Holding On to the Faith in the Face of Adversity

Greeting and prayer

Good morning church!

My wife Maybelle and I

are so delighted

to be here

with you

this morning!

And I am so grateful

for the opportunity

to preach God’s word

to you

this morning.

Before we start

Let’s pray.

What I find amazing

is that

I have also

been preaching through the Book of Philippians.

And the very last chapter

I preached

was chapter 2.

So when Pastor Jeff

assigned me

Philippians chapter 3

I knew

that this was God’s providence.

So let’s open our Bibles

and keep them open

because I’m going to go

through each

and every verse.

Read Philippians 3:8-16

Philippians 3:8–11 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Philippians 3:12–16 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

Intro

Can you believe

that we’re already

in the second week

of the New Year?

Time goes so fast!

Are you following through

on you New Year’s Resolutions?

Speaking of resolutions

every New Year

it’s common practice

to make

New Year’s Resolutions.

And we do this

because

the New Year

is a time

of new beginnings.

Of moving forward.

But what if

I told you

that God’s Word for us

this morning

is to hold on.

Now you might be thinking,

‘hold on?

it’s the New Year!

I don’t want

to hold on!

I want to move forward!

I have goals

I want to accomplish!

I don’t have time

to hold on

to the past!’

Now

you may not feel it

but there is

a sweeping tide

ready to pull you down

away

from Christ.

And to prove this

I want to share a recent survey

from Pew Research

that in the past 23 years

there has been

a 15% drop

in people identifying as Christian.

And at the same time

identifying

as no religion

has dramatically increased

every year.

But perhaps

what’s far more telling

are the surveys

on the younger generations.

The percentage of Gen Z

our current late teens to mid 20s

who identify as atheist

is double

all other

US adults.

What’s even more shocking

is that

while

80%

of people aged 40 or older

raised Christian

remained

Christian

66% of Gen Z

who were active

in church

during high school

leave church

after

graduating.

66%.

I hope now

church

you see

this raging tide

and endless sea

of increasing secularism

in our country

today.

So what is causing people to fall away

and drown

in the sea of apostasy?

and what do we do?

What we need to do

is to trust

in the one

who has the power

to split the seas

Jesus Christ.

And we need

to hold on

to the faith

that has been given to us

from our Lord Jesus Christ

to the Apostles

all the way to us

to overcome

and remain

faithful

to Him.

So that’s why

our title today

is Holding On to The Faith in the Face of Adversity.

Because this is our main point:

If you don’t hold on to these essential aspects

of the faith

taught by Paul

in Philippians 3

you will be torn away

from Christ

by a sweeping tide

of worldly pressure

temptation,

and false teaching.

So let’s begin

with the first aspect

of the faith

to hold on to.

1. Hold on to the true source of joy (v.1a)

Let’s begin

in v.1

where it says,

‘Finally, my brothers, rejoice’

To begin

the end of this letter

Paul returns

to a very familiar theme

in Philippians:

joy.

Joy is one of the major themes of Philippians.

In fact

before chapter 3

the word joy

or rejoice

has already appeared

9 times.

And now

in chapter 3

he commands us again

to rejoice.

Why?

Why not

say something new

Paul?

Why repeat

this doctrine of joy

for a 10th time?

And the answer is

rejoicing

is often

a forgotten part

of the Christian walk.

By repeating it 10 times

Paul wants to remind us

of the importance

of rejoicing

as part

of the Christian walk!

Here’s another reason

Paul is repeating

the theme of joy.

Paul is in prison.

The Philippians

are being persecuted

back in chapter 1 verse 28.

And Epaphroditus

their beloved messenger

almost died

at the end of chapter 2!

When you are going

through trials

it is hard

to rejoice.

And not only

is it hard

to rejoice

in trials

we forget

to even

rejoice

in the first place!

One of the reasons

rejoicing

is so forgotten

in the Christian walk

is because

rejoicing

is often seen

as an emotion.

That I will only rejoice

if

I feel

joyful!

But rejoicing

is not

a feeling!

Rejoicing

is something

you do

regardless

of how you feel!

That’s why

God has to command it!

Now each

of those

10 times

Paul is giving us

a different

kind

of joy.

Paul talks about praying with joy

in chapter 1 verse 4.

Rejoicing while suffering in prison

in chapter 1 verse 18.

