Sermon Tone Analysis

intro

In our debate driven world we are currently living in, I would suggest to you there is no Biblical writer who is more heavily debated then Paul.

Over the centuries, Paul’s words have often been stripped of their context and been quoted to condone slavery, abuse, and inequality.

I’ve stated before quoting scripture without context, without exposing its real intent goes against the 10 commandments themselves, bearing a false witness.

When we try and manipulate scripture to self-serve we do a disservice to God.

In reading the writings of Paul, a collection of 12 books in the NT, largely a collection of letters to churches he had either planted or was connecting with, you will find his inspired writings were governed by expressing much needed pastoral care based on the expressed needs of the people, his listeners.

Paul was a Christian pioneer.

Following his calling by God, he and his companions blazed trails bringing the good news of the gospel far beyond the borders of Judah.

When his methods would be questioned by the still newly organized church, he showed great respect for his colleague leaders of the church, but also knew his calling was from God and not simply by flawed men.

Today begins 3 part sermon series I intend to examine the writings of Paul and his zeal for proclaiming the gospel.

I intend to examine more difficult passages that have tripped up the best of us.

I also pray each of us be challenged to follow Paul’s example, which is not really his example, but one who followed Jesus and trusted him in everything.

Today we will bounce around different passages of the writings of Paul but with a greater concentration on Phillippians 3 and 4. We are going to learning about Paul’s expression of what it means to have faith, and what it means to be perfect.

Before we go further, lets take a moment to pray.

One of the great lessons we can gain by reading the writings of Paul is that Paul preached and wrote with great vigor for the need of God’s people to have faith.

But he didn’t just make blanket statements, you need to have more faith.

He was concerned not only with the quantity of their faith but the quality.

He desired to give them more than just the what they needed, he desired to show them how to grow their faith to the point necessary.

Paul demonstrates in his writings a balance of not fearing in calling sin by its right name and yet also shared of God’s great mercy and grace offered.

Those of you with your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn to Phillipians chapter 3.

The book of Philippians is a wonderful one.

Paul is writing to a people who actually some of his wealthier followers, but also very generous.

They have been a people who had consistently been helping to fund Paul’s journeys and also supported him imprisoned.

Paul is writing to a faithful people and yet like any of the churches, Paul, is addressing a few items that he believes they could be led astray on.

Like John writing to the 7 churches in Revelation, Paul is effective at affirming each church body he writes, but also gives caution and warning in areas of temptation and wandering.

Paul has spent time writing encouraging the body to live in unity in Christ Jesus and implores each to live in humility as Christ did.

Following the example of Christian humility advances the gospel.

Then in chapter 3 Paul changes gears…take a look in verse 1.

Philippians 3:1

Lets take a closer look at verses 2 and 3.

Philippians 3:2-3

What in the world does Paul mean, “we are the circumcision.”

Circumcision was the highly contested function between Jewish believers and gentile believers.

Historically and Biblically, circumcision had been a sign between God and his people.

But Paul had shown little concern that gentiles had not embraced this traditional practice.

This is by no means, the only time Paul has breached this subject.

He never condemns Jewish believers for continuing in this practice, but he makes it known, it was of little spiritual significance anymore now that Christ had died and rose.

Paul asserts that the sign of being God’s people—the true circumcision—is worshiping by the Spirit and boasting in the work of Christ.

Paul asserts that the sign of being God’s people—the true circumcision—is worshiping by the Spirit and boasting in the work of Christ.

He’s saying the sign you are with God, and with Christ is by literally following Jesus.

It wasn’t about these physical signs, it was living for Christ and proclaiming him.

What he means by having no confidence in the flesh, is that the flesh is corrupted.

The flesh represents sinful propensity.

He addresses that a physical sign such as circumcision is not what saves, but instead living a life committed to Jesus.

Paul’s intention is trying to get the people to critically think and understand they had a need for a savior.

They all needed Jesus, Paul included himself in this.

