The Things We Work For

Introduction

There is a scene in a movie where this man is asking a woman what the chances of a guy like him being able to go out with a woman like her are. In response the woman tells him that the chances are not good. He asks like 1 in a hundred where she responds more like 1 in a million chance that she would go out with him. Thinking that this would stop anyone she was surprised when the man smiled and lit up, laughed, and said, “So, you’re saying there’s a chance.”

This is similar to what we are to see today.

Paul tells the Philippians to look out for those who will try and tell them that they have to work for their salvation. Or to keep their salvation.

Paul lays it out for them that this is impossible. Much like this man getting his date. What is different is that the man, though it is a very distant chance, did have a chance. One in a million is still a chance, just not a very good one.

Whereas salvation is only gained by one thing and that is not by works of the law. It does not matter what you do, there is not a chance, not even a one in a million one. No, one has to realize that they cannot do it alone or at all. They cannot do enough or be righteous enough to earn it. We will see this in a few minutes from Paul.

But as the title of this message entails, there is a place where works do gain something. It is just not in salvation. But first we must see what we do not earn.

What We Can’t Work For

Finally is not a closing remark. It is a transition.

It is a signifier of some final matters to attend to.

Like a number list where you say: first, second, and finally. End of the list but not the end of the talk.

The people are to rejoice in all matters. One they are to rejoice that they are saved and not like the people that Paul is about to speak of.

This section deals with those who want others to do certain things instead of resting in what has been done for them.

We see an inclusio in this section of the letter.

Verse 2: Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

Verses 18-19: For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

An inclusio is a device that in writing that consists of creating a frame by placing similar material at the beginning and ending of a section. This is what we see here.

Paul is warning the Philippians about those who will try and deceive them. And how they are evil (v. 2) and enemies (v.18).

These people are legalists.

Verses 2-3 demonstrate this.

Dogs-a very vile and terrible cut down. Dogs were considered unclean by the Jews.

Evildoers-by pushing a works righteousness they are against Jesus.

Anything against God is evil, period. These may have thought they were doing good but they were doing evil.

Mutilate the flesh, but we are of the true circumcision- God instituted circumcision in the OT for the Jews as a signet that they were His. The bodily circumcision that this was is no longer required. By imposing this the legalists, Judaizers are rewinding back to the OT covenant. And by doing so they are denying the sufficiency of the cross.

Mutilation because the people who are now believers are all priests of the Lord. In it is shown that a priest that mutilated himself was not fit for service to the Lord. If someone was to do circumcision thinking it made them more fit, they are wrong because they are doing it as a work a way to gain merit, they have mutilated the flesh and are not fit now.

True circumcision is of the heart by believing in the sufficient saving power of Jesus Christ. True believers worship by the Spirit, glory in Christ, and place no confidence in the flesh. What we do is not nor could ever even be enough.

Which leads to another point of why the Philippians and us are to rejoice. Paul speaks of the things he was and how that is of nothing but filthy vile trash now. This is amazing because we do not have to work this hard to earn righteousness.

Verses 4-6 and 7-11

vv. 4-6: Paul states that if anyone had reason to boast in the flesh it was him. This should be a huge indicator to why we should avoid trying to keep or gain salvation by works. Paul, who was all these things: 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;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

circumcised the eighth day-in perfect accordance with the law, each male child had to do this. He was a pure Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, the only tribe besides Judah that stayed faithful to the Davidic monarchy, he was a true Hebrew of the nation of Israel. He was zealous for God and worked hard at killing off all who were opposed to God, or those he thought were opposed to God. He was exemplary at keeping the law. He sought to live the law as perfectly as possible.

Basically, if anyone could attain salvation by works it would have been him. He had every reason to boast because of this amazing pedigree. But he does not remain boastful. He drops all of this because...

No matter what you do

No matter where you came from

No matter how hard you work

Righteousness only comes from faith in Christ alone.

(Pilgrims Progress: Worldly Wiseman sending Christian Pilgrim to Legality Hill. Evangelist coming along after Christian could not climb it. The Hill came crashing down because that is all legalism does for you: Crushes you.)

RIGHTEOUSNESS IN CHRIST ALONE IS FREE

Paul gives it all up as is seen in verses 7 and 8-  But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  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.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

But awhatever gain I had, bI counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of cthe surpassing worth of dknowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ehave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

All Paul had as a Pharisee was nothing. All the work was for nothing. Whatever gain he had was not gain but loss. He was without Christ.

