WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading today comes from Philippians chapter 3.

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 In Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

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 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also,

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 if anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more.

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 Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,

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 a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law of Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church,

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 as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

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 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

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 Indeed, I count everything as loss, because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.

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 For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish,

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 in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in him.

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 Not having a righteousness of my own, that comes from the law,

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 but that which comes through faith in Christ,

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 the righteousness from God, that depends on faith,

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 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,

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 and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

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 that, by any means possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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 This is God's word.

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 Thank you.

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 I was a cricket fan.

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 I used to, often, if I'd finished my homework,

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 I would jump on my bicycle after school,

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 and go down to the shopping mall,

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 and just walk through the sports stop,

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 feeling the cricket bats,

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 smelling the leather of the cricket balls,

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 looking at the posters,

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 and just sucking in the whole vibe of this sports shop.

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 I absolutely loved it.

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 But there's one problem.

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 On my journey towards the shopping mall,

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 about 200 meters down the road from my house,

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 there was another house with a big gate,

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 and on this gate was a sign,

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 warning, danger,

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 and it was written in English,

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 and Afrikaans,

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 and Zulu,

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 this warning sign,

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 warning anybody that came near the gate.

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 And the reason for this warning,

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 was Rottweilers.

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 I don't know if you know Rottweilers.

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 Rottweilers are the meanest looking,

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 most aggressive dogs,

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 that I, in my tender age,

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 had ever come across.

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 And in this house,

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 that I used to cycle past to get to the shops,

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 they had these two monstrous Rottweilers,

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 that would run up to the gate,

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 put their paws on top of the gate,

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 and bark like crazy,

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 as if they hadn't been fed for a whole month,

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 and I was their long-awaited meal,

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 as I cycled past at my tender age,

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 of 10 years old,

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 on the bicycle.

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 And then an hour later,

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 I would cycle back again,

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 past the Rottweiler house,

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 on the way home.

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 In this passage that we're looking at today,

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 in Philippians chapter 3,

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 Paul is hanging up a big warning sign.

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 Warning.

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 Danger.

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 Beware.

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 And he is commanding the Philippians,

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 to be on their guard.

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 There's impending danger ahead.

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 And what is the danger?

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 Well, look at what he says in verse 2.

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 He says,

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 Look out for the dogs.

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 Look out for the evildoers.

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 Look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

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 What's Paul talking about?

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 Well, what's happened is that Paul goes to Philippi,

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 he plants the church,

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 he establishes the church.

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 A couple of years later,

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 he's in Rome,

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 he's in jail there,

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 and a man called Epaphroditus,

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 comes and brings him a financial gift,

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 from the church in Philippi.

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 He's very grateful for it.

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 But Epaphroditus also brings him some other news.

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 And part of the news that he brings,

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 is that some other religious people,

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 have come to Philippi,

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 and are causing problems in the church.

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 They are trying to water down the gospel,

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 or distract people away from the gospel,

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 and away from Jesus.

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 And the way that they're doing this,

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 is they're saying,

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 Yes, Jesus is a good man.

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 He had some good things to say.

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 His life is worth imitating.

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 That's good.

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 But if you really want confidence before God,

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 if you really want to be assured of your salvation,

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 if you really want to know that God loves you,

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 and accepts you,

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 and that you're a good person,

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 and do what's pleasing in His sight,

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 you've got to make sure that you obey,

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 the teachings and the traditions,

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 of the Jewish fathers.

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 You've got to make sure that you,

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 meticulously obey the laws of Moses,

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 in each and every step.

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 And one of these in particular,

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 was the law of circumcision.

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 If you want to be known,

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 that God loves you,

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 and accepts you,

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 you've got to make sure,

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 that you've been circumcised,

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 and all the males in your family.

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 Along with this other long list,

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 of things to do,

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 and things not to do.

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 Now, in the Old Testament,

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 circumcision,

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 which is similar in some ways,

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 to baptism in the New Testament,

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 was an outward sign,

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 of an inward reality.

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 It didn't ever save you,

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 it was a sign,

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 that because of your faith in God,

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 you were part of the people of God,

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 part of the covenant people of God.

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 It was just an outward sign,

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 of something that you had done,

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 in your heart.

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 But here these people,

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 were coming and saying,

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 no, no, no,

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 this is the basis,

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 for your confidence before God.

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 Well, what does Paul think of this?

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 He says,

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 these teachers,

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 are like rottweilers,

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 those that are going to mutilate,

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 not only your flesh,

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 but your faith.

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 So he says,

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 look out for these dogs,

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 look out for these evil doers.

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 Paul's concern here,

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 is not so much circumcision,

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 is where do you place your confidence,

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 where does your assurance,

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 and your hope lie,

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 for God's favor,

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 and blessing upon you.

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 Because for Paul,

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 in the gospel,

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 that confidence rests,

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 in Christ's death,

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 on the cross alone.

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 That Jesus died,

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 to take our sins.

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 There's an old hymn,

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 that says,

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 nothing in my hands,

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 do I bring,

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 simply to the cross of Christ,

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 do I cling.

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 My confidence,

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 assurance is Paul,

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 is not in,

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 obeying the to-do list,

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 the rules,

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 and the regulations,

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 not in following,

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 the traditions of man,

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 but in Christ,

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 and his death,

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 on the cross.

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 And so Paul warns them,

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 be on your guard,

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 warning,

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 danger ahead.

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 Well,

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 if religious observance,

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 isn't the basis,

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 for our confidence,

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 what is?

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 Well look at what Paul says,

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 in verse 3.

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 He says,

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 for we,

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 are the real circumcision,

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 the real covenant people of God,

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 those who worship,

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 by the spirit of God,

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 in other words,

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 those who worship,

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 not by rules,

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 and rituals,

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 those for whom worship,

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 is not a formula,

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 or just a tradition,

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 that you go through.

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 I go to church,

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 I sing four songs,

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 I listen to a sermon,

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 and write a check.

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 No,

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 no,

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 those for whom worship,

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 is an encounter,

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 with the living God,

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 because God the spirit,

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 resides within us,

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 and we have genuine relationship,

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 with him.

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 Those who worship,

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 by the spirit of God,

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 those who glory,

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 in Christ Jesus,

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 their confidence,

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 is in Christ,

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 and what he's done,

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 on the cross,

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 and those who,

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 put no confidence,

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 in the flesh,

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 because their confidence,

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 is in Christ,

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 in the gospel.

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 That Paul says,

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 is where we find,

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 our confidence,

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 our hope.

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 This is what it means,

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 to be the people of God.

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 But some might not be convinced.

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 Some might say,

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 oh that's just a new teaching.

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 And so Paul says,

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 well,

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 let's think about this.

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 And he gives his own life story,

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 as a testimony.

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 And Paul says,

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 in verse 4,

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 if anyone else,

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 has reason for confidence,

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 in what they have done,

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 or haven't done,

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 if anyone else,

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 thinks that they've got,

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 good reason,

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 to be confident,

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 in their human abilities,

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 their achievements,

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 they've done the to-do list,

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 they've avoided,

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 the not to-do list,

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 well let's compare resumes.

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 And so Paul pulls out,

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 his resume,

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 and his resume,

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 is nothing less,

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 than awesome.

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 Look at what he says here.

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 He says,

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 as far as confidence,

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 in human traditions,

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 and religious observance go,

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 let's consider my resume.

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 I was circumcised,

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 on the eighth day.

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 Now in the law of Moses,

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 that was important.

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 Not the seventh day,

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 not the ninth day.

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 Good Jewish people,

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 you circumcise your children,

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 on the eighth day.

