Losing to Win
Study in Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Communion: I surrender all!
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.
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.
We can’t be reminded too often to rejoice in Jesus.
Repetition is the mother of leaning.
Safeguard: Guardrails and Caution signs
2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
“Dogs.” The orthodox Jew would call the Gentile a “dog,” but here Paul calls orthodox Jews “dogs”! Paul is not just using names; he is comparing these false teachers to not to domesticated pet dogs but the dirty scavengers pack of dogs that use to eat trash and bring disease.
Like those dogs, these Judaizers snapped at Paul’s heels and followed him from place to place “barking” their false doctrines. They were troublemakers and carriers of dangerous infection. They can rob joy!
Evildoers: These men taught that the sinner was saved by faith plus good works, especially the works of the Law (Do this and this.... But Paul states that their “good works” are really evil works because they are performed by the flesh (old nature) and not the Spirit, and they glorify the workers and not Jesus Christ.
Mutilators: The Judaizers taught that circumcision was essential to salvation but Paul states that circumcision of itself is only a mutilation! The true Christian has experienced a spiritual circumcision in Christ Col. 2:11, and does not need any fleshly operations.
11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
Circumcision, baptism, the communion, tithing, or any other religious practice cannot save a person from his sins. Only faith in Jesus Christ can do that.
Remember from last week:
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
A lady was arguing with her pastor about this matter of faith and works. “I think that getting to heaven is like rowing a boat,” she said. “One oar is faith, and the other is works. If you use both, you get there. If you use only one, you go around in circles.”
‘’There is only one thing wrong with your illustration,” replied the pastor. “Nobody is going to heaven in a rowboat!”
There is only one “good work” that takes us sinner to heaven: the finished work of Christ on the cross.
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—
The Greek word for boast describes boasting with expressive joy about what a person is most proud of. Jesus! - Grandad’s photos.
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:
Sounds like he is bragging.
In this intensely autobiographical section, Paul examines his own life. He becomes an “auditor” who opens the books to see what wealth he has, and he discovers that he is bankrupt! - without Jesus!
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.
He was born into a pure Hebrew family and entered into a covenantal relationship when he was circumcised.
As a young student, he had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, one of the great rabbi’s of his time.
His career as a Jewish religious leader was a promising one and yet
His zeal - Persecuting the church / there at Steven death.
Paul gave it all up—to become a hated member of the “Christian sect” and a preacher of the Gospel!
(His religious assets were liabilities)
Like most “religious” people today, Paul had enough morality to keep him out of trouble, but not enough righteousness to get him into heaven!
It was not bad things that kept Paul away from Jesus—it was good things he thought! He had to lose his “religion” to find salvation.
7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
My Assists were my Liability
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
To “know Christ” means to have a personal relationship with Him through faith
Losing it all was worth gaining much, much more. A relationship with the lover of his soul. - I have relationship challenges. Me too. I have abandonment issues.
God said He would never leave us or forsake us! Heb 13:5
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
Garbage is the Greek word: Sky/ba/lon (Slide)
(Say it with me church!) - Literal trans. - Dung, dukie, doo-doo, excrement, scat, poop, poopoo, guano, feces, manure, and my favorite cow pies.
Losing it all and seeing it as poop that I may gain Christ!
Losing it all and gaining an eternal inheritance.
Ecuador Missionary: Jim Elliot - He died at the very hands of the people he was trying to reach for Jesus.
“He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” -Jim Elliot (slide)
Assurance of salvation:
11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
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.
When Paul trusted Christ, he lost his own self-righteousness and gained the righteousness of Christ.
The technical word for this transaction is im·pu·ta·tion. Imputation is a theological concept that refers to the transfer of benefit or harm, guilt or righteousness, from one individual to another.
It means “to put to one’s account.” Paul looked at his own record and discovered that he was spiritually bankrupt. He looked at Christ’s record and saw that He was perfect. When Paul trusted Christ, he saw God put Christ’s righteousness to his own account! More than that, Paul discovered that his sins had been put on Christ’s account on the cross.
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,
His experience with Christ was a intimate personal experience (I want to know Christ) as Paul walked with Christ, prayed, obeyed His will, and sought to glorify His name.
Suffering brings closeness. - South Korean Pastors imprisoned.
11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul didn’t care how God brought it to pass.
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.
He is not satisfied with where he is; he wants to keep growing. He has a holy discontent that keeps him pressing on.
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,
I tried to build a National Youth Soccer tournament. But no one on the mid-west or east coast wanted to come to the west coast to compete.
The believer must refuse to rely on past virtuous deeds and achievements in ministry or to dwell on sins and failures. To be distracted by the past debilitates one’s efforts in the present.
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
The goal? Christlikeness here and now.
The prize? Christlikeness in heaven.
The ultimate prize: Knowing Christ. (Hamster contest)
The next. Leading others to this wonderful prize. (Giving the hamster away)
Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.
