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The Church at Philippi • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsTheme: Our Credentials are Jesus' Credentials. Purpose: Put our Faith in Jesus alone for Salvation Gospel Connection: Jesus does it all Mission Connection: That we Grow in Faith in Christ.
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Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.
For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Introduction: Question in the Lunch Room. What must I do to be saved?
What is our Status in this World?
What is our Status in this World?
The Circumcision Party
Maybe who was spreading the Gospel for bad motivations, problem - They were spreading what Paul considered a Non-Gospel.
Their Charge we are assuming is that Paul does not have the Credentials.
Paul Argues he does, but as we see he will also argue that they ultimately mean nothing.
We have status
Perhaps economic, or your job status
We have status symbols.
Religiously - Leaders, Churchgoers etc.
What station of life we were born into.
Some by means of our heritage, some by means of what we have done.
What Paul is saying is that...
Our Status in this World means nothing.
Our Status in this World means nothing.
In the Kingdom of God that is.
These are not bad things - Well persecuting the Church maybe.
But they can not save us, include us into the people of God.
Story of Sister of a Pastor - “Well my brother is a Pastor.”
Story of Seminary Student - “Well, I am an American aren’t I.”
Both Good things, but is not an automatic for the Gospel.
Justification does not equal Faith + Works, F + W -> J - Circumcision Party
For Paul...”flesh” means the highest righteousness, wisdom, worship, religion, understanding, and will of which the world is capable. Therefore the monk is not justified by his order, nor the priest by the Mass and the canonical hours, nor the philosopher by wisdom, nor the theologian by theology, nor the Turk by the Koran, nor the Jew by Moses. In other words, no matter how wise and righteous men may be according to reason and the divine Law, yet with all their works, merits, Masses, righteousnesses, and acts of worship they are not justified.
What is important is....
Our Status in the Kingdom means everything.
Our Status in the Kingdom means everything.
F + W -> J - Circumcision Party
F -> J + W
So, for Paul, and for any of us, There is only 1 thing that brings us into the people of God and that is Trusting Jesus.
We can not rely on our connection to our family, our status in life, our position in the church, or any good works, or ceremonies we do.
They all come up short, we need Jesus.
Baptism - Not Baptismal Regeneration.
Martin Luther
For Paul...”flesh” means the highest righteousness, wisdom, worship, religion, understanding, and will of which the world is capable. Therefore the monk is not justified by his order, nor the priest by the Mass and the canonical hours, nor the philosopher by wisdom, nor the theologian by theology, nor the Turk by the Koran, nor the Jew by Moses. In other words, no matter how wise and righteous men may be according to reason and the divine Law, yet with all their works, merits, Masses, righteousnesses, and acts of worship they are not justified.
Why is it that only Trusting in Jesus saves us?
Our Credentials are Jesus’ Credentials.
Our Credentials are Jesus’ Credentials.
“The Righteousness from God on the basis of Faith.” - vs. 9
Righteousness is having a right standing in relationship with God.
Things like circumcision, our earthly status fall short, we need a Righteousness that comes from God.
That is what is exactly provided in Jesus Christ. That we trust and align ourselves with this perfect man whose death and resurrection provided us with a right standing before God.
Conclusion:
Whose Credentials do you want, yours or Christ’s?