WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.100 We're going to continue on in Philippians today. 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:09.900 ! I'm going to read and unpack Philippians 3 verses 1 through 11. 00:00:12.660 --> 00:00:12.700 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.359 There's probably other ways of praising that. 00:00:33.299 --> 00:00:36.579 Exchanging religion for knowing Christ. 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:46.060 The sufficiency of God's righteousness as a full and total replacement for man's righteousness. 00:00:47.400 --> 00:00:51.060 And Paul gives some of his testimony here. 00:00:52.519 --> 00:00:53.900 It's just really precious. 00:00:55.659 --> 00:00:56.560 So, I'm going to read it. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.960 Philippians chapter 3 verses 1. Starting in verse 1. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:02.960 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. 00:01:03.740 --> 00:01:07.100 To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and it is safe for you. 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:09.359 Look out for the dogs. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:11.340 Look out for the evildoers. 00:01:11.859 --> 00:01:13.719 Look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:16.300 Who mutilate the flesh. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:19.020 For we are the circumcision. 00:01:19.460 --> 00:01:21.400 Who worship by the Spirit of God. 00:01:21.800 --> 00:01:23.120 And glory in Christ Jesus. 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:25.879 And put no confidence in the flesh. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:29.920 Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:33.859 If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh. 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:35.379 I have more. 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:38.180 Circumcised on the eighth day. 00:01:38.579 --> 00:01:39.960 Of the people of Israel. 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:41.560 Of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:43.620 A Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:46.460 As to the law, a Pharisee. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.099 As to zeal, a persecutor of the church. 00:01:50.540 --> 00:01:54.060 As to righteousness under the law, blameless. 00:01:54.060 --> 00:02:01.500 But, whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:02:01.500 --> 00:02:05.140 Indeed, I count everything as loss. 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:09.599 Because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:13.780 For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:15.780 And count them as rubbish. 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:18.580 In order that I may gain Christ. 00:02:18.580 --> 00:02:20.180 And be found in him. 00:02:20.819 --> 00:02:24.280 Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.659 But that which comes through faith in Christ. 00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:31.960 The righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:34.420 That I may know him. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:36.460 And the power of his resurrection. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:39.320 And may share his sufferings. 00:02:39.879 --> 00:02:41.819 Becoming like him in his death. 00:02:43.080 --> 00:02:44.980 That by any means possible. 00:02:45.260 --> 00:02:47.780 I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 00:02:49.980 --> 00:02:50.620 Amen. 00:02:52.540 --> 00:02:53.180 Okay. 00:02:54.120 --> 00:02:55.180 I'm going to start in verse 1. 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:58.719 I'm going to take a few pauses as I work through this. 00:02:59.420 --> 00:03:00.920 And share some thoughts. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:02.819 Verse 1. 00:03:02.919 --> 00:03:04.619 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:07.979 To write the same things to you is no trouble to me. 00:03:08.299 --> 00:03:09.699 And it is safe for you. 00:03:10.500 --> 00:03:11.199 I just love that. 00:03:13.119 --> 00:03:16.339 Paul's fine with repeating himself on very important things. 00:03:16.859 --> 00:03:18.299 The gospel bears repeating. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:20.439 And Paul's like, it's fine. 00:03:21.359 --> 00:03:24.659 It's no trouble to me to say the same thing over and over to you. 00:03:25.459 --> 00:03:26.619 And it's safe. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:27.919 It's a safeguard. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:31.139 This helps me a lot. 00:03:31.239 --> 00:03:34.859 I think a lot of times of I need to have a new thing to say. 00:03:35.079 --> 00:03:36.799 I need to have a new way of saying it. 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:45.039 I need to have a clever end to, you know, make the truth just really, you know, zing and hit gooder than it did last time. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:47.319 And in order to do that, I need to have a special way of saying it. 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:51.659 And this helps with that. 00:03:52.019 --> 00:03:52.599 It's just like, no. 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:56.620 I'm fine saying the same thing as many times as necessary. 00:03:57.479 --> 00:04:01.019 And you're not bothering me because it's safe for you. 00:04:01.139 --> 00:04:01.819 It's good for you. 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:10.859 And I'm going to tell you again, a thing that you've heard me say a lot of times, but it's essential that you hear it and you be reminded of it. 00:04:12.079 --> 00:04:13.099 It just blesses me. 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:16.439 And he says, rejoice in the Lord. 00:04:17.079 --> 00:04:20.000 The gospel produces the fruit of rejoicing. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:22.939 And I've just been thinking about that more and more lately. 00:04:23.159 --> 00:04:26.839 Just joy in the Lord, rejoicing in the Lord. 00:04:28.159 --> 00:04:32.800 It just goes with heart belief in the good news of Jesus. 00:04:33.060 --> 00:04:33.860 It produces joy. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:38.420 And we need to have our eye out for that. 00:04:38.960 --> 00:04:49.000 Like, if I'm losing my daily rejoicing as a Christian, I need to come to the Lord and I say, Lord, will you please renew that in my heart? 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:51.420 Help me to believe this good news afresh. 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:53.379 Help me not get tired of it. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:54.560 It's safe for me. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:56.540 It's safe for me to hear this. 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:58.340 Rejoicing in the gospel, they go together. 00:04:59.340 --> 00:05:00.819 And then he has a warning in verse 2. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:02.620 Look out for the dogs. 00:05:02.620 --> 00:05:05.379 Look out for the evildoers. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:08.500 Look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:13.340 I think the NASB puts it the false circumcision. 00:05:13.860 --> 00:05:15.220 Look out for these guys. 00:05:16.840 --> 00:05:18.079 For we are the circumcision. 00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:21.060 The NASB puts it the true circumcision. 00:05:21.220 --> 00:05:24.399 It kind of contrasts these against each other. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:27.220 False circumcision, true circumcision. 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:32.379 We are the true circumcision who worship by the Spirit of God. 00:05:32.620 --> 00:05:34.079 And glory in Christ Jesus. 00:05:34.740 --> 00:05:36.199 And put no confidence in the flesh. 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:38.759 So, Paul warns. 00:05:38.780 --> 00:05:39.720 He warns of dogs. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:46.439 And what he means by dogs is evil workers, mutilators of the flesh, false circumcision. 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:48.199 In other words, false teachers. 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:53.139 These aren't those who are going around promoting unrighteousness. 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:54.319 They're promoting righteousness. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:59.360 They're preachers of righteousness, but by a different means. 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:05.420 They're preachers of righteousness, but they're not preachers of God's righteousness. 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.379 They're preachers of self-righteousness. 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:08.660 They hold a very high standard. 00:06:09.340 --> 00:06:11.819 They exhort you to say, hey, God's holy. 00:06:12.080 --> 00:06:13.000 We need to be like God. 00:06:13.060 --> 00:06:13.900 We need to act like God. 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:15.060 We need to be real Christians. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:20.439 But the means, the gospel that they offer is not a true gospel. 00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:22.480 It's a gospel of self-improvement. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:23.280 It's a self-effort. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:25.439 I'm going to talk a lot about this. 00:06:26.280 --> 00:06:30.980 But one attribute of false teachers that occurred to me is they're oftentimes very good at diagnosing 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:31.560 problems. 00:06:32.040 --> 00:06:33.000 And that's the hook. 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:34.399 That's the sales pitch. 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:36.579 They've accurately diagnosed the problem. 00:06:36.979 --> 00:06:37.739 And you're like, oh, wow. 00:06:38.539 --> 00:06:41.099 They really diagnosed that problem very well. 00:06:41.159 --> 00:06:42.459 They diagnosed that about me. 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:45.799 They diagnosed that problem accurately about society. 