Where Confidence Lies

TURN: PHIL CH. 3 (V1-6)

BEGIN— PASSAGE READING....

THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES,

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PASSAGE READING: PHIL. 3:1-6

Philippians 3:1–6 (ESV)

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

OPEN IN PRAYER…

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INTRO: RESUMES…

(Q) IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT HAS EVER FOUND IT’S UNCOMFORTABLE TO MAKE A RESUME?

CHRISTIANS = HUMBLE,, RIGHT??

RESUME— IS BRAGGING on YOURSELF— OPPOSITE of TYPICAL CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE

SUPER AWKWARD as a PASTOR!

APPLYING HERE 2 YEARS AGO— RESUME STUFF FEELS REALLY AWKWARD.

LIST of QUALITIES... CLIMAXING W/ “I’M HUMBLE TOO!”

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WE TRY to BE HONEST,, BUT GENEROUS W/ QUALIFICATIONS

WHY YOU’D BE a GOOD FIT

JOB EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION

SKILLS/QUALITIES

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MIGHT BE AWKWARD—SOMETHING MANY of US HAVE HAD TO/WILL HAVE to DO.

(T) AND I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER THIS MORNING, WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE,

HOW DO THESE THINGS APPLY?

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NEED:

AND SEE, THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE NEED THIS TEXT THIS MORNING,

FOR IT WILL REMIND US OF WHAT OUR “CHRISTIAN” RESUME SHOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE.

WHAT DO WE BRING to the TABLE?

WE PROBABLY KNOW THESE THINGS in our HEAD...—BUT MIGHT NOT HAVE THEM SETTLED in OUR HEART...

PRAY THIS PASSAGE IMPACTS YOU ON the HEART— PERHAPS LIFE-CHANGING...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO OFFER A QUICK RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK…

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RECAP: “UNSUNG HEROES”

Last Wk:

PICTURE of FAITHFULNESS

TIMOTHY

EPAPHRODITUS

CH. 1:27 — 2:18 = LARGELY COMMANDS/ ETHICAL TEACHING… (w/ EXAMPLES)

PAUL TURNS to COMMENDING SERVANTS—WHO LIVED OUT THESE THINGS

TIMOTHY = CARED ABOUT INTERESTS of OTHERS

EPAPHRODITUS NEARLY DIED for WORK of CHRIST.

PAUL CONCLUDED:

RECEIVE EPAPHRODITUS BACK W/ REJOICING & HONOR HIM

WE SAW: HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE SACRIFICIALLY in GOD’S KINGDOM,,

EVEN if THEY’RE in the BACKGROUND...

I HOPE in the LAST WK: YOU WERE ABLE to ENCOURAGE/THANK/HONOR SOMEONE LIKE THIS

(T) AND NOW, WE’RE GOING TO SEE PAUL SWITCH GEARS AND TRANSITION TO SOME FINAL THOUGHTS IN PHILIPPIANS,

IF YOU WANT TO LOOK W/ ME AGAIN AT CH. 3… VS. 1

THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES,

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PREACHING PASSAGE: PHILIPPIANS 3:1-6 ESV

THOUGHT 1: REJOICE IN CHRIST (V1)

Philippians 3:1–6 (ESV)

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

PAUL BEGINS NEW SECTION

“FINALLY” — TWO CHAPTERS EARLY! JUSTIFIED as LONG-WINDED??

GK PHRASE MORE or LESS = a TRANSITION

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IN CLOSING: “REJOICE in the LORD!”

REJOICING ISN’T an OPTION—BUT a COMMAND!

OUGHT to CHARACTERIZE CHRISTIAN LIFE!

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CONSIDER PAUL’S USES of REJOICE in PHILIPPIANS....

