Paul's Before and After
Notes
Transcript
What Are You Trusting?
What Are You Trusting?
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, an 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. 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, 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.
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, an 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. 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, 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.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
eph 4>
Paul give a testimony to his past and his new life in Christ.
Trust - in education
Trust - in family
Trust - in America
Trust - in Governemt
But What are you trusting in to get to heaven.
Summary: Trusting in Christ and our good works for salvation is not trusting in Christ at all.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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Summary: Trusting in Christ and our good works for salvation is not trusting in Christ at all.
Summary: Trusting in Christ and our good works for salvation is not trusting in Christ at all.
We have to give everything up as far as our good works, our religion, our morality in order to receive Christ as our Savior.
We have to give everything up as far as our good works, our religion, our morality in order to receive Christ as our Savior.
Introduction
In the 1730’ s in England, a young man named George Whitefield desperately wanted to be right before God. As a student at Oxford, he was part of the Holy Club, along with John and Charles Wesley. The members of that club rose early every day for lengthy devotions. They disciplined themselves so as not to waste a minute of the day.
They wrote a diary every night in which they examined and condemned themselves for any fault during that day. They fasted each Wednesday and Friday and set aside Saturday as a sabbath to prepare for the Lord’s Day on Sunday. They took communion each Sunday. They tried to persuade others to attend church and to refrain from evil. They visited the prisons and gave money to help the inmates and to provide for the education of their children. Whitefield nearly ruined his health by going out in cold weather and lying prostrate before God for hours, crying out for deliverance from sin and Satan. For seven weeks he was sick in bed, confessing his sins and spending hours praying and reading his Greek New Testament. Yet, by his own admission, he was not saved, because he was trusting in all these things to save him. Finally, “in a sense of utter desperation, in rejection of all self-trust, he cast his soul on the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and a ray of faith, granted him from above, assured him he would not be cast out” The burden of his sins was lifted, he was filled with joy, and he went on to become the great evangelist used of God in the First Great Awakening.
Thankfully we do not all have to go through the agony of soul that George Whitefield went through.
But we must all come to the same place he did, where we throw overboard as worthless all trust in human merit and cling to the Lord Jesus Christ as our only basis for acceptance with God.
If we lose all our pride and self-trust in exchange for Christ and His grace, we gain everything!
That is what Paul is saying in this passage.
Trusting in Christ and our good works for salvation is not trusting in Christ at all.
We have to give everything up as far as our good works, our religion, our morality in order to receive Christ as our Savior.
If ever there was a person who could be right with God on the basis of keeping the Jewish law, it was Paul himself.
He had the credentials by birth; he had the track record by experience.
But on the Damascus Road he came to realize that all those things he was counting on for right standing with God were worthless. He threw them all on the trash heap and laid hold of Christ through faith.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
I Before - Drudgery of Works
I Before - Drudgery of Works
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, an 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.
Drudgery is hard, mindless, backbreaking work done over and over
illustration here - digging fence post in Montana
IBM Punch cards for program .....
night watchmen - check then go back ansd check
When you say the word drudgery, you can almost feel the hard, plodding work that it describes.
In verses 4-6, Paul talks about the things he must not put confidence in.
Question: "Why is salvation by works the predominantly held viewpoint? Why do so many people believe that we can be saved by works?"
Answer: The simple answer is that salvation by works seems right in the eyes of man. One of man’s basic desires is to be in control of his own destiny, and that includes his eternal destiny. Salvation by works appeals to man’s pride and his desire to be in control. Being saved by works appeals to that desire far more than the idea of being saved by faith alone. Also, man has an inherent sense of justice. Even the most ardent atheist believes in some type of justice and has a sense of right and wrong, even if he has no moral basis for making such judgments. Our inherent sense of right and wrong demands that if we are to be saved, our “good works” must outweigh our “bad works.” Therefore, it is natural that when man creates a religion it would involve some type of salvation by works.
This list is strikingly relevant today as many continue to put confidence in these areas to earn favor with God.
Paul had an even better pedigree than the Judaizers and seems to be challenging them to a showdown, saying that he can match and even excel any human goodness they want to glory in as the basis for right standing with God.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly that Paul did not place any confidence in the flesh. He had gained victory over that temptation of the devil.
His presentation in these verses was intended to review for the Philippians the things in which he could have placed confidence if he had wanted to.
In fact the list included things in which he did place great value and trust before he met Christ. His intention was to show that in the flesh he had more in which he could have boasted than did any of the Judaizers.
What Paul gave up!
First, Paul mentions ritual.
Paul had been circumcised as a child eight days after his birth, which was in accordance with the Jewish law. The Judaizers were teaching that one must be circumcised to be saved, but Paul’s argument is that no one can put confidence in any religious ritual to earn favor with God.
Circumcision was named first probably because it was a big issue with the Judaizers. Paul’s specific time, the eighth day, stressed that he was not a proselyte or an Ishmaelite but a pure-blooded Jew. Proselytes were circumcised later in life and Ishmaelites after age 13 (cf. ).
elaborate on rituals here ....
