Our joy in Jesus empowers us to live lives of contentment....

At the church where I serve, we have been looking at a letter that was written by the Apostle Paul and that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of Philippians. And as we look at the book of Philippians, our hope and our prayer is to be able to answer the question "What is joy?" along with sharing the several timeless truths that the Apostle Paul found as he lived a life that was marked by joy.

We launched into opening section of the book of Philippians by talking about the reality that in spite of the fact that he was in prison for proclaiming the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel; in spite of the fact that he was facing the possibility of death by execution; Paul prayed with joy.  We asked the question “How could Paul be experiencing joy when he was in prison facing the possibility of death?”

We discovered that while our culture views the word joy through the prism of emotion and as being connected and tied to our circumstances, the authors of the letters that make up the Bible viewed joy as a mind-set, an attitude of delight in life that takes the long view and is not based, limited, or tied to external circumstances. Joy is a quality of life and not just a fleeting emotion. And during this series, we have discovered that our joy is rooted in our connection to the message of the gospel and a growing love of Jesus.

And as we have looked at the book of Philippians, we have discovered that our joy is found in the advancement of the gospel and not our circumstances. We have discovered that our joy grows as we follow the example of Jesus by placing others first in a community that is marked by gospel-centered unity. We have discovered that our joy grows when we respond to what Jesus has done for us by living in obedience to Him. We have discovered that the common joy of a growing relationship with Jesus will lead us to encourage one another. We have discovered that our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance.

Last week, we discovered that we find joy when we have the right focus. As followers of Jesus, we find joy when we are focused on our relationship with Jesus. We find joy when we are gentle and tolerant of others.  We find joy when we are focused on not being apprehensive about anything, but instead pray to God about everything. We find joy when we are focused on carefully considering the things that bring joy. And we find joy when we are focused on putting the message and teachings of Jesus to practice in our lives.

Now this week, I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the final section of this letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to early followers of Jesus while in prison facing the possibility of death that we will discover another timeless truth when it comes to finding joy. So let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Philippians 4:10:

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

The Apostle Paul begins his final section of this letter by expressing his joy for the members of the church at Philippi and their renewed concern for his well being. You see, as Paul sat in prison for proclaiming the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. As Paul faced the possibility of death by execution, Paul had a sense of well being that flowed from the consistent care and concern that the members of the church at Philippi had demonstrated toward him.

When Paul uses the phrase “indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity” this phrase if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: “while you have always been concerned about me in the past, you have not always have had the opportunity to demonstrate your care and concern. Now however, as a result of my current circumstances, you have had the opportunity to demonstrate your concern and care for me”.

And as a result of the opportunity that the members of the church at Philippi now had to demonstrate their consistent care and concern for him, Paul had an attitude of delight in life and a quality of life that took the long view instead of focusing on his current circumstances. Paul had a mindset and not a fleeting emotion that was producing something in his life as a result of the circumstances that he found himself in that caused the members of the church at Philippi to demonstrate their care and concern toward him. Paul then revealed exactly what was being produced in his life as a result of his circumstances in verse 11:

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Now to fully understand what the Apostle Paul is communicating here, we first need to understand a few things. First, when Paul uses the phrase “Not that I speak from want”, this phrase, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to lack that which is essential. In addition, when Paul uses the word learned here, this word literally means to come to the realization of something through experience or practice.

So Paul here is basically saying “I am not writing these things to you because I am lacking what is essential, because I have come to realize, through my experiences in life, how to be content regardless of my circumstances.  I know how it is to be subject to a life of strict discipline when there is little and I know how it is to experience prosperity when there is plenty. I have come to realize, through my experiences in life, the secret of being content when my stomach is full of food and the secret of being content when my stomach is empty of food. I have come to realize, through my experiences in life, the secret of being content when I of having an abundance in life and the secret of being content when I am lacking and have to go without what I need”.

Now, I don’t know about you, but a natural question that arises in my mind at this point is “what is that secret that Paul has learned? What is the secret realization that Paul has come to that resulted in him being able to be content regardless of his circumstances? And can I have access to that source of contentment as well, so that I can experience contentment in life regardless of my circumstances?”