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:51.719 But their solution is not in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:06:52.259 --> 00:06:55.039 It might include it, but it's got a whole bunch of other stuff packed in there. 00:06:55.539 --> 00:06:58.379 And that's where we need to keep our eyes out for this. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:00.159 We've been going through Galatians as our emcee. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:04.640 And this is essentially the Judaizers, the Galatian heretics. 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:07.540 They were professing Christians. 00:07:07.760 --> 00:07:11.100 They didn't in any way deny the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:13.120 They didn't deny he was the son of God. 00:07:13.440 --> 00:07:14.860 They didn't deny he died for sins. 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:17.240 All right. 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:19.780 Well, they really got a lot of alignment with these false teachers. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:20.700 Yes. 00:07:21.440 --> 00:07:24.220 We have a lot of alignment with false teachers. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:28.720 That's why Paul uses such strong language, dogs. 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:29.400 Dogs. 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:31.500 Evil doers. 00:07:33.400 --> 00:07:34.720 Mutilators of the flesh. 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:39.960 Just very polarizing, drastic, condemning language for speaking of these people. 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:46.600 And it's because the gospel, quote unquote, that they uphold has to do with righteousness. 00:07:46.840 --> 00:07:48.300 They're promoters of righteousness. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:53.320 They're not coming in and telling people, hey, live in sin. 00:07:53.320 --> 00:07:59.240 They're saying live in righteousness, but do it with our method that we're offering them. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:05.040 And it doesn't have to do with the person, work of Jesus Christ in totality. 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:08.560 It's that plus some other stuff. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:09.720 Anyway. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:16.920 So I think that story, that kid's story was so good. 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:20.420 I was just so dialed in. 00:08:20.579 --> 00:08:22.379 I think the Lord just served that one up. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:30.620 An example of this, an excellent example of this is Abraham and his two wives. 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:31.779 Okay? 00:08:31.779 --> 00:08:36.039 So Abraham is promised that he's going to have a son. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:37.339 God tells him that. 00:08:38.459 --> 00:08:43.500 Abraham believes that promise on the basis of God having told it to him. 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:45.939 And God credits that as righteousness. 00:08:46.339 --> 00:08:47.139 Hasn't happened yet. 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:52.039 But God says, you're righteous for believing what I told you. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.259 And then a long time passes. 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:56.460 No son. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:06.059 And so Abraham and Sarah have an idea for how to help God along bring this promise to pass. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:10.939 And it's to have sex with Hagar, the slave one. 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:14.020 So Sarah has this idea. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:17.900 Abraham has sex with Hagar, produces Ishmael. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:18.960 Okay? 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:25.420 And this is a picture of man's attempt to bring about God's promise. 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:28.240 God promised me this. 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:30.560 I'm trying to make it work out. 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:32.460 I can't figure out how this is going to work. 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:33.880 Oh! 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:36.220 I guess I'll just do, this makes sense. 00:09:36.280 --> 00:09:37.120 This plan makes sense. 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:38.440 Okay, my wife's too old. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:41.720 So God must have meant have sex with this younger woman. 00:09:41.920 --> 00:09:42.840 Okay, I'll be here to say. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:43.660 No. 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:45.740 That wasn't the child of promise. 00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:53.140 Years later, God fulfills his own promise through his way through Sarah. 00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:55.600 And it's a miracle. 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:57.040 Who gets the credit? 00:09:57.400 --> 00:09:58.080 God gets the credit. 00:09:59.180 --> 00:10:02.980 And that's the whole point of God's fulfilling of his own righteousness. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:06.900 Even the gospel, God fulfilling our righteousness through his son, 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:09.539 sending him to pay for our sins on the cross, 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:11.259 raising him to life for our righteousness, 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.860 sending the Holy Spirit so that Christ would dwell in our life, 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:16.620 in our hearts through faith, 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:21.199 and that all of the Christian life is really just Christ living in us 00:10:21.199 --> 00:10:22.899 through the Spirit for the glory of God. 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:24.059 God gets all the credit. 00:10:24.059 --> 00:10:28.879 And it should have a miraculous element to it in our life. 00:10:28.959 --> 00:10:32.979 It's just God is just taking this total sinner and just doing a miracle. 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:34.659 You know, this is God's way. 00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:35.459 This is God's way. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:37.959 Getting off on a tangent, though, but I think it's a wonderful story. 00:10:38.139 --> 00:10:41.799 That's a great illustration of the truth that Paul's trying to talk about here. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.159 There's two ways of trying to pursue righteousness. 00:10:44.579 --> 00:10:47.039 One is me trying to fulfill what God has promised, 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:50.079 and the other is God fulfilling what he has promised, 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.399 and they're miles apart. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:52.899 They're hugely different, 00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:55.159 and you can't do one while you're trying to do the other. 00:10:55.459 --> 00:10:56.059 You've got to pick. 00:10:56.839 --> 00:10:59.000 That's what Paul talks about later on. 00:11:00.179 --> 00:11:01.959 Paul talks about this true circumcision. 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:05.519 He says in Romans 2, 28 through 29, 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:27.500 Circumcision speaks of cutting off of the flesh. 00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:32.019 This is the distinctive in the Old Testament for Jews. 00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:34.000 It said that they were set apart for God. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:36.960 Well, in the New Testament, a Christian circumcision is different. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:41.679 So there's common teaching out there in some Reformed circles. 00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:43.259 Presbyterians believe this, 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:48.039 is that essentially baptism is the new covenant circumcision. 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:49.879 That's actually not true. 00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:53.179 New covenant circumcision is a circumcision of the heart. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:54.639 It's regeneration. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:55.679 It's being born again. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:56.399 Okay? 00:11:56.940 --> 00:12:00.100 God said in, he promised in the Old Testament in Jeremiah, 00:12:00.100 --> 00:12:01.320 he's going to take out your heart of stone, 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:02.659 and he's going to give you a heart of flesh. 00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:04.699 He's going to circumcise your heart. 00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:06.019 He's going to make it soft. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:06.779 Okay? 00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:09.139 And we're going to be able to serve God from the heart, 00:12:09.339 --> 00:12:11.299 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:11.719 --> 00:12:14.240 And we're going to be able to serve for an audience of one. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.019 Okay? 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:17.919 We have our eyes out for what everyone else thinks about us. 00:12:17.959 --> 00:12:18.919 This is just human nature. 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:21.299 It's easy to live in front of the opinions of other people. 00:12:21.299 --> 00:12:26.219 The Holy Spirit frees us to live for an audience of one. 