Sermon Tone Analysis

What is the Mark?

This question invokes all kinds of answers.

Just the mention of it gets professing Christians and non-believers to quip about their speculation as to just what is the mark of the beast.

In our technology saturated world, most begin to opine about some type of chip implant or or physical mark that will be forced upon everyone to be able to move about, buy food and just survive in the world of chaos.

This like, the name of the Antichrist, has given way to so much speculation, interpretation and prognostication.

We are in the 3rd chapter now of the letter of Paul to the Philippian church, as we continue in our series “Together: A Study Through Philippians.”

Specifically the first 11 verses of Chapter 3.

Philippians 3:1-11

I am not going to answer the question, “What is the mark of the beast?”, today, because that is really not what Paul does here.

In these verses Paul is more concerned about a different mark.

PLEASE HONOR OUR HOLY GOD BY STANDING IF YOU CAN WITH ME TO READ HIS HOLY WORD

PRAYER

Did you catch what kind of mark Paul is writing about here?

What is he trying to tell the Philippians, all other Christians and us?

What these verses confront and convicts with is this.

Instead of you and me worrying so much about not having the mark of the beast, you and I best make sure there is evidence in us of being a genuine, true Christian.

What is a Christian?

Adrian Rogers, preaching the same subject said, “We use the word Christian so carelessly that it has almost lost its meaning.

I heard of a man who was asked his friend, ‘Are you a Christian?’

He said, ‘Yes, I am.’

He was then asked, ‘Why are you a Christian?’

He replied, ‘I was born in America, and America is a Christian country.

Therefore, I'm a Christian.’

The friend, with a smile on his face, said, ‘I knew of some kittens who were born in a bread basket, but that didn't make them biscuits.’”

Paul gives us 3 marks of a genuine Christian contrasted with that of his opponents who were false Christians.

But first, look with me in v. 1 - “This,” is pointing them back to the time of his presence with them.

But first, look with me in v. 1 - “This,” is pointing them back to the time of his presence with them.

“This” is the True Gospel which he taught them in the beginning.

Lydia, the young slave girl, the Philippian jailer and family, along with all the original church members were true church members because they were true Christians.

They were true Christians because they heard and responded to the True Gospel.

Jesus is the cornerstone of the church, and thus the Gospel is the foundational doctrine of the church.

Paul reminds them and us what the True Gospel does for them and every church.

The True Gospel is a safeguard for us, protecting the church against false teachers and fake Christians peddling a false doctrine or purveying a false religion disguised as the real thing.

We find in v. 2 the Marks of False Teachers and Fake Christians, and in he calls them enemies of the cross because of the false gospel they live.

Paul in the entire chapter reveals to us two sides of the same fake coin.

Did you ever find one of those big gold coins as a kid.

You know the one I am talking about.

As a real young kid you don’t know any better, finding one you’re thinking, “oh man I am rich,” but then you feel it and its real soft.

You start peeling back the layers of gold and find chocolate.

Hey it tasted sweet and good, but as far as coins go its worthless.

In Paul calls these false teachers and fake Christians, enemies of the cross, because of their message and lifestyle of peddling shiny fake gospel coins.

When the layers were peeled back boy it tasted sweet, but as far as salvation, forgiveness of sin and eternal life goes, their coin was and still is worthless.

Paul shows us both sides of the fake coin in two sections of chapter 3.

We find in v. 2 the Marks of False Teachers and Fake Christians,

v.2 - One side of the fake coin is the legalist side (someone doing rules, even extrabiblical ones, thinking that makes someone a Christian).

Described as:

1) dogs - (not your furry friendly man’s best friend and mama’s baby kind of dog).

Jewish term of derision meaning “unqualified.”

Now used to describe them because they were unqualified to be members and were damaging the church.

2) Evil workers - Their distorted gospel was a deadly gospel.

3) Flesh Mutilators - They were claiming Gentiles needed to first be circumcised to become a genuine Christian.

- Other side of the fake coin as the Libertine side (someone claiming Christian yet with no moral principles or sense of responsibility).

Described as:

Gluttonous -

Sexually Immoral

Only Entertained by and always Pursuing Worldly Possessions and Activities

We find in v. 3 the Marks of Believers in the True Gospel.

The Real Christians have:

We find in v. 3 the Marks of Believers in the True Gospel.

The Real Christians have:

Paul starts v. 3 by saying “we are” - so, he is about to describe what it means to be a real, genuine Christian.

Listen closely for some important words regarding the doctrine of salvation key to genuine Christianity, all ending with the ion suffix.

The phrase used here by Paul for circumcision refers to the True people of God understood as those having been born again, or a conversion experience with Jesus, undergoing a removal of the sinful flesh of the heart through Regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

God has changed your heart from one of having faith in self to one having faith in Jesus the Savior.

Paul says we - so, he is about to describe what it means to be a real, genuine Christian.

Sola Fide in Solus Christus

Conversion and Regeneration is described as “Knowing Christ” seen later in v. 8 and v. 10, and “Knowing Christ” is the essence of Salvation as declared by Jesus in His High Priestly prayer of

The rest of v. 3 gives us the marks of a True Christian, or what it means to know Jesus.

I met Mic Foley, the professional wrestler, but I don’t know him

I met, Melissa Cookston, the winningest woman in BBQ, but I don’t know her

I met Thom Rainer and Johnny Hunt, well recgnized men in SBC, but I don’t know them, why…I don’t know any of these people because I do not have a personal relationship with them where I learn more and more about them and grow to love them.

I met my wife and I know my wife, because I have spent 20 years with her.

If you claim to have met Jesus 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years ago, you should know Him and love him and talk to him and about Him regularly.

The rest of v. 3 gives us the marks, or what it means to know Jesus.

Mark #1: You Serve by the Spirit of God - v.3b

The Grk word for Worship is also translated as Serve.

You and I cannot worship God without serving God.

You can show up at the building and gather in a service, but unless you are growing, going and serving you are not worshipping God.

Those are your spiritual acts of service.

Is the assurance of your salvation based on Solus Christus or Solus Churchus.

If it is based on Christ then...

Mark #2: Jesus is Enough for You - v.3c

To boast is to rejoice as Paul encourages in v.1.

To boast is to display and proclaim publically a satisfied contentment with the works of Jesus.

To boast is to tell your testimony, of the wondrous works of Jesus in your life.

Someone who claims to be a Christian, but doesn’t make much of Jesus and his saving grace, both inside and outside the church, should not be taken seriously.

If Jesus is enough then...

Mark #3: You Place No Assurance or Trust in the Natural Self - v.3d-v.6

Paul was a Jew of Jews keeping all the religious rights and rituals.

Paul had the position, pedigree and position.

Paul raked up the accomplishments and gone through all the Bible education, but before he Damascus road conversion encounter with Jesus he was not a part of the kingdom of heaven because he had not been born again.

Before Jesus he was so zealous he was killing the church for God.

Paul was a Jew of Jews keeping all the religious rights and rituals.

Paul had the position, pedigree and position.

Paul raked up the accomplishments and gone through all the Bible education, but before he Damascus road conversion encounter with Jesus he was not a part of the kingdom of heaven because he had not been born again.

Before Jesus he was so zealous he was killing the church for God.

Ethnicity - Paul was an Israelite, yet not going to heaven until encountered Jesus as savior.

God has no grandchildren.

If mom and dad were Catholic, Lutheran, Presb.

Methodist or Baptist does not mean you are saved and heaven bound.