The symbol for peace has become as familiar as any symbol in our world and often reminds us of the 1960s and of those who protested the war. What many probably don’t know is that this symbol was only designed a little over 50 years ago. So though many equate peace with this symbol, the desire for peace precedes this time period and is also a continued desire for many today.
The reason for this constant pursuit of peace in our world is because of the fact that there have been surprisingly very few times that the entire world has been at peace.
Recent studies have shown that that since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time. Since 3600 B.C. the world has known only 286 years of peace. During this period there have been 14,351 wars, large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. Not only is the pursuit of peace challenging on a global scale, but is also difficult on a personal level. Today divorce rates are through the roof, countless numbers of family members are at odds with one another and you can’t hardly go anywhere and not hear about internal problems in our churches.
Though these statistics cause many to question whether or not sustainable peace is possible in this life, God’s Word tells us that it is. Scripture clearly teaches us that there is sustainable peace to be had in this life and it is experienced through the person and work of Christ.
In this sermon series, we have been discussing that joy is possible in this life and in our text for today we are going to find that this lasting joy can become a reality if we can learn to experience peace.
EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH EXPERIENCING PEACE
I. BE AN ENCOURAGER
I have made mention before that the enemy is not going to allow kingdom work to take place without a fight, which is why it should be no surprise to us that the Christians in Philippi had to endure a lot.
Chapter 1-There was the threat of persecution.
Chapter 2-There was issues with disunity.
Chapter 3-There was the threat of false teachers.
Chapter 4-There is conflict between leaders in the church.
Knowing the circumstances were not easy for the Christians at Philippi, Paul gives them words of encouragement in 4:1. He says, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”
In the midst of these difficult circumstances, Paul is there to provide support for the Christians at Philippi by praising them for how far they have come and by encouraging them to continue to stand firm.
Here Paul shows us by example that conflict needs to be confronted with heartfelt encouragement. When we see a brother or sister in Christ going through difficulty, though we may not be able to undue a circumstance or remove an obstacle, what we can do is be there for them—providing comfort, encouragement and support.
II. BE A PEACEMAKER
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
In these verses Paul addresses a specific issue that is happening within the church between two women. He says, “I plead with you Euodia and with you Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”
The scriptures do not give the specifics of what this disagreement was about. What we do know, however, is that this dispute was threatening the health of the Church, which is why Paul calls for them to find common ground—disagreeing agreeably if necessary. He also calls for a certain unnamed leader in the church, who many believe to be an elder at Philippi, to come alongside these ladies to help them reach this much needed unity.
This is contrary to the way many respond in conflict. What we often do when in a dispute is stand our ground and show where the other is wrong and what others in the church have a tendency to do is to not seek to resolve the conflict between individuals, but take sides. Both of these responses do nothing but cause further disunity.
Paul calls for believers to be peacemakers—to seek to turn conflict into much needed unity.
III. TURN YOUR FOCUS UPWARD AND OUTWARD
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.
Paul is basically saying here, “I know your circumstances are not great neither are mine, but don’t be so selfish to let your current circumstances keep you from rejoicing the Lord and serving others.”
When difficult times come, what many have a tendency to do is to turn inwardly. They often think because times are tough, “I’ve just got to look out me. I can’t be worried about others when my life is a mess.”
Paul says something completely contrary to this. He basically says, “If you want to find peace in this life, when conflict comes don’t turn inwardly, but instead turn your focus upward and outward.”
First Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” One of the reasons Paul calls for the Christians at Philippi to be joyful at all times is because when the going gets tough one of the last things any of us want to do is exhibit joy. Paul says here, “Show what is true of the Christian faith; that even in midst of difficulty, we can rejoice.”
He also says, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.” When we hear the word reasonableness or gentleness, we tend to think of being meek or mild. This is not what Paul has in mind here. The Greek word for reasonable refers to a spirit that is fair-minded and charitable.
Paul is calling for the Christians at Philippi to put their wants and desires on hold in order to put the needs of others first. He wants believers to avoid being self-absorbed and selfish and instead to be sacrificial and selfless.
IV. PRAY INSTEAD OF WORRYING
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
First Paul says “Don’t worry—do not be anxious about anything.” If any one verse speaks to most everybody it’s this one. The reason being we are a very anxious people—we worry about everything?
