Rejoice Always 05 - Profit and Loss

Reading: Philippians 3:1-11
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. Philippians 3:8 (NIV)

Intro: Unfair definition of a Calvinist: one who’s worried someone, somewhere might be enjoying themselves. Stern & conservative seem synonymous.

I.   Finally, Rejoice!

     A.  That’s an Order (1a)

           1.  That’s right: be glad, you miserable sinners!

                 a.  imperative 16X in NT; (repent 10X)

                 b.  Why?! Bible written to the saved!

                 c.  A blessed imperative cf. Naman: Jordan

           2.  Notice: Rejoice in the Lord

                 a.  A recognition of reality with Jesus!

                 b.  Jesus, full of joy thru the H.S. …(Lk.10:21 )

                 c.  for the joy set b/4 him endured…(Heb.12:2)

           3.  Rejoice: be happy, glad, light-hearted, “up”

                 a.  Christian life: enjoy it!

                 b.  We win! We can’t lose! Hi 5's all around

                 c.  Who has more to be happy about?!

     B.  Here is Stability (1b)

           1.  This is a safeguard: a place w/o slippage

                 a.  See God as source of joy (not struggle!)

                 b.  safeguard: joy=like a non-slip surface

                 c.  No surer footing than joy in the Lord!

           2.  We are safe only if we find Joy in Him!

                 a.  1st sin: delighting in something else!

                 b.  If we seek happiness elsewhere…

                 c.  Delight in Him=not distracted by less

     C.  Watch out for the Dogs (2)

           1.  Watch out 3X!

                 a.  Dogs, workers of evil, mutilators

                 b.  Prob in early church: Mosaic law (?)

           2.  These are the joy - killers

                 a.  The severe, demanding, Old School

                 b.  Message: Salvation in J.C.=incomplete!

           3.  We worship by the Spirit (not by our flesh)

                 a.  Proper service to Q=rooted in the H.S.

                 b.  Proper foundation=person/work of J.C.

                 c.  Improper=do any of it ourselves

II.  No place for Pedigree

     A.  Flesh gives birth to Flesh

           1.  Flesh what fallen humanity is capable of

                 a.  Sometimes NIV trans.: sinful nature

                 b.  More than that: fallen human frailty

           2.  Our Roots can’t deliver (5)

                 a.  Paul: Benjamite, Circ on 8th day

                 b.  Paul: a perfect pedigree, w/ AKC papers

                 c.  Not enough! (God has no grandchildren!)

           3.  We need more than a membership card!

                 a.  Illus: woman w/ membership papers

                 b.  We can’t get there from here!

     B.  Dogma doesn’t Deliver

           1.  Pharisees: most rigorous Bible students!

                 a.  Severe, strict, demanding, conservative

                 b.  They knew their Bibles! (OT of course)

                 c.  Paul was one

           2.  There is no Truth w/o knowing God

                 a.  They knew their Bibles but not God

                 b.  Knew the recipe, never baked the cake!

           3.  Beware the distraction of the intermediate

                 a.  We should study the Bible rigorously

                 b.  Carefully put it into practice

                 c.  But not w/o dependence on God

     C.  Fanaticism Fails (6)

           1.  …as for zeal, persecuting the church

                 a.  Anti-gay Baptist protesters: zealous

                 b.  Redoubling efforts & forgetting your aim

           2.  …as for righteousness…faultless

                 a.  He wasn’t just sort of good; faultless

                 b.  Even if we could do it, not enough!

           3.  When all else fails, bigger hammer (?)

                 a.  Solution more effort

                 b.  Solution=depend on Jesus’ effort

III. The Surpassing Greatness

     A.  A Credit becomes a Debit

           1.  Confidence in one’s self is a handicap!

                 a.  Hard to be humble when you’re perfect

                 b.  No greater danger to salvation

                 c.  No bigger trap to rob us of joy!

           2.  The less needy we are, the less we need Q

                 a.  Don’t avoid our neediness, excel in it!

                 b.  Only God is even mostly dependable

           3.  God can only use what we give up/over

                 a.  What do we depend on beside Him?

     B.  Our Greatest treasure (8-9)

           1.  Knowing Christ Jesus is surpassingly great!

                 a.  Knowing=having personal K of

                 b.  Not know about Him; know him

           2.  Put all our eggs in Jesus’ basket! (9)

                 a.  To know and trust Him above all

                 b.  To trust nothing but Him

                 c.  To trust Him completely

     C.  Having it All

           1.  Know Christ & power of His resurrection

                 a.  Know/experience his res. power!

                 b.  This changes everything kind of power!

                 c.  Not know about it; know it!

           2.  Knowing the fellowship of His sufferings

                 a.  We avoid this phrase!

                 b.  We share his sufferings, identify w/ Him

                 c.  Also be suffering in our place/time

           3.  Becoming like Him in death

                 a.  Completely obedient, humble

                 b.  Displaying amazing love & glory!

           4.  Until we too find ourselves resurrected

                 a.  No doubt here, but anticipation/mystery

                 b.  Resurrection fr. death to life here/now

                 c.  From death to life when He returns

The Bottom Line:

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