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:28.779 And that's what true righteousness does. 00:12:28.859 --> 00:12:31.059 It puts us before the throne of Jesus and say, 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.759 oh, wait, yours is the only opinion that matters. 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:34.879 It's for you. 00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:38.279 From you and through you and to you as all things. 00:12:38.819 --> 00:12:40.240 That's true circumcision. 00:12:40.779 --> 00:12:42.859 It was an outward sign in the Old Testament. 00:12:43.579 --> 00:12:47.179 In the New Testament, it's in the heart, and God does it. 00:12:47.179 --> 00:12:49.599 That's the true circumcision, though. 00:12:49.979 --> 00:12:50.179 Okay? 00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:51.779 And that's what Paul's trying to say. 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.539 We are the true circumcision who worship by the Spirit of God. 00:12:57.899 --> 00:12:59.620 And you glory in Christ Jesus. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:01.199 You don't glory in your own works anymore. 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:03.139 You're kind of disgusted by them. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:06.039 They frustrate you, how insufficient they are. 00:13:06.099 --> 00:13:07.899 They always fall short, no matter how hard you try. 00:13:08.199 --> 00:13:11.319 But when you look to Jesus, it's perfect, and he's mine. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:15.259 And I rejoice in Christ Jesus, and I'm continually so thankful 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:19.179 that he stands in the gap for me, and he lives his life through me. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:23.460 And my orientation is towards glorying in Christ Jesus, 00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:25.840 and I know that I can't do it except by the Holy Spirit. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:31.939 And I'm just a realist now about how much of a failure I am in my flesh. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.419 I don't put any confidence in him. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:38.080 I've been robbed of my confidence in thinking that I can do something 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:39.039 that makes God happy. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:40.539 I know I can't. 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:45.319 And praise God, he's provided another who he's very happy with 00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:47.579 to stand in my gap, you know. 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:49.179 That's why glory in Christ Jesus. 00:13:49.299 --> 00:13:52.219 This is a fruit of having a truly circumcised heart. 00:13:52.779 --> 00:13:54.980 It's not about outward appearances anymore. 00:13:55.079 --> 00:13:55.620 It's about the heart. 00:13:55.620 --> 00:14:25.600 Let's move on. 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:32.480 I love this. 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:38.919 Paul just basically, he gives his confidence of the flesh pedigree. 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:42.139 He says, if anyone else wants to get uppity about this stuff, 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:44.539 listen, you got nothing on me. 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:48.279 I'm better than you, okay? 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.519 I'm just better than you. 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:53.960 I tried harder, and honestly, I did a lot better job. 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:58.360 I got a lot further in my flesh than you are, okay? 00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:01.780 And he does this so he can put it down later on, 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:03.879 but he talks himself up. 00:15:04.300 --> 00:15:07.120 He says, I was circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, 00:15:07.259 --> 00:15:09.720 of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:14.040 as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:17.559 as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:18.620 All right. 00:15:19.659 --> 00:15:20.980 Paul did a pretty good job. 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:21.799 Okay. 00:15:22.699 --> 00:15:24.699 In Galatians, like I said, we've been going through Galatians, 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.879 so it's a little fresh in my mind. 00:15:25.939 --> 00:15:31.419 He says in there that he was excelling above his peers. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:35.939 He was more zealous for the traditions of his fathers. 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:39.279 He was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of his fathers. 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:41.120 And he was excelling. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:44.059 He was outrunning his peers and his zeal for God. 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:51.639 And so this is pre-conversion. 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:54.539 We're going to talk a little bit about what happened when Paul got converted. 00:15:54.539 --> 00:16:02.119 But the point being, Paul was not converted out of being, you know, a frat boy. 00:16:02.659 --> 00:16:02.819 Okay. 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:05.119 He wasn't clubbing. 00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:07.779 Paul was churching. 00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:09.699 And he was churching real hard. 00:16:10.219 --> 00:16:12.979 He was churching so hard, he was out-churching everybody. 00:16:13.339 --> 00:16:13.619 Okay. 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:16.039 He was doing all the ministry stuff. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.279 He was doing all the street preaching. 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:20.299 You know, I'm just putting this in modern terms here. 00:16:20.739 --> 00:16:24.079 This was the guy who I think if we're judging according to the flesh, 00:16:24.079 --> 00:16:27.539 we would look at and say, wow, man, I feel kind of insecure 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:32.000 compared to the level of ministerial output that they manage. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.679 I don't pray nearly as hard as they do. 00:16:35.299 --> 00:16:37.919 I don't evangelize nearly as hard as this guy does. 00:16:38.579 --> 00:16:39.579 Paul's that kind of guy. 00:16:40.099 --> 00:16:40.419 Okay. 00:16:41.139 --> 00:16:43.819 He's not the kind of person who we would look at and say, 00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:46.240 they don't really care about the kingdom of God. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:52.660 People would point to this guy and say, you need to care about the kingdom of God like that guy does. 00:16:53.520 --> 00:16:54.660 It's the gold standard. 00:16:54.800 --> 00:16:55.400 Okay. 00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:55.500 Okay. 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:01.819 So, but Paul's saying this is meaningless. 00:17:01.819 --> 00:17:04.819 It has nothing to do with real righteousness. 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:07.299 What God sees, man looks on the outward appearance. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.259 God looks at the heart. 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:13.119 And this is falling short of the true circumcision that God is looking for. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:18.140 And he paints this awesome picture of how awesome he was in order to tear it down, 00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:21.160 in order to show us that this is not what true righteousness is. 00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:21.700 Okay. 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.619 It's not performance. 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:25.619 So, he's a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:28.959 He's got more zeal for combating false teaching. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.819 Strong apologetics ministry. 00:17:30.919 --> 00:17:35.339 So strong that he's hauling off people he'd use as heretics off to prison, which was the church, by the way. 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:37.419 He was a Pharisee. 00:17:37.879 --> 00:17:42.339 So, the Pharisees, I think the Pharisees can get a pretty bad rap. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:45.299 Yeah, there's some false teaching and stuff. 00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:46.519 There's some traditions of men. 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:56.940 And I believe if we went and were able to look and survey the theological landscape of, you know, first century Judaism, 00:17:57.299 --> 00:18:00.099 the Pharisees were the closest to the truth. 00:18:00.599 --> 00:18:02.220 They were conservative. 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:05.039 They were zealous for God's law. 00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:13.000 And they were upholding what the Bible says strongly against deception, against humanism, 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:24.759 against, you know, attempts to pull the Jews away from the Orthodox teaching of the Torah into other things, you know. 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:27.819 Yeah, they elevated their human traditions about a lot of stuff. 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:33.839 But, you know, Jesus was able to say about the Pharisees in Matthew 23, 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.740 do everything they say. 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:37.400 Wow. 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:40.160 That's very high commendation. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:47.060 Think about a teacher where you can say, their teaching is so accurate, just do everything they say and you will, like, that's good. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:51.920 But, he said, not as they do. 