The problem with worry is that we devote so much time to it and it does not help matters. Jesus makes this point in Mt. 6:27, when he asks the rhetorical question, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life”? In other words, “What good does worrying do?” The obvious answer of course being “nothing.” In this text, Paul gives us an alternative, which leads to peace. He says, “But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Paul’s point is that a good alternative of being anxious and worried is to present your requests to God.
Now why is this an adequate alternative to worry? Paul explains, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” The point made in this verse is that when believers are in a bad way and pray, the peace of God comes upon them and guards their hearts against worry and fear of that situation or circumstance.”
His point is that though God will not always miraculously change ones circumstance, what He will do is change the individual—moving him/her from worry to peace by granting His miraculous and supernatural peace that guard believers hearts against worry and anxiety.
V. BE DISCIPLINED SPIRITUALLY
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
First in v. 8 Paul talks about the importance of being disciplined mentally. Our minds are prone to wander aren’t they? This is why when you are checking out at Wal-Mart they have all those tabloid magazines near the check out. Because our minds are prone to wander toward the trivial things of our world. Our minds are also prone to wander toward things that cause us to have anxiety and worry.
Paul says here, “If you want to experience joy, you have to train your mind to not wonder down that path.” He says, “Instead think about things that are true, that are noble, that are right, that are pure, that are lovely, that are admirable, that are excellent, that are praiseworthy.” To experience peace in this life, you are going to have to be disciplined mentally.
In v. 9 Paul tells the Christians at Philippi that they are to also discipline their bodies. He says, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.”
Once again we see Paul holding himself up as an example for the Christians at Philippi. He says “The things you have heard me say and have seen me do—practice these things—Put these things into practice and the peace of God will be with you.”
So the pathway to peace is through discipline. If you want to experience peace and joy and happiness, it comes from discipline. This is one of the great paradoxes in the Scriptures.
CONCLUSION
So to experience joy in this life, we have to experience peace especially in the midst of conflict. The problem however, is that many are not at peace with the creator. If we are going to experience joy in this life, it begins with experiencing peace first and foremost with God.
The way to do this is to recognize what God has done for us at the cross through Jesus Christ and turn from our life of rebellion to Him and trust in Him alone for our salvation. Then and only then we can move from being at odds with God to being at peace with Him.
When you get that relationship right, it will begin to transform the rest of your life and the rest of your relationships so that you can experience lasting peace in this life no matter what.
"The biblical concept of peace does not focus on the absence of trouble. Biblical peace is unrelated to circumstances--it is a goodness of life that is not touched by what happens on the outside. You may be in the midst of great trials and still have biblical peace." -John MacArthur
EXPERIENCING JOY BY FOLLOWING THE RIGHT PATTERN
In the 80s there was a popular television show called Diff’rent Strokes. It was a comedy about two boys named Arnold and Willis whose mother had been a maid for a wealthy man named Mr. Drummond. After she died, not wanting those boys to return to the streets from which they came, Mr. Drummond decided that he would adopt them and raise them in his penthouse.
The show revolved around these two boys trying to learn how to live in the penthouse after having growing up in poverty. The whole show was about how difficult it is for people to rid themselves of old patterns and follow the right ones.
When God found us, we were in spiritual poverty and though he has now seated us in the penthouse, many of us are still learning to live the way we should in this new situation. Often times a lot of the old patterns from our old neighborhood resurface and the question for us today is the same as that of Arnold and Willis; "Can we rid ourselves of our old patterns and instead follow the right ones?”
EXPERIENCING JOY BY FOLLOWING THE RIGHT PATTERN
I. IMITATE THE PATTERNS OF FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Throughout this book, Paul has put forth several helpful patterns for the Christians at Philippi to follow. He puts forth Jesus as a pattern for humility and Timothy and Epaproditus as examples of what it means to live full and faithful lives for God.
In v. 17, Paul calls for the Christians at Philippi to be imitators of Him and others like Him. He says, "Join in imitating me" and "Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us." In other words, Paul is calling for believers to find and follow the patterns of the faithful.