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 So Paul's saying here,

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 it's not like,

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 you know,

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 I went to college,

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 and I had a bit of a spiritual epiphany,

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 and I decided to follow,

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 the laws of Moses.

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 He's saying,

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 from the day I was born,

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 from as young as one week old,

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 I've meticulously followed,

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 the letter of the law.

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 There's nothing in my life,

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 from an eight day old baby,

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 I've been in strict accordance,

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 with the law.

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 He says,

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 I'm of the people of Israel,

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 of the tribe of Benjamin,

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 a Hebrew of Hebrews.

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 And what he's saying here is,

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 I'm not like,

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 fourth generation Jewish,

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 my parents didn't move,

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 and we nationalized.

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 He's saying,

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 no, no,

00:09:53.420 --> 00:09:54.940
 you can trace my heritage,

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 my lineage,

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 thousands of years,

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 all the way back to,

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 the son,

00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:00.000
 to Benjamin,

00:10:00.180 --> 00:10:01.320
 the son of Jacob,

00:10:01.580 --> 00:10:02.340
 the son of Isaac,

00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.379
 the son of Abraham.

00:10:03.800 --> 00:10:04.659
 That's my lineage,

00:10:04.700 --> 00:10:05.700
 you can trace us back.

00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.360
 We are as thoroughbred,

00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:09.580
 Israeli Jewish as it comes.

00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.340
 Hebrew of Hebrews.

00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:13.060
 Thousands of years,

00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:13.680
 my family,

00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:15.320
 have been the people of God.

00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:16.500
 As to the law,

00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:17.779
 a Pharisee.

00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:18.899
 And again,

00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:20.379
 if you're a Christian this morning,

00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:21.800
 Pharisees have got a bad rep,

00:10:21.799 --> 00:10:22.299
 in our day,

00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:24.179
 because Jesus takes them on quite a lot.

00:10:24.599 --> 00:10:25.359
 But in Paul's day,

00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:30.539
 the Pharisees were a select group within Judaism,

00:10:31.059 --> 00:10:33.459
 that were the strictest observance of the law.

00:10:33.859 --> 00:10:35.899
 They absolutely feared God,

00:10:35.979 --> 00:10:37.179
 and went out of their way,

00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:38.919
 to make sure that there was nothing,

00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:40.359
 according to God's standard,

00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:42.039
 that they could be accused of breaking.

00:10:42.599 --> 00:10:44.079
 They were the most devout,

00:10:44.359 --> 00:10:46.759
 most dedicated followers,

00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:48.720
 and devoted followers,

00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:50.399
 of God's teaching.

00:10:50.939 --> 00:10:51.600
 Paul here says,

00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:52.319
 the Pharisee.

00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:54.220
 As to zeal and passion,

00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:55.019
 well,

00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:56.360
 I persecuted the church.

00:10:56.819 --> 00:10:57.600
 So I heard,

00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.279
 there was this new group of people,

00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.639
 these Christians that came in,

00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.179
 and I wasn't just going to sit by,

00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:03.600
 and let them take over our faith.

00:11:03.799 --> 00:11:04.700
 I did what I could,

00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:05.559
 to destroy them,

00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.419
 to get rid of them.

00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:07.000
 So,

00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:07.319
 so,

00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:09.019
 so strong was my passion,

00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:09.639
 my zeal,

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:11.039
 for the things of God.

00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:12.039
 Finally,

00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:12.279
 he says,

00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:13.600
 as to righteousness,

00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:15.319
 right standing under the law,

00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:17.620
 I was utterly blameless.

00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:20.360
 Now remember,

00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:22.019
 in Paul's day,

00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:23.120
 in Paul's culture,

00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.159
 one of the most important aspects,

00:11:26.159 --> 00:11:26.860
 of society,

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:28.159
 was Judaism.

00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:30.460
 What Paul's telling us here,

00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:32.340
 is that he reached the top,

00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.879
 not just of his industry,

00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:35.519
 but of the top,

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:37.379
 of the very essence of society,

00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:38.639
 the pillar of society.

00:11:39.439 --> 00:11:40.340
 Paul hadn't just got,

00:11:40.419 --> 00:11:41.519
 to the top of his industry,

00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:43.159
 it was the top of the industry,

00:11:43.639 --> 00:11:44.699
 for society,

00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:46.259
 for his culture.

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:49.000
 To be a follower,

00:11:49.199 --> 00:11:50.500
 of the ways of Moses,

00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:52.779
 was utterly respected.

00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:53.620
 Paul here,

00:11:53.960 --> 00:11:55.000
 has smoked it.

00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:56.319
 He's been mentored,

00:11:56.319 --> 00:11:57.120
 by one of the most,

00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.279
 respected leaders,

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.480
 of Judaism,

00:12:01.139 --> 00:12:02.159
 and he has progressed,

00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:03.620
 beyond the age of everyone else,

00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:05.059
 beyond the status of others,

00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:05.679
 his own age.

00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:07.659
 Paul is the top,

00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:08.860
 of the top.

00:12:09.719 --> 00:12:10.740
 Now in our culture,

00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.679
 in our context,

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:13.039
 these things might not seem,

00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:13.899
 super impressive.

00:12:14.059 --> 00:12:15.039
 I don't know how many of us,

00:12:15.379 --> 00:12:16.100
 go around,

00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:17.120
 full of confidence,

00:12:17.219 --> 00:12:18.240
 that we were circumcised,

00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:19.079
 on the eighth day.

00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:21.019
 A Hebrew of Hebrews.

00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:23.179
 But for many of us,

00:12:23.620 --> 00:12:25.500
 we've got our own system,

00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.360
 our own standard.

00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:27.600
 Things that give us,

00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:28.519
 a sense of confidence,

00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:29.279
 of assurance.

00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:30.679
 In Paul's day,

00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:31.500
 it was,

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.139
 this was about,

00:12:32.199 --> 00:12:33.399
 as impressive a resume,

00:12:33.620 --> 00:12:34.379
 as you could get.

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:36.519
 I'm doing some studies,

00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:37.019
 at the moment,

00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:37.659
 and this week,

00:12:37.700 --> 00:12:38.919
 I started a new course.

00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:39.860
 And so,

00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:41.019
 on Monday,

00:12:41.139 --> 00:12:41.639
 we were meeting,

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.679
 the other classmates,

00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:43.379
 online,

00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.860
 and reading the various biographies.

00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:45.980
 And I came across,

00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:47.419
 one lady in my class,

00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.879
 she's in America somewhere,

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.000
 and she said,

00:12:50.059 --> 00:12:50.179
 you know,

00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.159
 I did my undergrad,

00:12:51.299 --> 00:12:52.200
 your degree here,

00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:54.200
 my postgraduate degree here,

00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:55.100
 and I'm just doing,

00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:56.100
 this master's course,

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:57.159
 just to supplement,

00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:58.340
 my studies a little bit.

00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:00.700
 I am the global director,

00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:01.620
 of an international,

00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.620
 missions organization.

00:13:02.620 --> 00:13:04.580
 I run the youth program,

00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.720
 at our church,

00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:07.700
 and I have seven children at home,

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:09.019
 and I homeschool them all.

00:13:10.179 --> 00:13:11.139
 And I just felt,

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:11.940
 so pathetic,

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.120
 after reading that.

00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:14.820
 Who am I?

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.620
 What have I achieved?

