Losing self and gaining Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Intro - CP Sunday
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.
Finally, Rejoice in the Lord - First time in the book where Paul says for them to Rejoice specifically in the Lord. As Christians this is something we should do often. We should rejoice in who the Lord is, not just what He does.
Difference between telling your wife you love her for her actions and for her person.
Paul is calling them to see Jesus for who He is and what He has accomplished. He then moves on to deal with an issue in the Church.
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—
Contrast
Dogs - Judaizers, Jewish Christians telling gentiles that they need to be following the law, including circumcision.
We are the circumcision - people of the new covenant who do not put confidence in the law but in Christ Jesus alone.
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Paul is stating that the Old Covenant and it’s requirements have been fulfilled in Jesus and the New Covenant promises are for those who believe in Jesus alone for their salvation.
Paul’s personal example (4-6)
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.
Pedigree
Actions
If anyone could have confidence in the flesh for their spiritual good it would be Paul. He had it ALL.
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
The Paul does something amazing, he says: all the pedigree, all the works, all the gain that brought me, all the stability I had, I count as loss.
ledger book for finances - move it all into the loss column and in the gains column alone is the name of Jesus.
Why? - Flesh and works won’t save, they will not make you righteous, only Jesus can do that
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—
Confidence in the flesh gains you nothing, but dependence upon Jesus gains you everything.
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.
Power
Suffering
Resurrection
Ultimately what Paul is saying is that those who are in Christ realize that they identify with Him now and into eternity.
GOSPEL
When we look at this Text we must examine ourselves and and see if we have become modern day Judaizers or do we truly identify as someone united to Jesus.
Do we think our pedigree make us more righteous?
Church History
Personal Experiences
Do we think our works make us more righteous?
How we love
How we sacrifice
How we serve
Do we think that our sin is less than others so we are more righteous?
They did this or that
Woman caught in adultery - You’re either the woman or the pharisee at any given time
If any of this is true, then we do not understand three things clearly.
The Gravity of our sin.
The Weakness of our morality and works.
The Greatness of our Savior.