Rejoice in the Lord!

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(ESV)

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 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— 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.

I have found that many church-going people, nice people, are confused on the most important question in life: “How can I be right with God?” or “How can I get to Heaven?” After many conversations, many think that sincerity is a significant factor. If you’re sincere, God will let you into heaven even if you’re a bit fuzzy on the truth.

But that’s like saying that a man who swallows deadly poison, sincerely thinking it to be medicine, will get better. All the sincerity in the world is fatal if it is not in line with the truth

I have found that many church-going people, nice people, are confused on the most important question in life: “How can I be right with God?” Many think

Many think that sincerity is a big factor. If you’re sincere, God will let you into heaven even if you’re a bit fuzzy on the truth. But that’s like saying that a man who swallows deadly poison, sincerely thinking that it is medicine, will get better. All the sincerity in the world is fatal if it is not in line with the truth.

Many also think that human effort plays a big role. If you try your best, even though you aren’t perfect, God will say, “I’ll let you into heaven because you tried so hard.” If that is what the Bible teaches, then it is so. But if it is contrary to what the Bible teaches, then trying your best to get into heaven is like trying your best to broad jump across the Grand Canyon. You’re not going to make it!

The Apostle Paul, a prisoner for the Lord who is willfully living in uncomfortable circumstances because of an inner burden he has for people to know Jesus, speaks to us today about the deadliness of misplaced sincerity that can be identified by rejoicing in anything but the Lord Jesus. So he tells us to Rejoice in the Lord.

Read with me in Philippians 3:1-11

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(ESV)

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 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— 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.

Paul’s says, “Finally,” which indicates a transition, not necessarily the final words (which become apparent because we’re mid-way through his letter to the church at Philippi.

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Paul begins with a two-part imperative — a command for us to obey.

Rejoicing is a choice. Two times earlier in this letter Paul says that he rejoices (1:18; 2:17). And do you remember what those circumstances were?

In he’s acknowledging that not everyone who does ministry does it with right motives. He’s flustered by this but says ultimately, as long as Jesus is proclaimed, I rejoice.

In Paul is challenging Christians not to grumble or complain. His personal example? “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith (persecuted/murdered for preaching the gospel), I am glad and rejoice with you all.” Then he goes on to says, “Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

And this command to rejoice as a decision of the will empowered and motivated by the Spirit of God is sandwiched between the example of Christ who is our perfect example. If anyone had the right to complain it was Jesus, but He didn’t, because He set a perfect example for us.

The other piece of bread in the rejoice sandwich is the examples of Timothy and (Ἐπαφρόδιτος) Epaphroditus who pursued Christ through humility and service to the church. They were faithful ambassadors for Christ. They sinned. They needed Christ, and they knew it which is why they were so committed to the ministry of the local church.

So, Paul says, “Rejoice.” Ask the Lord to help you. When you find yourself griping internally, confess it to the Lord (a wonderful act of worship) and ask for His active power that enables you to rejoice. You have it within you, if you are a Christian, like every car has an engine, but if you don’t press the gas pedal the engine takes you nowhere. God has given you everything you need for life and godliness, tells us, through a two-part knowledge: know the Lord personally, and experience His empowering you to obey.

When we rejoice, we choose joy in something, or someone. A job, a circumstance, a person, etc. And if we choose to rejoice, it means we are choosing not to do something else.

If we choose to rejoice, it means we are choosing not to do something else. Paul here gives us a key insight into life that we cannot afford to miss.

Paul here gives us a key insight into life that we cannot afford to miss. God, in His infinite wisdom, has ordained things to work a certain way. One of those things concerns our attitude or focus in life. If we are truly rejoicing and thankful for God’s provision, we cannot complain or be resentful. It doesn’t work that way; this is by design. What comes out of our mouths (for better or worse) is an indicator of what is going on in our hearts (see ; ).

God, in His infinite wisdom, has ordained things to work a certain way. One of those things concerns our attitude or focus in life. If we are truly rejoicing and thankful for God’s provision, we cannot complain or be resentful. It doesn’t work that way; this is by design. What comes out of our mouths (for better or worse) is an indicator of what is going on in our hearts (see ; ). What do our words say about our attitude, heart, and focus?

What do our words say about our attitude, heart, and focus?

God, in His infinite wisdom, has ordained things to work a certain way. One of those things concerns our attitude or focus in life. If we are truly rejoicing and thankful for God’s provision, we cannot complain or be resentful. It doesn’t work that way; this is by design. What comes out of our mouths (for better or worse) is an indicator of what is going on in our hearts (see ; ). What do our words say about our attitude, heart, and focus?

So we have a two-part command from Paul: Rejoice in the Lord! This is an authoritative command from God, because it’s in His word that way.

Steven E. Runge, High Definition Commentary: Philippians (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2011), .

Paul continues.

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Notice his language after Paul encourages them to rejoice in the Lord. He is essentially saying, “It’s no trouble for me to tell you this again.” In other words, I’ll keep repeating foundational truths of gospel grace until I’m blue in the face. In he says it this way, “Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.”

12Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

We need to be reminded day in and day out that apart from Christ, apart from abandoning our personal ship of things we do that we think cause God to love and accept us, and swimming to the Jesus - our life preserver - we are destined for eternal separation from God.