All was just junk, filth, waste, not worth doing. Christ is all that matters. Christ is where righteousness is found. Christ is the only way to gain salvation.

What you do does nothing for you, where you are from does nothing for you, working hard does nothing for you. That is all rubbish: useless or undesirable material that is subject to disposal, refuse, garbage.

Only thing that is of value is gaining Christ. And to be found in him. That only happens by a righteousness not your own, but a righteousness that is of Christ by faith (v.9).

Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000 : 932. Print.

Righteousness in Christ is contrary to seeking your own righteousness. Works do not do it, only Christ can. Gaining Christ is our highest goal.

Knowing Christ and His power is our most desired goal. His power is what can give us power to conquer sin, it is nothing we do. It is only through the Spirit that Christ gives us that we can attain the resurrection. It is by this same reason that we can have the power to overcome sin and rest sure in Christ’s work at the cross. The only way we will attain the resurrection from the dead that Paul writes of is by the power of Christ, not our power.

This is what Paul is telling the Philippians to rejoice in. They are free from having to earn salvation. It has already been won for them. It is secured by the power of Jesus Christ. We do not have to work for our redemption, the work has been done. Jesus has fulfilled all the obligations for us.

Maybe you have struggled with this yourself. Maybe you think that you have to work for your redemption. Maybe you are leaning into life thinking that you have to do one more thing to please God.

(Pilgrims Progress: Worldly Wiseman sending Christian Pilgrim to Legality Hill. Evangelist coming along after Christian could not climb it. The Hill came crashing down because that is all legalism does for you: Crushes you.)

You do not have to do this, Christ has fulfilled it all for you. Rest in Him and know that he completed the work of salvation for you at the cross. It is finished was what Christ said. He did the work and all you have to do is in faith believe that Jesus has completed the work for you and through that work you will have eternal life with Him.

What We Are To Work For

Verses 12-16: We pursue perfection. Perfection is the end goal for the Christian.

As Paul makes clear he had not already obtained it and he was not already perfect.

Paul was not perfect in life. If he was not neither can we be.

Why? Paul was probably the best most faithful most dedicated Christian to live. He had not obtained perfection in this life.

Even though he did not obtain it, he continued to strive for it. He wanted it he desired it he fought hard for it. He pressed on for it.

He pressed on toward that upward call that is found in Christ.

He did not desire anything of the world but only Christ.

He thought daily of Christ and the amazing glory that awaited him when he did obtain perfection with Christ.

As mature believers this is how we are to think too. We are to seek Christ and the perfection that awaits us in him. We should not be afraid of the day that we are to be with Christ. As John wrote in , “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

When we have pressed on towards him and sought the perfection that is found in him, we will have nothing to be ashamed of, nor will we have something that God will need to reveal to us.

Paul is saying that when you are in Christ you must press forward daily and never quit. You are to look ahead and not back.

Now, I want to examine verse 13 more closely.

One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind–the past–straining forward–the now–to what lies ahead–the future.

The Past–You lived in the past. That was then do not let what was done then hinder you in the now. It was in the past. It is over with. It has been forgiven in Christ Jesus. So, leave it in the past and forget about it because it is over with and nothing can change what happened then.

The Now–You’re living in this. This is the area where you are now. You live in the present time. This is the time that matters right now. Not the past, but the now. How are you living now? Are you living in the past or are you living in the now for the next part? Which is...

The Future–What we live towards. We must strive forward for the future. We do not know what the future holds but it is what we live for. How you live now will determine how you handle the future. If you are dedicating your life now to Christ and trying to obtain the perfection that is found in Him alone, then when the future happens, no matter what it is, you will be prepared. You will be ready.

Sins can bring you down, past failures, the what if’s? can bring you down.

Also, THE GREATEST ENEMY TO YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS IS YOUR CURRENT OR PAST SUCCESSES.

You must acknowledge them but leave them because they have already happened. Look to what is ahead not behind.

Just remember this point dear Christian:

YOU LIVED IN THE PAST

YOU LIVE IN THE NOW

LIVING FOR THE FUTURE

Sins can brin

Verse 17: This is what one is to imitate of Paul.

Paul lived for Christ like no other has ever lived.

He desired Christ above all things.

He left the past behind. Remember he was a persecutor of the church. He killed many believers. He jailed multiple more. He had a very sordid past. Yet he left that behind and strove forward for Christ.

You can do this too. It does not matter

what you did

where you came from

or how you thought you gained salvation

No what matters is that you live for Christ now as Paul lived for Christ then.

This does not mean Paul saves you.