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:54.500 Not as they do. 00:18:56.160 --> 00:18:58.540 Perfectly orthodox doctrine. 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.220 Correct. 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:01.660 Okay? 00:19:01.980 --> 00:19:02.519 No error. 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.120 That's what Paul was. 00:19:06.540 --> 00:19:07.060 Correct. 00:19:07.580 --> 00:19:08.860 He was a very correct man. 00:19:08.859 --> 00:19:13.279 He had blameless obedience to God's law, you know. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:17.579 So, at least from an external standpoint, he was blameless. 00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:24.079 Now, no man, there's no one that's good, not even one. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.799 Paul's not saying he's seamlessly perfect. 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:30.439 But I think he's basically making the point that, in human terms, he's blameless. 00:19:30.939 --> 00:19:37.399 In his own conscience, he was blameless until the Lord awoken him to see the true intent of the law there. 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:47.160 Anyway, I think Matthew 23, Matthew 23 is a great synopsis of what this looks like in practice. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:55.980 So, I'm not going to read that right now, but Matthew 23 is Jesus' woes, his list of woes against the Pharisees. 00:19:56.360 --> 00:20:00.259 I think it's a really good exercise to read that and say, Lord, am I in here? 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:01.720 You know? 00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:04.740 Is my name in this list here? 00:20:05.800 --> 00:20:06.960 Do I act like this? 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.860 Do I operate like this? 00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:11.720 Do I do all my works to be seen by other people? 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.400 Do I act like this? 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:13.559 You know? 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.339 Like, this is just so close. 00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:17.440 You know? 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:18.980 And Jesus sees this stuff. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.819 And thankfully, we have the spirit. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.519 We don't have to be condemned about this stuff. 00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:28.400 But we also have a flesh that has patterns of operating that we're just not even aware of. 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:31.039 Until he shines a light and says, hey, guess what? 00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:34.819 I have a great living example of your problem. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:35.759 Guess what? 00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.519 It's Pharisee. 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:37.480 All right? 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:39.420 And it's really healthy. 00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.319 It's just healthy to do that. 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:45.440 It's healthy to have the humility to realize that if I'm not in the ditch of worldliness anymore, 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:51.940 I'm probably more tending towards the ditch of what these guys are, as being Pharisee. 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:54.019 We're not above that. 00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:58.360 Anyway, what's confidence in the flesh look like? 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:10.259 I think a way of succinctly capturing it is it's a focus on what I've done for God, what I'm doing for God, rather than what God's done for me. 00:21:11.879 --> 00:21:16.459 It's me trying to please God rather than, you know, like Peter. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:18.439 Jesus tries to wash his feet. 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:20.479 He's like, far be it from you, Lord. 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.719 You can't wash my feet. 00:21:22.159 --> 00:21:24.019 He's like, if I don't wash your feet, you have no part of me. 00:21:25.199 --> 00:21:26.039 That's just the truth. 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:28.299 We have not, we didn't seek after God. 00:21:28.399 --> 00:21:29.119 God sought us. 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:33.819 He has complete work, finished work through his son, Jesus. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.240 Trying to please God by my own efforts. 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:41.119 That's what confidence in the flesh looks like. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.720 Feel bad. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.059 Vicked about sin. 00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:51.279 I'll start running through my replay list of all the wins I've had this week. 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.619 Try to make myself feel a little bit better. 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.779 Well, at least I didn't, you know. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.639 I had some really good Bible times. 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.300 I was preaching. 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.540 I preached gospel to my coworker. 00:21:58.320 --> 00:21:59.360 That makes me feel good. 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.580 Makes me a little bit better, you know. 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:03.200 No. 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.880 Like, that's not what makes us right with God. 00:22:07.020 --> 00:22:08.800 Christ had to die to make me right with God. 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:11.440 That's the basis of my confidence before God. 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.320 Yeah. 00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:13.860 So, anyway. 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.400 Verse 8. 00:22:16.020 --> 00:22:16.560 No, no, no. 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.120 Verse 7. 00:22:17.540 --> 00:22:17.960 Verse 7. 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:22.220 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:25.880 So, what's the gain Paul's talking about here? 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.480 He's not talking about worldly gains. 00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:29.079 He's not talking about, like, crypto gains. 00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:29.940 Okay? 00:22:30.140 --> 00:22:31.160 I used to think like that. 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:34.140 I just, I would read this whole passage up to verse 7. 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:36.200 It was just like, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:39.440 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:43.039 And just reframe this in terms of worldly gain. 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:44.860 Like, fun stuff. 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.920 And money. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.799 And, you know, movies. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.120 And all this worldly stuff. 00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:51.019 Yeah, you got to get rid of all that worldly stuff. 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:53.120 And Jesus is everything, you know. 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:55.779 If you really knew Jesus, you wouldn't even want any of that stuff. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.299 That's not what Paul's talking about. 00:22:57.819 --> 00:23:00.580 He says, whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.480 What gain is he talking about? 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:05.660 His gains in pursuing righteousness. 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.539 He had made a lot of progress. 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:11.279 He had made so much progress. 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:16.160 He was outstripping all the hoo-hahs around him who were also trying to make progress. 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:18.220 He had more. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.440 Paul had more to lose in coming to Jesus because he gained so much. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:26.539 He had a lot of thoughts about what the Bible meant. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:29.420 There was a lot of theology packed up in that head. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.079 He studied under Gamaliel. 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:33.279 He was, he's a Pharisee. 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.000 Okay? 00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:36.099 He knew so much. 00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:38.439 Wow. 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.119 Gained so much. 00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:42.039 And then he comes to Jesus and is just like, wait a minute. 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:45.379 This is a, I have to reset everything. 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:48.480 So what kind of gains is he talking about? 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.519 His religious gains. 00:23:50.059 --> 00:23:52.939 His righteousness that he'd earned under the law. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:55.699 His ministerial track record. 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:56.759 You know? 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.599 So important to him. 00:23:58.599 --> 00:24:01.339 And you can hear this come out in our testimony sometimes. 00:24:01.659 --> 00:24:02.539 We're giving our testimony. 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.459 We're kind of like him. 00:24:05.899 --> 00:24:06.980 Our track record. 