00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:17.220
 And then I was reading,

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:18.480
 my professor's biography,

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:21.039
 and he had three master's degrees,

00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:22.120
 he's finished his PhD,

00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.799
 he's just doing another PhD,

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.960
 just to complete that,

00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:27.299
 as well as having four children at home,

00:13:27.460 --> 00:13:28.980
 and having a full-time job,

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:30.000
 teaching at one school,

00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:32.039
 and he does some supplementary teaching,

00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:32.620
 on the side,

00:13:32.699 --> 00:13:33.319
 at another school.

00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:35.659
 Here are these people,

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:37.139
 with these impressive resumes,

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:39.319
 Paul is doing that,

00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:41.199
 in a sense he's pulling out his resume,

00:13:41.719 --> 00:13:42.919
 and he's listing,

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.339
 his incredible achievements.

00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:48.299
 But then look,

00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:50.019
 at what he says in verse 7.

00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:52.579
 Look at what he says,

00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.120
 about this list of accomplishments.

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:56.139
 Verse 7,

00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:56.559
 he says,

00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:26.559


00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:27.219
 rubbish here,

00:14:27.359 --> 00:14:28.679
 is the word that was used,

00:14:28.859 --> 00:14:29.819
 for a trash heap,

00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:34.119
 a pile of garbage,

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.239
 but it's also the word,

00:14:36.239 --> 00:14:37.779
 that was used for dung,

00:14:38.099 --> 00:14:38.979
 or feces,

00:14:39.299 --> 00:14:40.819
 for animal waste,

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:41.879
 human waste.

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:42.919
 You know,

00:14:42.939 --> 00:14:44.979
 when you're walking up the mountain,

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.639
 you're hiking,

00:14:46.379 --> 00:14:47.179
 you're on a trail,

00:14:47.179 --> 00:14:49.019
 and some dog,

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:49.879
 has done its business,

00:14:50.079 --> 00:14:51.419
 and the owner hasn't cleaned up,

00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.259
 and you step in it,

00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:55.379
 you know how gross that is,

00:14:55.459 --> 00:14:57.279
 and you have to clean it off your shoe,

00:14:57.839 --> 00:14:58.439
 sometime,

00:14:58.699 --> 00:14:59.819
 with a stick or something.

00:15:00.859 --> 00:15:01.779
 Paul is saying,

00:15:02.339 --> 00:15:04.079
 here's my list of credentials,

00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.959
 here's everything that,

00:15:06.459 --> 00:15:07.959
 as a good Jew,

00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.399
 I've taken confidence in,

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.659
 the things that give me,

00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:11.639
 a sense of assurance,

00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:12.620
 and confidence,

00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.159
 the thing that,

00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:14.039
 that tells me,

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:14.799
 I'm a good person,

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.000
 that God is pleased with me.

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:16.779
 He says,

00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.740
 this list,

00:15:17.979 --> 00:15:19.159
 I consider it,

00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:20.559
 to be as rubbish,

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:21.939
 as trash,

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.500
 as garbage,

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.479
 as dung,

00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:24.899
 that you throw away,

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:26.959
 in the dog poop bin.

00:15:28.359 --> 00:15:29.579
 Why would Paul do that?

00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:32.179
 Why is Paul saying this?

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:32.439
 Well,

00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.799
 in this passage,

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.879
 we see three reasons,

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.259
 why Paul takes everything,

00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:36.959
 that he had worked,

00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:38.539
 his entire life to achieve,

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.979
 everything that he had hoped,

00:15:40.099 --> 00:15:40.899
 and boasted in,

00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:42.659
 and given him such confidence,

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.379
 and assurance,

00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:45.340
 and why he takes these things,

00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:45.759
 and they say,

00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.480
 he says,

00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.059
 they're nothing more,

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:47.860
 than rubbish to him.

00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:49.379
 First thing is this,

00:15:49.919 --> 00:15:50.820
 because confidence,

00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:52.220
 in human effort,

00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:54.299
 in self-earned effort,

00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.700
 is insufficient.

00:15:57.100 --> 00:15:58.580
 Look at verse nine with me.

00:15:59.039 --> 00:15:59.860
 Paul says this,

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:01.000
 I've disregarded,

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.059
 this long list,

00:16:02.100 --> 00:16:02.860
 of my credentials,

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:05.340
 in order that I may gain Christ,

00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:06.399
 and be found in him,

00:16:06.899 --> 00:16:07.620
 and then he says,

00:16:08.019 --> 00:16:09.620
 not having a righteousness,

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:10.799
 of my own,

00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:11.840
 that comes through,

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:13.139
 my observance of the law,

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.460
 but that which comes,

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.779
 through faith in Christ,

00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:17.939
 a righteousness from God,

00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:20.080
 that depends on faith.

00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:21.179
 Now,

00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:22.699
 the word righteousness here,

00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:23.539
 it's quite a,

00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.819
 Christianese word,

00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.759
 but what it really means,

00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.899
 is right standing,

00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.860
 to do what is right,

00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.399
 and Paul says,

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.319
 if you consider the various ways,

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.919
 of gaining a right standing,

00:16:34.059 --> 00:16:34.939
 or an assurance,

00:16:35.059 --> 00:16:35.659
 a confidence,

00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:37.019
 that you have a right standing,

00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:38.419
 let's consider them.

00:16:38.779 --> 00:16:39.340
 The one,

00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:40.220
 is to,

00:16:40.379 --> 00:16:42.039
 for that sense of confidence,

00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:43.000
 that by standing,

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.779
 that by standing before God,

00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:44.860
 and within myself,

00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:45.839
 and before society,

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.620
 is found in the things,

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.199
 that I do,

00:16:48.599 --> 00:16:49.419
 the things I do,

00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.219
 or I don't do,

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:51.599
 my list of achievements,

00:16:52.419 --> 00:16:53.419
 my accomplishments,

00:16:53.779 --> 00:16:54.159
 and in fact,

00:16:54.219 --> 00:16:55.199
 that's what Paul's life,

00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:55.919
 looked like.

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:57.939
 He had spent his entire life,

00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:59.419
 accumulating this list,

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.360
 of accomplishments,

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.299
 this,

00:17:01.459 --> 00:17:03.079
 the sense of self-worth,

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.659
 and assurance,

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:05.200
 and confidence,

00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.019
 but look at what he says,

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:07.819
 he says,

00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.859
 as for righteousness,

00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.000
 under this system,

00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:11.259
 I was blameless,

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:13.200
 but now he says,

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:15.279
 I completely disregard that,

00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.519
 I consider it to be like,

00:17:16.679 --> 00:17:16.960
 done.

00:17:17.599 --> 00:17:18.039
 Why?

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.679
 Because I found,

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.960
 that that is insufficient,

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.919
 to give me,

00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:23.240
 what I actually need.

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.639
 It doesn't give me,

00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:25.299
 the confidence,

00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:26.339
 and the self-assurance,

00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:27.279
 that I long for,

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:28.500
 and that I'm hoping for.

00:17:28.899 --> 00:17:29.939
 Human effort,

00:17:30.159 --> 00:17:31.759
 confidence based on human effort,

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:33.039
 is insufficient,

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.359
 to actually deliver,

00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.259
 what it promises.

00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:37.940
 But I found another confidence,

00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:38.400
 says Paul.

00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.460
 It's the righteousness,

00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:40.599
 a right standing,

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.839
 that isn't found,

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.940
 in my human effort.

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.019
 It's not found,

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.720
 in that long list of things,

00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:46.720
 that I thought I'd done.

00:17:47.019 --> 00:17:47.900
 It's found,

00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.119
 in a gift,

00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:51.079
 a gift that is given,

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.680
 by God's grace.

