He is the Answer, There is Life in Christ.

There is life in Christ! The Old Testament gave the law. When Christ came He brought love and life. The Jewish ceremonial laws were for the Jewish people only, rules, regulations and laws as they were called. The Jews were critical of Christ healing on the Sabbath. Paul was Jewish; he met Christ, and Paul’s life was changed.

The scripture today comes from the book of Philippians. This letter from Paul address really 1 thing: Jesus is the answer. Let’s find out why.........

We are to constantly be Rejoicing in Christ...Philippians 3:1 “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.”

Are we a “rejoicing Person or a grumbling person?—“… Rejoice in the Lord.” Rejoice in Him! Note the words of the psalmist in Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”..... Rejoicing will change your whole outlook on life.....I suggest trying it soon!

Anyone dealing with “suffering” Problem?—Though Paul suffered so much he didn’t complain. He could sing while suffering, Acts 16:25 tells us: “ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” All the sufferings could not discourage him, Listen to these words:

Acts 20:24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

John talks about Protection in Jesus—“… But for you it is safe.” There is safety in the joy of the Lord. He wants our joy to be full. John 15:11 “ I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

We find in God’s Holy Word that there is Reality in Christ!

The Problems in Jesus’s time. Philippians 3:2 “Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.” In Bible times dogs were not pets. They were hated. Here Paul compares wicked people with dogs.

We as God’s children are Pardoned because of Jesus Christ.

Phillipians 3:3 “For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,”....... Pardon from sin is not in the ceremonial laws, but through Christ we are. Ephesians 2:8–9, Paul says......” God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”....... Jesus said He was the only way.

Do we “inherit” our families personalities, mannerisms, habits, faults? Paul certainly did........Listen to this.

Paul’s Jewish faith. Paul says that he could have had great faith in his teachings......Philippians 3:4 “though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! Paul was born into a Jewish family.

Paul was raised with strict Jewish firmness and customs. Philippians 3:5 ...”I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.” Paul obeyed the Jewish customs. He was a Pharisee, a member of the Jewish high court.

Paul had extreme “Jewish faithfulness” This man named Jesus came along....., Paul hated Jesus and Jesus followers, “those Christians” Philippians 3:6 “I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.” Paul was faithful in seeking to destroy Christians and Christianity.

You will be “rejected” by some for Christ.

Philippians 3:7 “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”.... Paul is talking about his “Jewish rules and regulations” here.....

Are there things that we will Loose because of Jesus? Of course..—v. 7. All that Paul gained in his Jewish world, he gave up. Note Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”..... After accepting Christ there is a price to pay.........Luke tells us Jesus words:

Luke 9:23 “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

Give your heart to Jesus, you will then begin to understand what Paul tells us in the NT over and over. Paul loved Jesus, Paul was willing to die for Jesus.

Philippians 3:8 “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”

Paul was willing to give up all things because he loved the Lord. He knew the truth of Jesus. Matthew 6:33 tells us: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Christ was first in Paul’s life. He loved God as Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37–39 “37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

So.........does some of this scripture sound familiar to any of you at all?

This sermon today tells us of Paul’s great love for Jesus and why.. If you want to begin a personal relationship with Jesus, if you want to invite Him into your heart, pray with me now, at home, in your seat, wherever you might be at this moment.........

PRAY. DEAR JESUS. I WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. I WANT YOU IN MY LIFE AND IN MY HEART. NOW I INVITE YOU INTO MY LIFE. IN JESUS NAME..........AMEN