REMEMBER:

PAUL’S in JAIL

PHILIPPIANS = UNDERGOING SOME PERSECUTION & DIVISION in CHURCH

**NOT ONE of THEM HAD a PERFECT LIFE**

I. CH. 1 — PAUL REJOICED— CHRIST WAS PROCLAIMED!

*EVEN THOUGH SOME PREACHED CHRIST W/ BAD MOTIVES!*

II. CH. 2: LIFE BEING POURED OUT as DRINK OFFERING—MARTYRED...

HE REJOICES & THEY SHOULD TOO

III. LAST WK: RECEIVE EPAPHRODITUS BACK W/ REJOICING —DESPITE PARTIALLY FAILED MISSION...

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IN THE MIDST OF ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS AND REASONS TO BE UPSET, PAUL PUSHES JOY.

REJOICING “IN THE LORD”

NO MATTER HOW LIFE is GOING— REASON to REJOICE:

Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WE CAN’T BE SEPARATED FROM LOVE of GOD in CHRIST!

&& CONSIDER ALL HE’S DONE FOR YOU!

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CHURCH....WE ALL HAVE REASONS TO BE MISERABLE...

AND WE ALL HAVE REASONS TO REJOICE.

TO REJOICE, IS A CHOICE.

YOU HAVE to CHOOSE JOY OVER OTHER OPTIONS...

MY PLANS WENT AWRY? —> BUT I HAVE an ETERNAL, EVERLASTING & SECURE HOPE.

I HURT EVERYWHERE? —> THERE’S BREATH in MY LUNGS

LIFE ISN’T GOING GOOD? —> GOD WORKS ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR GOOD.

LONELY? GOD = WITH ME, ALWAYS & WILL NEVER LEAVE.

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PAUL’S LIFE:

PEOPLE PREACHING W/ BAD MOTIVES? —> CHRIST = STILL PREACHED!

I MIGHT DIE? —> I’LL BE WITH CHRIST!

EPAPHRODITUS FAILED MISSION? —> HE NEARLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR CHRIST!

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IF the STARS HAVE to ALIGN FOR YOU to BE HAPPY—IT’LL NEVER BE ENOUGH…

—>> I DON’T WANT to BE DISMISSIVE of ALL YOUR PROBLEMS…

BUT I DON’T WANT YOU TO BE DISMISSIVE of ALL YOUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS in CHRIST <<--

YOU HAVE REASON to REJOICE TODAY IF YOU KNOW CHRIST as SAVIOR & LORD!

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(V1B) THEN: PAUL SAYS WRITING AGAIN = NOT TROUBLESOME & SAFE FOR THEM.

AS PASTOR—JUSTIFIED to REMIND YOU of THINGS YOU ALREADY KNOW

WEEKLY GOSPEL PRESENTATION? WE NEED TO HEAR the GOOD NEWS.

NOT TROUBLESOME FOR ME.

SAFE FOR YOU.

LOTS of FALSE DOCTRINE in WORLD

WORLD, FLESH, DEVIL AGAINST US...

BIBLICAL REMINDERS DON’T HURT!

(T) AND SO, IN THE MIDST OF THIS COMMAND AND REMINDER,

WE’LL SEE THE MESSAGE THAT PAUL HAS TO SHARE ONCE AGAIN.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 2,

THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES,

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THOUGHT 2: BEWARE OF THE CIRCUMCISION PARTY (V2)

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

· PAUL ISSUES A WARNING HERE.

THE CHRISTIANS IN PHILIPPI, AND THE CHRISTIAN TODAY, HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR SOMETHING.

PAUL SAYS:

“BEWARE!”

“LOOK OUT”

“HEADS UP!”

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THERE ARE DOGS,

THERE ARE EVILDOERS,

AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO MUTILATE THE FLESH.

**3 DESCRIPTORS of SAME GROUP**

GROUP = JEWISH CHRISTIANS WHO MANDATED CIRCUMCISION & KEEPING of MOSAIC LAW for CHRISTIANS

**REF: GALATIANS**

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REALLY BIG DEAL!