Rejoicing because he knows

that God will use

all these trials in Paul’s life

for good

in chapter 1 verse 19.

And then for the first time

in chapter 2 verse 18

he commands

the Philippians to rejoice

with him

because Jesus

has used his sacrificial labor

and pain

for the good of the Philippians.

But the problem

still remains.

If I don’t feel

like rejoicing.

How am I supposed

to do it?

You can tell me all these scenarios

of when

to rejoice

but if I don’t know

where

to find joy

I can’t do it!

But thankfully

what’s unique

about rejoicing

in chapter 3

is that it tells you

finally

where to find joy.

And you find it

in the phrase

‘in the Lord.’

‘Rejoice

in the Lord’.

Paul is saying

the true source

of joy

is found

in the Lord.

And I say

true

source

of joy

because listen

to this

there are many

false

sources

of joy.

They’re everywhere.

Fake bags

Fake watches

Fake sneakers.

In 2021

a fake

Mona Lisa

was sold

for $3.4 million dollars.

And the fake

was so good

that some experts

even wonder

if the “original”

in the Louvre in Paris

is even real!

But what’s scarier

than a fake $3.4 million Mona Lisa

are the fake

sources of joy today.

And if you want to find them

go listen

to the most popular songs

of the day.

Materialism

sexual immorality

pride in achievement.

But even things

that are more innocent

like

job security

or family;

All of the above

cannot bring

the satisfaction

and fulfillment

they promise.

Before I knew Christ

I grew up

in a single parent household.

My mom worked

her butt off

as a caregiver

to provide

for me

with no father.

But because

she had to work so hard

I was often home alone

and I became depressed.

So I tried to find joy

in everything.

Movies

music

sports

friendships

you name it!

If you want to know

why I can be so nerdy

about random things

it’s because

before Christ

I was so desperate

to find joy.

And none of those things

are bad

in themselves

but they could not

fulfill

the emptiness

in my soul

nor provide

the satisfaction

I was craving for.

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)

for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

While Israel

found joy

in the false gods of Babylon

Today

they are replaced

with the false gods

the false sources

of joy

in sexual immorality

pride

and wealth

when only

God

can truly satisfy.

Don’t fall

for these counterfeit

sources of joy

church.

Hold on

to the true source of joy:

the Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 13:44 ESV

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Here’s how

to hold on to the true source of joy

that you find

the Lord Jesus Christ

and his kingdom

as the treasure

above all treasures!

And when you do

you will have joy

so powerful

that no

apathy

and no trial

can ever stop!

Rejoice in The Lord!

Hold on to the true source of joy.

2. Hold on to true worship (v.1b-6)

Now if there is true worship

there is also false worship.

And that

is what Paul

is going to

address

in the rest

of v.1,

‘To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.’

What Paul

is about to write

is for

the Philippians’

safety.

Because back in Philippians 1:28

Paul mentioned

the opponents

of the Philippians

were making them

afraid.

In addition

many years

before

Paul wrote

Philippians

he wrote

Galatians

and in it

he wrote against

the false worship

taking place there.

So to

protect

the Philippians

from this false worship

he warns them

now

before

it’s too late.

So what is

this false worship?

First

you must understand

who

was teaching

this false worship

and they were called

the Judaizers.

And the Judaizers

claimed

to be Christians

and taught

to be saved

that believing in Jesus

is important

but so is

keeping

the Old Covenant.

And this was clearly seen

in their view

of circumcision.

That in order

to be saved

you must believe in Jesus

and

be circumcised.

Circumcision

was so important

to the Jews

because God

used it

to mark

who are his people

and who are not.

But for the unbelieving Jew

they took it

as a symbol of pride.

I’m circumcised

you’re not

therefore

I’m better

than you.

To put it simply

the false worship,

the Judaizers

taught was

salvation

is by faith

plus works.

And that

kind of worship

is deadly.

Look at v.2

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

Paul repeatedly says

look out.

Look out

look out

look out.

And this is because

false worship

is deceptive.

It’s hard

to detect.

It blends in

like a wolf

in sheep’s clothing.

If someone said

‘you need to be circumcised’

to be saved

and that’s it

you can spot

from a mile away

that’s false.

But if instead

they add,

‘you must believe in Jesus’

now it gets

a lot more confusing.