00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:54.319
 He says,

00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.200
 I've given this up,

00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.339
 in order to gain Christ,

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:59.259
 and to gain the righteousness,

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.779
 that is given to him,

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.879
 not based on me,

00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.279
 and my track record,

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.660
 but based on him.

00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.660
 Now,

00:18:06.779 --> 00:18:07.279
 some of us here,

00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.220
 may feel like,

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:08.660
 yeah,

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:09.640
 I'm not so sure,

00:18:09.720 --> 00:18:10.339
 about righteousness,

00:18:10.579 --> 00:18:11.400
 my right standing.

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.480
 It's a Jewish thing.

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:14.900
 I don't know how many of us,

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.839
 feel proud of the fact,

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:17.240
 that we're Hebrews of Hebrews,

00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.259
 Jews of Jews.

00:18:19.700 --> 00:18:21.819
 But in our modern day context,

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:23.460
 we actually have our own,

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.480
 system of righteousness.

00:18:24.740 --> 00:18:25.359
 We've got our own,

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.799
 system of standing.

00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:28.799
 Those that are regarded,

00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.559
 and considered to be good,

00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:31.700
 decent people.

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.440
 We've got our own systems,

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:34.460
 that we've come up with,

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.960
 that make us have a sense,

00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:36.819
 of self-assurance,

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:38.120
 a sense of confidence,

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.059
 a sense that we're not failures,

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.460
 but that we're actually somebody.

00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:44.180
 Maybe it's what school we went to,

00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:46.000
 and how we did at school.

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:48.160
 Maybe it's our careers,

00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.559
 how well we've done at work,

00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.000
 and how we've progressed,

00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:52.319
 and the accolades,

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.039
 and the achievements,

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.039
 that we've achieved,

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.420
 and received,

00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:56.480
 during our careers.

00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.500
 Maybe it's how quickly,

00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.360
 we've ascended through the ranks,

00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:02.039
 and gained promotion.

00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.460
 For some of us,

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.400
 maybe it's our kids,

00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.180
 how well our kids are doing,

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.640
 and what schools they've gotten to,

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:10.079
 and their career path.

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.339
 Friends,

00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.220
 when our careers,

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.860
 and our kids are progressing well,

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.799
 when we're picking up the accolades,

00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:16.460
 and the awards,

00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:17.180
 and the promotions,

00:19:17.180 --> 00:19:18.120
 are coming our way,

00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.140
 we have a sense of self-assurance,

00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.599
 a sense of confidence,

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:23.019
 a sense that I'm on the right track,

00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:24.019
 I've got a good standing,

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.839
 with society,

00:19:25.039 --> 00:19:26.000
 and with those,

00:19:26.139 --> 00:19:27.220
 that are important.

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.299
 Maybe you think that,

00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:30.720
 the important things in life,

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.420
 are charity,

00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:32.900
 or looking after our parents.

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:34.240
 As we think of ourselves,

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:35.139
 as good people,

00:19:35.220 --> 00:19:36.579
 because we've taken good care,

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.180
 of our parents,

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:39.160
 we've provided for their needs.

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.639
 We have a sense of good standing,

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:42.240
 and self-worth,

00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:42.980
 within ourselves.

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.139
 Friends,

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.660
 you see that,

00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.220
 whether you have,

00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:47.619
 a religious worldview,

00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.279
 or a secular worldview,

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:51.200
 we all have a system,

00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:52.480
 of righteousness.

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.799
 A system that tells us,

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.839
 that we're in good standing,

00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:55.900
 that we're good moral,

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.559
 and decent people.

00:19:58.099 --> 00:20:00.099
 A confidence for our self-worth.

00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.360
 But friends,

00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:02.519
 both of these systems,

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.339
 whether religious,

00:20:03.559 --> 00:20:04.200
 or secular,

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.339
 whether irreligious,

00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:08.120
 or of the world,

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.860
 both of these systems,

00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:12.200
 are built on your self-effort,

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.960
 on your accomplishments.

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:15.500
 And both of them,

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.380
 are insufficient,

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.299
 at the end of the day,

00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.460
 to really give you,

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.120
 the confidence,

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:19.940
 and the assurance,

00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:21.200
 that you need.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:23.140
 Because a day will come,

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.960
 that will undermine,

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:25.259
 you'll always meet somebody,

00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:26.180
 that's better than you.

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:27.220
 Somebody that's achieved,

00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:27.779
 more than you.

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.860
 Somebody that's progressed,

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:29.920
 further than you.

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:31.340
 There'll always be somebody,

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.100
 that to look down on you,

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.039
 and undermine,

00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:34.980
 your sense of assurance,

00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:35.640
 and confidence.

00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:37.019
 Paul writes this,

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.519
 and he says,

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.440
 my whole life,

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.200
 was based on that,

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.519
 but I've disregarded it,

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.500
 I've exchanged it,

00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:43.000
 for a confidence,

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.900
 a righteousness,

00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.240
 that isn't found,

00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:45.799
 in myself,

00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:46.380
 and my effort.

00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.200
 It's a gift,

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:48.460
 that's given to me,

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:50.320
 one that's not fallible,

00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:51.100
 and fragile,

00:20:51.520 --> 00:20:52.680
 one that I can build,

00:20:52.760 --> 00:20:54.240
 and bank my life upon.

00:20:55.540 --> 00:20:56.300
 A righteousness,

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:57.160
 that is given,

00:20:57.900 --> 00:20:58.640
 by God.

00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:00.660
 Friends,

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.420
 human effort,

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.760
 confidence found in human effort,

00:21:03.820 --> 00:21:04.880
 is always going to be insufficient.

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.240
 But secondly,

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.180
 he says this,

00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.540
 confidence found in human effort,

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.060
 does not satisfy.

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:13.919
 What if you notice,

00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:14.879
 the way that,

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.599
 Paul describes this here,

00:21:16.879 --> 00:21:18.759
 he's talking about,

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.299
 this confidence,

00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:21.720
 in matters of delight,

00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:23.500
 in terms of pleasure.

00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.419
 Look at what he says here,

00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:28.139
 having given this long resume,

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.039
 of his credentials,

00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:29.659
 and you can,

00:21:29.879 --> 00:21:30.819
 almost tell,

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.240
 that there's a sense of delight,

00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:33.339
 a sense of pride,

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:35.039
 in his accomplishments.

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.099
 He says,

00:21:36.179 --> 00:21:36.319
 listen,

00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:37.259
 if anyone else has,

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.359
 wants to boast,

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.079
 well look at me.

00:21:39.759 --> 00:21:40.960
 And he lists,

00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.000
 these things,

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.639
 that would have made,

00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:43.619
 his parents proud.

00:21:44.159 --> 00:21:45.059
 The things that would have made,

00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:46.879
 society really regard him,

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.940
 and give him esteem.

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:49.059
 The kind of things,

00:21:49.099 --> 00:21:50.480
 that when Paul walked down the street,

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:52.119
 others would revere him,

00:21:52.179 --> 00:21:52.720
 and look at him,

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:52.960
 and say,

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:53.279
 wow,

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.019
 do you notice that,

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.000
 look,

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.619
 there's the,

00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:56.919
 there's Paul,

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.899
 the Pharisee.

00:21:58.460 --> 00:21:59.059
 But look what he says,

00:21:59.119 --> 00:21:59.700
 in verse seven.

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.399
 Whatever gain,

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:03.019
 I had attained in myself,

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.359
 I counted as a loss,

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:07.559
 for the sake of gaining Christ.