BACKGROUND:

OT— COVENANT W/ ABRAHAM ((BASIS for MUCH of O.T.))

NATION of DESCENDANTS— ISRAEL

PROMISED LAND—CANAAN (JOSHUA)

PROMISED BLESSING to ALL PEOPLES—CHRIST

GEN. CH. 17— COVENANTAL SIGN = CIRCUMCISION

Genesis 17:14 (ESV)

14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

IT WAS THE THING/SIGN...

PROSELYTES— CIRCUMCISED, REGARDLESS of AGE

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NEW TESTAMENT:

CHRIST DIES for SINS of WORLD

GRAFTING GENTILES INTO PEOPLE of GOD

CHURCH—JEW & GENTILE

REASONABLE QUESTION: IS CIRCUMCISION STILL NECESSARY??

**HUGE DEAL**

OVER 1,000 YEARS of PRECEDENT

CHURCHES ARGUE OVER TRADITIONS LESS THAN 100 YEARS OLD:

STYLE of WORSHIP

DECORATION

ORDER of SERVICE

ETC

IMAGINE the DISTINGUISHER/SIGN of COVENANT— CHANGING!

CHURCH CALLS COUNCIL of APOSTLES

ACTS 15: JERUSALEM COUNCIL—DETERMINE GENTILES DON’T NEED CIRCUMCISED!

JESUS PERFECTLY KEPT the LAW—HE DIED in OUR PLACE— LAW = FULFILLED

CIRCUMCISION = NO LONGER NECESSARY,, SALVATION = BY GRACE...

SOME JEWS COULDN’T ACCEPT THIS.

PAUL SAYS:

THEY’RE DOGS—UNCLEAN

THEY’RE EVILDOERS—NOT RIGHTEOUS

THEY’RE the MUTILATION

GK: WORDPLAY on CIRCUMCISION!

WRITING SAME THING = NOT TROUBLESOME… IT’S SAFE: PAUL SAYS “BEWARE” of THOSE WHO ADD WORKS to GRACE!

(T) AND NOW, HE’S GOING TO FURTHER QUALIFY THIS,

AND OFFER A REBUTTAL TO THE ARGUMENT OF THE FALSE TEACHERS....

IF YOU’D LOOK W/ ME @ VS 3... HE WRITES,

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THOUGHT 3: THE TRUE CIRCUMCISION PARTY (V3)

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

PAUL CONCLUDES:

THEY REALLY AREN’T the CIRCUMCISION...

WE ARE!

THE ONE MADE RIGHT W/ GOD THROUGH CHRIST = TRUE CIRCUMCISION...

Romans 2:28–29 (ESV)

28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.

29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

CHRISTIANS = TRUE CIRCUMCISION/PEOPLE of GOD (JEW & GENTILE)

WORSHIP BY SPIRIT of GOD—SIGN & SEAL of NEW COVENANT

GLORY/BOAST in CHRIST

NO CONFIDENCE in FLESH

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

(T) WELL, WE’LL SEE THE ANSWER....

IF YOU’D LOOK W/ ME AT THE CLOSE OF THIS PASSAGE IN VS. 4-6....

THE APOSTLE WRITES,

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THOUGHT 4: PAUL’S RESUME AS A JEW (V4-6)

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee;

6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

GLORYING/BOASTING in CHRIST— PUTTING NO CONFIDENCE in the FLESH = STAND in TANDEM....

PUTTING CONFIDENCE in FLESH = RELYING on PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS & GOOD WORKS FOR ACCEPTANCE BY GOD.

OUR ASSURANCE DOESN’T REST in WHAT WE BRING to the TABLE!

IF IT DID?? PAUL WINS.

RIGHT LINEAGE

ZEALOUS FOR TRUTH

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PAUL LISTS 7 THINGS COMPRISING HIS SPIRITUAL RESUME...

***REF. ILLUSTRATION: PAUL’S RESUME***

FIRST FOUR THINGS: BACKGROUND/UPBRINGING...

