Sermon Tone Analysis

Final Instructions

Have you ever had some things that where very important to you and then as time went on you realized they weren’t that important.

Final Instructions

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Finally

Introduction to final section, final argument, new section

Introduction to final section, final argument, new section

His final instructions to the young church

He is directing this section to the church because Paul says “Finally, Brothers”

We are to rejoice in the Lord

We rejoice in a lot of things.

Examples: sports team wins, Family (children achievements), personal achievements (promotion))

What does it look like for us to rejoice in the Lord?

This word rejoice in the greek is present, acitve, verb

Paul is not calling us to come here on Sunday with no shirts on and painted on our chest JESUS.

This word rejoice in the greek is present, active, verb

It means to be glad in something.

To find contentment.

It is present meaning it is something that we are to be doing now.

It is not a command for the future.

Paul is s

Paul is reference that true contentment, true joy, true peace, true enjoyment comes in celebrating Jesus.

Dwelling in Jesus.

Verse 2: Watching

Look out for the dogs

Not cute dogs we have today

Dogs where seen as unclean and the Jews called the Gentiles this

Paul is calling the Judizers this

Small dog that nips on your heels everywhere you go.

In acts these are the people who followed Paul around and nipped at his heels

look out for evildoers

look out for those who mutilate the flesh (Those who say you must be circumcised to be saved)

There was this group in Paul’s day that was know as the Judaizers.

They confused the gospel by adding for one to be Christ follower they must add the works fo the law to faith in Christ.

(Works of the law + Christ = Salvation)

Not everyone who comes into the church is good for the body of Christ.

We must be on the watchful.

In in the conclusion of Paul’s letter to a messed up church He tells the church to be watchful.

We must be watchful as well.

We will have dogs, and evildoers, and that that promote a works based salvation come in as well.

Might I add that it is easier to deal with them upfront than let them get into position and then try and remove them.

We must start to look at putting safeguards in so that people don’t get into positions that should not be there.

For example: I think before you teach at THBC you should sign a Sunday School Covonent.

stating that you hold to the inerrant, infaliable, Word of God, I think you should say that you believe in the BF&M 2000.

I think you should check that you tithe 10% of your income to the church.

I think you should give your testimony.

And if you can’t do that you shouldn’t teach.

If they work with children and youth they should submit to a background check or not be allowed to teach.

Right now we have become so desperate at times to fill slots that we put it in the bulletin, we ask everyone we can think of and that is how a dog gets into leadership.

Example: When you put an ad in the bulletin for a children worker, you have a sex prediator in the church.

The person seems nice and good with children they volenteer.

You have no idea what you have unleashed in your children department.

Example: Fort Caswell strip poker

Paul has in mind here those who will preach and teach a false doctrine.

A works based salvation

Verse 3 Paul tells us that we should worship by the Spirit and glory in Christ Jesus.

We can worship on confidence only because of what Jesus has done and not of our doing.

We worship in the Spirit and not in our own accomplishements

Paul then says if salvation is based on a works I have all the reason to be confident and I could boast more than any of you Judizers

Paul’s Works

Circumcised on eight day (Verse 5)

Religous ritual: Baptism, saying a prayer, member of a church

Israelite (Verse 5)

In Ethnicity: In being an American

Tribe of Benjamin (Verse 5)

In Status: What status I have in the world

Hebrew of Hebrews (Verse 5)

Tradition: Can’t rely on family tradition for Salvation

As for the Law: Paul was a Pharisee (Verse 6)

Rule keeping

a Pharisee

Zeal for the Law, persecutor of the church ( Verse 6)

Zeal

If the law brought righteousness I was blameless (verse 6)

obedience to the law

Verse 7 But, I counted all of that as loss for the sake of Christ

The KJV says rubbish.

The idea playing of the dog comment earlier.

I counted it all dog poop.

Everything is worthless compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Do you have that type of love for Christ where everything is worthless to you compared to your love for him.

Your love for things, Your love for family, your love for children

Verse 8 For the sake of Christ, I have given up all that I was for the chance to Know HIm.

Paul gave up everything he was and had for the sake of Knowing Christ.

Vs. 8

Talk about love.

Talk about wanting to be with someone.

Paul says I gave it all up for the sake of Being with King Jesus.

I gave it up and the righteousness I thought I had in the law for the righteousness I found in him.

Some tonight made need to give up the righteousness you think you have in being a good person, in being a good dad, in having a position in the church for the sake of the righteousness that Jesus gives by his atoning work on the cross.

We are free, we are saved, we can rejoice in everything because our hope is not found within ourselves or our works, our freedom in found in jesus.

So let us rejoice

This righteousness is only found by faith.

By placing your faith and trust completely in Jesus and his work on the cross.

Paul says in verse 10 that by my faith I may know HIm and the power of his resurrection.

Do you know Jesus tonight?

Paul is not talking about a head knowledge, or knowning some facts.

You can personally know Jesus in an intimate way, a personal way, But not only can you know him you can know the power of his resurrection.

To know the power of the resurrection is for that power to become part of you.

Meaning as Christ dwells in you then you have the power of the reurrection and your sins are forgiven.