When someone poisons a drink

they make sure

the poison

as much as possible

is flavorless

so that you don’t spit it out

and that it goes down smoothly

and undetected.

And that’s why Paul says

look out.

And he calls

these false worshippers

dogs

evildoers

and those who mutilate the flesh

or the mutilation

in other translations

for short.

Each

of these descriptions

are ironic.

Dogs

not like

the cute pets

that we have in America

is referring more

to street dogs.

Rabid scavengers

dirty.

When I was in the Philippines

visiting

my mom’s province

people do have pet dogs

but there are also

a lot of street dogs

just roaming around

outside.

And the Jews

called the Gentiles

non-Jews

street dogs

because they were outside

the faith.

And Paul

is calling these Jews

the street dogs

because they

are actually

outside

the faith.

He calls them evildoers

because they claim

to be doing God’s work

but what they are doing

is in reality evil

because they are actually

bringing people

to hell

with them.

And the last thing

he calls them

is the mutilation.

And mutilation

or cutting oneself

is a practice done by pagans.

When Elijah

tested

the prophets of Baal

to a duel

of who has the real God

the prophets of Baal

cut themselves

because

mutilation

was the practice

of pagans.

So by calling them the mutilation

Paul is calling the Judaizers

pagans.

Because this

is what they truly are

evil

pagan

street dogs.

that’s false worship.

But what about true worship?

Let’s breakdown

v.3,

‘For we are the circumcision,

By calling Christians

the circumcision

he’s describing them

as the one’s

with true worship.

Romans 2:29 ESV

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.

What Paul is saying here

is that being a true Jew

is a spiritual matter.

And that is done

by a circumcision

of the heart

by the Holy Spirit.

Not

by following the letter

which means following

the Old Covenant.

True worship

is spiritual.

But there’s more

as Paul describes

true worship

as trinitarian.

It says

‘who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus’

Look at the three words

Spirit

which is the Holy Spirit

God

which is the Father

and Christ Jesus

who is the Son.

Or simply

True worship

is Christian.

And finally

Paul teaches

that true worship

is by faith alone.

‘and put no confidence in the flesh—’

The flesh

refers to good works.

The Judaizers

put their confidence

their faith

in the work of circumcision.

But Paul says

Christians

put no faith

in good works.

Romans 3:28 ESV

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Paul says being made right with God

is by faith

apart

from works of the law.

Or in other words

by faith alone.

And faith alone

is the only

kind of worship

God will accept.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Drawing near to God

refers to worship

and the author of Hebrews says

that only faith

will please God.

Because true worship

is by faith alone

in Christ alone.

Now that you know

what is false worship

and what is true worship.

There’s one more thing

you must understand.

And that is

false worship is tempting.

Look at v.4-6

‘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:

circumcised on the eighth day,

of the people of Isreal, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews;

as to the law, a Pharisee;

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

This

is Paul’s personal list

of good works.

All of these

good works

are impressive

particularly

to Jews.

They were so impressive

that not even the Judaizers

likely had these

achievements.

And when Paul

was under

false worship

this list

is what

he would have taken to God

on judgement day

and say

‘here God

is my resume of good works

of why I deserve

to go to heaven’.

Because this

is what Paul

took pride in.

The danger

of false worship

that threatens

to pull you away

is that it promotes

pride.

Walking around the mall

with my wife

I was suddenly

approached

by two

well-dressed people

inviting us

to a bible study.

And I thought wow

how brave they are

to invite people to church in public!

But as I started asking

what they believe

I asked

how do you go to heaven?

And they said

you must believe in Jesus

but also

take

the passover.

And then I knew

this

was false worship.

But what amazes me

is that

immediately

as they fail

to get my wife and I

they go on to the next person

right in front of me

and then that person

falls for the bait

and joins their study.

They are called

the World Mission Society Church

and they are the fastest growing cult

today.

Why are they

the fastest growing cult?

Because faith plus works

promotes pride.

It feels good

to the flesh

to earn your own salvation.

But just because

you’re not tempted

by other works based religions

beware

in your own personal life.

I know many Christians

who take pride

in their baptism

their church attendance

their Bible translation

or even

what theology

or preacher

they listen to

and then treat others

who don’t

have the same theology

or listen to the same preachers

as lesser

than they.

Beware church

and make sure

in your own life

that you are not

without realizing it

putting confidence

in the flesh.

