JOY/FULL PART 7 (RICHARD)

OUTLINE:

Philippians 3:1–21 NIV

1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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 is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Questions to be considered:

What do you treasure?

Is there anything deserving of our life-long, passionate pursuit?

Answer: Yes! KNOWING Christ

If knowing Christ is the ultimate goal of Christianity then beware of that which would derail your efforts

Keeping with the theme Paul says rejoice once again

“no trouble for me to write the same things to you again”

consistent gospel reminders safeguard us against false doctrines, ideologies, and sinful lifestyles

vs 2: reference to Judaizers. (Gentiles had to become Jews before becoming Christian

What does religion teach us today?

vs 3 referencing circumcision of the heart. God changes us inside out to serve, boast in Christ, and think less about ourselves

vs 3b-6 Everyone has confidence somewhere and the Christian’s confidence is in Christ

(can give examples of things we put our confidence in)

Vs 7-11 How to know Christ: take what the world says is a plus and make it a negative

When comparing anything against knowing Christ, knowing Christ always wins without competition

(could be translated: would you rather have the bread of life or a pile of dog crap?)

vs 12-21 Make every effort to know Christ

12,13 humbly acknowledge that you havent “arrived”

12-14 Pursue a greater knowledge of Christ. Never lose the wonder of the gospel

15-19 Follow cross centered, heavenly minded examples. Avoid pretenders

20-21 remember where your true citizenship lies and live in light of that reality

Exalting Jesus in Philippians Live in Light of Your True Citizenship (Philippians 3:20–21)

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.… It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. (Mere Christianity, 134)