SO WE ARE TO IMITATE HIM AND OTHERS LIKE HIM
II. AVOID THE PATTERNS OF ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame,
After putting forth good godly examples for the Christians at Philippi to follow, Paul goes on to warn against those he calls "enemies of the cross of Christ." Unlike the godly examples in v. 17, Paul is clear that the pattern of behavior for those mentioned in vv. 18-19 are to be avoided at all cost.
And below are the reasons why...
A)THEY ARE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Paul says,
For many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Commentators have different opinions on who this group was because Paul doesn't say specifically. They can, however, be narrowed down to one of two groups. There are two groups that Paul warns against in the first century when it comes to beliefs and teachings about salvation.
The first were those who added to the Gospel. The Judaizers fall into this group. They believed that Jesus though significant was not sufficient. They taught that along with believing in Christ one had to be circumcised and abide by Jewish law to be made right with God.
The second group Paul is often critical of in the Scriptures are those who subtract from the Gospel—those who take away from it. There was a certain group of Gentiles who reasoned that, once a person is saved, they can live however they want and still be right with God.
Even though we are far removed from the first century, those beliefs are still evident in our world today. We have those who believe that their works can make them right with God—which is adding to the Gospel—and others who believe that once you are in, your in. As a result, you can now live the way you want—as sinful, immoral and unrepentant as you want and still be on good terms with God.
Guess what Paul says about these groups? He says that they are “enemies of the cross.” This just means that they have rejected the biblical view of salvation. In other words, what they believe and teach is not salvation.
SO PAUL WARN US TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST ENEMIES OF THE CROSS AND AVOID THEIR PATTERNS OF DECEIT.
B) THEIR BELIEFS DO NOT SAVE
Paul says,
Their end is destruction,
The reason Paul warns against the influence of these false teachers is because their system of belief does not save. The word destruction refers to eternal destruction, torment and punishment in hell.
Paul is informing the Christians at Philippi here that in order for them to press on and be what God has called them to be, they have to avoid these futile beliefs and practices that do not save—that are contrary to the cross of Christ.
C) THEY ARE DRIVEN BY THEIR OWN PLEASURE
Paul says,
Their god is their belly,
In other words, they are worshipers of themselves. They don’t go by what is right and wrong but make decisions based upon what will bring them the most pleasure in life. This was especially the case with the Gentile group. They wanted to have their cake and eat it too. They believed that they could live as worldly as they wanted to live and still be right with God.
Paul urges the Christians at Philippi to avoid following this pattern.
D) THEY CELEBRATE THEIR SINFUL BEHAVIOR
Paul says,
They glory in their shame.
In other words, “They are proud of what they should be ashamed of.” Paul viewed this as being the most extreme form of wickedness.
It’s also important for us to realize that this is not simply an idea that is out there in the world, although it is. It can happen within the church and is a battle that is raging within the human heart. Paul knows that all believers struggle with this desire to want to rebel and leave the right path and to go out and live and do what they want and to enjoy it.
Paul is saying that this is the pattern of enemies of the cross of Christ, is the worst kind of wickedness and is to be avoided at all costs.
E) THEIR MINDS ARE ON EARTHLY THINGS
Paul says,
Their minds are set on earthly things.
Paul is making the point here that enemies of the cross have their minds so set on the “here and now” that they have no eternal perspective. Jesus warns against this pattern in Mark 8:36 when he says, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” In this verse, Jesus is talking about those who are so earthly focused that they are of no heavenly good.
The point HE is making here is “What good is it for you to be so focused on the "here and now" that you forfeit all things that matter for eternity?”
Paul encourages us to avoid this pattern. Which brings us to our third and final point. Not only are we to imitate the patterns of faithful followers of Christ and avoid the patterns of enemies of the cross of Christ, but we are also to…
III. LIVE AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN AS WE LONG FOR THE RETURN OF CHRIST
Instead of setting our minds on the things of this world and living for the “here and now,” Paul encourages us to set our minds on heavenly things and live for the time when our Savior will return.
He says,
Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Paul has already used the concept of citizenship once in this book and here he uses it again. This point would have meant a lot to the people of Philippi because they were a Roman colony and were proud of it. They lived, dressed and talked like citizens of Rome even though they lived 800 miles away and many of them had never been to Rome.
Paul, knowing this is the case, makes the point here, “In a similar way, though you are a ways away, live right now in the present as citizens of Heaven.” He then says, “Out of which we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body.”