Becoming legalistic.

Don’t fall

for false worship church.

Hold on to true worship.

3. Hold on to your relationship with Jesus (v.7-11)

And the reason why

is because

a true relationship with Jesus is far better than anything in existence.

Look at v.7-8

‘But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ’.

In these verses

Paul uses a picture

of a business report.

Gains and losses.

He calls

the things

he used

to view

as gains

are now

losses.

Last year

Red Lobster

had a powerful menu option

to bring customers in the door.

Unlimited shrimp

for $20.

And it worked!

They were bringing in

loads of customers

because $20

for unlimited shrimp

is a crazy deal.

That was a gain.

Until

later that year

Red Lobster

declared

bankruptcy

because they lost

millions of dollars

because of the unlimited shrimp deal.

That’s a loss!

The unlimited shrimp deal

that used

to be a gain

for Red Lobster

is now

causing them

loss!

And Paul is saying

that ‘all those things

I used to take pride in

that I believed

made me closer with God

actually made me farther away

from Him!

In fact not just my previous good works

but anything

that could make me take pride

in myself

all

make me

farther away

from God.’

And that’s why

Paul calls good works

that you take pride in

rubbish

or trash.

Isaiah 64:6 NKJV

But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

To God

all our good deeds

are nothing

but filthy rags!

Instead

what’s far better

is a relationship with Jesus.

The word

to know

doesn’t mean

intellectual awareness.

The demons

know

Jesus is Lord.

But they are not saved.

Know

means to have an intimate relationship

with Jesus

as Lord

and redeemed.

And that sweetness

of having a relationship

with Jesus

is so good

to Paul

that all he wanted

was more of it!

That ‘he might gain Christ!’

But a lot of people

claim

to have a relationship with Jesus!

So how do we know

who is real

and who is fake?

First

Paul describes

a true relationship with Jesus is someone who has been made right with Him.

Look at v.9

‘and be found in Him, not having righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-’

This doctrine

of being made right with God

also known

as justification

is a theme

taught earlier.

You are not justified

by faith plus works

like the Judaizers

were teaching

you are saved

by faith alone.

Look at

2 Corinthians 5:21

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

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

When

you put your faith

in Christ

in his death

on the cross

he became sin

even though

he was sinless

by taking your sin.

But that’s not enough

because you must also

be perfectly righteous

to enter heaven

not just

sinless

so Christ gives you

his

righteousness

and by doing so

you become

the righteousness of God.

So when you meet God

and He looks at you

he no longer sees you

He sees

Jesus!

That’s why

Paul says

‘and be found in Him’

because believers

who put

their faith in Christ

are hidden

in the righteousness of Christ.

How lovely

that in Christ

God no longer sees you

as a sinner worthy of His wrath

but as his righteous son!

That’s why

you can have

a relationship with Jesus

because He

makes you right

with Him!

Second

Paul also describes

a true relationship with Jesus as someone who becomes more like Him.

Look at v.10, ‘that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death’.

A relationship with Jesus

is fueled

by the power of his resurrection.

There is no way

that we

can continue

our relationship with Jesus

if not for the Holy Spirit

who upholds us

with the same power

that rose

Jesus

from the dead!

And not only

does the Holy Spirit

uphold us

he makes us

more like him.

Or another word

for this is he sanctifies us.

Because when you become

a Christian

it does not mean

life will get easy.

There will be trials.

There will be suffering.

You will become like Jesus

in his death

which means

there will be sacrifice.

Just like how Paul

suffered

for the gospel

in prison

and sacrificed

his life

for the glory of God!

But fear not

because Jesus

is with you

even

when you suffer

even

when you sacrifice

for His name!

And He uses it

to make you

more

like Him!

A true relationship with Jesus

is one

that is becoming more

like Him!

Third

a true relationship with Jesus means one who endures to the end.

Look at v.11,

‘that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.’

Paul is saying

‘I don’t know

how

I’m gonna make it

to the end

but somehow

God got this!

And in the end

because of my relationship with Jesus

I will rise again

into glory with Christ

forever!

Because as Paul wrote

earlier in the letter

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Christian

you don’t need to know how

exactly

God will get you through

you don’t need to know how

exactly

God is using a trial that you’re in

for your good

all you need to know

is that he

who began a good work in you

will

bring it to completion

at the day

of Jesus Christ!

