Only Jesus

Intro:

Last youth group lesson of the year. Tonight we come to one of my all time favorite passage. It’s the passage that I have tired to build my life on. It’s the passage that has affected almost every lesson I have ever taught. So you have heard much of what I am going to say tonight but I can’t think of a better passage then this to give you.

We are in a sense going to do one big small group together tonight. I am going to work through this passage together and see what we get.

Philippians 3:1–11 (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.

The real power of the passage comes to the end but I love the way Paul set’s it up. So let’s look through these first couple of verses together.

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

Who is Paul talking about in these verses?

Look out for the dogs.....

Look out for the evildoers… Let’s get back to this in a second.

Look our for those who mutilate the flesh....

Paul does not throw any punches with this comment. This is like the all time slam.

Paul is talking to Jews who are known for what? But Paul says no what your doing isn’t circumcision it’s just the mutilation of the flesh.

Then he drops the hammer even harder and he says we are the real circumcision. Which is to say we are the real followers of God. You are just flesh mutulators you are practically pagans. Paul could not be any harsher than what he is right now.

He says 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

He says we are actually the ones who worship God. What you do is no better than pagan worship.

But what is the main thing distinction between Christians and Jews in this moment?

put no confidence in the flesh

To put confidence in circumcision is to put confidence in the flesh. It’s putting confidence in a physical act.

To put confidence in the flesh is to be an evildoer. Putting confidence in the flesh is no better than pagan worship.

But then what does Paul say?

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.

If anyone could have confidence in the flesh it would be Paul.

It says he was circumcised on the eight day? What does that mean?

He was of the tribe of Benjamin. Why is that important?

He was a Hebrew of hebrews?

A Pharisee? Who was that?

As to zeal he was a persecutor of the church? What does that mean?

Type A. He made things happen/ He was as zealous as they come.

He says he was blameless. What does that mean?

No one has ever had had a greater reason to put confidence in the flesh. He stood out above all. If anyone else was going to earn their way to heaven it would have been Paul. He was the greatest that has ever live.

But what does he say?

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

What does Paul mean by this?

That every supposed gain he had in religion. That every advantage he had he saw as a loss. He gave up every ounce of confidence in the flesh for the sake of Christ.

This means he gave up all of his pride. He gave up every ounce of pride that made him think he knew better. Every ounce of pride that made him think he could do it on his own. Every ounce of pride that made him think he didn’t need Jesus.

He laid down all of his pride, all of his self confidence, all of his self-esteem, he counted it all as loss for Christ.

Have you? Are you still holding onto pride that you know best? That you know better? Are you still holding on to confidence in yourself that says you can do it? Are you still holding onto your performance for your joy? Do you still have confidence in your flesh?

Lay it down. Give it up. Count it as loss for the sake of Christ.

But Paul goes farther.

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

Paul goes farther. Not only does he say that he will count all of his confidence in the flesh as loss he says he counts everything as loss in comparison of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

Now it’s one thing for say me to say this. But think what Paul has gone through. He’s been beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, thrown in the deepest darkest prison cell, he’s had everything ripped from him. He writes this as he sits under house arrest, eventually he will be killed for his faith.

Paul has lost everything but what does he say? He counts everything as loss for the surpassing worth of Knowing Christ.

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

But he takes it one step farther. He says he count’s all of those things as rubbish. Now here is where it gets crazy. That world rubbish is actually a little vulgar. The KJV translates it as dung. It refers to excrement. Which to put it plainly. That word rubbish could be translated crap.

Paul is saying that compared to knowing Christ Jesus as Lord everything else is crap.

The things of this world could not get any less important. They could not be any less attractive. Compared to Christ they are crap.

When we choose anything over Christ it’s like a dog who eat’s his own poop instead of fresh meat.

So don’t miss the main point here. There is literally nothing in this world you could give up for Christ that would not be worth it.

Jesus will forever and always be best. He will always be better. He will always be worth it.

You can’t give up too much for Jesus.

Paul has been through more pain than we could possibly imagine and yet he has so much more joy than you have all have lived a relatively easy life. Why? Because he choose Christ.

What are you holding onto?

Friends?

Be willing to give up friends for Christ. IF you won’t give up friends for Jesus you cant have joy in Christ.

Family?

Jesus says you need to hate your mother and father compared to the love you have for Christ.

Being right?

Be willing to be wrong for the sake of Christ. If you can’t admit you are wrong than you can’t have joy in Christ.

Entertainment?

Your future?

Comforts?

What’s that sin in your life?

Give it up. Let it go. I am begging you. Give it up for Christ.

You can’t give up too much for Christ. Jesus will always be better

C.S. Lewis

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

We are far too easily pleased with the things that are compared to Christ are dung.

Jesus is better.

Matthew 13:44 (ESV)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Following Jesus is like finding a treasure in a field. When you find that treasure you instantly realize that it is worth more than anything you have. So when you find a treasure like that what do you do? You sell everything you own because you know that know nothing you own compares to that treasure in the field.

So you go and with joy sell everything. Why? Because the treasure is better and so is Jesus.

You can’t give up too much for Jesus.

IF there is nothing you remember from me for this entire summer remember this. Jesus is better.

Jesus is better. For now, for tomorrow, for next week, for next year, for the rest of your life. Jesus will always be better. Everything else disappoints. Literally everything disappoints.

Church disappoints.

Friends disappoint.

Pastors disappoint.

Good grades disappoint

Jobs disappoint

Careers disappoint

Wives disappoint

Husbands disappoint.

Boyfriends/girlfriends disappoint

Jesus never will. Jesus will always be worth it. Jesus will always be better.