So after calling for the Christians at Philippi to "live as citizens of heaven," Paul gives them the proper motivation to do so. He says, “A time is coming when Christ will return and it’s something to live for and look forward to because it’s going be good.”
He tells them, “When Christ returns he is going to ‘transform this lowly body to be like his glorified body.’” In other words, when Christ returns, what you are striving for and pressing on to be will be completed.
What’s so tragic about those living for the “hear and now” and trying to find happiness in the things of this world is that the enjoyments to be had in this life do not compare to the joy that comes from knowing God and living for Him. Scripture is clear that those whose ‘minds are set on earthly things’ are settling for far less than what God intends.
CONCLUSION
The reason why resisting the wrong pattern and following the right ones are difficult is because these wrong patterns are what come naturally to us. They are things we just inherently and naturally do because we are fallen—because we are sinners. If these patterns continue they will lead to an absence of joy in life and will ultimately lead to death and destruction.
Though we have this sin condition that causes us to be driven by pleasure, to celebrate sin and to live for this life only; the good news is that God offers us another way—a different pattern—a divine design. And joy is possible in this world if we can learn to follow this pattern, or design. But the only way to follow the right pattern or design is to know the designer and the only way to know Him is through the person and work of Christ.
"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1
In today's passage, Paul is going to show how there is joy to be had not by being content and complacent in your spiritual life, but by pressing on.
EXPERIENCE JOY BY PRESSING ON
I. DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH WHERE YOU ARE UNTIL YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE GOING (v. 12)
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
In this verse, Paul reveals something very important about himself. Though he was more of a Jew than any of the Judaizers and even though the Christians at Philippi look to him as an example of what it means to be a follower of Christ, Paul says, "I am not there yet spiritually. There is still more work to be done in my life."
Paul goes on to say for emphasis in v. 13, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.” Paul wants to stress to the Christians at Philippi, “I am not content with where I am because I am not yet where I need to be spiritually.” Because he is not yet where he needs to be spiritually, instead of taking a break from this pursuit, Paul goes on to say, “I press on to lay hold of what is lacking in me.”
Now some of you may be saying to yourself when reading this, "That’s a negative pessimistic way of looking at things. Why not focus on accomplishments rather than what’s lacking?" The answer is because focusing on what is lacking will be what will drive us and push us to press on.
II. DON'T FIXATE ON THE PAST BUT STRAIN FORWARD TO THE FUTURE
13 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The “one thing” Paul refers to in this verse is “pressing on.” “Forgetting what lies behind” and “straining forward to what lies ahead” are the participles that explain how Paul is going to press on. In other words, Paul is saying the one thing I do is “Press on” and how I do it is by “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”
First he says, “I press on by forgetting what is behind.” The past has a way of creeping back into our lives and hindering us spiritually. If there was anybody with a checkered past it was Paul. In Philippians 3:6, he made mention of the fact that at one time he had persecuted the church. The fact that there were Christians put in prison and some killed because of Paul could have easily haunted him to the point of hindering him from pressing on.
Not only do we need to put the bad stuff behind us--we also need to avoid being too focused on our past success. The enemy is crafty in that he would love more than anything for you to be so focused on your past successes for God that you are hindered from any new ones in the future.
III. AVOID PUTTING FORTH EFFORT WITHOUT PURPOSE (v. 14)
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
In Paul's life you see both maximum effort and clear purpose. Though he truly works hard, all of his efforts are directed toward being like Christ.
There are some committed Christians who are very busy doing church related things, but if asked, might have a difficult time telling you the purpose behind doing these things. It’s very important that purpose accompanies effort, because effort without purpose results in burnout.
Paul says about his own spiritual walk, "I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air (1 Cor. 9:26)." Many of us, however, are doing just the opposite. There is to be purpose behind the effort we put forth and our purpose as Christians is to be pursuing Godliness. We are to be striving to become more like Christ and activities like Bible Intake, prayer, service etc. are simply the means to make us more like Him.
IV. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO PRESS ON (v. 15)
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Although it is tough to tell it in the Greek, Paul is being very ironical and sarcastic in this verse. The word “mature” means “perfect” in the Greek and is the same word Paul uses earlier in this passage when he says he has not yet attained perfection.