Because

you have a relationship with Jesus!

So church

don’t let

your relationship with Jesus grow cold!

Some of you here today

feel cold

with Jesus.

But remember

how much better

a relationship with Jesus is:

how he made you right with Him

how he is making you more like Him

how he will endure you

all the way

to the end!

Don’t neglect

your private time

with Jesus

don’t neglect

coming to worship with the saints on Sunday

don’t run away from Jesus

when you sin

don’t neglect

talking to Jesus

in prayer!

Hold on to your relationship

with Jesus!

4. Hold on to the goal of becoming more godly (v.12-16)

As we move on to these next verses

Paul is going to use

very athletic imagery

to explain

that

becoming more godly requires humility.

And that

is what we see

in v.12

‘Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own.’

What Paul is saying

is that

just because

nothing

is as important

as my relationship with Jesus

does not mean

I’m perfect.

I’m not

a super Christian.

But

I want to be.

I want

to become more godly.

And I do this

not because

I started

my relationship with Jesus

but because He

started it!

‘Christ Jesus had made me his own!’

On the Damascus road

on the way

to persecute

more Christians

Paul was humbled

and the Lord

saved him.

Paul had nothing to do with it!

It was all Jesus

because Jesus

started

this relationship.

Everything

including

your salvation

begins

and ends

with God.

He is the alpha

and the omega.

That

is humility.

Acknowledging

that I’m not perfect

I have room for growth

and that I didn’t

save myself

it was Jesus.

And that I didn’t even humble myself

it was Jesus

who humbled me!

That’s why

Jesus said

take the log

out of your own eye

first

before helping others.

Because unless

you first

acknowledge

your weaknesses

your sin

you cannot grow

in godliness.

Becoming more godly

requires humility.

But once

Christ has humbled you

and you realize

you need to grow

you can now

have a goal to become more godly.

Look at v.13-14

‘Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’

For Paul

in order

for him

to become more godly

he first

cannot

be hindered

by the his past.

You see

many Christians

get hindered

by their past.

Someone hurt them

maybe even in the church.

And they just can’t

move forward.

Or

some will put confidence

in what they did in the past

“I got baptized years ago”

I’m good!

I passed out tracts

5 years ago!

I’m definitely going to heaven now!

But not Paul.

Not that he

wiped the past from his memory

like a computer drive

but he doesn’t

let

the past affect him.

Because he’s too busy

straining forward

to what lies ahead.

Straining forward

means to be reaching out

to something with all your might,

Pressing on toward the goal

in Greek

literally

means to run.

Like a runner in a race

reaching not just with his arms

but his whole body

to reach that finish line

even just a hair

before everyone else.

He’s doing everything he can

to be more like Christ.

Because his goal

is to become more godly

and eventually

be with Jesus

when he returns

that upward call

forever.

Becoming more godly

requires a goal.

But what’s fascinating

is that Paul

doesn’t force

this goal

on anyone else.

Because at the end of the day

becoming more godly starts with the fundamentals.

Look at v.15

‘Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

Paul is saying

that Christians

who make it their goal

to become more godly

are mature.

And if you

don’t have

a goal

to become more godly

you are not

mature.

But that’s ok

because if you truly

have a relationship with Jesus

God will make it clear to you

over time

that you need

to have a goal

of becoming more godly.

Whether through further study

or teaching

or even discipline

God will help you

if you are his child.

In other words

Paul

isn’t playing

Holy Spirit.

Some times

we get frustrated

that we can’t make fellow Christians

become more godly

so we play

Holy Spirit

when all you need to do

is just pray.

Because at the end of the day

becoming more godly

requires

the fundamentals.

Look at v.16

‘Only let us hold true to what we have attained’.

And this

is the crux

for our sermon today.

This is the key verse

of our sermon.

The Greek word

for let us hold

means to literally

to be in line with

not falling

out of line.

To hold on

to what we have attained

which is referring

to the faith.

So what Paul means here

is that

as long

as you hold on

to the fundamentals

of the faith

you’ll be alright.

You can have all the disagreements

there can be all these false teachings

from the Judaizers

and all these

worldly temptations

but as long

as you hold on to the faith

you’ll make it just fine.

But eventually church

I want you to grow in your faith

and for you

to hold on to the goal of becoming more godly.

I don’t want you

stuck on milk

but be fed meat.