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.179
 Paul's talking about,

00:22:09.179 --> 00:22:10.079
 the time when he became,

00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:11.240
 a follower of Jesus,

00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:12.819
 and he regarded Christ,

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:14.659
 as infinitely more beautiful,

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:16.179
 infinitely more worthwhile,

00:22:16.699 --> 00:22:17.399
 than everything,

00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.659
 he had previously spent his life,

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.839
 trying to attain.

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.799
 Indeed,

00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:22.460
 he continues,

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:22.960
 verse eight,

00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:25.000
 I count everything as loss,

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:28.039
 because of the surpassing worth,

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:30.440
 of knowing Christ Jesus,

00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.079
 as my Lord.

00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:35.819
 As we said earlier,

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:38.240
 the apostle Paul is somebody,

00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:40.340
 that attained the very heights,

00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:42.740
 of society's approval.

00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.000
 Somebody that in many sense,

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.900
 had it all.

00:22:45.900 --> 00:22:46.900
 Paul,

00:22:46.900 --> 00:22:48.540
 he's the rising star,

00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:49.940
 within the Pharisee community.

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.420
 He tells us,

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.820
 in another book of the Bible,

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.940
 that he,

00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:56.240
 had progressed quicker,

00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.560
 than anybody else,

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:58.100
 his age,

00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:58.980
 in his class.

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.820
 He is,

00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.740
 respected,

00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:02.340
 and looked up,

00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:02.920
 by those,

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.840
 who had trained him,

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:04.580
 and mentored him.

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.120
 At a young age,

00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:07.259
 he is given authority,

00:23:07.540 --> 00:23:08.920
 by the community.

00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:11.039
 Paul achieved,

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.820
 ultimate success.

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.880
 He's proud of his achievements,

00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:16.259
 and he has every reason,

00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:17.320
 to be proud of himself.

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.800
 Until he encounters,

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:20.980
 what he describes,

00:23:21.500 --> 00:23:23.960
 as the all surpassing worth,

00:23:24.560 --> 00:23:25.640
 of knowing,

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.039
 Christ Jesus.

00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.360
 And friends,

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.160
 in that moment,

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.500
 all those accomplishments,

00:23:31.140 --> 00:23:32.420
 all those achievements,

00:23:32.800 --> 00:23:34.560
 everything that he had spent his life,

00:23:34.560 --> 00:23:35.980
 worth looking for,

00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:37.740
 became vain,

00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.039
 and worthless.

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.559
 It became like,

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.599
 paper money.

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.220
 You know when,

00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:44.240
 people burn paper money,

00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.240
 what do you call it?

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.359
 Yum-tzi-tzi,

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.140
 is that right?

00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.259
 Something like that.

00:23:49.120 --> 00:23:50.259
 You know that paper money,

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:51.539
 people build houses,

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.279
 and cars,

00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.039
 and shoes,

00:23:53.500 --> 00:23:55.160
 and they make these idols,

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.039
 but they're all burned,

00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.779
 it's all meaningless,

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.440
 it's all pointless.

00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.859
 Paul says that,

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.779
 his whole life,

00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:01.640
 was like a,

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:03.519
 paper mache card,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.660
 it was this fancy thing,

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.680
 that looked so impressive,

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.240
 but compared to the,

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.559
 infinite worth of Christ,

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:10.099
 he saw how utterly,

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:10.819
 meaningless,

00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:12.480
 and pointless it was.

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.339
 It was like,

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.720
 the worthless paper.

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.480
 He says,

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.200
 I've suffered,

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.900
 the loss of all things,

00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.819
 and indeed,

00:24:19.059 --> 00:24:20.299
 I count them as rubbish,

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:20.980
 as dung,

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:23.400
 in order that I may gain Christ,

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.460
 the greatest treasure,

00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.319
 and I may be found in him,

00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:27.400
 and may know him,

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:29.200
 and the power of his resurrection,

00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:31.839
 even sharing in his sufferings,

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.440
 becoming like him,

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.680
 in his death,

00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:36.620
 that by all means possible,

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.580
 I may attain the resurrection,

00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.060
 from the dead.

00:24:40.720 --> 00:24:41.160
 Friends,

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.120
 we sang it earlier,

00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.259
 in that great song,

00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.140
 Behold I God.

00:24:44.640 --> 00:24:44.860
 Paul,

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.940
 God's invitation,

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:47.740
 is not just to know him,

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:49.039
 it's not just to trust him,

00:24:49.460 --> 00:24:50.259
 God's invitation,

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:52.220
 is not just to believe in him,

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.360
 it's come let us adore him,

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:56.660
 come let us be moved by him,

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.880
 come let us revel,

00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:58.700
 and treasure,

00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:01.120
 the infinite worth of Jesus.

00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:04.079
 And that's what Paul says,

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:04.859
 he says,

00:25:04.979 --> 00:25:05.879
 I have attained everything,

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:07.539
 but I've come to see it as worthless,

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.519
 why?

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.599
 Compared to the infinite,

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.459
 surpassing worth,

00:25:12.719 --> 00:25:14.039
 of who Jesus is,

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:16.159
 the treasure of Christ.

00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:19.839
 Friends,

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:21.319
 I wonder if you know him like that.

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:25.299
 Charles Spurgeon,

00:25:25.379 --> 00:25:27.059
 was a preacher many years ago,

00:25:27.199 --> 00:25:29.059
 and he had an amazing way with words,

00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:31.960
 and listen to how he describes it.

00:25:32.839 --> 00:25:33.379
 He says,

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.579
 the saints of Christ,

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.919
 those that are followers of Jesus,

00:25:36.679 --> 00:25:38.240
 have given Christ their all,

00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.579
 and when they've given all,

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:42.940
 they have felt that they were richer,

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.859
 for their poverty,

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:46.359
 and happier for their sorrows.

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.220
 To have Christ,

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.559
 at whatever price,

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:51.220
 will make a good bargain.

00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:52.759
 I charge you,

00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:53.579
 my dear hearers,

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:55.139
 if it should come to this,

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:57.299
 if you should have to sell your house,

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:57.859
 and your home,

00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:59.139
 if your spouse,

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.119
 should become your enemy,

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:01.359
 if your children,

00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.759
 should refuse to know you,

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.459
 as their father,

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.119
 or their mother,

00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:05.879
 if you should be banished,

00:26:05.879 --> 00:26:06.719
 from your country,

00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:08.219
 if you should have to wear,

00:26:08.419 --> 00:26:09.559
 a prisoner's chain,

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.359
 around your neck,

00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:11.679
 and have no grave,

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.519
 for your body,

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:13.719
 you would still,

00:26:13.719 --> 00:26:14.679
 have a good bargain,

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:16.599
 in taking up the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:17.659
 For oh,

00:26:17.779 --> 00:26:18.839
 he will claim you,

00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:19.399
 in the day,

00:26:19.639 --> 00:26:20.859
 when men disown you,

00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:21.979
 and in the day,

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.919
 when he comes,

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.219
 there will be none,

00:26:24.219 --> 00:26:25.119
 so bright,

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:26.159
 as those,

00:26:26.619 --> 00:26:27.959
 who had suffered for him.

00:26:29.699 --> 00:26:30.139
 Friends,

00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.839
 the gospel,

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:32.279
 the good news of Jesus,

00:26:33.199 --> 00:26:34.259
 is not just that,

00:26:34.859 --> 00:26:35.500
 one day,

00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.559
 when we get to die,

00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.759
 we will not be in hell,

00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:38.979
 we will be in heaven.

