Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!- vs. 1Lord!- vs. 1

How can I rejoice when How can I rejoice when everything is going wrong?everything is going wrong?

Only 2 kinds of people can rejoice Only 2 kinds of people can rejoice in spite of everything: in spite of everything:

CCrazyrazy people and C people and Christianshristians

It is no trouble for me to write the It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh- vs. 1-2those mutilators of the flesh- vs. 1-2

BToLBToL: Conflict is inevitable for : Conflict is inevitable for anyone who follows Jesus and is anyone who follows Jesus and is committed to the truth of the committed to the truth of the gospelgospel

A peace that refuses to defend A peace that refuses to defend is a cis a compromiseompromise of love of love

  

Is Paul calling names? Isn’t that Is Paul calling names? Isn’t that wrong? (Matthew 7:6)wrong? (Matthew 7:6)

Dogs...men who do Dogs...men who do evil...mutilators of the flesh...evil...mutilators of the flesh...  

Religion always confuses Religion always confuses ssanctificationanctification with justification with justification

- - JustificationJustification- “The Great Exchange” - “The Great Exchange” (no works)(no works)

- - SanctificationSanctification- Process (- Process (“work out “work out your own your own salvation”salvation”)- alignment)- alignment

For it is we who are the For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—vs. 3confidence in the flesh—vs. 3

We worship by God’s Spirit, not We worship by God’s Spirit, not men’s rmen’s ritualsituals. We glory in . We glory in Christ, not our wChrist, not our worksorks

Circumcision was given as a Circumcision was given as a symbol and shadowsymbol and shadow

Symbol of God’s covenant with Symbol of God’s covenant with AbrahamAbraham

Shadow of the reality of the Shadow of the reality of the gospel: new heart, new desiresgospel: new heart, new desires

...though I myself have reasons ...though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have confidence in the flesh, I have more: more:

...circumcised on the eighth day, ...circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, legalistic righteousness, faultless- vs. 4-6faultless- vs. 4-6

Paul’s resumePaul’s resume: :

- obeyed God before he could - obeyed God before he could talktalk

- part of God’s chosen people- part of God’s chosen people

- jammin’ tribe connections- jammin’ tribe connections

Paul’s resumePaul’s resume: :

- pure Jewish bloodline- pure Jewish bloodline

- dedicated to God’s Laws- dedicated to God’s Laws

- zealous for purity in his religion- zealous for purity in his religion

- kept all 600+ commands in the - kept all 600+ commands in the Pentateuch Pentateuch

Religion= works-righteousness Religion= works-righteousness ((performance-oriented faith: My performance-oriented faith: My trophies and rewards...)trophies and rewards...)

Jesus= gift-righteousnessJesus= gift-righteousness

But whatever was to my profit I But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all for whose sake I have lost all things...things...

...I consider them rubbish, that I ...I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from righteousness that comes from God and is by faith- vs. 7-9God and is by faith- vs. 7-9

As long as I rest on my religion As long as I rest on my religion and my moral goodness, I’ll and my moral goodness, I’ll never know Jnever know Jesusesus

...whatever was to my profit I now ...whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of consider loss for the sake of Christ...I consider them rubbish...Christ...I consider them rubbish...

RubbishRubbish==”dung,” “rubbish,” ”dung,” “rubbish,” “refuse,” “garbage”- “refuse,” “garbage”- human human excrementexcrement

That’s how God views religion!That’s how God views religion!

Justification must lead to Justification must lead to sanctification, but sanctification sanctification, but sanctification can never precede itcan never precede it

So What?So What?

- “God loves me more on the days I have - “God loves me more on the days I have a a quiet time”quiet time”

- “I gave to the church today. I’m really - “I gave to the church today. I’m really spiritual”spiritual”

- “I show up to work days and most - “I show up to work days and most people don’t. people don’t. I’m more committed”I’m more committed”

- “I’m so much better than the people I - “I’m so much better than the people I work work with...”with...”

"Suppose one of you had a "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?…that you may eat and drink’?…

……Would he thank the servant Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’”- Luke 17:7-10done our duty’”- Luke 17:7-10

Here’s the goalHere’s the goal: To know Jesus : To know Jesus intimately and completely (vs. intimately and completely (vs. 10-11)10-11)

Not to know how good I am, but to Not to know how good I am, but to know him intimately and know him intimately and completelycompletely

Religion- Good guys and bad guysReligion- Good guys and bad guys

The Faith- Jesus and “everybody The Faith- Jesus and “everybody else.” Jesus alone is goodelse.” Jesus alone is good

The Faith- Jesus alone is goodThe Faith- Jesus alone is good

- Kills pride and arrogance- Kills pride and arrogance

- Kills judgmentalism/hypocrisy - Kills judgmentalism/hypocrisy

- Brings humility and praise- Brings humility and praise

- Humility- I’m not better than - Humility- I’m not better than anyoneanyone

- Praise- God accepts even me- Praise- God accepts even me

What are the dogs in your life? What are the dogs in your life? The people and beliefs that keep The people and beliefs that keep you trying to earn love- God’s you trying to earn love- God’s love and people’s love? love and people’s love?

What would change if you stopped What would change if you stopped trying to earn that love? trying to earn that love?

What trophies and rewards are What trophies and rewards are you holding onto, pointing to in you holding onto, pointing to in pride, judging others by? pride, judging others by?

How does understanding that God How does understanding that God sees them as steaming piles sees them as steaming piles change your view of them?change your view of them?