Yasuka Namba

was a 46 year old

FedEx employee

who had a passion for climbing.

She was well accomplished

so that

she reached the top

of the seven tallest mountains

on the planet.

And there was only

one left.

Mount Everest.

One fellow member of the expedition

said,

‘She pushed extremely hard

brushing past

everyone

to the front.’

And later that day

she made it

to the top.

She accomplished her goal.

In fact

she was the oldest person

to ever make it

to the highest point

on Earth:

the summit of Mt. Everest.

But later that same day

Namba

got caught

in a blizzard

due to her

over-exertion

of her rapid climb

and she was

frozen to death

in the same place

she accomplished

her greatest goal.

One of the surviving crew said

‘that Namba

had

the wrong

goal.

Reaching

the top of the mountain

is not

the correct goal

of successful climbers.

The correct

goal

of succesful climbers

is to

make it

back

to the bottom

of the mountain.

Oh church

what profits a man

if he gains

the whole world

but loses

his only soul!

What profits you

if you

accomplished

every dream

every goal

you ever had?

You got

the job you always wanted

or the spouse you always wanted

but you never grew

in godliness?

You can’t

just have any goal!

You must have

the right goal.

The goal of of becoming more godly.

Where

on your New Year’s Resolutions?

do you have becoming more godly

on it?

Listen carefully

to this verse:

2 Peter 1:5–8 ESV

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Some time

today

after this sermon

I want you

to re-read 2 Peter 1:5-8

and pay attention

to all these aspects

of the Christian faith

like virtue

or love

and think

which one of these

am I weak in?

Which one of these

can I grow in

this year

in 2025?

And write it down.

And make it

your goal

to grow

in that area.

Because if you don’t

hold on the goal of becoming more godly

just like untrained muscles

you will become useless

for The Lord!

So church

hold on to the goal of becoming more godly.

5. Hold on to godly examples (v.17-19)

In the Christian faith

you need

the help

of others.

You can’t do it

alone.

And that’s why

you need godly examples.

Look at v.17,

‘Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.’

Paul is saying

that you

need

to follow

his example.

Just like you need to keep you eyes open

for false worship

You need to keep your eyes

you need to watch

the example

of more godly

Christians.

He first mentions himself

who modeled

a sacrifice

in willing to be imprisoned

for the sake of the gospel.

But he also says us.

Referring back to Timothy

who modeled

a genuine care

for others

and Epaphroditus

who modeled

faithfulness

to complete

his mission

even though

he almost died!

These are wonderful

godly examples

for us

to follow!

You need examples

from history!

For me that would be Charles Spurgeon

and his dedication

to preach faithfully!

But some of my favorite

examples

are missionaries.

As much as I love

great preachers.

There is something special

of the example

of missionaries.

Like Jim Elliott

who wanting to contact

the unreached Waodani Tribe

in Ecuador

was killed

on the beach

just upon landing.

His wife Elisabeth Elliott

out of love for Christ

came to live

with the people

who murdered her husband.

Shocked

by such love

many in the Waodani Tribe

came to faith in Christ.

If the example of missionaries

doesn’t move you

I don’t know

what will.

But you also need

godly examples

in the present.

People like Pastor Jeff

and others.

People who can help you

right now

in the present.

Because if you don’t

hold on

to godly examples

you will hold on to bad examples.

Look at v.18-19

‘For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things.’

These are people

who claimed to be Christians

and did not

hold on to the goal of becoming more godly.

They end up

leaving the faith

and live

as enemies of Christ.

And because

they are now

enemies of Christ

they will end up

in destruction

in eternal hell.

Like Namba

who had the wrong goal

in climbing

ended up

costing

her life.

Because these bad examples

worship

whatever they crave

not just

food cravings

but any sensual desire

they had

they bowed down

and worshipped it.

They take pride

and glory

in sin

like what many

in the LGBT

community do today.

And most telling

is their minds

are set on earthly things.

Rather than being set

on the goal of becoming more godly

they only cared

about worldly things.

Church

hold on

to godly examples.

Because the saying

is still true

‘bad company

corrupts

good morals’.

Psalm 1:1 (ESV)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

If you ever wonder

why

you act one way

outside church

and the other

inside

the church

it’s because you have bad examples.

And my the Psalmist says

be careful

of who

you fellowship with.

