest parties in the world, so that no one could compete with his popularity.*he had the most success at building, planning, creating in all the world

*he had the most success at building, planning, creating in all the world*He had 700 wives and 300 concubines to keep him company

*He had 700 wives and 300 concubines to keep him company

*he had the queen of Sheba coming from a far off land to see his successes

& in the end he said it was all vanity, worthless, like a mist you see as you breath on a cold day. Gone instantly

Gone instantly

I think most of you would at least agree to this being a lie and that your life will not be satisfied with stuff and the American dream.

religious people tend to define themselves by the “good enough life”

This is another form of legalism.legalism says I will have a good life if I do the right things.

legalism says I will have a good life if I do the right things.

Our cultural agrees

One definition of legalism“Legalism does not consist in yielding obedience to the law. Rather, it is to seek justification and good standing with God through the merit of works done in obedience to the law – instead of by faith in Christ.”

“Legalism does not consist in yielding obedience to the law. Rather, it is to seek justification and good standing with God through the merit of works done in obedience to the law – instead of by faith in Christ.”

Think of a courtroom (the word legal). It is trying to prove yourself innocent by the law

Remember last week called us to pay attention for those who might deceive us. =those who put their confidence in the flesh.

=those who put their confidence in the flesh.

they tried to earn their place with God rather than trying to live holy because Jesus earned their place.

But this week we must watch out for the legalist inside… for the call of the voice that says “good enough” if I just do _____

Review- Paul has just made a grand claim and assault upon the false teachers

He called the Philippians to look to the examples of humble Timothy and Ephroditus and to watch out for those who are teaching what will steal your joy

*Paul has said that they are dogs and evil workers and he knows this because he was just like them once.

These were the Judaizers who wanted christians to live under the law first

teaching that circumcision and keeping the Law of Moses were necessary for salvation

Circumcision, especially, was promoted as necessary for salvation. Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes first,

Acts 15:1- Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

They took the truth that the law is good and designed to lead us to Christ as Galatians says

Then they skewed it by saying… well then, you have to actually do what the law says before you can come to christ

Such a grant gift of forgiveness must be given to those who show they actually are willing to try after all

Instead, Paul is saying, the weight of hearing law is supposed to show you cannot do rather than you try anyways

There are still people saying this today

Whether the Roman Catholic church adding works to salvation

Or in the popular culture world that says you have to win a place of fame and fortune for you to be good enough in the eys of God and man

Instead, Paul is lifting up the example of fellow Christians, which he will do again in 17

This is all in a section reminding us we will listen to someone, so let’s listen to the right people

So let’s see

2 reasons your goodness is LAME

(it cannot walk you into a right relationship with God)

Your religious accomplishments do not impress (4-6)

*But might I suggest that this is where we are most tempted here in this group

*Paul has said that they are dogs and evil workers and he knows this because he was just like them once.

V4- If anyone could’ve trusted who he was and his good deeds, it was Paul.

Just like you will hear from others that you do not b/c you haven’t experienced it yet…

But trust Paul and trust your leaders and their experiences.

-It may be true you learn best from your own mistakes, but you can’t ever forget because you’ve been injured for the rest of your life.

So let’s learn from Paul:

Paul has had to do this kind of boasting before as Paul lets them know he has the pedigree in

2 Corinthians 11:16–18- Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.

He is arguing that what they are offering is foolishness because he has lived it and can testify

He is saying his fleshly superiority was incontrovertible. “Top this, you super-apostles! You can’t.”

He knows what argument the Judaizers are going to bring up

They may say You gentiles don’t know who God it is

Paul had the ultimate legacy and yet it will mean nothing

Legacy of your family means nothing. (4-5a)

Explore

Circumcised on the 8th day

This is exactly what the Judaizers are wanting the new gentile believers to do, be circumcised in accordance with the law of Moses.

It was the sign given to Abrahabam

Genesis 17:12- “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.

It was commanded in Leviticus that all newborn male babies be circucmcised on the 8th day to show they were part of the Israelite community.

