A Joyous Goal

Today, God is calling us to stop trading in counterfeit currency and learn how to Trade Garbage for Glory.

True Christian identity is rooted in spiritual transformation and faith in Christ, never in outward human performance or fleshly rituals

Protect Your Joy from Performance

Philippians 3:1–2 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.

Paul issues a triple-fire warning against false teachers (the Judaizers) who were telling Gentile converts they had to be circumcised and keep Old Testament ceremonial laws to be truly saved.

Philippians 3:3 ESV

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—

True salvation is an inward work of the Holy Spirit, centered on boasting in Jesus, with zero trust in human merit.

**WE CANNOT SAVE OUR SELVES THROUGH WORKS OR OTHERWISE**

When you step into the presence of a holy God, all human bragging gets shut down at the door

Stop letting legalism and religious performance rob you of your joy

Remember that your tenure in church doesn't save you, only the blood of Jesus saves!

Stop comparing your spiritual walk to what you see on social media. You don't earn God's love by performing or pretending to have it all together.

Real Christian joy starts when you stop relying on your flesh and start resting in the Spirit!

Guard your heart against self-righteous legalism and anchor your worship in the Spirit.

Explain: Paul warns that placing confidence in the flesh leads either to pride (if you think you're keeping the rules) or despair (when you realize you can't).

Illustrate: A person trying to earn their way to heaven on good works is like a swimmer trying to cross the Gulf of Mexico with an anvil strapped to their ankles; the harder they kick, the faster they sink.

Apply: Audit your heart today. Ask yourself:

"Am I trusting in my goodness, my baptism, or my church membership to make me right with God, or am I trusting in Jesus alone?"

Shift your trust off your shoulders and place it squarely on the finished work of the Cross.

Trading Pedigree for the Worth of Christ

All human credentials and religious accomplishments are total loss compared to the infinite worth of knowing Christ and receiving His righteousness.

Pauls says: “If anyone has a reason to boast, I do...”

Philippians 3:4–6 ESV

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.

Paul gives his religious resume: circumcised on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, 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 (vv. 5–6). In Jewish society, Paul had the ultimate credentials!

Philippians 3:7–9 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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—

Loss = rubbish, dung, table scraps…

So that he may

"gain Christ and be found in him...”

Your righteousness isn't good enough, but His righteousness is perfect!

Pursue deep, intimate fellowship with Christ in His power and in His sufferings.

Philippians 3:10–11 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

"know" (ginosko) = an intimate, relational, life-sharing experience with the living King.

There is a big difference between knowing about someone and knowing them. You can follow a celebrity on Instagram, read their biography, and know their birthday, but you don't know them. Many people sit in sanctuary pews every Sunday and know all the Bible facts about Jesus, but they don't know Him in their daily trial!

Stop settling for a secondhand relationship with God through others, seek Him for yourself! And when trial, sickness, or hardship comes your way, don't run away, realize that as you walk through trouble, you are sharing in His sufferings, and His resurrection power is available to carry you through.

Forget the Past and Press Forward

Philippians 3:12–14 ESV

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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual maturity requires an ongoing, single-minded pursuit of Christ, refusing to let past failures or past successes hinder future progress.

***Wes racing someone else or running with the football***

You cannot walk into God's future for your life if you are constantly looking in yesterday's rearview mirror!

Forget your past failures. Stop letting old sins & old mistakes define who you are today. If God has forgiven you, forgive yourself and get back in the race!

Forget your past successes. Stop coasting on what you did for God ten years ago. God doesn't give daily bread on yesterday's testimony! He has a fresh assignment for you right now.

"press on" (dioko) = to pursue with relentless energy

**Like a runner straining every muscle toward the tape at the finish line**

True joy is found when we stop boasting in our religious credentials, trade our self-righteous performance for the worth of Christ, and press forward toward our heavenly goal