Losing All, Gaining Christ
Notes
Transcript
Jesus is better! His righteousness is superior to self-effort, His relationship satisfies and transforms.
Beware of Self-Righteous Legalism
Beware of Self-Righteous Legalism
There are two things that will kill joy: sin and self-righteousness. Sin breaks our fellowship with the Father. Self-righteousness causes us to focus on ourselves rather than the Savior.
Paul warns of the Judiazers that would bring bondage on the Philippians believers.
Paul knew personally the bondage of self-righteousness. He had looked to
His heritage - circumcised the 8th day, stock of Israel, tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of Hebrews
His education and status - about the law, A Pharisee.
He had trained at the feet of Gamaliel.
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and women, as the high priest and the whole council of elders can bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 22:3-
His effort - he persecuted the church in his zeal
For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
gal 1:13-
His religion - blameless according to the law.
“Like most religious people today, Paul had enough morality to keep him out of trouble, but not enough righteousness to get him into heaven! It was not bad things that kept Paul away from Jesus - it was “good” things! He had to lose his “religion” to find salvation.” - Warren Wiersbe
What are you trusting in? What are you looking to for satisfaction and joy? Rejoice in Jesus!
What are you trusting in? What are you looking to for satisfaction and joy? Rejoice in Jesus!
Rejoice in Christ’s Superior Righteousness
Rejoice in Christ’s Superior Righteousness
What had been gain, Paul sees now as loss. He has found someone better! He has found a superior righteousness to any he could every hope to achieve in his own effort. He has found Jesus.
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
How quickly we can get our eyes of what the Savior has done and put them on our own works!
Paul
Rejoice in Christ’s All-Satisfying Relationship
Rejoice in Christ’s All-Satisfying Relationship
Paul’s goal was to know Christ is the fullest way possible. It was worth losing everything in order to know Jesus.
It’s personal - that I may know HIM.
It’s a powerful relationship - The power of HIS resurrection. It is His power that enables
It is a pain transforming relationship.
It is a permanent relationship - conformed to his death, raised from the dead.