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.679
 The good news of the gospel,

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.359
 is that you get to be in God,

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.459
 with God,

00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:45.299
 known by him,

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:47.019
 loved by him,

00:26:47.399 --> 00:26:48.539
 found by him,

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.879
 and found in him,

00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:51.099
 to know him,

00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.519
 and his resurrection life,

00:26:52.519 --> 00:26:54.119
 that all the treasures,

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.200
 and the accolades,

00:26:55.319 --> 00:26:56.019
 of this world,

00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.740
 could offer you,

00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.220
 will seem rubbish,

00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.740
 seem like trash,

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.139
 like animal done,

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.059
 compared to the,

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.180
 all surpassing,

00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.019
 beauty,

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.000
 and glory,

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.940
 and wonder,

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:08.079
 that is Lord Jesus Christ,

00:27:08.339 --> 00:27:09.619
 to know the Father,

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.619
 and to experience,

00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:12.039
 the power of the Holy Spirit,

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:14.039
 this is what God promises,

00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:15.559
 in the gospel.

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:17.879
 Friends,

00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.559
 do you know him,

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.119
 like this?

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.500
 Do you know,

00:27:21.699 --> 00:27:22.859
 the all surpassing worth,

00:27:22.939 --> 00:27:23.319
 of Jesus?

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:26.039
 Friends,

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.699
 have you,

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:28.379
 come to the place,

00:27:28.479 --> 00:27:29.500
 where every treasure,

00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.459
 every delight,

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.019
 that this world,

00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:32.759
 could offer you,

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.439
 is insignificant,

00:27:34.899 --> 00:27:35.839
 because of the wonder,

00:27:35.959 --> 00:27:36.819
 of who Christ is?

00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.539
 Friends,

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.619
 you know Jesus Christ,

00:27:40.699 --> 00:27:42.099
 not just as the Lord,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:43.339
 that the Bible says,

00:27:43.439 --> 00:27:44.559
 but as your Lord.

00:27:45.659 --> 00:27:46.059
 Paul says,

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.859
 I consider it,

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.019
 worthless,

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.619
 as compared to,

00:27:48.700 --> 00:27:49.779
 the all surpassing worth,

00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.920
 of knowing Christ Jesus,

00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.940
 as my Lord,

00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:53.759
 of knowing him,

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:55.160
 not just knowing about him,

00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.200
 of walking with him,

00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:58.639
 in the midst of the storms,

00:27:58.759 --> 00:28:00.299
 and the trials of life,

00:28:00.599 --> 00:28:01.460
 when the fires,

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:02.279
 seem overwhelming,

00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.000
 when the waves,

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.559
 seem to be,

00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.379
 buffeting us,

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.539
 to know the peace,

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.160
 and the joy,

00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.400
 and the incredible,

00:28:07.639 --> 00:28:08.639
 tenderness of God.

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.619
 Friends,

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.299
 do you know him,

00:28:11.339 --> 00:28:11.859
 like this?

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.819
 There's an old hymn,

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.039
 says,

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.779
 when I surveyed,

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.619
 the wondrous cross,

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.899
 on which the prince of glory died,

00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.779
 my richest gain,

00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:22.899
 I count as loss,

00:28:23.659 --> 00:28:24.460
 and poor contempt,

00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.319
 and all my pride.

00:28:26.139 --> 00:28:27.039
 As of what goes on,

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.460
 he says,

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:27.920
 if we're,

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:29.539
 if we're the whole realm,

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.759
 of nature were mine,

00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:33.279
 it would be far too small,

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:34.259
 an offering to bring,

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.680
 love so amazing,

00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.539
 so divine,

00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:38.220
 demands my love,

00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:39.539
 my soul,

00:28:40.059 --> 00:28:40.619
 my all.

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:41.740
 Friends,

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.240
 it's true,

00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.940
 that if you were given,

00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:44.519
 or offered,

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.519
 the whole realm,

00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:46.259
 of all the world,

00:28:46.319 --> 00:28:47.519
 every fantastic gift,

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.019
 every holiday,

00:28:49.940 --> 00:28:51.099
 every beautiful home,

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.019
 every delicacy,

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.759
 you could taste,

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:54.059
 eating at the best restaurants,

00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.859
 all the money in the world,

00:28:56.599 --> 00:28:56.799
 friends,

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.140
 it's true,

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:58.099
 that would be too small,

00:28:58.160 --> 00:28:59.579
 an offering to bring to Christ,

00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:00.640
 but it's also true,

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:02.460
 it would be too simple,

00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:04.240
 too dull,

00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:05.500
 too insignificant,

00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:07.279
 a treasure,

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.640
 to trade,

00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.079
 for the beauty of Jesus.

00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:13.679
 Compared to the all surpassing worth,

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.139
 of knowing the majesty,

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:16.319
 and the mercy of Christ.

00:29:16.980 --> 00:29:17.359
 Friends,

00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:18.139
 I want to ask you again,

00:29:18.199 --> 00:29:18.879
 do you know him?

00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.019
 Do you know him like that?

00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:24.119
 If you're not a follower of Jesus,

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:24.779
 this morning,

00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:26.919
 I want to invite you,

00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:27.939
 but I want to do more than that,

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:29.179
 I want to implore you,

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.159
 to come and find Christ,

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.319
 to come and find the beauty of Jesus,

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:35.319
 to have your heart saturated,

00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.659
 and filled with who he is,

00:29:36.919 --> 00:29:39.039
 to come and taste of the wonder of Jesus,

00:29:39.039 --> 00:29:40.839
 to delight,

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.980
 and to put your confidence,

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.519
 in the treasure that is Christ.

00:29:44.159 --> 00:29:44.420
 Friends,

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:46.319
 if you don't know Jesus this morning,

00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.379
 all the promotions,

00:29:47.599 --> 00:29:48.139
 and the wealth,

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.159
 and the accolades,

00:29:49.379 --> 00:29:50.420
 and every treasure,

00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:51.920
 this world can offer you,

00:29:52.139 --> 00:29:54.319
 will still taste like sand in your mouth,

00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.720
 compared to the beauty of Jesus.

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:58.119
 Christ comes and invites you,

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.819
 and implores you,

00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.839
 to delight in him,

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:01.879
 to worship him,

00:30:02.399 --> 00:30:03.559
 to rejoice in him.

00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:04.680
 Friends,

00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.220
 for those of us that are watermarkers,

00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.960
 for those of us maybe,

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.900
 that do know Jesus,

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.240
 is this true of us?

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:15.120
 Do we live as if this is true?

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:16.700
 Friends,

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.960
 has the wonder of Jesus,

00:30:18.100 --> 00:30:20.120
 the all-surpassing worth of Christ,

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:22.019
 somehow faded into the background?

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.279
 Friends,

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.680
 have we become more saturated,

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:27.140
 and more confident,

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:29.259
 in the things of this world,

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.079
 our resumes,

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:30.900
 and our CVs,

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:31.600
 our accolades,

00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:32.339
 and our achievements?

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.880
 Friends,

00:30:33.880 --> 00:30:35.960
 is Christ still precious to us today?

00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:41.360
 Christ invites us,

00:30:41.400 --> 00:30:42.340
 to come back to him,

00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.920
 and how do we do that?

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.540
 We do that maybe,

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.280
 through confession,

00:30:46.040 --> 00:30:47.680
 we do that through repentance,

00:30:48.800 --> 00:30:49.740
 we come and ask him,

00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:51.460
 to make himself first,

00:30:51.520 --> 00:30:52.320
 in our hearts again.

00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.600
 This week,

00:30:53.620 --> 00:30:54.840
 as I've been preparing for that,

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.240
 it's been deeply challenging,

00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.520
 as I've asked myself,

00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:59.200
 is Christ glorious,

00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.820
 and precious to my heart still?