CIRCUMCISED on 8TH DAY

PARENTS WERE LAW-KEEPING JEWS!

PAUL HIT THEIR #1 REQUIREMENT RIGHT AWAY!

OF PEOPLE of ISRAEL—GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE

OF TRIBE of BENJAMIN—TRACE LINEAGE = GENUINE!

HEBREW of HEBREWS

ARAMAIC— NOT-HELLENIZED — JEW!

AUTHENTIC!

PAUL HIT D.N.A. LOTTERY FOR FAVOR W/ GOD!

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FURTHERMORE:

5. PERTAINING to the LAW?? PHARISEE-

INCREDIBLY STRICT in OBSERVANCE—RIGHTEOUS!

6. PERTAINING to ZEAL?? PERSECUTOR!

LIKE ELIJAH & PROPHETS of BAAL

MACCABEAN REBELLION

CARED SO MUCH FOR TRUTH—HE’D GET VIOLENT OVER IT

7. RIGHTEOUSNESS UNDER the LAW?? BLAMELESS!

LIVED UPRIGHTLY

FAITHFULLY OFFERED SACRIFICE WHEN FALLING SHORT

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RIGHT BACKGROUND/UPBRINGING —WHAT HE COULDN’T HELP

RIGHT ACTIONS— WHAT HE COULD HELP...

**PAUL SAYS: YOU THINK YOU’RE RIGHTEOUS BASED on WHAT YOU BRING to TABLE??? TRY ME.**

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MANY “PERFECT” CHRISTIANS HAVE a RESUME,, KINDA LIKE THIS:

** REF. ILLUSTRATION: “PERFECT” CHRISTIAN RESUME

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PAUL SAYS… WE PUT NO CONFIDENCE in the FLESH....

INSTEAD,, WE GLORY/BOAST in CHRIST JESUS...

**REF. ILLUSTRATION: CHRIST’S RESUME**

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OUR CONFIDENCE is in CHRIST—NOT the FLESH

WE’RE ACCEPTED BASED OFF the FINISHED WORK of CHRIST

NOT BASED OFF of WHO WE ARE—BUT WHO HE IS...

NOT BASED OFF of WHAT WE DO—BUT WHAT HE’S DONE...

IT’S CALLED GRACE.

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I CAN GLORY in CHRIST & IN CHRIST ALONE...

I DON’T BOAST in WHAT I BRING to TABLE...

I DON’T BOAST in WHO I AM

I DON’T BOAST in WHAT I’VE DONE...

I BOAST in CHRIST ALONE...

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PAUL SAYS BEWARE! of THOSE WHO ADD WORKS to the GOSPEL of GRACE AS SOURCE of JUSTIFICATION

(T) AND SO, WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT,

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

OUR ONLY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS CHRIST AND THEREFORE WE OUGHT TO MAKE OUR BOAST IN HIM.

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GOSPEL: IF YOU COULD’VE SAVED YOURSELF CHRIST WOULDN’T HAVE HAD TO DIE…

MANY of YOU PROBABLY KNOW THIS..BUT IT DOESN’T HURT to BE REMINDED...

AND WE NEED IT...

SOMETIMES it NEEDS to GO FROM HEAD to HEART....

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IF YOU WERE to DIE TODAY....

STOOD BEFORE YOUR MAKER

GOD SAYS to YOU: “WHY SHOULD I LET YOU INTO HEAVEN?”

WHAT is YOUR RESPONSE?

I WENT to CHURCH EVERY TIME the DOORS WERE OPEN

RAISED in CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLD

SERVED

EVANGELIZED

PRAYED

READ BIBLE

GOOD PERSON??

THIS IS PUTTING CONFIDENCE in the FLESH!

IF THIS is YOUR HOPE—YOU’RE WITHOUT HOPE!!!