00:24:07.119 --> 00:24:07.740 Our history. 00:24:08.419 --> 00:24:09.679 Our church experiences. 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.039 How God's moved in our life. 00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:11.480 Yeah. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:13.599 Like a lot of this is just plain honest. 00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:15.219 Like God, man, he did such a work. 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:17.679 But you know, there's a lot of me in there too. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:23.200 I put a lot of identity in how I've progressed. 00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:31.620 Whatever that gain is, he counts loss for the sake of Christ. 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.000 Verse 8. 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:39.080 Indeed, I count everything as a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. 00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:46.579 For his sake, I've suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I might gain Christ. 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.819 So he broadens the scope. 00:24:49.939 --> 00:24:53.139 Beyond his achievements for God, which that's core. 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:53.619 Okay? 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:58.359 Like we want to get free from living for the world. 00:24:58.359 --> 00:25:02.639 It starts for how free are we from our own righteousness. 00:25:02.959 --> 00:25:04.459 You know, this is foundational. 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:06.079 This is the most important part of us. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.659 How we're right with God. 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.639 It's precious. 00:25:10.959 --> 00:25:12.039 Paul let that go. 00:25:12.959 --> 00:25:14.939 And then there's a whole lot of stuff that goes with it. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:18.579 His money, his comfort, his health, his whole life was poured out. 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:22.819 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. 00:25:22.819 --> 00:25:29.980 For his sake, I've suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I might gain Christ. 00:25:30.379 --> 00:25:31.000 And Paul sure did. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.200 No. 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:40.059 His whole life was a life of suffering and overflowing joy because Jesus was with him wherever he went. 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.819 See, I learned the secret. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:45.019 Later on in Philippians, he talks about learning the secret of content. 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.899 It's just this wonderful secret. 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:50.079 Jesus followed him wherever he was. 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:54.619 He stayed in his heart and he filled him with joy unspeakable and full glory. 00:25:55.419 --> 00:25:58.059 And nothing can get you out on the outside. 00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.799 So he discovered that secret. 00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:03.299 Verse 9, 00:26:03.399 --> 00:26:08.399 And be found in him, in Christ, not having righteousness of my own that comes from the law, 00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:14.859 but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:26:16.139 --> 00:26:18.480 The law cannot make anyone perfect. 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:18.599 Perfect. 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.120 The law is good. 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.299 It's holy. 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.299 It's perfect. 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.039 It's just. 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.819 The law is God's commandments. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:25.819 Okay. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:28.660 But it can't make you right. 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:30.500 Can't change you. 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.440 Just like a mirror. 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.339 You shine a mirror on you. 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.339 A mirror shows you you're dirty. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.480 You're trying to like take a bath with a mirror. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:38.500 You know, just wipes the mud around more. 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.620 You know, it just doesn't. 00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.660 It can't clean you. 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:43.320 And that's the purpose of God's commandments. 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:48.360 His law is to shine on us and show us that we're sinners. 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:51.140 Romans 3.20 says, 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:58.019 For by the works of the law, no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:27:05.819 So, pursuing righteousness by obedience to the law, it's a fruitless endeavor. 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.900 Does that mean we should disobey God? 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:08.259 No. 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:18.220 It's just you can't incrementally level up righteousness by obeying commandments that you weren't formally obeyed. 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:27.059 You know, say that you were living in adultery and then you learn about the commandment, thou shalt not commit adultery and you stop living in adultery. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.980 You didn't level up. 00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:29.880 Okay. 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:32.960 That wasn't an incremental step towards righteousness. 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.380 It looks like that. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.500 But it's not. 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.259 Okay. 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:43.680 You, by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:48.539 Because you still got the, you still got the sin inside you. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:54.160 Still, you changed the outward behavior, but you still got the adultery factory going on inside your heart. 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:56.259 It's just with your eyes now, you know. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.920 And God sees that. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:00.160 And your nature is still there. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:00.880 It's still the same. 00:28:01.539 --> 00:28:03.160 So, the law can control our behavior. 00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:06.740 It can show us that we're sinners, but it can't change our nature. 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.440 So, we need something more. 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.360 We need a better hope. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:14.199 So, the Bible says in Hebrews, the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did. 00:28:14.659 --> 00:28:16.119 By which we draw an eye to God. 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.479 That's what he's talking about here. 00:28:18.219 --> 00:28:22.699 To be found in Jesus, not having a righteousness of my own. 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.599 It's not mine. 00:28:25.199 --> 00:28:26.439 I don't identify. 00:28:26.679 --> 00:28:28.319 It didn't come out of me. 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.899 It came from God. 00:28:31.599 --> 00:28:32.819 Through faith in Christ. 00:28:32.959 --> 00:28:37.299 The righteousness that's from God that depends on faith. 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:41.079 I have to just believe what God has said and receive it as true. 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:41.879 And then it's mine. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.519 And it's God's righteousness. 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.639 He gets the glory for it. 00:28:45.659 --> 00:28:46.759 I don't get the glory for it. 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:55.460 And to receive that gift, I got to let go of the other one I've been holding on to, which is me. 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.099 It's my righteousness. 00:28:58.859 --> 00:29:00.579 And that's what confidence in the flesh is. 00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.899 It's just me. 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:05.240 I think we have a lot of other words for it. 00:29:05.300 --> 00:29:10.380 I think we can, this confidence in the flesh, this dead religion, this self-righteousness. 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:14.080 I think it's good to do an exercise. 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:18.320 What do you call it when you have the same word means synonyms? 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.580 A synonym exercise with this. 00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:25.900 And sometimes, like, the Lord can give us a different definition for something that just kind of, like, makes it pop. 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:28.259 And just like, oh, oh yeah, I totally know what that is. 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:30.680 It's my spiritual journey. 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:36.720 You know, like, you can have an obsession with your own sanctification, your own spiritual journey. 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.140 It's like a novel. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:39.079 You're just reading it. 