Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 3:1-11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2004

John Wesley’s Salvation

 

On May 24, 1738, a discouraged missionary went very unwillingly to a religious meeting in London.

There a miracle took place.

About a quarter before nine, he wrote in his journal, I felt my heart strangely warmed.

I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

*/That missionary was John Wesley./*

The message he heard that evening was the preface to Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans.

Just a few months before, John Wesley had written in his journal: */I went to America to convert the Indians; but Oh! who shall convert me?/*

That evening in Aldersgate Street, his question was answered.

And the result was the great Wesleyan Revival that swept England and transformed the nation.

In chapter 1 Paul spoke of having the */single mind/*.

/To live for Christ/.

Chapter 2 dealt with the */submissive mind/*.

To put the needs of others first and be their servant.

In chapter 3 Paul speaks of the */spiritual mind/*.

To boast only in Jesus Christ and His finished work, putting yourself last.

Paul encourages believers to balance their books and find out where there confidence lies.

Some folk review their achievements in life and place their confidence in good works.

In today's passage Paul the accountant examines his books to show where his spiritual wealth was.

We will look at three points today: */R/**/ejoicing In God's Righteousness, Reflecting On Self Righteousness, Resting In Christ's Righteousness./*

 

/Firstly/  Rejoicing In God's Righteousness - Worship

 

*Philippians 3:1* /Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

/

 

The Judaizers had come to Philippi.

They taught Christians they had to keep the law to be accepted by God.

They said that faith in Christ wasn't enough, you needed the law too.

They tried to mix law and grace.

Even today, many people have a wrong perspective on works.

A lot of people believe that if your good works outweigh your sins then God will receive you into heaven.

Paul warns believers not to be deceived by this heresy.

Although he had told them these things before it was wise to remind them again.

Paul gives Christians two sets commands in the opening verses.

/a.

Beware* *Of The Judaizers/

 

*Philippians 3:2*/ *Beware* of dogs, *beware* of evil workers, *beware* of the mutilation!/

/ /

Paul */commanded/* believers*/ to beware/* of the Judaizers.

He gave them a threefold warning.

*/Dogs/*.

/Beware of dogs/.

He calls them dogs because dogs were considered unclean.

They fed on the scraps and garbage thrown out by the community.

They carried disease from place to place and barked at innocent people.

This was a fitting description for the Judaizers who followed Paul from place to place yapping at his heels like a bunch of wild dogs.

They were the ones who were really unfit to worship God.

They trusted in good works which are like filthy rags in God’s sight.

*/Evil Workers/*.

Judaizers taught that people were saved by faith plus good works, especially the works of the law.

But Paul calls their good works - evil works because they were performed in the flesh.

They boasted in the way that they observed the Jewish law with its rituals.

*Matthew 7:22-23: */Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, *ye that work iniquity.*/*

*

 

*/Concision./*

Paul's third description highlighted their emphasis on the ritual of circumcision.

But Paul called it /mutilation/.

Circumcision speaks of death to the flesh.

It was a false circumcision since it wasn't accompanied by faith.

They were trusting in the ritual rather than God who commanded it in the first place.

In fact the Judaizers sought righteousness through outward rituals instead of inward faith.

Circumcision and baptism were given by God as signs of an inward faith.

Baptism or confirmation can’t save us.

Baptism is a sign that we have believed in Christ and are following Him.

In baptism we are identified with Christ’s death and resurrection.

/b.

Boast In Christ Jesus/

/ /

*Philippians 3:1a, 3*/ Finally, my brethren, *rejoice* in the Lord.

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, *rejoice* in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,/

 

Paul's second */command/* is to */rejoice/* /in the Lord/.

The Judaizers rejoiced in their good works, their law keeping and circumcision.

Yet Paul commands believers to rejoice in the Lord.

/Why?/

Because we are saved by God’s grace.

Paul describes God's servants like this.

 

*/The Circumcision/*.

/Why does Paul call believers the circumcision?/

Because Christians are Abraham's seed through faith.

Faith is what counts.

*Romans 2:28-29:* /For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. /The Philippians */were circumcised inwardly/* through their faith in Christ.

*/Worship In Spirit/*.

True believers worship God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Judaizers placed great emphasis on the temple, its sacrifices and religious feasts.

Yet God is more concerned with the heart of the worshippers then the place they meet for worship.

The Samaritan woman at the well made this same mistake until Jesus corrected her.

*John 4:23-24:* /But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

/God requires us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

*/Rejoice In Christ Jesus./*

Christians mustn't rejoice in the law or circumcision.

The word */rejoice /**καυχάομαι* in verse 3 is different from the word */rejoice/* *χαίρω* in verse 1.

It means to */boast, glory or joy in/*.

Paul told the Philippians */to boast/* in Jesus Christ and His finished work of salvation, not their own works.

*Galatians 6:14:* /But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Why did Paul boast in the cross of Christ?/

Because Jesus Christ finished our salvation at Calvary,*/ /*/we place no confidence in the flesh.

On the cross Jesus cried out in victory it is finished./

*Psalm 118:**9 says:* /It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes./

Christians trust totally in Jesus Christ and His finished work.

*1 Corinthians 1:31 says: */That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

/

 

/Secondly/ Reflecting On Self Righteousness - Works