Paul here is saying very sarcastically, “Let those who are perfect think this way.” The reason he is saying this is because there were some in the church at that time who felt as if they had the Christian life all figured out. Paul gives a practical answer on how to deal with these people. He basically says, “Don’t be too hard on them.”
Paul understands that there are different people at different points in the race and treats them accordingly. Because there are people at different levels of spiritual maturity we first have to realize where we are on that spectrum and strive to grow. We then have to understand where others are and encourage them to press on in hopes that they will get straightened out with greater maturity.
V. NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT KEEP ON KEEPING ON (v. 16)
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained
Here Paul gives one final word on pressing on. He basically says, “Continue to put into practice the things you have learned." Like in any race, the longer you run, the more difficult it will be to continue. In Galatians, Paul is writing to a group of believers who were living well for Christ, but soon after he had left departed from the path. Paul asks an excellent question to them in Galatians 5:7. He says, “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth” (Gal. 5:7). In other words, "You were faithfully following God—what happened?" For the Christians in Galatia it was false teachers and their false doctrine, but is a good question for all who have stopped their pursuit of godliness.
Maybe you at one time were running a good race, faithfully following God and pressing on in godliness, but since have been sidelined from that pursuit. "What has hindered you from running well and pressing on to be like Christ?" Though the walk does not always get easier staying on the path and pressing on is the way to true joy.
"True believers will not pursue the prize of spiritual perfection until they recognize the need to improve their condition." -John MacArthur
EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH VALUING CHRIST
A while back, I was reading through a few of the reports about survivors from the Titanic and one thing that was very interesting to me were several stories about men and women who had to leave behind valuable items like money and jewelry in exchange for warm clothes and food.
Without understanding the situation, I think that few if any of us would have chosen food in exchange for $10,000 worth of jewelry or warm clothes in exchange for $100,000 worth of stocks and bonds, but people on that night did.
Why the shift in values? Because on that night they knew their ship was going down and that soon they were going to be stranded at sea and that no amount of jewelry nor could all the money in the world keep them from hypothermia and starvation.
After reading this, I began to think of the countless number of things in our world that we treasure that really have little to no value in the grand scheme of things.
In our text for today, Paul is going to challenge us to make this kind of drastic shift in values. Because the truth is our ship is going down as well. Scripture clearly states that “The world along with its desires are passing away.” And many of the things we currently value matter little when this happens.
Knowing this truth Paul calls for his readers to value Christ because He is the only one worth valuing when "the world along with its desires finally pass away.”
I. RECOGNIZE HIS VALUE
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
In the previous passage, Paul warned the Christians at Philippi about the influence of the Judaizers. Remember their message was that Christ though significant is not sufficient and also taught that for one to be saved; they had to being circumcised and abide by other Jewish laws.
In the previous verses Paul calls the Judaizers out. He basically says “If anyone has a reason to boast about being Jewish and zealous for the Jewish cause—it’s me.” He then he goes on rattle off his impressive religious resume. After listing his accomplishments, Paul concludes that all of these achievements he once held in high regard, he now considers to be of no value in comparison to Christ.
At the beginning of v. 8 he takes this point to the next level by basically saying, “Not only do I consider my Jewish credentials and accomplishments as of no advantage at all, but I consider everything as nothing in comparison to knowing Christ as Lord." And goes on to say, "Because of Christ, i have abandoned all of those things I used to do and hold dear and now consider them to be as garbage (also translated “excrement”) so that I may gain Christ.
Why did Paul go to these extremes to say that all things are garbage and why did he abandon all of his accomplishments? Because he knew, like those who chose clothes and food over money and jewels when evacuating the Titanic, that all of those things of earthly value that many treasure matter little in the grand scheme of things.
Paul knew that none of those accomplishments could give him what he needed most—A right standing with God, joy in this life and the assurance of a glorious future. He also came understand that when compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ, all things are worthless.
Think about the things in this world that you truly value. How many of those would you cast aside without a second thought or glance for Christ and how many of those things would you be hesitant to let go of?
Let me challenge you today…
RECOGNIZE CHRIST’S VALUE AND LIVE TO PROVE THAT HE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN ALL THINGS.