I mean, don’t you want to know the answer to that question? I mean, don’t we all want to be content? Paul then makes a statement that is one of the most misunderstood, misused, and abused statements in the entire Bible. And it is in this single statement that we see Paul reveal for us how he realized the secret to contentment. So let’s look at this statement together in Philippians 4:13:

 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Now, when Paul wrote this single statement that has been preserved and recorded for us in this section of this letter, he was not thinking that it would be used by an athlete in an interview as to how he was able to throw the touchdown pass that won the big game. Paul was not thinking that this phrase would be quoted by a student before they went into a daunting exam that they may or may not have studied for. Paul was not thinking that this phrase would be placed on bumper stickers and coffee mugs about being able to achieve a promotion at work or a degree at school or a date with that person they were pursuing.

Instead, with his phrase, Paul is revealing for us the reality that though all of his experiences, he had come to the realization that it was God who empowered him to be content in whatever circumstances he found himself in. You see, the reason why Paul could say that he rejoiced in the Lord greatly in verse ten was because Paul had come to the realization, through his experiences, that it was his joy in the Lord that empowered him to be content in any and every circumstance. It was Paul’s mind-set that resulted in an attitude of delight in life that took the long view and was not based, limited, or tied to circumstances that empowered Paul to be content regardless of circumstances. And it was this joy that resulted in a quality of life and not a fleeting emotion that empowered Paul to be content regardless of his circumstances.

But not only was Paul’s joy in Jesus empowering him to live a life of contentment. Tomorrow, we will see Paul reveal what else was being produced in his life as a result of his circumstances…

Paying careful attention so as to remain firmly committed to following Jesus...

 

This week, we have been looking at a section of letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to early followers of Jesus who were a part of a church in Philippi, Greece. And in this section of this letter, we have discovered that our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are to pay careful attention to how we live so as to take notice of the practices and patterns that characterize the life of a spiritually mature follower of Jesus so that we can imitate those practices and patterns in a way that results in us growing into a spiritual maturity that reveals and reflects Jesus to others.

 

And in Philippians 3:17-4:3 we see the Apostle Paul reveal three different reasons why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. So far, we have discovered that we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because there are many who are hostile to Jesus and the message of the gospel.  In addition, we have discovered that we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because we are foreigners here for a short time.

 

As followers of Jesus we are to live out the kingdom practices of the kingdom of God, because that is where our ultimate destination will be. As followers of Jesus, we are foreigners awaiting the return of our Rescuer and Leader. And as followers of Jesus we are foreigners waiting to receive our heavenly bodies. Upon Jesus return to usher in the kingdom of Heaven in its fullest sense, Jesus will transform our lowly, material body that has been corrupted by the effects of living in a fallen and broken world into a splendid heavenly body.

 

In addition, when Paul uses the phrase “by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself”, he is revealing for us the reality that Jesus will transform our bodies because He has the power to do so. Jesus has the power to subject all things to Himself. In other words, Jesus has the power and authority to do all things because He is large and in charge over everything. Today, we will see Paul conclude this section of his letter by revealing for us a third reason why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus in Philippians 4:1:

 

 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.  Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

 

Paul begins verse 1, by expressing his love for the members of the church at Philippi and reinforcing the commands that he had given at the beginning of this section of this letter. You see, Paul had a strong desire to see the members of the church, as the members of the church were a source of great joy and pride to Paul. And because of the joy and pride that Paul found in the members of the church at Philippi as a result of God’s transformational activity in their lives, Paul wanted the members of the church to stand firm in the Lord. So Paul commanded the members of the church, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to remain firmly committed in their conviction to follow Jesus and to imitate those practices and patterns of spiritually mature followers of Jesus in a way that results in them growing into a spiritual maturity that reveals and reflects Jesus to others.

 

And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the timeless reason we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus so as to remain firmly committed to following Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are to imitate the example of others who remain firmly committed to following Jesus in a way that brings joy and pride to them as a result of their role in our spiritual growth. As followers of Jesus, there is a joy and pride in the Lord that comes when we are used by Jesus to help others become more like Jesus.