INSTEAD:

BECAUSE JESUS CHRIST, the SINLESS SON of GOD,, DIED FOR ME

AND I TRUST in HIM as MY SAVIOR & HAVE PROFESSED HIM as LORD...

I’VE RECEIVED the GIFT of SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH...

THE PERFECT SACRIFICE of CHRIST = OUR ONLY HOPE!

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Galatians 2:21 (ESV)

21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

IF WE COULD’VE MADE it ON OUR OWN…HE WOULDN’T HAVE DIED!

BUT WE COULDN’T....

SO CHRIST CAME DOWN

LIVED THAT PERFECT & SINLESS LIFE

DIED for SINS HE DIDN’T COMMIT...

Romans 6:23 (ESV)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WAGES = WHAT YOU’RE PAID FOR WORK...

GIFTS = FREELY GIVEN!

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A GIFT to BE RECEIVED:

Romans 10:9–10 (ESV)

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

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BOASTING in CHRIST:

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

THROUGH FAITH in the SON of GOD—YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN TODAY...

FAITH IMPLIES BELIEF,, BUT ALSO TRUST

TRUSTING THAT BASED OFF CHRIST’S MERIT YOU’RE RIGHTEOUS in GOD’S SIGHT—RATHER THAN TRUSTING in SELF...

IF YOU’RE HERE TODAY WITHOUT ASSURANCE...

OR IF YOU’VE “BEEN CONFIDENT” IN THE FLESH...

YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY!!

(T) AND NOW, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED, WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE GIFT, I WANT TO OFFER YOU A FINAL ADMONITION IN CLOSING.

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APP: REJOICE & BOAST IN THE LORD JESUS

CHURCH, IF WE AREN’T CAREFUL, WE CAN GROW TO BOAST IN OURSELVES.

TO PUTTING CONFIDENCE in the FLESH...

—>> GOD DOESN’T OWE YOU ANYTHING… YOU CAN NEVER WORK SO THAT HE’LL BE in DEBT to YOU...

WE AREN’T “GOOD PEOPLE” WHOM GOD REWARDS W/ PAYCHECK of HEAVEN

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WE WERE HOPELESS SINNERS

FORGIVEN BY GRACE Of JESUS.

DEAD in SIN—>> RAISED to NEW LIFE in CHRIST

UNDER DOMAIN of DARKNESS—>> TRANSFERRED to KINGDOM of GOD’S BELOVED SON

CHILDREN of WRATH DESTINED for DESTRUCTION—>> CHILDREN of GOD DESTINED FOR GLORY

HOPELESS SINNERS—>> FORGIVEN SAINTS

FAR FROM GOD,, STRANGERS to COVENANTS of PROMISE—>> FELLOW CITIZENS/MEMBERS of HOUSEHOLD of GOD

**ALL BECAUSE of GRACE**

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PAUL SAYS TODAY: “REJOICE in the LORD”

SAYS: WE’RE the TRUE CIRCUMCISION—

SERVE BY the SPIRIT

BOAST in CHRIST

PUT NO CONFIDENCE in FLESH

LIFE MIGHT BE HARD: BUT YOU’VE GOT a REASON to REJOICE—IT WON’T BE TAKEN FROM YOU

YOU’VE GOT a REASON FOR HOPE & ASSURANCE — IT DOESN’T COME FROM YOU!

Remember: to REJOICE is a CHOICE.

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OUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE

OUR SERVICE

ANYTHING WE DO....

IT’S the FRUIT....NOT ROOT....OF OUR SALVATION.

BEWARE of ANY WHO TELL YOU THAT BASED UPON GOOD WORKS YOU’LL GO to HEAVEN.

ALL THAT WE DO IS A HEARTFELT RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING TO THE MARVELOUS GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS,

AND THEREFORE ALL OUR BOAST,

ALL OUR SECURITY,

AND ALL OUR HOPE,

MUST BE FOUND IN HIM. AMEN?

CLOSE in PRAYER