No, he makes this clear in where he asks rhetorically, “Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

No, no one was either of these. Christ was crucified for us. We were baptized into Christ alone.

What Paul is saying is that we are to “Be imitators of [him], as [he] is of Christ.” ().

He has lain out the way for us to mature and grow in Christ and how we are to strive forward for the prize of perfection in Christ.

This will take hard work and a lot of effort. It is not easy and it is fraught with much difficulty. It will be a road that has many enemies on it. Some will come with deception as the first list of enemies at the beginning did. It will also be filled with those who blatantly disregard the teachings of Jesus and live how they want.

These people are not the ones that still preach Christ even if for their own personal gain.

No, these are false teachers that will try and lead you away.

These are found in verses 18-19.

Paul is very upset over them. They break his heart that they are so against Christ.

They desire their own god. They want to live how they want to live and they want you to live like they live.

They want to drag along as many as they can.

They want you to say, “It is not that bad” and fall into sin head over heels.

They want you to fully embrace the wickedness they pursue.

They do not just want you to accept it but to say that it is right, for you to embrace it. That what they do is perfectly acceptable because this is just “who they are” and you need to accept that.

That is their “identity.” That is how their god designed them. They are how they are because that is just how they are and that should be accepted by you.

They are enemies.

Their god is their belly means they desire their own lusts, and wickedness.

They glory in their shame is them pushing their wicked vileness upon others as if it is perfectly normal and acceptable. Again, this is their “identity” how they were made, so who are you to not accept it?

They worship earthly things rather than what they should worship.

Which is what Paul gets at in the last two verses.

20-21: Our citizenship is in heaven and we await the return of Christ where he will take us away from this vileness and give us the perfection in Him that we were to be straining forward for. That is why Paul in 4:1 goes on to tell them to stand firm in the Lord. They are part of Pauls reward for his faithful service to the Lord.

Paul desired them to stand firm and be faithful to the Lord.

He wrote this section with the beginning of rejoice in the Lord because the Philippians were faithful followers of Christ and not trying to earn salvation.

He told them that because of this amazing salvation they need to daily continue on towards the perfection that is found in Christ and not be as the false teachers that say you must work for salvation or as the false teachers that say you can do whatever you want it does not matter.

Imitate him as he imitates Christ.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

Be found faithful in Christ at His appearing.

They were his crown and joy. They were his Joy because for them to stay faithful would please him dearly he loved them.

His crown because they were his reward for his hard labor amongst the Gentile world. They were believers. Also, they were a part of the heavenly reward that awaits Paul upon his home going.

Conclusion

There are a few things that I want you to remember from this message.

Satan is at work through seemingly innocent forces of this world, as well as our sinful natures. The false teachers will come and they will play with the sinful tendencies of our hearts. One must be on guard and prepared to handle those situations. Be ready for the devil will attack however he can.

This is something that we all need to remember and live. The past is over. The present is where we are, but we are living for the future; what kind of future are you living for? Think on that. This world is not all there is. There is an afterlife that you will spend eternity in. That future is certain, what is not certain is which place you will spend eternity. The present can make the future so much better. Make that decision now and live for that amazing future.

God does not owe us salvation. The promise God has made to save is a promise of grace. You cannot earn salvation. It is a gift by a promise, you cannot ever earn it. It is like being stranded on an island and we need to get back home 1000’s of miles away. Some people can't swim at all, others may be able to swim several miles. One is clearly a better swimmer than all the rest, but compared to the 1000’s of miles necessary, the distance is negligible. I may swim one mile, the best swimmer 30 miles, but that only scratches the surface of the length needed for anyone to get home. Simply, you can’t do it, but Christ can if you let Him.

When you believe in Christ you can be certain God will preserve you to the end. That certainty has nothing to do with your strength or the righteousness of your life. It is all of God and He will hold you in. This does not mean that you do nothing during that time. Nor does it mean you believe and live however you want. No, you need to be working and straining forward towards that day and that perfection found in Christ. Not sitting idly by and slipping back into the world and its ways. If you need someone to imitate, imitate Paul and seek Christ as he did.

This last point is a massive point I want you to remember: YOU LIVED IN THE PAST, YOU LIVE IN THE NOW, YOU ARE LIVING FOR THE FUTURE.

This is something that we all need to remember and live. The past is over. The present is where we are, but we are living for the future; what kind of future are you living for? Think on that. This world is not all there is. There is an afterlife that you will spend eternity in. That future is certain, what is not certain is which place you will spend eternity. The present can make the future so much better. Make that decision now and live for that amazing future.