Paul had gained disciples, but he would not fall into the temptation acting as if he were another Christ himself.

He always pointed to Jesus.

I would suggest to you Paul is sharing with these people to keep their eyes on Christ.

You see amongst many of the churches Paul wrote to and looked after, some of their leaders would try and lead on their by their own independence.

They would take elements of truth but then twist in pagan practices.

Or they would put a great emphasis on external qualities such as circumcision or anything else under the sun.

Paul and his companions worked hard to keep a unity of the faith, but they had those, he refers to as dogs, working against them seeking to distort truth and/or place a bunch of cultural standards MASKED as connected to God’s law that made following God seemingly impossible.

He lays upon them, that their righteousness is found in Christ alone.

Period.

Mrs. White commentates specifically on this passage with an absolutely powerful addition.

“It is the desire and plan of Satan to bring in among us those who will go to great extremes—people of narrow minds, who are critical and sharp, and very tenacious in holding their own conceptions of what the truth means.

They will be exacting, and will seek to enforce rigorous duties, and go to great lengths in matters of minor importance, while they neglect the weightier matters of the law—judgment and mercy and the love of God.

Through the work of a few of this class of persons, the whole body of Sabbathkeepers will be designated as bigoted … and fanatical.…

God has a special work for the men of experience to do.

They are to guard the cause of God.”

White, E. G. (1976).

Maranatha, The Lord is Coming (p.

147).

Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Paul wanted his listeners to understand what the cause of Christ was and how to accomplish it.

He had been gifted with this information.

He had seen his life be transformed.

He had once been one of those people who had tried to use God’s devices as a weapon.

He had been a persectutor of Christians.

He had been a device of Satan himself, but God went after him and had flipped his life around.

Now he had become surrendured to God as his highest authority in his life.

His messages were not intended to stroke the egos of his listeners, all he could do was proclaim Christ.

This is what it means to be faithful.

It is to stay true in following Jesus and having faith, in His reward and not that of the flesh, or just simply earthly pleasure.

Does this knowledge of how to be faithful lead us to becoming perfect?

Lets keep reading.

Philippians 3:12

Paul, one of the great leaders of his day, acknowledges he himself is not perfect (yet).

When he says, “Not that I have already obtained this, or am already perfect” as my version puts it, he is not suggesting here on Earth that he will one day reach that point.

That implies perfection is just simply on basis effort, or trying harder.

Doing the right things.

Back to the circumcision conflict, there were literally some who were placing that in accordance with Baptism and that act as being a saving act.

If you look in the original greek the word phrase is “telio”, an even better translation here would be “not that I “been made perfect.”

you see made perfect or perfected acknowledges Christ as the perfector and not our own will.

Again, Paul here is stressing to everyone, to keep their eyes on Christ and allow him to change them.

Acknowledging he was not a perfect man was not diminishing his message to pursue faithfulness and to pursue living as righteously as possible.

But is Paul who affirms time after God’s amazing grace and His merciful spirit.

As I mentioned before, Paul is balanced in his approach of declaring God’s grace while also calling each other to remain accountable to living with integrity to the word of God.

Grace saves us, but also compels us to make changes in our lives.

Romans 12:

Paul names sin as a destroyer, but he doesn’t just name sinful deeds.

He calls christians out for not being courteious, tenderhearted, and for gossip and slander.

He holds people accountable for not having a forgiving spirit.

colossians 3:5-8

You see, found in Paul’s writings, is Paul declaring Jesus to be the transformer.

He never leaves people where they are when they have a real encounter with Him.

God doesn’t affirm our sinful living, he offers a restoration.

But in order for this take place, we must simply acknowledge our sinful state and our need for a savior.

So what I extrapolate from Paul’s writings about pursuing perfection, is really pursuing Christ not neccessarily pursuing being perfect ourselves.

We are to pursue the one who will one day change us by giving us a white robe in Heaven.