II. TREASURE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
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
The reason for Paul's single minded devotion to Christ is answered here in this verse. The great goal of Paul's life as a Pharisee was righteousness. He wanted to be right with God and arrogantly thought his efforts would cut it. In the previous passage, Paul discussed how serious he once was in this pursuit. In 3:6 he says, “As to righteousness under the law, I was blameless.”
And as we said last week, before Christ Paul carried around his religious resume' with pride and according to the Judaizer's standard, it was impressive. I’m convinced that many of them would have loved to have had Paul's credentials, which is what makes what Paul says here so significant. He says his desire is to be found in Christ alone and be completely united with him and in no way did he want his filthy rags of achievement to held to God’s perfect standard.
Though he once thought of them as being of worth, after seeing what God required in a clearer light, Paul reexamined his own record and discovered that he was spiritually bankrupt apart from Christ. Paul came to the realization that he was in need of something he did not have that only Christ could give-Righteousness on Par with God Himself.
Which is why his only desire was "to be found in (Christ)"—to be completely united with Him. When standing before God, Paul wanted to be clothed in Christ’s righteousness, because he knew that was the only way he could be received by God.
To truly value Christ the way we should, we have to put no stock in our filthy rags of achievement and receive and treasure His immaculate robe of righteousness.
III. LONG TO KNOW HIM
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
Paul is basically saying, "All I care about in this life is to know Christ for who he truly is—to experience Him and be associated with Him in every way imaginable.
1st Paul says, he wants to know the power of Christ’s resurrection, which is a reference to the changing power of Christ. Because Christ was raised from death, His resurrection power is able to take a person who is dead in sin, against God, unable to willfully choose Him and live for Him and transform them into a child of God. This happened in Paul’s life and he knew and taught that this resurrection power that saved him, was also what he needed to live a godhonoring life. Therefore his aim in life was to experience that power more and more so he could live as faithfully and fully for God as possible.
2nd Paul says he wants to share in Christ’s sufferings. Paul knew and taught that suffering is apart of the Christian life and considered it a privilege to suffer for the cause of Christ because he knew that just made him all the more like Jesus. He valued Christ to such an extent that he preferred suffering with Him rather than prospering without Him.
Lastly Paul says he longs to become like Christ in his death. Here he is not talking about death in the physical sense at all. He is talking about becoming more like Christ and associated with Him through dying daily to his own pride, sinful goals and self-exalting desires.
This is the same thing Christ required of His followers during His earthly ministry. He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mt. 16:24).
In this verse, Christ is explaining what Christianity is all about. He’s basically saying, “If you truly value me, if you truly want to be my disciple, you have to "die to self-will and embrace God's will."
Though it’s easy to say “I value Christ” proving it with your actions is a different matter altogether. Paul did more than simply say that he valued Christ, he proved it by how he lived. May that be true of us.
IV. LIVE FOR HIS RETURN
That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Paul longed for the day when he would leave this life of sin and death and enter into the presence of the Lord and be made like Him. He said something along these lines earlier in the book. When faced with the uncertainty of whether or not he would live or die, Paul stated that his greater desire was to depart and be with Christ which he said is greater by far (Phil. 1:24).
Unfortunately many of us because we place such a great value on the things of this world, aren’t on the same page with Paul when he says “to depart and be with Christ is better by far.”
Though we understand what he is saying, if we are honest—We like the house and town we live in, the car we drive, the friends and family we have and the fun we have here on earth and want to stay here awhile.
Paul proved he valued Jesus by having a greater desire for his heavenly home. Though this is a hard concept for us to swallow because all we have ever known is our earthly home, it is important for us to realize that this world in no way, shape or form compares with the place Christ is preparing for us. God’s word goes to great lengths to affirm this.
Paul longed for that day. What about you? Do you long for that day? Are you living your life today with that day in mind? As believers, we should long for and live for Christ’s return.
CONCLUSION
Do you want to experience joy in this life? Then you have to value Christ above all else. This is what God requires of all of us. This is the message of Christianity.
“If we look like our lives are devoted to getting and maintaining things, we not make Christ look great. He will look like a religious side-interest that may be useful for escaping hell in the end, but doesn’t make much difference in way we live and love here.” -John Piper
EXPERIENCING JOY BY LOSING RELIGION
One of the more popular songs of the early 90s was a song by REM entitled, “Losing My Religion.” The song has nothing to do with religion, but is about unreciprocated love and obsession and the title “LOSING MY RELIGION” is simply a southern phrase for “being at your wits end.”