Secondly, Paul mentions his rank
He was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was a blood-born citizen of the covenant nation of Israel, specifically of the tribe of Benjamin, in whose territory was the holy city Jerusalem.
This was the tribe that provided the first king (which Paul was named after apparently) and later remained with the tribe of Judah in the southern kingdom when the northern tribes broke away. However, Paul concludes that this didn’t help him gain salvation.
You background means nothing .....
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
wedding at country club .......
More here
Thirdly, Paul mentions his race -
Hebrew of the Hebrews. This term points both to his lineage and language. Both of his parents were thoroughly Jewish and Paul had not began to speak the Greek language as so many Jews had begun to do. He was still speaking Hebrew.
Hebrew was Paul’s native tongue. Unlike some of the Israelites, he did not adopt Greek customs. He knew thoroughly both the language and customs of the people of God. He was a Hebrew son of Hebrew parents.
Fourthly, Paul mentions his religion.
Paul had become a Pharisee, the strictest sect of Judaism. They sought to obey the Law in the most scrupulous manner possible, down to tithing even their table spices (). Also, as a Pharisee, Paul was zealous to persecute the Christians, whom he viewed as rejecting the Mosaic Law.
In regard to the Law, Paul was a Pharisee, a member of the strictest sect among his people. In addition to the Law of Moses the Pharisees added their own regulations which in time were interpreted as equal to the Law.
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
Fifthly, Paul mentions his righteousness.
As to the righteousness which is in the Law, that is, outward obedience, you couldn’t have found any violation with Paul.
It might seem like Paul is bragging in this list, but actually, he is doing the opposite.
He is showing that all these things had to be given up to come to Christ.
He couldn’t trust in any of them. He threw all this in the trash for what he would gain in Jesus.
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,
Even after our salvation, we all struggle with pride.
Even after our salvation, we all struggle with pride. It can sneak up on us in many ways. We can take pride in our moral purity, in our faithfulness, in our devotional life, in our doctrinal correctness, in thinking that we are somehow better than other Christians. We must constantly put self to death by counting whatever we think is gain due to our efforts as loss so that we can more fully become like Christ. True Christians count all human merit as loss.
they are wordly because: --------
It can sneak up on us in many ways. We can take pride in our moral purity, in our faithfulness, in our devotional life, in our doctrinal correctness, in thinking that we are somehow better than other Christians.
We must constantly put self to death by counting whatever we think is gain due to our efforts as loss so that we can more fully become like Christ.
True Christians count all human merit as loss.
Paul gladly threw all his accolades in the trash to be a Christian.
In coming to Christ for salvation, Paul suffered the loss of everything.
He was disinherited by his relatives.
Disowned by his friends.
Persecuted by his countrymen.
He had been beaten and flogged, even left for dead.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
One day, Paul would be killed by Nero. He gave up everything to know Christ. And he didn’t feel as if he gave much up! Would we feel that we had lost much by taking out the trash? No! And Paul felt that way about what He had given up. Christ meant so much to Him it was nothing to give those things up.
Now, Paul turns to what he gained in being saved.
II After- The Gaining of Righteousness
II After- The Gaining of Righteousness
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, 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.
They very thing he missed in drudgery her gained by giving it all up.....
phil 3.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
phin 3.
One writer said .....
Paul was looking at his religious balance sheet and counting up his gains. He spread out his bags of gold—seven in verses 5–6.
The Judaizers would have been delighted with every one of them. He picked them up and put them on the scales and then he looked at Christ. He could have one or the other: his carefully accumulated gains as a religious man or Christ. He could not have both. As on the Damascus road, so now as an experienced Christian, he did not hesitate a moment. He picked up his once-treasured gains and threw them away as so much trash.[1]
[1] Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary (). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.
Any of those who troubled the saints at Philippi would have loved to have been able to list to his credit those things Paul did.
On the human side these were reasons to have religious self-confidence. But all those things enumerated in verses 5–6 the apostle considered loss for the sake of Christ (v. 7).[1]
We have given up- family relations, riches, a job etc....
More here
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:
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,
Paul had given up everything for Christ: his home in Tarsus, his parents, all hope of a settled home life.
He had given up his Jewish religion and his ambition to climb the ladder to the top so he could rule the Sanhedrin.
He had given up his health to hardships, floggings, perils, and shipwrecks.
He had given up the smile and favor of the Jerusalem church to minister to the Gentile world. He had given up his freedom and now he had just given up Epaphroditus.
One day the apostle would even give up his life on the altar of Nero’s hate.
But Paul gladly counted all things loss in order to know Christ.
The apostle would allow nothing to come between him and his visions—the one on the Damascus road and another after his arrest in Jerusalem (). Paul was prepared to write off as “dung,” as worthless refuse, anything that might interpose itself between his soul and the Savior.[1]
What is important to you now?
Home
Money
All the hours you put in at work?
The argument you won?
Give it all back that I might know Christ...
he
He gained the ability to know 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,
First, he gained the ability to know Christ.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
I got to know HIM ..... I gave up all for this .....