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:41.000 Everyone finds out what happens next, you know. 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:45.339 Some of this is like, why? 00:29:46.879 --> 00:29:49.299 It's because we love ourselves so much. 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:50.440 We love our own righteousness. 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.539 We're working so hard at it. 00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:54.359 I want to see how it turns out, you know. 00:29:54.359 --> 00:30:01.779 And the free gift of righteousness, the hallmark is we glory in Christ Jesus. 00:30:02.279 --> 00:30:03.839 We rejoice in him. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.659 We're so thankful for Jesus. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:08.240 And it's Jesus started. 00:30:08.579 --> 00:30:09.659 He's completing it. 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.679 He's finishing it. 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:11.719 And it frees us. 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.879 It gets our eyes off ourselves. 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:15.919 We're just not navel-gazing so much anymore. 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:17.359 Yeah, we get conviction of sin. 00:30:17.439 --> 00:30:18.719 The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. 00:30:19.159 --> 00:30:20.199 But he turns us to Jesus. 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:28.799 And I really think some of this preoccupation with our own sanctification isn't actually God's mind towards it. 00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:36.480 It's an evidence of living like Paul pre-conversion in our experience. 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:43.460 Because Paul's orientation is towards a person now. 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:46.180 He's just thinking about Jesus now. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:48.420 That's the orientation of a Christian. 00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:53.019 Verse 10, continuing on, emphasizes this point more. 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.840 That I may know him. 00:30:55.480 --> 00:31:01.300 He traded his own righteousness for the righteousness that comes from God as a free gift of faith. 00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:03.220 For what purpose? 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:04.660 Why? 00:31:05.100 --> 00:31:06.820 Why does God make us right with him? 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:09.560 That I may know him. 00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:13.519 And the power of his resurrection. 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:17.360 And may share his sufferings. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:22.039 Becoming like him in his death. 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:22.579 Wow. 00:31:22.699 --> 00:31:24.479 It's just talking about another person in the law. 00:31:25.639 --> 00:31:26.859 It's not talking about me. 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.259 That I may know myself. 00:31:29.559 --> 00:31:32.479 And the power of my new resurrection I got going on. 00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:34.199 And like my sufferings. 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.139 You know? 00:31:35.199 --> 00:31:36.639 Like my sanctification sufferings. 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:39.220 And like my crucifixion. 00:31:39.320 --> 00:31:39.660 I see him. 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:42.220 You know, like, I don't know. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:43.720 I've thought like that. 00:31:43.860 --> 00:31:46.180 And just, I've thought like that a lot even after being a Christian. 00:31:46.540 --> 00:31:47.759 It's just not Christian. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:50.240 This isn't, this is Judaism. 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:52.880 Repackaged with Christian terms. 00:31:53.640 --> 00:31:53.800 Okay? 00:31:53.799 --> 00:32:00.359 Paul has a mind that is set on the spirit that rejoices in Christ Jesus. 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.159 And it's just thinking about Jesus. 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:05.419 Christ, our life. 00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:07.460 I have weakness. 00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.460 I have failure. 00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:10.220 Christ has strength. 00:32:10.659 --> 00:32:11.779 He has success. 00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.379 He's my solution. 00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:16.079 I'm terrible being a parent. 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:17.940 Okay. 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:20.220 Christ isn't. 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.000 Free gift. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.240 Free gift. 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:26.059 Fill in the blank. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:28.339 Whatever sin the Holy Spirit convicts us of. 00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:32.759 The answer is him. 00:32:33.000 --> 00:32:33.579 Christ himself. 00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:39.519 I've exchanged a life of trying to work myself out of a sanctification debt. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:42.839 Into Jesus. 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.879 Is my sanctification. 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:49.940 And I'm freed now to have my mind set on him. 00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:52.700 And to believe and receive him for my need. 00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:55.880 So this is God's way of doing sanctification. 00:32:56.580 --> 00:32:57.380 It's through Christ. 00:32:57.640 --> 00:32:58.240 It's through a person. 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.700 Very Christ-centric. 00:33:00.140 --> 00:33:02.519 You know the fruit of the Holy Spirit living in your heart? 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.440 He glorifies Jesus. 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:07.319 Now Jesus said that about the Holy Spirit. 00:33:07.380 --> 00:33:08.819 When he comes, he will glorify me. 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:12.140 In fact, he says he will not speak of himself. 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:16.700 But he will take what's from me and he will make it known to you. 00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:22.620 This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to reveal this mystery of the person and work of Jesus Christ. 00:33:23.880 --> 00:33:31.539 So one of the key evidences of the circumcision of the heart is that all of a sudden, Jesus is precious to us. 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:37.079 Does it eliminate our attachment to ourselves and our own preciousness? 00:33:37.180 --> 00:33:37.379 No. 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:40.319 But it's a victorious affection. 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.099 He must increase. 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.139 I must decrease. 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:49.039 And the Holy Spirit helps us to increasingly just put to death the deeds of the flesh. 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:52.559 And one of the deeds, actually, Dad said this to me before. 00:33:52.960 --> 00:33:56.399 We have to say no to our flesh even when it wants to be holy. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:34:05.040 I think it's such a good, it helps me realize whole categories of walking by the flesh that I just never even considered. 00:34:05.840 --> 00:34:07.000 Like that was holy stuff. 00:34:07.080 --> 00:34:09.280 How could that possibly be walking by the flesh? 00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:10.940 Because it's all about me. 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:12.920 You know? 00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:15.300 Doesn't have to do with Jesus. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:17.720 Anyway. 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.720 So a couple points here. 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:26.099 One is there's a lot more to this gospel than he just articulated than just payment for sins. 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.360 It is payment for sins. 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:33.639 But there was a lot more that happened on the cross than the payment for our past sins. 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:37.360 It covers every aspect of righteousness. 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:40.719 And it has to do with Jesus Christ and him crucified. 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:43.500 You have sins that were cleansed by the blood of Jesus. 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:45.480 Jesus shed his blood to cleanse us from our sins. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.420 You have righteousness. 00:34:47.739 --> 00:34:52.159 He imputes Christ's life to us through the person of Jesus. 00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:54.539 When Jesus died, we died. 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:55.739 So he says there. 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:59.059 They may share his sufferings becoming like him in his death. 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:03.319 So not only were our sins paid for, the sinner was crucified. 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:15.019 The one who is doomed to live in slavery to sin, that guy was nailed to the cross and he was removed of the power and agency to rule our life. 00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:21.940 I mean, Romans 6 says this, don't you know that your old man of sin was crucified with him? 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:25.039 So this is the basis of our victory as a Christian. 