 

Then in verse 2, Paul transitions to address a relational conflict that was occurring among two members of the church at Philippi. While Paul does not go into detail as to what the source of the conflict was, Paul urged these two members of the church to live in harmony in the Lord. In other words, these two members of the church were to work out their conflict in such a way that resulted in there being an agreement in their thinking about the issue that had driven the conflict. Paul’s point here is that, as followers of Jesus, we are to remain firmly committed to following Jesus by striving to live in agreement with one another that comes as a result of the common relationship that we have with Jesus. While there will be disagreements that occur amongst followers of Jesus, as followers of Jesus, we are to remain firmly committed to resolving those disagreements according to the message and teachings of Jesus in a way that strives towards a common mindset that we should have as a result of our relationship with Jesus.

 

Paul then concludes this section of his letter by asking the members of the church to come alongside these two who were in conflict to help resolve the conflict, because, at the end of the day, they were fellow members of the community of faith that were engaged in the common kingdom mission together. Paul here is revealing for us the reality that we are to remain firmly committed to following Jesus by supporting one another as we struggle to spread the gospel together. What unites us as followers of Jesus and what brings joy to us as followers of Jesus, is what occurs when we partner together to engage in the kingdom mission that we have been given by Jesus in community with one another.

 

Because, as we have discovered this week, our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because there are many who are hostile to Jesus and the message of the gospel. As followers of Jesus, we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because we are foreigners here for a short time. And as followers of Jesus, we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus so as to remain firmly committed to following Jesus.

 

We should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because joy flows from a mind set, an attitude of delight in life that takes the long view and that is based on the relationship that we have with Jesus and not on our current circumstances. We should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because joy is a mind-set, an attitude of delight in life that produces a quality of life that flows from our relationship with Jesus in a way that results in us living our day to day lives in a way that reveals and reflects Jesus to the world….

 

 

Foreigners here for a short time...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to early followers of Jesus who were a part of a church in Philippi, Greece. So far this week, we have discovered the timeless truth that our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we are to pay careful attention to how we live so as to take notice of the practices and patterns that characterize the life of a spiritually mature follower of Jesus so that we can imitate those practices and patterns in a way that results in us growing into a spiritual maturity that reveals and reflects Jesus to others.

 

And in Philippians 3:17-4:3 we see the Apostle Paul reveal three different reasons why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. Yesterday, we saw Paul reveal for us that we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because there are many who are hostile to Jesus and the message of the gospel. Today, we will see Paul reveal for us a second reason why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus in Philippians 3:20:

 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Now if you grew up in church, or spent any time in church, you are probably at least somewhat familiar with the phrase “For our citizenship is in heaven”. But what exactly does this church mumbo jumbo talk phrase mean? The word citizenship here was used in the culture of Paul’s day to refer a colony of foreigners or relocated veterans who used the laws and culture of their homeland for the colony instead of that of the culture and country that they were residing in.

Paul’s point here is that as followers of Jesus, we belong to a commonwealth that finds its law and culture in Heaven. And because of that reality, we are to live our day to day lives in a way that follows the message and teachings of Jesus instead of assimilating into a lifestyle that follows a culture that opposes Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are a part of the Kingdom of Heaven now, even though we are presently living here on earth. And because we are a part of the kingdom of heaven, we are to live our lives as kingdom people while here on earth in a way that engages people who are not a part of the kingdom of heaven so as to reveal and reflect Jesus to them. We are to live in such a way that we brings the light of the kingdom of heaven to those who are far from God instead of allowing ourselves to be assimilated into a lifestyle that is marked by the darkness of those who reject Jesus.

And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the timeless reason that we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because we are foreigners here for a short time. In these verses, we see Paul reveal for us three reasons why we are to live our lives as foreigners who are here for a short time.

