Beware the Outside-Inners
Beware the Outside-Inners
Philippians 3:1-11
1. Open:
2. Scripture, Philippians 3:1-11
Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If anyone else thinks he has 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 legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
! 3. Beware of Outside-inners
Ø Who were the people Paul was saying we should beware of? What do you think was so dangerous about them or their teaching?
Ø How did he contrast them with the church in vs.3-4a?
Ø How did he contrast them with himself at an earlier point in his life in vs.4b-6?
Ø In what sense would their view of religion make them “outside-inners” and the true church “inside-outers?”
Ø Are people who keep the rules very carefully closer to God? Are they fun people to be around?
Ø How do we understand Biblical commands? Do we keep them or not? Is there a difference between the Sacrificial, Circumcision, Dietary, Civil (divorce, stoning) and NT laws? Consider the following verses:
(Digest of Gal. 5:2-6) If you bind yourself to part of the law, circumcision, you bind yourself to all of it. If you seek 2b right b4 God this way, you’ve fallen away from grace. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! Gal. 5:11-12
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. (Heb 10:1) Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (Col 2:16-17).
4. All Counted Loss To Know Christ
Ø What is the difference between focusing on rules and traditions and “knowing Christ” so intimately that we even share in his sufferings?
Ø Paul said everything in his life, religious or other, was garbage compared to what he wanted now. What was that? (vs.8-11) How would you explain that to someone else in more current terminology?
5. Apply:
Ø Are you too rules oriented in your faith, or are you too casual about obedience in any sense, or some of both? Explain?
Ø What good behavior or rules might actually be in the way of a vital authentic relationship between you and Jesus?
Ø How passionate are you about knowing Jesus? Where is the evidence pro or con? Could you say you are ready to suffer with Christ, die to self, just to know Jesus and experience his resurrection power?
Ø Is there anything else from this study that has made you consider a change you need to make in your living or your thinking?