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:29.960 When we get convicted by something new, the Lord reveals an area of our sin in our life. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:41.820 The reason we can walk immediately into an experience of victory is because the power of that old man to dictate that I must walk in that sin was crucified with Jesus 2,000 years ago. 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:45.039 So I was forgiven for my sin by the blood of Jesus. 00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:50.780 But I was also set free from that guy who's doomed to just repeat the same pattern over and over again. 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:52.120 He was nailed to the cross. 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:56.679 And I can just believe that and receive it and say, oh, wow. 00:35:56.859 --> 00:36:01.179 I've never had an experience ever in my entire life of ever walking in freedom from this. 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.179 Never. 00:36:03.739 --> 00:36:05.759 But I believe what you said. 00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:12.299 Don't you know that your old man was crucified with him that you would no longer be slaves of sin? 00:36:12.659 --> 00:36:14.299 That's the basis of our victory. 00:36:14.300 --> 00:36:21.240 So anyway, and then living power by the resurrection of Jesus. 00:36:21.400 --> 00:36:23.320 Jesus not only died, he was raised to life. 00:36:24.060 --> 00:36:26.220 And because he lives, we live also. 00:36:27.380 --> 00:36:32.120 The gospel is Christ's righteousness imputed and imparted by the spirit. 00:36:33.440 --> 00:36:37.240 He stands in our place before God. 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:40.440 And he's who God looks at. 00:36:40.440 --> 00:36:45.320 When I come before God in Jesus' name, I'm coming in the name of Jesus. 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.740 God looks at me and he sees Jesus. 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:48.720 Therefore, I can boldly become for him. 00:36:49.099 --> 00:36:55.780 And on earth, when I see this need for righteousness in my life, I'm like, Lord, how is that even possible? 00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:57.240 You called me to live like this. 00:36:58.639 --> 00:37:01.840 The Bible says, if any man says he's in Christ, then walk as he walked. 00:37:02.039 --> 00:37:02.760 It's through Jesus. 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:07.559 So it's God working in us that which is pleasing to him. 00:37:07.559 --> 00:37:14.880 And in verse 11, he wraps it up and says, that by any means possible, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.340 Any means possible. 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:20.380 Paul has this view that God works everything in his life together for good. 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:26.079 For the ultimate goal of the resurrected Jesus. 00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:29.219 The Bible says, when we see Jesus, when he returns, we'll be like him. 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.400 And that's our hope. 00:37:31.679 --> 00:37:32.539 That's future glorification. 00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:36.759 We will be saved fully, complete elimination of the presence of sin. 00:37:36.760 --> 00:37:43.760 And Paul sees all the different stuff going on in his life, the sufferings, everything, as working together towards that goal. 00:37:44.240 --> 00:37:47.980 That ultimately, by any means possible, I will attain to that resurrection. 00:37:50.120 --> 00:37:50.560 Okay. 00:37:51.100 --> 00:37:53.760 A few exhortations for us. 00:37:54.560 --> 00:37:58.600 I was just praying through our church and just praying the Lord would apply some of these. 00:37:58.599 --> 00:38:00.940 So these are the things that stood out to me. 00:38:01.279 --> 00:38:06.799 One is that we would worship by the Spirit of God, specifically in the following areas. 00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:09.619 Prayer, Bible reading, and evangelism. 00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:16.839 Like he said, that's the attribute of someone who's of the true circumcision is that we worship by the Spirit of God. 00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:19.480 We need the Holy Spirit to pray. 00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.819 We need the Holy Spirit to read our Bible. 00:38:20.920 --> 00:38:22.819 And we need the Holy Spirit to be able to share the gospel with people. 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.739 Like we just can't do it. 00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:27.299 There's not a natural predisposition to do those things. 00:38:27.500 --> 00:38:31.599 So I don't know if you guys have felt like blocking in these things. 00:38:31.799 --> 00:38:32.959 Well, it's there for a reason. 00:38:33.039 --> 00:38:34.079 Like we need the Spirit. 00:38:34.859 --> 00:38:36.479 Even to do something as simple as pray. 00:38:37.939 --> 00:38:39.500 So just remember that. 00:38:39.579 --> 00:38:41.199 We don't worship according to the flesh. 00:38:41.279 --> 00:38:42.979 We worship by the Spirit of God. 00:38:45.519 --> 00:38:46.819 Watch out for false teachers. 00:38:46.820 --> 00:38:58.940 I think this might go without saying, but I've just been increasingly aware of how persuasive there's some men are on the Internet because of their ability to diagnose problems. 00:38:59.539 --> 00:39:07.600 If you have a strong problem diagnosis that other people aren't able to articulate quite as clearly, you have purchased yourself a following. 00:39:08.580 --> 00:39:09.700 That's not enough, though. 00:39:10.480 --> 00:39:12.280 We have to have a solution, too. 00:39:13.160 --> 00:39:16.160 Jordan Peterson has awesome problem diagnoses. 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:19.119 He has worthless solutions. 00:39:20.299 --> 00:39:21.139 Absolutely worthless. 00:39:21.819 --> 00:39:24.279 Has nothing to do with Jesus Christ and him crucified. 00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:27.079 And there's a lot more people like him. 00:39:27.480 --> 00:39:27.599 Okay? 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:35.440 So just because someone can diagnose a problem, we need to hold them at arm's length and we need to judge them according to the Word of God and say, 00:39:35.879 --> 00:39:38.219 Are they offering me the same solution that Paul is? 00:39:38.219 --> 00:39:47.539 We need to examine ourselves for areas where we put confidence in the flesh instead of Christ. 00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:51.639 Romans 10, verses 2 through 4 says, 00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:55.699 I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 00:39:56.779 --> 00:40:02.859 For being ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:07.639 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:12.139 So our zeal for God can just be zeal for ourselves. 00:40:12.779 --> 00:40:15.099 It can just be zeal for our own sanctification. 00:40:15.679 --> 00:40:16.519 We love our story. 00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:18.139 We love our spiritual journey. 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:20.079 We love the spiritual journey we're on. 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:21.599 We're super into it. 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.719 And we're zealous for it. 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:26.599 That's the kind of zeal for God that Paul had. 00:40:27.639 --> 00:40:27.879 Okay? 00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:32.739 And it matched the phrase as true zeal for God. 00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:34.459 It has nothing to do with the finished work of Jesus. 00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:37.459 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for all who believe. 00:40:38.519 --> 00:40:40.939 You don't know if someone is actually excited for God? 00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:43.379 They're excited to get to know Jesus better. 00:40:45.319 --> 00:40:46.039 Well, it's down to that. 00:40:46.099 --> 00:40:47.539 They share the same passion Paul had. 00:40:47.819 --> 00:40:52.259 They counted everything as loss for this one thing, that I may know him. 00:40:53.719 --> 00:40:57.319 So, and that's a good question to ask ourselves. 00:40:57.899 --> 00:41:01.239 Like, am I as excited about knowing Jesus as I am about church? 00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:06.459 Am I as excited about knowing Jesus as I am about theology? 00:41:07.480 --> 00:41:08.179 Well, the same thing. 00:41:08.939 --> 00:41:09.179 Okay? 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:10.519 Maybe. 00:41:11.379 --> 00:41:12.159 Is it to you? 00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:17.079 This is why it's so much easier to read books about the Bible than the Bible itself. 00:41:18.199 --> 00:41:20.139 The Bible is the only book that there's a blanket over. 00:41:20.599 --> 00:41:22.959 2 Corinthians 3 says there's a veil. 00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:25.179 Over the scriptures. 00:41:26.819 --> 00:41:30.299 And only in Christ is the veil done away. 00:41:31.079 --> 00:41:37.579 You struggle with having a life-filled experience of devotion in God's word? 00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:45.359 Well, it's because it's the only book that has a spiritual blanket over it that's only done away in Jesus. 00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:49.180 But it says, when you turn to the Lord, the veil's done away. 00:41:50.400 --> 00:41:50.660 Okay? 00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:52.099 That's a promise for us. 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:59.120 But we can kind of, like, that's a block that God put there for a reason. 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:04.780 He commands us to desire God's word, and he puts a block on it. 00:42:04.780 --> 00:42:05.840 Why? 00:42:08.180 --> 00:42:09.620 Through the Spirit of God. 00:42:09.619 --> 00:42:11.920 So they would need him. 00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:15.619 Say, Lord, honestly, you're commanding me to desire the Bible. 