First, we are foreigners because our true citizenship exists in heaven. As followers of Jesus we are to live out the kingdom practices of the kingdom of God, because that is where our ultimate destination will be. Paul then reinforces this reality with the phrase “from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”. Paul’s point here is that as followers of Jesus, we are foreigners awaiting the return of our Rescuer and Leader.

As followers of Jesus, the person who is ultimately in charge of our lives is Jesus. Jesus is our rescuer, our deliverer, and our Leader. There will be a day when Jesus will return to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven in its fullest sense. And that is what we are to eagerly wait for and that is what we are to place our hope in. As followers of Jesus, we are not to place our hope in the political processes of the kingdoms here on earth. Instead, we are to place our hope in Jesus as our ultimate Leader.

Third, in verse 21, we see Paul reveal for us the reality that we are foreigners waiting to receive our heavenly bodies. Upon Jesus return to usher in the kingdom of Heaven in its fullest sense, Jesus will transform our lowly, material body that has been corrupted by the effects of living in a fallen and broken world into a splendid heavenly body. In addition, when Paul uses the phrase “by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself”, he is revealing for us the reality that Jesus will transform our bodies because He has the power to do so. Jesus has the power to subject all things to Himself. In other words, Jesus has the power and authority to do all things because He is large and in charge over everything.

Tomorrow we will see Paul conclude this section of his letter by revealing for us a third reason why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus…

Our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus...

At the church where I serve, we have been looking at a letter that was written by the Apostle Paul and that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of Philippians. As we do so, our hope and our prayer is to be able to answer the question "What is joy?" along with sharing the several timeless truths that the Apostle Paul found as he lived a life that was marked by joy.

This week, I would like for us to pick up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to early followers of Jesus who were a part of a church in Philippi, Greece that we will discover another timeless truth when it comes to finding joy. So let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Philippians 3:17:

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

Paul begins this section of his letter to the members of the church at Philippi by commanding followers of Jesus throughout history to do two things. First, Paul commands followers of Jesus throughout history to join in following my example. Now, if Paul was giving this command in the language we use in our culture today, this command would have sounded something like this: “My fellow followers of Jesus, I am commanding you to join me as I strive to live a life that imitates Jesus. Imitate me as I imitate Jesus”.

Paul then provided followers of Jesus throughout history a second command. And that second command was to “observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Now when Paul uses the word observe here, this word literally means to pay careful attention to, to take notice of someone or something. And what followers of Jesus were to pay careful attention to so as to take notice of was those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. The word walk here refers to how one conducts one’s life.

In addition, when Paul uses the word pattern here, he is referring to the moral example that he and other spiritually mature followers of Jesus were setting and providing. With this command, Paul is basically saying “Make sure that you are paying careful attention so as to take notice of how those around you who are spiritually nature are living out their lives as followers of Jesus so that you can imitate the practices and patterns that characterize the life of a spiritually mature follower of Jesus.

And it is here that we see that Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to finding joy. And that timeless truth is this: Our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. Just as it was for the Apostle Paul, just as it has been for followers of Jesus throughout history, our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we are to pay careful attention to how we live so as to take notice of the practices and patterns that characterize the life of a spiritually mature follower of Jesus so that we can imitate those practices and patterns in a way that results in us growing into a spiritual maturity that reveals and reflects Jesus to others. And in Philippians 3:17-4:3 we see the Apostle Paul reveal three different reasons why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus. We see Paul reveal the first reason beginning in Philippians 3:18-19. Let’s look at that reason together:

 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Here we see Paul provide a timeless reason why, as followers of Jesus, we are to take notice of the practices and patterns that characterize the life of a spiritually mature follower of Jesus so that we can imitate those practices and patterns in a way that results in us growing into a spiritual maturity that reveals and reflects Jesus to others. Paul states “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ”. Paul’s point is that there are many people who conduct their lives in a way that is hostile towards the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel. There are many people who live out their day to day lives in opposition to the message and teachings of Jesus.

And this reality broke the Apostle Paul’s heart. When Paul uses the phrase, and now tell you weeping, this phrase in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means I say with tears. And it is here that we see Paul reveal for us the timeless reason we should pay careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus because there are many who are hostile to Jesus and the message of the gospel.  Paul then reveals several aspects of the lives of those who were hostile to and placed themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel that brought him to tears in verse 19. 