Whether you take it literally or figuratively the phrase “losing religion” is not considered to be a good thing. What Paul shows us from Philippians 3:1-7, is that though it is often used in a negative sense, “losing religion” is necessary for one to experience joy in this life. And when I say religion, I am defining it as, “Man’s attempt to reach God through personal effort and devotion.” In this text, Paul is going to challenge us to “lose religion and choose a relationship.”
HOW TO EXPERIENCING JOY BY LOSING RELIGION
I. REJOICE IN WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE
Paul says,
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
Paul prepares the Christians at Philippi for the false teachers who are going to come by urging the them to “rejoice in the Lord.” This phrase shows a fundamental and foundational difference between Christianity and all other systems of belief.
With Religion—Meaning here man’s attempt to reach God through personal effort and devotion—there is often little if any rejoicing in the lord, but there is a whole lot of rejoicing in self-effort.
In this passage Paul is dealing with a religious group known as the Judaizers. They were a Jewish religious group who would often go places Paul had been and criticize his message of “Salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone” and would counter it by teaching that along with Christ there are also certain necessary works required for salvation. They taught that for one to be saved, they had to also abide by Jewish Law and most importantly be circumcised.
The Judaizers were also a proud people. There was very little boasting in the Lord and a whole lot of boasting in self-effort with them. So Paul to prepare the Christians at Philippi for their influence begins by saying, “(You) rejoice in the Lord…Glory in the Lord…Boast only in the Lord.”
The fundamental and foundational difference between Christianity and all other religions is that while religion is man’s attempt to reach God by personal effort and devotion, Christianity is God reaching down to man through the person and work of Christ. Religion is man made and works-based and Christianity is God made and grace-based.
In this verse, Paul is calling for the Christians at Philippi to fix their eyes on the work that God has done in saving them and in response is calling for them to direct all their praise to the Lord.
SO REJECT RELIGION AND REJOICE IN THE LORD
II. RESIST THE INFLUENCE OF FALSE TEACHERS
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers,
The reason Paul calls them “dogs” is because he viewed the Judaizers as scavengers who followed him around from place to place and who preyed upon those who were weak minded and not theologically grounded.
Paul also called them evildoers because he believed them to be doing the exact opposite of what he and other faithful Christians were doing. While Paul and others were promoting and advancing the purposes of God, this group was polluting and perverting it.
The reason Paul speaks so harshly about them is because he wants his readers to realize that their message is toxic. He wants them to understand that this group is trying to get them to embrace a system of belief that does not save. Paul says we have to be on guard against these things. Meaning that we have to be on the lookout for those messages and messengers who can lead us away from God and who pervert His purposes.
And the only way we can be on guard the way we need to be is by becoming students of the word of God. What you are going to find is that the more you devote yourself to God’s word and place yourself under teachers who teach from God’s word and attend classes on how to read and understand God’s word, the more you are going to be able to detect and guard against falsehood.
SO BECOME STUDENTS OF THE WORD OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY RESIST THE INFLUENCE OF FALSE TEACHERS.
III. REJECT FALSE VIEWS OF SALVATION
Paul says,
Look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Like we said earlier, the Judaizer’s taught that keeping the Law of Moses was necessary for salvation and that circumcision was still the distinguishing mark of God's people. Therefore they believed that for one to be a Christian, they had to be circumcised.
To better understand the point Paul makes in these verses, it is imperative that we understand the purpose of circumcision in the Old Testament. This practice symbolized a need to be cleansed from sin because in the procreative act, the sin nature is passed from one generation to the next. So circumcision symbolized being cleansed from sin and was simply meant to be no more than an outward picture of what was to be an inward reality.
Sadly in Paul's day, however, circumcision had become an empty ritual that was thought to be a means to salvation. Notice Paul refuses to give what the Judaizers were doing a biblical name and instead calls them "mutilators of the flesh." He viewed their practice as simply a procedure with no spiritual value because what was done outwardly did not reflect what was true inwardly.
Paul goes on to say,
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.
