Christ Our Goal
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Through our study of Philippians, we have looked at Christ being our life, last week we looked at having the same mind as Christ (putting others above ourselves).
Through our study of Philippians, we have looked at Christ being our life, last week we looked at having the same mind as Christ (putting others above ourselves).
Tonight we are going to look at how Christ is our end goal in life.
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
We must beware of people that are spreading a false gospel
We must beware of people those that speak of worshiping God through will worship.
There is only one true way to worship God, that is in spirit and truth.
42 and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
You cannot worship God in the flesh, or with your flesh, it is not possible.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:
The bible calls this flesh “worship”, will worship.
You are trying to worship God on your terms, based on what you think God wants.
This is not worship and it does not please God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
There is no confidence in the own abilities or positions, Paul will make this abundantly clear in the next passage.
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul tells them that if anyone had anything to brag about it would be Him. If there were any excuses to trust in their own ability it would be him.
Paul was a rock star
He was everything every young Jewish male aspired to be.
He was a Jew of the Jews, a Pharisee (hyper religious sect of Jewish leaders), He had more passion for the law than almost anyone.
He even studied under Gamaliel, the leader of the Sanhedrin (leader of the Jewish council).
Paul would be like the that cool guy in school that everyone secretly wanted to be.
Aka, not Tallon
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
The end goal of a Christian is Christ, not being a person of stature.
The end goal of a Christian is Christ, not being a person of stature.
All of Paul’s accolades and accomplishments in the flesh are worthless
Paul recognizes that eternal matters are the only thing that matter.
Paul says
Philippians 3:9-
9 and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
9 and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
We are incapable of impressing God with our good deeds, our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
When we get saved, we trust in Jesus for our righteousness, not our own good deeds.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We also have to get Paul’s heart in verse 10 & 11.
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
That I may know Him
That sounds oddly familiar doesn't it?
That I may know Him
Remember our youth verse!
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Eternal life is knowing God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Let’s read those verses again.
10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Paul is not just talking about knowing about Jesus.
I don’t know Michael Jordan even though I could tell you a lot of facts about him.
He is talking about a deep relationship that is real.
Think about soldiers. They fight for each other’s lives, they have a deep relationship with each other.
They suffer for one another, they put their life on the line for each other.
This is the deep relationship we should desire to have with God.
This is the relationship God desires to have with us through His Son Jesus Christ.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
We have to get this, The goal of Christianity is not to make a name for ourselves and be know as a good person, Jesus is our goal. We are to follow Him so that the world can see Christ in us. As a result of us being Jesus’ representatives to the world they will be more apt to listen when we share the gospel.