First, Paul explained that, for those who were hostile to and placed themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, their end is destruction. What is interesting here is that world destruction here literally means annihilation. Paul’s point here is that their hostility to the message of the gospel will result in the annihilation of an eternal life with Jesus.

Second, Paul explained that, for those who were hostile to and placed themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, their god was their appetite. But what does that mean. With his phrase, Paul is revealing for us the reality that those who are hostile to and place themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel were driven by a desire to satisfy their own rebellious appetites. In other words, those who are hostile to Jesus worship their own selfish desires instead of Jesus.

Third, Paul stated that, for those who were hostile to and placed themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, their glory is their shame. Paul’s point here is that, in their hostility to the message of the gospel, they took pride in their disgraceful and shameful behavior as they rebelled against the message and teachings of Jesus. Those who were hostile to Jesus felt no shame over their shameful behavior.

Fourth, Paul explained that, for those who were hostile to and placed themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel, they set their mind on earthly things. When Paul refers to earthly things here, he is referring to the things of the earth that result in selfish personal gratification. With his phrase, Paul is revealing for us the reality that those who are hostile to and placed themselves in opposition to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel were focused on their own personal selfish gratification.

Tomorrow, we will see Paul reveal for us a second reason why our joy that comes from Jesus should result in us paying careful attention to how we live as followers of Jesus…

The perfect one to share the message of the gospel with anyone...

This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of Philippians, where a man named Paul has revealed for us the timeless truth that our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance. So far this week, we have seen that, as followers of Jesus, we are to watch out for religious performance because it opposes the gospel. We are also to watch out for religious performance because it fails to produce joy. Today, we will see Paul reveal another reason why he discarded religious legalism for a relationship with Jesus in Philippians 3:12:

 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

You see, Paul was not arrogant, Paul accurately understood how well he had lived a religious centered life of legalism. However, Paul also accurately understood that his religious performance did not bring the joy that only comes from a growing relationship with Jesus that is based on trusting in Jesus performance for us. And because of that reality, Paul’s life was directed to a new goal. Instead striving to perform for God, Paul was striving to grow in his relationship with Jesus so that his life would look like Jesus.

And as a result of that new goal, Paul had discarded everything else in life as secondary because he was focused on moving toward the goal of becoming like Jesus. Paul recognized that he had not arrived yet, or was in a place to experience that close relationship with Jesus in Heaven. So Paul pressed on; Paul was focused on moving rapidly and decisively to own a deeper and deeper relationship with Jesus. Paul pressed on “so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” In other words, Paul’s movement to be like Jesus was driven by the reality that Jesus had made him His own as a result of His activity. Yet, while Paul believed that Jesus owned him, Paul did not believe that he was in a place where he owned that close relationship with Christ in Heaven.

And because of that belief, Paul stated “but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul discarded his past and put it out of his mind. Instead, Paul exerted himself to the utmost toward the future. Paul moved decisively towards Jesus invitation to experience eternal life with Him in Heaven.

You see, that is why Paul was the perfect person to spread the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel throughout the known world. Paul was perfect because there was no one more religious that Paul. Paul could trump anyone’s religious activity for God. And Paul was perfect because there was no one more irreligious then Paul. Paul could trump anyone’s irreligious activity. “Oh you think that there is no way that Jesus could accept you after all the bad things you have done? Well have you killed anyone? Have you killed any followers of Jesus? Because that is what I have done, and Jesus still accepted me.”

Paul was the perfect spokesperson for the gospel. Paul could speak to religious people about the gospel and Paul could speak to irreligious people about the gospel because his religion trumped their religion and his irreligious behavior trumped their irreligious behavior. And because of that reality, Paul could say what he says next in verse 15-16:

 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

Now when the Apostle Paul uses the word perfect here, this word, in the language that this letter was originally written in, conveys the sense of wholeness or completeness. Paul here is not referring to perfection here. Instead Paul is referring to those who have taken the step to become followers of Jesus and who want to grow and mature in their relationship with Jesus. Paul is basically saying “As many of you who desire to grow to maturity when it comes to your relationship with Jesus, you need to have the opinion and mindset that I have just shared with you”.