A doctor
18-30
family
fun
friends
hanging out
dating
kids
It all to become a doctor
Paul said what what I have up was rubbish compared to knowing Him
Question: "Why is salvation by works the predominantly held viewpoint? Why do so many people believe that we can be saved by works?"
Answer: The simple answer is that salvation by works seems right in the eyes of man. One of man’s basic desires is to be in control of his own destiny, and that includes his eternal destiny. Salvation by works appeals to man’s pride and his desire to be in control. Being saved by works appeals to that desire far more than the idea of being saved by faith alone. Also, man has an inherent sense of justice. Even the most ardent atheist believes in some type of justice and has a sense of right and wrong, even if he has no moral basis for making such judgments. Our inherent sense of right and wrong demands that if we are to be saved, our “good works” must outweigh our “bad works.” Therefore, it is natural that when man creates a religion it would involve some type of salvation by works.
Look at vs 8 - I gain by loosing.....
I could not know Christ before because , I was substituting works and duty over a relationship.
All that i had before is rubbish!
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
He gained having Christ’s righteousness which is by faith (vs. 9).
English Standard Version Chapter 3
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
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:
Salvation is largely a matter of one’s position. The unsaved man is without Christ, without God, without hope (). The saved man is “found in him.”[1]
To be found in Him is salvation truth; to have Christ found in us is sanctification truth.
Christ found is us mans we are living it out
To be found in Him means that when God looks at me He sees Christ;
to have Christ found in me means that when other people look at me they see Christ. To be found in Christ is an unassailable position.
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
English Standard Version Chapter 3
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Verse 10 says “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
What does “knowing Christ” mean?
It means much more than just knowing “about” Christ. It means “to have a personal relationship with Christ.”
You and I know about many people who we have studied in history but we did not have a relationship with those people. To have a relationship with Christ requires that we spend time with Him. We let Him speak to us through His Word and we speak to Him in prayer. We fellowship with Him and we develop a friendship with Him.
We all ought to strive to know Jesus like we know our spouse or like we know our best friend on this earth.
We ought to think like He thinks and have His heart. But we have to make time to develop our closeness with Jesus.
We have to submit to His Lordship in our lives and allow Him to lead us in all we do. We have to be quick to give Him glory and not seek the glory for ourselves.
Before He was saved, Paul just had a set of rules to follow. Now, Paul had a relationship. He had a friend in Jesus. Jesus was his constant companion.
Righteousness was Paul’s goal when he was a Pharisee, but it was a self righteousness.
Secondly, he gained having Christ’s righteousness which is by faith (vs. 9). “And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” To be “found in Christ” is to be positioned in Christ. It is to be in a position that when God looks at me, He sees Christ. And the same should be true when other people look at us - do they see Christ?
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:
He was like the rich young ruler that Jesus talked to and the rich young ruler said “He had kept all the commandments since his birth.” But when Paul trusted Christ, he lost his self righteousness and gained the righteousness of Christ. Paul said it like this in , “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Righteousness was Paul’s goal when he was a Pharisee, but it was a self righteousness. He was like the rich young ruler that Jesus talked to and the rich young ruler said “He had kept all the commandments since his birth.” But when Paul trusted Christ, he lost his self righteousness and gained the righteousness of Christ. Paul said it like this in , “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
What is your before and after like?
Remember how Peter was changed by resurrection power? Before Jesus went to Gethsemane, Peter denied Christ by the fire. He went out from that place and wept bitterly because he felt a since of failure in himself. But after Jesus rose from the dead, Peter was a changed man. He was bold in his faith and preached powerfully at Pentecost. He became a stalwart in the early church. (Look at and for more on this resurrection power.)
Verse 10 continues “And may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” The work of making us like Christ is a painful work. We have to suffer (just as Christ had to suffer). Paul knew it was a privilege to suffer for Christ. He had made people suffer for Christ before he was saved, and now he was suffering for Christ. But God used his suffering to make Paul like Christ. He goes on to say in verse 11, “that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Like Jesus was risen, Paul wanted to be risen from spiritual death and become a new person in Christ. Like says, “4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
No wonder Paul had so much joy! He saw what he had gained in Christ as far more than what he had lost. In comparison to Christ, all his human achievements were garbage or waste. His life no longer was about himself and what he had done. It was about what Christ had done and wanted to do for others. Paul now looked at life from a heavenly perspective not an earthly one.
People who live for things, for money, for fame, and for themselves are never really happy. But when you live for Christ and He is your ultimate treasure, you know He can never be taken from you and His value will never decline.
This Christmas, let your joy be found in Christ. If you have never been saved, call on him now for your salvation. Tell him you are throwing all your good works and religion and human achievement in the trash and you are taking Him as your Savior. Repent of your sin and ask Him to save your soul.
If you are already a Christian, do not forget that your joy is not in things of this world. It is in Jesus. It is knowing Him and having a personal relationship with Him. It is in fellowship with Jesus through prayer and Bible intake. It is in having His righteousness and not your own. It is in experiencing his power at work in you to change you and make you like Christ.