Paul knows his own temptation and he knows ours, which is why he also uses this caring phrase at the end of v 1, “and it is safe for you.”

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This safety language in the literal sense means the certainty or stability of a thing:

— a sure anchor

— Paul’s feet were surely fastened in stocks

Paul wants to ensure that they will remain anchored in the safe harbor of the gospel rather than being ‘tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes’ ().

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So there we have our imperative.

If you’re swimming at sea and see two ropes and a life-preserver, you have to grab on to one of them to pull that life-preserver toward you. If one is connected to a life preserver and the other is connected to a stone plummeting to the depths of the sea, and you mistakenly grab the wrong one, or it gets wrapped around your ankle.

Even if it’s an honest mistake. Every so often we read stories of friends out for a good time who buy a concert ticket from a scalper outside a large venue.

This happened just six weeks ago at Madison Square Garden in NY, where 33-year-old man was caught selling counterfeit tickets to a concert. The buyers were just out for a fun evening, and purchased tickets from this trickster. The transaction complete, the happy concert-goers continued on their way. In their hands, tickets that looked like the real thing: same paper weight, same finish, same text, and a bar code.

The only trouble is that when they got to the entrance, the bar-code didn’t work. The attendants tried several times, before calling security.

Friends, Satan is the great counterfeiter (), and he is fooling people into believing the lie that to be a good person, believe sincerely, and treat your neighbor kindly will get you into heaven. The only problem is that it’s not true. It’s a counterfeit gospel, and you’ll get to the proverbial entrance to heaven and your bar-code won’t scan.

Unfortu

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This is why Jesus warns us lovingly when he says,

(ESV)

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 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— 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.

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

I Never Knew You

mt 7:@1-23

As we continue reading in v 2 we see why Paul is writing these things. He says

Philippians 3:2–3 ESV

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Soon after the gospel began to spread among the Gentiles, some Jewish men who claimed also to believe in Christ began teaching the Gentile converts that they could not be saved unless they also were circumcised according to the law of Moses (see ). They did not deny that a person must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but they added to faith in Christ the keeping of the Jewish law, especially circumcision, as necessary for salvation.

The issue was debated and resolved in Jerusalem at a council of the church leaders where it was decided that Gentiles do not have to become Jews or be circumcised to be saved; but that every person, Jew or Gentile, is saved by grace through faith in Christ alone ().

But Satan didn’t call it quits in his efforts to pervert the truth of the gospel because of that decision. He continued to work through a group of men known as Judaizers who followed Paul on his missionary journeys, antagonizing him and infiltrating the new churches and teaching their subtle error, that faith in Christ was not sufficient if a person did not also keep the Law, especially circumcision.

Paul wrote Galatians to refute this error. He contends there that these men were preaching a false gospel and he calls down damnation on those who so pervert the true gospel (). The Judaizers are the men Paul is warning the Philippian church about in our text. So when Paul uses these three terms in 3:2, “dogs, evildoers, and those who mutilate the flesh,” all refer to one group, the Judaizers, who were promoting a counterfeit Christianity.

So even though Judaizers no longer exist under that name, the core of their teaching is still very applicable to us. “Well how will I know?” you ask. That’s a fair question, but don’t let it lead you off the mark.

You want to know what an authentic $100 bill looks like? Study it inside and out. Don’t focus your effort studying the counterfeits. Sure, if there are counterfeits that all bear the same traits, sure, familiarize yourself with them. But know the true gospel, and you will know with confidence if anything doesn’t sit will with the Spirit of God in you and (primarily) the Word of God.

When you hear someone preach a gospel to you that says human merit counts for anything toward salvation. Call it what it is — a false gospel.

So “watch out,” Paul says, for they worship what is by their own strength, but we worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (v3).

Paul continues by way of example. This is part of Paul’s spiritual journey. He says if anyone has checked all the right religious boxes, it’s me.

that decision

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Philippians 3:4–6 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

phil 3:4-

It’s as though Paul is talking about his earthly trophy wall.

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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

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Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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

Phil 3:7-8

Paul considers his earthly gains - earthly trophies - as loss.

Philippians 3:7 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Paul considers his earthly gains - earthly trophies - as loss.

Phil 3:

Pack ‘em in a box and put ‘em in the closet.

In fact, Paul considers anything that could be considered good as loss. So put that in the box too.

But what’s more, what reads as “rubbish” in the ESV is dung.

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Phil

Philippians 3:8–11 ESV

8 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 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— 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.

Philippians 3:9–11 ESV

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— 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.

Phil 3:8-

Steven J. Cole, “Lesson 16: True Versus Counterfeit Christianity (),” in Philippians, Steven J. Cole Commentary Series (Dallas: Galaxie Software, 2017), .

Rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard against:

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

doctrinal error

double-mindedness

fear

worry

anxiety

SERMON TITLE > SERIES TITLE

Rejoice in the Lord!

Hook: Misplaced Sincerity Can Lead to Death

Rejoice in the Lord!

Part One: Rejoice

Part Two: in the Lord

No trouble for me to remind you

Safe for you

Be alert for false gospels

Paul’s testimony