Paul here is encouraging followers of Jesus throughout history to embrace his opinion regarding the joy that comes from a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance. As followers of Jesus, our relationship with Jesus should lead us to this opinion. However, as Paul points out in the second half of verse 15, and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you. In other words, Paul is basically saying “God will disclose to you that what I said is true if your opinion is different than my opinion.”

Paul then concluded this section of his letter by encouraging the members of the church at Philippi to let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Paul here is revealing for us the reality that our relationship with Jesus should lead us to hold on to the standard that our joy comes from a growing relationship with Jesus and not our religious performance.

So here is a question to consider: Are you trying to find joy in your religious performance for God? Or are you trying to find joy in a growing relationship with Jesus?

Because, as we have discovered, our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance. As followers of Jesus, we are to watch out for religious performance because it opposes the gospel. We are to watch out for religious performance because it fails to produce joy. And we are to desire a growing relationship with Jesus and reject religious performance, because it is in a growing relationship with Jesus that we find joy.

We find joy in a growing relationship with Jesus because joy flows from an attitude of delight in life that takes the long view and that is based on the relationship that we have with Jesus and not on our current circumstances. Joy is a mind-set that produces a quality of life that is based on, and that flows from, our relationship with Jesus in a way that reveals and reflects Jesus to the world.

Discarding Religious Performance For A Relationship...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the Bible called the book of Philippians. Yesterday we looked on  as the Apostle Paul for us the timeless truth that our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance. We saw Paul reveal for us the reality that we are to watch out for religious performance because it opposes the gospel. Religious performance promotes serving God in the power of the flesh instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. Religious performance trusts in our performance for God and our physical circumstances instead of God’s performance for us.

Then in Philippians 3:4, we saw Paul begin to hammer his point home by beginning to share his religious resume. Paul’s point was that as followers of Jesus, we are to watch out for these false teachers because their teaching is tempting to follow. Paul’s point is that the religion of legalism, the desire to earn a relationship with God through religious performance, is tempting to follow, even for Paul.

We also saw that Paul did believe that he was better than anyone else. Paul did believe that his religious performance was better than anyone else’s religious performance. And as we will see today, Paul was not being arrogant; Paul was being accurate. We see the accuracy of Paul’s statement by looking at his religious resume, which Paul shares with us beginning in the last half of Philippians 3:4:

If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation 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 the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Now if Paul was giving out his resume in the language we use in our culture today, these verses would have sounded like this: “If anyone could consider it possible to trust in my performance for God in order to be right with God, it would be me. If anyone thought that trusting in one’s performance for God through religious legalism would bring joy, it was me. After all, I was born into the right family and ethnicity. And I once trusted in my nationality as a Jew that resulted in me being born into the right family. I was a Pharisee who graduated at the top of my Torah class. I was trained by the greatest rabbi around. So there was a time when I trusted in my academic training that resulted in my going to the right schools and being at the top of Torah class. I was someone who kept all the rules and I was someone who once helped enforce the rules because I was the best at keeping all the rules. And because of how great my performance was for God, I had always trusted in my performance for God. I was such a great legalist that I even harassed and harmed early followers of Jesus. I was such a great legalist, that no one could find fault with my performance for God. I was perfectly blameless when it came to my performance for God as a legalist who kept a list of rules for God.”  You see there was no one better than Paul when it came to performing for God. But notice what Paul says next in verse 7:

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

In other words, Paul basically says “But whatever I thought that I had earned from God as a result of my religious performance for God; regardless of how great my religious resume appears to be, all of those things that I thought I had earned from God I now consider to be a disadvantage to rid myself of in order that I may experience a relationship with Jesus that comes as a result of faith in Jesus and in trusting in Jesus performance for me.