Leviticus 12:3- ‘On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

It was a clear sign of whether the parents would obey God

Kids: Just like your parents brought you to church from your earliest days, so Paul’s parents let him know he was part of Israel.

Of the tribe of Benjamin

Benjamin was an important tribe in Israel

It was the tribe of the first King Saul

Was one of the two tribes that stayed with the Davidic kings when all the rest betrayed them.

Paul could trace his family routes in a time when most people could no longer tell you which tribe.

It is often wondered why Paul brought this up..

Maybe the focus was Paul had been a jew since birth, but some of the judaizers were proselytes who were gentiles who became like jews later.

As the jews spread out across the lands due to the many invasions they told people about their God and what it meant to worship Him.

But they made a mistake, which as we said last week, even Peter bought into for a while.=They said you had to follow the same path they did.

=They said you had to follow the same path they did.Become like

Become like a jew first, then a christian.

But this is not the case as even Jesus did not ask the centurion to became a jew, but praised him for his faith.*scripture speaks of many nations going before God, the jews included one day.

*scripture speaks of many nations going before God, the jews included one day.

Illustration- Coming from the right family doesn’t impress God

Jesus made clear he was not impressed with the family legacy of unbelieving Israelites

Matthew 3:8–9- “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

We too need to remember that God has no grandchildren, you only come directly through him

Application

But here is the warning for all of us:Do not expect God to do the exact same thing for others that he did for you.

Do not expect God to do the exact same thing for others that he did for you.

God saves people from many different places. Some legalism, some in deep sin. Some by street preaching, some by a pastor, some by their parents.

But what your family did doesn’t save you

We then grow into Godly people, but tend to think the path we took is the only right one and expect all others to follow.

Don’t make standards the bible doesn’t

And kids… you have been blessed by great parents who are raising you to fear God

But remember, unbelieving Saul had it better

Being here does not save you, only your trust in jesus can do thatso we beg you… choose to believe on you own!

so we beg you… choose to believe on you own!

No matter how old you are, remember, that your family or church tradition does not save you or define what a Christian should be… The Bible alone does that.

Trans: But Paul didn’t grow up in Israel, he grew up in Tarsus (north end of Mediterranean)

Acceptable effort is beyond you. (5b-6)

Expla

A Hebrew of the Hebrews

Term often used by those spread outside of Israel to show they still spoke the Hebrew language rather then Greek like everyone else.

It is also a way of saying that Paul stayed with his family tradition. He didn’t rebel upon entering college, but went to the best Jewish school.

He did such a good job that he was able to declare before King Agrippa

So then, all Jews know my manner of life from my youth up, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and at Jerusalem” (Acts 26:4)

2nd, A Pharisee

When Paul was able to go to Jerusalem and studied under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel.

to the Jews, the Pharisees were the bible believers.

The other option was the liberal Sadducees

who didn’t believe in spiritual things like the resurrection

or those Essenes who hid away in the dessert.

the Pharisees actually believed God’s word and tried to obey it in the community

Trans: Then Paul makes an interesting comment

As to zeal, a persecutor of the church

Remember Saul, Paul’s other name, on the road to Damascus to bind Christians because of their blasphemy.

They said that Jesus was God.Jesus, a man who was crucified, and

Jesus, a man who was crucified, and Deut 21:23 says a hanged man is cursed by God.

He had a zeal or intense interest to serve God. He was jealous for God’s glory and Christians demeaned it.

Few us are willing to tell someone about our savior who is not being worshipped by them.

But Paul was willing to do whatever it took.

His view of what was good was wrong, but he put all his energy into it.Much like the JWs, Mormons who serve a lie.

Much like the JWs, Mormons who serve a lie.

that saves them as much as persecuting the church saved Paul.

The Jews had great zeal

Romans 10:2- For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge

and your zeal for good things is the same.

Being excited about Jesus, saying you love Jesus, or those who say the holy spirit is moving

or those who say the holy spirit is moving them in exciting waysbut getting

but getting Jesus wrong is destructive

Lastly, he was blameless before the law.

Lot of theories of what Paul means by this.