Hold on to godly examples

church.

This is why

church

is essential

to the Christian faith.

You need godly leaders

pastors

to lead you.

If you’re not a member

of the church

you need to become one

and submit yourselves

to the elders

the pastors

as 1 Peter 5:5 says.

And you need

to fellowship

with every age.

Not just people

your age

but also

people older than you.

The more mature Christians

while not always the case

are usually

older Christians.

Spend time with them.

You need

spiritual mentors.

If it wasn’t

for spiritual mentors

in my life

I would not

be here

before you

today.

So I ask you

who

are your spiritual mentors?

Hold on to godly examples.

6. Hold on to your heavenly citizenship (v.20-21)

The enemies of Christ

were people

whose minds

were set

on this world.

Because their citizenship

is in hell.

But Paul says

in v.20,

‘But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.’

What Paul means

is that

the enemies of Christ

are going

to eternal destruction

but you, Christian

are not.

Because your citizenship is in heaven.

That this world

is not your home

church.

You don’t belong here.

While your earthly home

might be in Maryland.

Your true home is in heaven.

John 14:2 ESV

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

That’s because

your true home

is in heaven.

And the ruler of your home in heaven is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

Look at v.21

‘who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

When Christ returns

if you are a Christian

you will be

resurrected

into a new glorious body

like the one

Jesus has.

Because Jesus

is all-powerful.

Look at Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Jesus is the one

who holds up

the entire universe

even the very atoms

from collapsing

into chaos.

And Jesus

sat down

at the right hand

of the Majesty on high

because he is King of Kings

and Lord of Lords.

While Donald Trump

will be inaugurated

as President of the United States

on January 20

your king

King Jesus

was inaugurated

as the King

of all nations

2000 years ago!

Because your true home

is ruled

by King Jesus!

So church

hold on to your heavenly citizenship!

As a Filipino-American

born in the States

to two Filipino immigrants

same

as my wife

I noticed something.

Whenever

we visit them

almost always

the Filipino news

is playing

on the TV.

Same

with many Filipinos

in the Filipino church

that I used to serve.

Many of them

keep up to date

with how’s the country

doing today

even if

they’re

thousands

of miles away

here

in the US.

Now some of you

may have heard

of what is called

a dual-citizenship.

Some of these Filipinos

even had

this dual-citizenship.

Even

if it was a hassle

to do so.

Why?

Because they love their country.

Because that’s their home.

Church

do you love

heaven

like that?

That’s your true home!

You must love

your heavenly citizenship.

Don’t live

as if

your life on earth

is all there is.

Too much worry

and anxiety

comes

from living life

and forgetting

your heavenly citizenship.

Worrying about where your next paycheck will come

what to eat

what to wear.

who to impress.

Putting your faith

in elected officials

when you need to put your faith

in the only official

that really matters

the king

of your true heavenly home

King Jesus.

Hold on to your heavenly citizenship church.

So to conclude

Hold on

to the faith:

1. Hold on to the true source of joy (v.1a)

2. Hold on to true worship (v.1b-6)

3. Hold on to your relationship with Jesus (v.7-11)

4. Hold on to the goal of becoming more godly (v.12-16)

5. Hold on to godly examples (v.17-19)

6. Hold on to your heavenly citizenship (v.20-21)

Because (main point)

If you don’t

hold on

to these essential aspects

of the faith

taught by Paul

in Philippians 3

you will be torn away

from Christ

by a sweeping tide

of worldly pressure

temptation,

and false teaching.

Gospel presentation

And if you are listening today

and you are not in Christ

I want to warn you

that the wages of sin

is death

according to Romans.

And God is just

He will

make sure

every person

will

pay

in eternal punishment.

But the good news

is that God

sent His Only Son

the Lord Jesus Christ

to be sin

who knew no sin

take our place on the cross

taking

the punishment

we deserve

for our sins

in effect

being the payment for sins

so that you

can have

eternal life

by rising again

from the grave.

And he offers

to pay for your sins

for free!

As a free gift!

So how do you accept a free gift?

You just take it!

No works!

Because then it’s not

a free gift

anymore.

But by faith alone

you can receive

Christ’s payment

and have eternal life

not just after you die

but today

right now

you can experience

eternal life

and be transformed

into a new creation.

So put your faith alone

in Christ alone

today.

Let’s pray.