You see, while Paul once thought that trusting on ones’ performance for God would bring him joy, he now considered trusting in one’s performance for God through religious legalism to be a disadvantage to be discarded so that he would experience the joy that comes from knowing Jesus. And because of that reality, Paul discarded religious legalism because he considered a relationship with Jesus as far more important. We see Paul further unpack this reality beginning in verse 8:

 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

In this single sentence, we see Paul reveal for us three different reasons why he discarded religious legalism for a relationship with Jesus. First, in verse 8, Paul explained that he discarded religious legalism because he counted all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Paul’s point here is that he discarded everything else in life because he considered a relationship with Jesus as being of supreme importance.

However, that was not easy, because as Paul pointed out, the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus resulted in him suffering the loss of all things. In other words, Paul discarded everything else except his relationship with Jesus as being secondary, which resulted in suffering and hardship. Paul then explained that the reason that he was able to discard everything else as being secondary was due to the fact that he counted them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.

Now while our English Bibles attempt to clean up what Paul is saying here, in doing so we lose the true significance of what Paul is saying here. You see, the word rubbish, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally refers to human excrement. Paul here is revealing for us the reality that he viewed all that he had thought that he had earned from God as a result of his religious performance for God as a steaming pile of crap. Paul discarded everything else as a steaming pile of excrement so that he could experience a relationship with Jesus.

Second, in verse 9, Paul explained that he discarded religious legalism because he wanted to be “found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”. Paul’s point here is that he discarded everything else in life because he considered a relationship with Jesus as the way one becomes right with God. When Paul uses the phrase not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, he is referring to experiencing a right relationship with God as a result of perfectly keeping all of God’s commands that are recorded for us in the Law, which are the first five letters that are recorded for us in the Bible today.

Paul’s point is that being right with God does not come through our performance for God by keeping the Law. Instead, being right with God is through faith in Christ. Being right with God comes by placing our confident trust in what God did for us through Jesus. Being right with God is based on trusting in the faith that comes from God and that is based on Jesus performance for us and not our performance for Jesus. And because of that reality, Paul had come to discard religious performance as the means by which one experiences true joy.

Third, in verses 10-11, Paul explained that he discarded religious legalism because he wanted to “know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. When Paul uses the phrase power of His resurrection, this phrase refers to the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead. In addition, when Paul uses the word fellowship, this word refers to a close association involving mutual interests. Paul wanted to follow Jesus so closely and know Jesus so deeply that he would experience the same suffering and rejection that Jesus experienced.

Now a natural question that arises here is “Why would anyone want that? Why would anyone want to experience the suffering and rejection that Jesus experienced?” Paul provided the answer to that question with the phrase being conformed to His death, which literally means to take on the same form. You see, Paul wanted the readers of his letter throughout history to understand that he discarded everything else in life as being secondary because he considered a growing relationship with Jesus the way to experience eternal life with Jesus.

Paul desired to experience God’s power in his life. Paul desired to experience a close connection with the sufferings that Jesus experienced. And Paul desired to experience a life that revealed and reflected Christ, even to his death, so that he would also experience eternal life with Jesus.

 

Friday, we will see Paul reveal a fourth reason why he discarded religious legalism for a relationship with Jesus...

Our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance...

At the church where I serve, we have been looking at a letter that was written by the Apostle Paul and that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of Philippians. This week I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to early followers of Jesus while in prison facing the possibility of death that we will discover another timeless truth when it comes to finding joy. So let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Philippians 3:1:

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Paul begins this section of his letter by commanding the members of the church at Philippi, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to rejoice in the Lord. Paul here is commanding followers of Jesus to have an attitude of delight in life that takes the long view and that is based on the relationship that we have with Jesus and not on our current circumstances. The Apostle Paul is commanding followers of Jesus to have a mind-set that produces a quality of life that is based on, and that flows from, our relationship with Jesus in a way that reveals and reflects Jesus to the world.

Paul then provided the members of the church of the church at Philippi two motivations that drove him to repeatedly call them to rejoice in the Lord.  First, Paul was motivated to repeatedly call followers of Jesus throughout history to rejoice in the Lord, because to write these things again is no trouble to me. Paul’s point here with this phrase is that he had no hesitation to continually command them to find joy in their relationship with Jesus.