After criticizing their empty outward practice of circumcision, Paul comes back and says, "We are the circumcision." In other words, “We are the true people of God—What is true of you outwardly is true of us inwardly.”
People like to think that their works count for something when it comes to salvation. They like to think they have something offer. But Scripture clearly teaches that’s not the case. Salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone plus nothing minus nothing. We do not play a part what so ever in our salvation and only through our faith in Christ are we are saved. SO REJECT FALSE VIEWS OF SALVATION AND PLACE FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE.
IV. RID YOURSELF OF YOUR RELIGIOUS RESUME
Paul says…
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 had a reason to boast it was Paul. Listen to these credentials again...
He was what was called "An Eighth-Day One." This means he was circumcised by the book in accordance with Jewish law, which was not true of every Judaizer because some were Gentile converts.
Paul was also of the nation of Israel. By birth he was a member of God's chosen people—a physical descendant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
He was of the tribe of Benjamin, which was one of the most prominent tribes of Israel. King Saul, who was chosen King because of His impressive credentials, was also from the prominent tribe of Benjamin.
Paul says he is a Hebrew of Hebrews, which meant that he remained close to his roots, was committed to the language, was orthodox in Jewish traditions, and kept to the customs of his ancestors.
As to the Law, Paul was a Pharisee. He pursued his Jewish heritage to the extreme. He was so zealous for the Law that he became a Pharisee. The Pharisees were a Jewish group who were at the highest level in devout, legalistic Judaism and were supremely devoted to the Law.
As to zeal, Paul was a persecutor of the church. In the first century, Jewish men measured their commitment to God by opposing foreign religion and rule. Paul makes mention here that he was much more zealous than any of them because he used physical force to attempt to rid the world of Christianity.
As to righteousness under the Law, Paul was blameless. According to the outward performance of Judaism, Paul says, “I had a perfect record.”
So in a nutshell, what Paul is saying is, “When it comes to being Jewish and zealous for the Jewish cause—I was the man.” His religious resume was as impressive as any, which is what makes what Paul says next so significant.
He goes on to say,
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
After showing that his credentials far surpassed that of the Judaizers, Paul says, “All of those gains that I once listed out separately and took pride in--I now consider to be loss.”
All of those successes no longer mattered to Paul after coming to Christ, because Paul knew that none of those accomplishments could give him what he needed most—a right relationship with God. Here in v. 7 he basically takes that impressive religious resume and puts it through the shredder. Though the Judaizers had their rituals and rules, Paul had a relationship with the risen Lord that far surpassed any man-made achievement. God had given Paul, through the person and work of Christ, what truly mattered most and what Paul could not earn on His own.
CONCLUSION
Like we have said already, there are some obvious places that people look for joy and religion is one of those obvious places. And when I say religion, I am not just talking about formal religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. I am talking about any attempt to reach God or to find enjoyment and purpose in life apart from Christ.
There are many who are on that path. Many who think they are in good standing with God because they were born and raised in the church and have never left, or because of the church traditions they keep or because they are giving it their best. That’s religion and religion does not save.
During his earthly ministry, Christ challenged religion. There was a similar Jewish group at this time who taught that that through keeping what was taught in the Scriptures one could earn salvation. Jesus corrects them by saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, but they bear witness of ME” (John 5:39).
The Scriptures do not call for a need of religion, but for need of a savior. Jesus came to offer what religion could not--forgiveness of sins, a right standing God and a personal relationship with Him, acceptance into His kingdom and the guarantee of eternal life in His presence.
Scripture calls for us to lose religion and choose a relationship with Christ.
"What Paul says about the nation Israel was true in his own life before he was saved. And it is true in the lives of many religious people today; they refuse to abandon their own righteousness that they might receive the free gift of the righteousness of Christ. Many religious people will not even admit they need any righteousness. Like Saul of Tarsus, they are measuring themselves by themselves, or by the standards of the Ten Commandments, and they fail to see the inwardness of sin. Paul had to give up his religion to receive righteousness, but he did not consider it a sacrifice." –Warren Wiersbe
The symbol for peace has become as familiar as any symbol in our world and often reminds us of the 1960s and of those who protested the war. What many probably don’t know is that this symbol was only designed a little over 50 years ago. So though many equate peace with this symbol, the desire for peace precedes this time period and is also a continued desire for many today.