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:03.380
 Have I become so familiar to him,

00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.920
 that I've forgotten the wonder,

00:31:05.460 --> 00:31:06.840
 the all-surpassing worth,

00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:08.180
 of knowing Christ Jesus,

00:31:08.300 --> 00:31:08.760
 my Lord?

00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:12.840
 Almost,

00:31:13.020 --> 00:31:13.600
 last point,

00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.360
 we're almost done here.

00:31:15.520 --> 00:31:16.240
 There's one other thing,

00:31:16.300 --> 00:31:17.600
 that's interesting about this passage here.

00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.360
 We're still on our second point,

00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.380
 the insufficiency,

00:31:22.380 --> 00:31:24.060
 of confidence in human efforts,

00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:25.380
 the unsatisfactory nature,

00:31:26.300 --> 00:31:27.160
 of putting on confidence,

00:31:27.260 --> 00:31:27.820
 in human effort.

00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:29.140
 But look at,

00:31:29.300 --> 00:31:30.060
 what happens here.

00:31:30.360 --> 00:31:30.700
 Paul,

00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:33.019
 talks about both his conversion,

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:35.500
 but also his ongoing pursuit of Christ.

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.620
 In verse 7,

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.480
 he's talking about the day,

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.720
 that he came to know Jesus.

00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:40.559
 And he says here,

00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:42.440
 whatever gain I had,

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.600
 accomplished in my life,

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:45.559
 I gave it all up.

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:47.100
 I counted it,

00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.740
 as a loss,

00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.640
 for the sake of Christ.

00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.600
 He encounters God,

00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:52.660
 he sees the truth of Jesus,

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.539
 and the wonder of Jesus,

00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:55.480
 he does the calculus in his mind,

00:31:55.559 --> 00:31:56.200
 and he realized,

00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:58.000
 all of this is rubbish,

00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:59.720
 compared to what I'm going to get in Jesus.

00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:01.680
 And so he considers this loss,

00:32:01.740 --> 00:32:02.700
 compared to the worst,

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:04.539
 worth of taking hold of Jesus.

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:06.980
 But then look at what he says in verse 8.

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:09.160
 It wasn't just a once-off decision,

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:10.600
 this is a continuous,

00:32:10.840 --> 00:32:12.220
 ongoing pursuit,

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:13.759
 to avoid,

00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:16.799
 to take hold of Christ.

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.120
 He says,

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.399
 Indeed,

00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.739
 I presently,

00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:21.639
 count everything as loss,

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:23.839
 because of the surpassing worth,

00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:25.399
 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:27.139
 So day by day,

00:32:27.219 --> 00:32:28.559
 he's living in this reality,

00:32:28.679 --> 00:32:29.859
 where he's pursuing Christ,

00:32:29.939 --> 00:32:31.079
 and he's realizing,

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:33.559
 human effort is dead in the water.

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:35.559
 Confidence in what I've achieved,

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.979
 is insignificant.

00:32:37.719 --> 00:32:38.739
 Christ is glorious,

00:32:38.899 --> 00:32:39.919
 and he pursues Christ.

00:32:40.359 --> 00:32:41.500
 But not only that,

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:43.419
 he continues to do so,

00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.500
 in the joyful expectation,

00:32:45.439 --> 00:32:46.219
 of what it will lead to.

00:32:46.359 --> 00:32:46.799
 Verse 8.

00:32:46.799 --> 00:32:49.019
 For his sake,

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:51.079
 I have suffered the loss of all things.

00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.700
 I count them rubbish,

00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:54.819
 in order that I may gain Christ,

00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:57.139
 in order that I may know him,

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:59.159
 and the power of his resurrection,

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:01.859
 in order that I may share in his sufferings,

00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:03.299
 and become like him in his death,

00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:04.680
 in order that I may,

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.200
 by all means possible,

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:08.339
 attain the resurrection from the dead.

00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:09.339
 Friends,

00:33:10.159 --> 00:33:11.940
 Paul starts off this passage saying,

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.220
 Finally, my brothers,

00:33:13.339 --> 00:33:14.460
 rejoice in the Lord.

00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.399
 To write these same things to you again,

00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.400
 is easy for me,

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.380
 and it's safe for you.

00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:19.560
 What's he doing there?

00:33:20.120 --> 00:33:21.440
 He doesn't just want the Christians,

00:33:21.560 --> 00:33:22.360
 to have one day,

00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:23.360
 once upon a time,

00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:24.160
 many years ago,

00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.220
 put their hope in Christ.

00:33:25.600 --> 00:33:25.980
 He's saying,

00:33:26.060 --> 00:33:26.460
 Today,

00:33:26.620 --> 00:33:27.320
 this week,

00:33:27.700 --> 00:33:28.980
 rejoice in Christ.

00:33:29.060 --> 00:33:29.880
 Not in yourself,

00:33:30.280 --> 00:33:31.620
 not in your accomplishments.

00:33:32.120 --> 00:33:33.680
 Don't take any confidence,

00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:34.780
 in what you've achieved,

00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:35.720
 or your standing,

00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:37.160
 or your self-righteousness.

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.220
 This day,

00:33:38.360 --> 00:33:39.540
 rejoice in Christ.

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.600
 For me to write these things to you,

00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.840
 is easy for me,

00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.959
 and it's safe for you.

00:33:44.959 --> 00:33:45.279
 Friends,

00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:46.439
 for followers of Jesus,

00:33:46.679 --> 00:33:48.039
 it's easy,

00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:49.539
 as the years go by,

00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.619
 to become so familiar with Jesus,

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:53.859
 that we forget the wonder.

00:33:55.439 --> 00:33:56.199
 Paul writes,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.579
 and he says,

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:57.059
 again,

00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.039
 and again,

00:33:58.399 --> 00:33:59.039
 and again,

00:33:59.299 --> 00:33:59.959
 and again,

00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:01.139
 I'm going to write to you.

00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.859
 Watch out for the dogs.

00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:06.299
 Watch out for the danger of self-confidence.

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:08.820
 Put your trust in Christ,

00:34:08.940 --> 00:34:10.059
 and Christ alone.

00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:11.820
 He alone is sufficient.

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.880
 Christ alone,

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:15.719
 is a sufficient foundation,

00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:17.139
 to build and bank your life,

00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:17.940
 and your confidence,

00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:19.440
 and your assurance.

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:20.820
 Finally,

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.119
 he says this,

00:34:22.679 --> 00:34:24.059
 Confidence in human effort,

00:34:24.139 --> 00:34:24.779
 is insufficient.

00:34:25.380 --> 00:34:26.800
 Confidence in human effort,

00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:28.380
 is unsatisfactory.

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:30.159
 Confidence in human effort,

00:34:30.840 --> 00:34:31.759
 is obstructive.

00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:33.480
 It stops us finding Christ.

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:36.500
 The way Paul talking here,

00:34:36.579 --> 00:34:37.740
 it's a zero-sum game.

00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:38.760
 He's saying,

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.460
 either your confidence is in Christ,

00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.059
 and who he is,

00:34:41.079 --> 00:34:42.000
 and what he's done on the cross,

00:34:42.179 --> 00:34:44.360
 or your confidence is in yourself.

00:34:44.460 --> 00:34:45.940
 But you can't have it both ways.

00:34:47.059 --> 00:34:47.559
 Paul writes,

00:34:47.619 --> 00:34:47.980
 and he says,

00:34:48.059 --> 00:34:49.559
 I've given all this up,

00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:51.639
 in order to gain Christ.