Second, Paul was motivated to repeatedly call followers of Jesus throughout history to rejoice in the Lord, because it was a safeguard for you. In other words, Paul was motivated to command followers of Jesus to rejoice in the Lord because, as followers of Jesus, it is in our best interest to find our joy in the Lord. It is our best interest to find our joy in the Lord, because finding our joy in the Lord keeps us from getting off track by attempting to find joy in things other than the Lord and that cannot produce joy.

Now a natural question that arises here is “a safeguard from what? What is Paul trying to protect us from?” We see Paul provide the answer to that question beginning in verse 2:

 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh.

In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul provide a timeless command that reveals for us a timeless truth when it comes to finding joy. However, to fully understand what the Apostle Paul is commanding here, we first need to define some terms. First, when Paul commands followers of Jesus throughout history to beware, this command, if communicated in the language we use in our culture today, would have sounded something like this: “You you better watch your back; better look out.”

Paul then explains that followers of Jesus were to watch their back and look out for “the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision”. When Paul uses the word dogs here, this phrase was used during this time in history as an invective to describe an infamous person. In addition, when Paul refers to evil workers here, he is referring to false prophets and false teachers.

Finally, when Paul refers to the false circumcision, this phrase was used to describe the religious legalists of the day. As we have talked about previously, the religion of legalism views the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel as being too easy, too simple. For the legalist, there has to be more than faith in God’s grace. So what a legalist does is make a list of religious rules to follow in order to be right with God. The legalist lives a life that is driven by faith in Christ plus works for God in order to be right with God.  Or the legalist is driven by works for God apart from faith in Christ in order to be right with God.

Paul here is commanding followers of Jesus to watch their back and look out for false teachers who were promoting a religious centered lifestyle instead of a gospel centered lifestyle. For Paul, those who promoted the religion of legalism over the message of the gospel were dogs; those who promoted the religion of legalism over the message of the gospel were false teachers who were promoting a message that directly contradicted the message and teachings of Jesus.

Paul unpacks this reality in verse three by stating “for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” But what does that mean? Paul’s point behind this phrase is that while these dogs, these false teachers, were promoting a religious centered lifestyle that was based on keeping a list of rules for God, like circumcision, it is a gospel centered lifestyle that is based on responding to God’s transformational activity in our lives through the Holy Spirit by believing, trusting and following Jesus by faith that results in a right relationship with God.

And it is here that we see that Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth when it comes to finding joy. And that timeless truth is this: Our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance. Just as it was for the Apostle Paul, just as it has been for followers of Jesus throughout history, our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance. And in Philippians 3:1-16, we see the Apostle Paul reveal three different reasons why our joy is found in a growing relationship with Jesus, not religious performance.

First, in verse 2, we see Paul reveal for us the reality that we are to watch out for religious performance because it opposes the gospel. Religious performance promotes serving God in the power of the flesh instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. In addition, as the Apostle Paul points out in verse 3, religious performance takes pride in what they do for God instead of what God has done for them through Jesus. Religious performance trusts in our performance for God and our physical circumstances instead of God’s performance for us.

Then in verse 4, Paul hammers his point home by beginning to share his religious resume. Paul states “although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh”.  Now a natural reaction to Paul’s statement here is “well that sounds arrogant. Paul seems to be saying that he was better than everyone else.” But this morning, is that the case? Is that what Paul is getting at here?

Paul’s point behind this statement is that as followers of Jesus, we are to watch out for these false teachers because their teaching is tempting to follow. Paul’s point is that the religion of legalism, the desire to earn a relationship with God through religious performance, is tempting to follow, even for Paul. And yes, Paul did believe that he was better than anyone else.

In addition, Paul did believe that his religious performance was better than anyone else’s religious performance. And Paul was not being arrogant; Paul was being accurate.

Tomorrow, we see the accuracy of Paul’s statement by looking at his religious resume…