But you must remember that the law provided means to being made clean when you broke it

Psalm 119:1- How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the LORD

In Jerusalem, you can still see gutters that would have streams of blood flowing out of the temple to cover people’s sins.

Paul would have done those as much as he could.*He would’ve asked for forgiveness

*He would’ve asked for forgiveness

He could say he avoided the exterior sins and everyone would’ve said that Paul was such a good guy.

Illus- God doesn’t pass his salvation on the how acceptable we are

I once sat in a worship service where the man leading the music was praying and said thank you God that you saw something worthwhile in us to come down and die for.

The gospel of Thomas did the same thing

Gospel of Thomas (written long after our canonical Gospels).

Luke’s version of Jesus’ parable of the Lost Sheep goes like this:

“What man among you, who has 100 sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.(Luke 15:4-7).

Notice the version found in the non-biblical Gospel of Thomas:

(107) Jesus said, “The kingdom is like| a shepherd who had a hundred | sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. 25 He left the ninety-nine and looked for that one | until he found it. When he had gone to such trouble, he said | to the sheep, ‘I care for you more than the ninety-nine.’ ”

The true gospel says we bring nothing, we are nothing, yet God loves and saves because he is great.

If you want to know if Christ is worth you following. Remember, he left the 99 to get the smallest sheep when he didn’t need it…

Application

So Church, do not put your faith in your religious acts

Jesus made clear that Our righteousness has to be in excess of the pharisees

And this should bring about despair in our hearts

When we hear Jesus say “Blessed are the pure in heart,”

our answer, “My God, how am I going to be pure in heart? If ever I am to be blameless down to the deepest recesses of my intentions, You must do something mighty in me.”

That is exactly what Jesus Christ came to do. He did not come to tell us to be holy, but to make us holy

Religious acts do not save you

Being at church, reading your bible, giving money do not save you.

Sacrificing for Christ does not save you

Only admitting your failures and trusting Jesus will save you

Trans: We’ve seen the many ways he was trying to show himself greater, but now we’ll see why that wasn’t worth enough

Your good deeds are nothing compared to Jesus (7-8)

Compared to someone else, you might have a lot going for you, but not compared to Jesus.

Merit is worthless in Christ (v7)

Expla

Merit= Theological sense of the term, ‘merit’ designates man’s right to be rewarded for a work done for God.

Before, Paul thought he had something to value… but now that has all cahnged

Notice the past tense he begins with in v 7. Whatever “I Had,” “I counted”

this part refers to his initial salvation that happened on that road to Damascus.

The word for count means to think through, consider and it is translated count here for good reasons.

Illus- merit is worthless before God

He is using the terminology of a spreadsheet or ledger where he is tracking gains vs loss.

So Paul looks at everything he had done previously*The word gain is plural while loss is singular

*The word gain is plural while loss is singular

Paul added up all these things he thought were black

when he scrolled down he saw a big fat negative number

He had nothing to show before God, in fact the word loss means damage, disadvantage=he wasn’t even at 0, he owed God for all his sinful attempts to do righteous things.

=he wasn’t even at 0, he owed God for all his sinful attempts to do righteous things.

Why? Why did his mind change?

Because he found Christ.

Everything he thought was black now turned out to nothing but negative red

Applications

Friends, when you look back over your life, do you question why God would love you?or are you tempted to think that you deserve God’s applause?

or are you tempted to think that you deserve God’s applause?

Before the all surpassing value of the God of the universe who died for a sinner like you

Every good thing you’ve done is nothing

But that is the greatest hope, because He takes every failure of his Children and offsets them tinot back

Trans: But if you see you sin so clearly, you’re in a good place, because Jesus doesn’t just leave us there

Everything is nothing before Christ (v8)

Expla

Paul begins verse 8 with 3 conjunctions literally saying “but indeed also”

to show the contrast between his confidence in v4 with the worth of christ here.

Here are present verbs to show that his conversion was not just a one time resolution he made, but is ongoing

Paul continued to regard of everything as a red negative compared to knowing Christ.