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:53.000
 I've disregarded,

00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:54.059
 I've counted it as a loss,

00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:55.039
 I've written it off,

00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:57.199
 in order to gain Christ,

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:58.559
 and have Christ alone.

00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.760
 Friends,

00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:00.280
 at times,

00:35:00.440 --> 00:35:01.920
 we may deceive ourselves,

00:35:02.179 --> 00:35:03.440
 in thinking that Christ,

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:05.119
 is a kind of insurance policy,

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.940
 for when life gets tough,

00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:08.219
 when the economy falters,

00:35:08.340 --> 00:35:09.400
 when COVID comes,

00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:11.119
 when life gets difficult,

00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:11.880
 well,

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:12.900
 at least we've got Jesus,

00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:14.079
 that we can fall back on.

00:35:14.460 --> 00:35:15.300
 At least he'll help us,

00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.159
 get through the economy,

00:35:16.300 --> 00:35:17.019
 get through COVID.

00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.360
 At least Jesus will,

00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:20.719
 help things not to get so bad.

00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:23.179
 But what Paul is saying here,

00:35:23.240 --> 00:35:24.440
 is it's either Christ,

00:35:25.480 --> 00:35:26.500
 it's either all of Christ,

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.099
 or nothing.

00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.440
 Actually,

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.099
 the problem here,

00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:30.639
 is that when we place our confidence,

00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:31.539
 in ourselves,

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.980
 or our work,

00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.239
 or our children,

00:35:34.699 --> 00:35:35.659
 or our accolades,

00:35:36.539 --> 00:35:37.859
 it stops us,

00:35:38.219 --> 00:35:39.259
 it hinders us,

00:35:39.480 --> 00:35:40.799
 from discovering Christ.

00:35:41.299 --> 00:35:43.059
 It actually becomes a block,

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.799
 from discovering Christ.

00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:46.819
 In Galatians,

00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:47.440
 Paul writes this,

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:47.779
 he says,

00:35:47.859 --> 00:35:47.980
 look,

00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:48.179
 I,

00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:48.500
 Paul,

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.099
 say to you,

00:35:49.239 --> 00:35:50.639
 if you accept Christ,

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.839
 self-earned confidence,

00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:53.359
 if you accept circumcision,

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:53.879
 in other words,

00:35:54.219 --> 00:35:56.339
 if you accept self-earned confidence,

00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:58.759
 Christ will be of no advantage to you.

00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:00.560
 You are severed from Christ,

00:36:00.680 --> 00:36:01.920
 you who would be justified,

00:36:02.200 --> 00:36:02.640
 by the law.

00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.740
 You have fallen away from Christ,

00:36:05.020 --> 00:36:06.240
 fallen away from grace.

00:36:06.740 --> 00:36:08.260
 You can't have it both ways.

00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.060
 And so,

00:36:10.140 --> 00:36:12.100
 confidence based on human efforts,

00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:13.220
 actually stops us,

00:36:13.260 --> 00:36:14.880
 from discovering the grace of Christ.

00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:16.760
 The book of Jonah,

00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:17.880
 says it like this,

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:20.640
 those who pursue worthless idols,

00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:21.660
 those who trust,

00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:23.500
 or put confidence in worthless idols,

00:36:24.100 --> 00:36:25.360
 forfeit the grace,

00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:27.060
 that could have been theirs.

00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:27.219
 Friends,

00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:28.539
 friends,

00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.340
 in this passage,

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.420
 Paul is giving us a warning.

00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:32.739
 He's putting up a warning sign.

00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.500
 Danger,

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.460
 beware,

00:36:35.059 --> 00:36:35.659
 warning.

00:36:36.719 --> 00:36:38.960
 Watch out for the dogs of self-confidence.

00:36:39.659 --> 00:36:43.460
 Watch out for the dogs of glorifying the flesh.

00:36:43.739 --> 00:36:46.159
 Watch out for trusting in your own accomplishments.

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.259
 Friends,

00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:50.279
 to trust in yourself is one sure way,

00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:51.619
 to go to hell,

00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:53.440
 and to suffer on the way there.

00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.840
 But Paul comes and he offers us,

00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:56.860
 an alternative.

00:36:57.680 --> 00:36:59.559
 Christ invites us and implores us,

00:36:59.660 --> 00:37:01.600
 to abandon self-confidence,

00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:04.660
 and to find our confidence in Christ,

00:37:04.740 --> 00:37:05.380
 and Christ alone,

00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:07.820
 what Jesus has accomplished on the cross.

00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:09.980
 To find our confidence in Jesus,

00:37:10.100 --> 00:37:10.840
 and what he's done.

00:37:11.320 --> 00:37:11.640
 Friends,

00:37:11.960 --> 00:37:14.900
 abandon all false and self-efforts.

00:37:15.039 --> 00:37:16.480
 Abandon your hope in yourself.

00:37:16.680 --> 00:37:17.660
 Trust in Jesus,

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.300
 and him alone.

00:37:18.600 --> 00:37:20.280
 He alone is a worthy treasure.

00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:21.920
 He's a worthy reward.

00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:24.340
 He is worth banking your life on.

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.500
 And to know him,

00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.640
 and to be found in him,

00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:27.860
 is more beautiful,

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:29.559
 more satisfying,

00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.880
 more rewarding,

00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:32.059
 than any other treasure,

00:37:32.660 --> 00:37:33.400
 this world could offer.

00:37:34.079 --> 00:37:35.100
 Let's pray together.

00:37:35.099 --> 00:37:43.659
 Lord Jesus Christ,

00:37:43.699 --> 00:37:45.199
 we come before you this morning,

00:37:46.319 --> 00:37:49.400
 and we get on our knees,

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:49.940
 and we say,

00:37:50.059 --> 00:37:50.339
 God,

00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:50.699
 we,

00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:53.839
 we need you,

00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.139
 God,

00:37:54.239 --> 00:37:56.199
 to open the eyes of our hearts,

00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:56.739
 and to,

00:37:57.279 --> 00:37:58.319
 see you once again,

00:37:58.400 --> 00:37:58.980
 for who you are.

00:37:58.980 --> 00:38:01.900
 Father,

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:03.360
 we want to take a few minutes,

00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.460
 just to confess,

00:38:05.219 --> 00:38:06.360
 that our hearts,

00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:08.179
 are so often prone to wonder.

00:38:09.719 --> 00:38:10.480
 So often,

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.699
 to find our confidence,

00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.199
 our assurance,

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:15.860
 our sense of self-worth,

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:16.159
 God,

00:38:16.219 --> 00:38:16.960
 in ourself.

00:38:18.219 --> 00:38:19.699
 And the things that we achieve,

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.719
 the things that we've done.

00:38:20.719 --> 00:38:20.980
 God,

00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:26.319
 you've reminded us this morning,

00:38:26.399 --> 00:38:26.899
 from your word,

00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:28.099
 from Paul's own life,

00:38:28.259 --> 00:38:28.519
 that,

00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:30.779
 those things are a worthless,

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:31.659
 and a useless,

00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.859
 useless endeavor,

00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.279
 God.

00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.099
 Christ,

00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:38.819
 we're so sorry.

00:38:40.399 --> 00:38:41.379
 Come and have your way,

00:38:41.439 --> 00:38:41.799
 we pray.

00:38:42.959 --> 00:38:44.619
 Come and lead us back to yourself.

00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:48.619
 Come and help us find our confidence,

00:38:48.719 --> 00:38:49.500
 in the gospel again.

00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:52.159
 We pray these things,

00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:52.739
 in your name.

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.079
 Amen.