Now knowing refers to knowing a person.

The Hebrew understanding of knowing was far greater:

he prophets spoke of the people knowing God by their obedience of Him.

““They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”” (Jeremiah 31:34, NASB95)

To know is the answer the question of “do you trust me.”

Do you trust me enough to give me everything… or do you yell when I take something you’ve said is mine?

Notice that he calls Christ “my Lord”

*This is important because of what Paul had already said about the future.

Look back at 2:9-11

remember that day is coming when Christ will be lord to all… Buddhist, atheist, Mormon, agnostic, or the Christian by name only…but as their conquering king as they’re forced to bow.

Paul bows now freely.

Paul suffered the loss for following

He was written off by his former friends and intellectual peers.

He lost the security of a home, becoming a constant traveler with no fixed abode.

The kinds of sufferings he endured make for an astonishing list (see 2 Cor. 11:23–29).

imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, dangers, hunger, sleepless nights, cold, exposure

Yet none of this is uttered by way of complaint

How can Paul say all these sufferings were worth it?

So often we struggle with things, it hurts and after a little while we give in because we do not answer the question of why is it worth it?

Why do we give up everything

=Because he compared them to the riches found in Christ alone

Compared to him, Paul says everything is rubbish, the leftovers that are given to pigs or often understood as animal dung.

Its all waste compared to christ because only Christ will satisfy and only what he offers will last.

Illus- Everything is nothing compared to Christ

If you or I give up everything because we found something more valuable, no one would bat an eye

But if Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, who is valued at $252 Billion… yes, B. billion

If he made an announcement saying all my money is absolutely worthless… my company… worthless, I gave it all away so I could have ______

The whole world would listen, right?

They made such a big deal when he bought twitter

Remember, Paul was the equivalent of a billionaire in the Jewish religious world

But it was all nothing compared to Christ

Applic

This is the gospel we must preach to ourselves every day

Often friends, you may look and ask what is the concrete thing that God is doing for me.

Others may be able to point out various prayers being answered or trials coming to and end and you just see more of the same… and it is hard

What the gospel reminds us of is that if you have Jesus that it is everything

And if that is not enough one of the greatest promises we get in the bible is that God is making us like Jesus

Romans 8:28–29- And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

This will be incredibly concrete as you see the changes that he promised will not fail to complete (Phil 1:6)

Parents/grandparents- If you find your kids miss out on certain things for the sake of following Christ?

Take hope, its’s worth it

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)- We’re lame

Our family legacy can’t help us

An acceptable effort to impress God is far beyond us

Merit just makes us owe God more

And everything you’ve done must bee seen as nothing before Christ

We know we must (Resolution)- believe only in the true gospel

It is incredibly interesting that In 2013, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins announced that teaching children about hell was tantamount to abuse.

His detailed book the God delusion in 2006 said we should imagine a world without religion

But now its 2024, Richard Dawkins has changed his tune

He has realized the western society he loves may not be possible in the anti-Christian culture he once strove so hard to bring about.

In 2019, he stated that eradicating Christianity—once his fervent goal—was, in fact, a terrible idea, because “people may feel free to do bad things because they feel God is no longer watching them.”

In an interview on March 31, 2024, he sated

“I do think we are culturally a Christian country,” he said. “I call myself a cultural Christian. I’m not a believer, but there’s a distinction between being a believing Christian and being a cultural Chrisitan, and so, you know, I love hymns and Christmas carols and I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos, and I feel that we are a Christian country in that sense. It’s true that statistically, the number of people who believe in Christianity is going down, and I’m happy with that.”

“So I count myself a cultural Chrisitan. Certainly, if we substitute any alternative religion, that would be truly dreadful.” Unlike Islam, he mused, Christianity “seems to me to be a fundamentally decent religion.”

And let us pray for Richard Dawkins, because while I praise God he recognizes the positive elements of Christianity before other religions,

May we encourage him that Christanity is only able to stand because Jesus Christ is real

without knowing Jesus Christ, this appreciation for religion gets him nothing before God

Christless

Closing prayer