00:42:15.699 --> 00:42:16.539 Not just read it. 00:42:17.299 --> 00:42:21.880 But like a newborn baby, desire the sincere milk of the word. 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:23.000 2 Peter 3. 00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:24.420 1 Peter 2. 00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:26.840 That you might grow. 00:42:28.099 --> 00:42:29.440 That's an impossible standard. 00:42:30.480 --> 00:42:35.420 You're requiring me to love something that I can barely even have the motivation to get up in the morning and do. 00:42:36.400 --> 00:42:36.960 You know? 00:42:38.240 --> 00:42:43.159 Like, it's everything I can do to just get through my Bible reading plan, much less desire it. 00:42:43.220 --> 00:42:45.159 It's more like a nagging guilt, right? 00:42:46.480 --> 00:42:47.760 Why would God make it like that? 00:42:47.760 --> 00:42:52.420 Only in Christ is the veil done away. 00:42:54.500 --> 00:42:58.140 I love that story about the disciples on the road of May. 00:42:58.180 --> 00:42:58.820 It's the end of Luke. 00:42:59.020 --> 00:42:59.600 The end of Luke? 00:42:59.680 --> 00:42:59.800 Yeah. 00:42:59.980 --> 00:43:06.760 He secretly walks with them and unpacks the scriptures to them. 00:43:07.560 --> 00:43:11.240 And then he vanishes and they're like, we're not our hearts burning within us? 00:43:12.020 --> 00:43:14.740 That's what it's like to have Jesus do your Bible study with you. 00:43:15.140 --> 00:43:16.060 Total game changer. 00:43:16.059 --> 00:43:18.880 But we got to believe that that is what he wants. 00:43:22.519 --> 00:43:30.400 Righteousness that's of the flesh is content with just cranking away and racking up a brownie points. 00:43:32.320 --> 00:43:34.039 And you know what your real passion is? 00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:35.440 The book's about the Bible. 00:43:36.360 --> 00:43:37.400 At least you can get into those. 00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:38.440 A lot of good things. 00:43:39.139 --> 00:43:39.779 Wonderful things. 00:43:39.780 --> 00:43:51.500 But sometimes I wonder if we're avoiding the stumbling block that the Lord has put in front of us called Jesus. 00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:53.840 And we're not coming to him. 00:43:54.720 --> 00:43:55.920 And acknowledging our need. 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:59.320 Be like, honestly, Lord, I don't even want to read the Bible. 00:44:00.620 --> 00:44:01.180 I don't even care. 00:44:01.240 --> 00:44:01.960 I don't even want to pray. 00:44:01.960 --> 00:44:05.720 And the last thing I want to do is tell someone about Jesus. 00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:08.599 And I know I'm supposed to do all those things. 00:44:09.300 --> 00:44:11.119 So I'll half-heartedly plink away at it. 00:44:13.139 --> 00:44:17.199 That's righteousness that's according to the flesh. 00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:23.460 That's me bypassing God's plan, which is through his son. 00:44:23.460 --> 00:44:28.119 He makes us excited about this stuff, but it's only through the Holy Spirit. 00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:31.559 Anyway, getting a little bit sidetracked on that one. 00:44:33.039 --> 00:44:34.880 We need to examine our life for this stuff, though. 00:44:34.980 --> 00:44:38.500 You just get in a pattern of this, and it's just like, that's Christian. 00:44:39.860 --> 00:44:40.400 It's not. 00:44:41.079 --> 00:44:41.659 It's really not. 00:44:43.260 --> 00:44:51.039 I encourage, again, blocking off time, reading Matthew 23, reading what Jesus had to say to the Pharisees, 00:44:51.039 --> 00:44:54.279 and asking God the question, Lord, does any of this mean? 00:44:56.219 --> 00:44:58.779 Because if it is, we need to know. 00:44:59.139 --> 00:44:59.719 We need to repent. 00:45:00.579 --> 00:45:04.119 I feel like I read that, and I just find myself in there so much. 00:45:05.800 --> 00:45:08.000 It's so effective in snapping me out of it. 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:13.400 I just love living in front of people, and I thought that I've repented of this thoroughly enough. 00:45:13.440 --> 00:45:14.820 I'll just never struggle with it again. 00:45:15.960 --> 00:45:16.099 Whatever. 00:45:17.400 --> 00:45:17.579 No. 00:45:17.579 --> 00:45:17.739 No. 00:45:19.380 --> 00:45:21.019 And it's just a wonderful reset button. 00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:23.739 All their works they do to be seen of men. 00:45:24.819 --> 00:45:25.099 Wow. 00:45:26.279 --> 00:45:28.159 Now, come to think of it, for the last couple months, 00:45:28.500 --> 00:45:32.980 the ones I get excited about doing are the ones in front of all you guys. 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:36.699 And the ones I'm not so excited about doing are the ones only the Lord can see. 00:45:37.259 --> 00:45:37.960 Guess what? 00:45:39.699 --> 00:45:40.519 It's not for him. 00:45:40.519 --> 00:45:48.360 So, number four, trade your confidence in the flesh for confidence in Christ. 00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:54.219 All this man religion, the best we have to offer, 00:45:54.480 --> 00:45:57.699 it's just garbage compared to what he has to offer. 00:45:58.360 --> 00:45:59.139 And we can just repent. 00:45:59.400 --> 00:46:00.420 We can exchange it today. 00:46:01.860 --> 00:46:04.300 The other one is to live by faith instead of feelings. 00:46:05.119 --> 00:46:07.159 This is just another way of putting confidence in the flesh. 00:46:07.159 --> 00:46:09.359 It's like money. 00:46:09.480 --> 00:46:11.440 It's a wonderful servant, but it's a terrible master. 00:46:12.920 --> 00:46:13.859 Joy in the Lord. 00:46:13.940 --> 00:46:14.879 It's a fruit of the Spirit. 00:46:14.980 --> 00:46:15.539 It's awesome. 00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:16.599 It's wonderful. 00:46:17.799 --> 00:46:22.279 But we need to orient to what the Bible has said and say, 00:46:22.399 --> 00:46:24.480 like faith comes by hearing by the word of Christ. 00:46:25.119 --> 00:46:26.799 If God said it, I believe it. 00:46:27.500 --> 00:46:28.960 I'm going to step out in faith and obey. 00:46:29.279 --> 00:46:32.779 I love that story you shared, Carrie, the other day about the Lord just telling you, 00:46:32.859 --> 00:46:33.579 you can do it. 00:46:33.579 --> 00:46:36.219 It's not like getting up to do something with the kids. 00:46:36.259 --> 00:46:37.099 You're like, I can't do that. 00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:39.299 And you just feel like God said, no, you can't. 00:46:39.319 --> 00:46:40.179 Because I say you can't. 00:46:40.860 --> 00:46:42.440 That's what the word of God does for us. 00:46:42.840 --> 00:46:47.699 We read what God's word has said and we're like, oh, okay. 00:46:47.799 --> 00:46:50.259 Well, that's not my experience. 00:46:50.559 --> 00:46:51.900 I don't feel like that. 00:46:52.860 --> 00:46:56.579 But to believe it is to receive it. 00:46:56.900 --> 00:46:59.139 You know, faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of Christ. 00:46:59.139 --> 00:47:02.319 So we need to orient around what has God said? 00:47:02.379 --> 00:47:03.099 What's his word say? 00:47:03.699 --> 00:47:06.139 If he said it, there's grace for it. 00:47:06.199 --> 00:47:07.599 I can believe it and receive it. 00:47:07.739 --> 00:47:11.339 Just like Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. 00:47:11.779 --> 00:47:12.839 That's the same thing. 00:47:13.379 --> 00:47:16.739 The feelings will follow, but we shouldn't be led by our feelings. 00:47:16.859 --> 00:47:23.659 Otherwise, we're getting wrapped up in this, like just in a kind of tricky way, confidence in the flesh. 00:47:23.659 --> 00:47:30.559 We're looking into ourselves for our sufficiency, not what is his word said. 00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:36.920 The other one is, last one, number six. 00:47:37.579 --> 00:47:39.639 I think it's important to be willing to start over. 00:47:40.639 --> 00:47:50.480 Paul has this idea of gain and leveling up and then counting it all as garbage for the sake of Jesus. 00:47:50.480 --> 00:47:54.519 The Lord knows what's going on in our hearts. 00:47:55.320 --> 00:48:03.760 And sometimes the biggest obstacle to just receiving Jesus and his way for things is that we're trying to add him on to our spiritual pedigree. 00:48:04.639 --> 00:48:09.960 Rather than being willing to let him come in there and clean house and just be like, no, you need to start over in some areas, bro. 00:48:11.599 --> 00:48:13.800 In fact, you've never really built on Christ in this area. 00:48:14.199 --> 00:48:16.199 You built on yourself the whole time. 00:48:16.199 --> 00:48:23.919 And I'm not interested in coming in and doing a self-improvement renovation on your home construction project, spiritually speaking. 00:48:25.939 --> 00:48:28.119 I had to die to put that to death. 00:48:28.239 --> 00:48:30.139 You need to count it as loss for the sake of me. 00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:34.859 And just have some humility and let me come in there and do some work in your life, you know. 00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:36.899 I know this is an obstacle for me. 00:48:36.980 --> 00:48:38.419 This verse is really precious to me. 00:48:38.960 --> 00:48:42.480 Some of you have heard our testimony, but we were in a home church for years. 00:48:42.480 --> 00:48:48.639 I had some really strong thoughts on righteousness and how righteousness has worked out in a Christian's life. 00:48:48.740 --> 00:48:49.619 Lots of self-effort. 00:48:50.800 --> 00:48:52.780 And the Lord just showed me I was completely wrong. 00:48:53.880 --> 00:48:55.880 And I remember being in a bathroom. 00:48:56.039 --> 00:49:03.039 This is one of those times where, you know, a bathroom revelation. 00:49:03.480 --> 00:49:06.360 You know, sitting on a toilet just had this powerful revelation of the gospel. 00:49:06.360 --> 00:49:12.840 And my biggest hang-up, honestly, to receiving it was, what do I do with everything that we've been doing? 00:49:14.200 --> 00:49:16.099 I had so much pride in all that stuff. 00:49:16.760 --> 00:49:22.400 It's just embarrassing to admit that I've been so fundamentally wrong in a certain area of my life for so long. 00:49:23.920 --> 00:49:26.120 And the Lord brought this passage to mind. 00:49:26.300 --> 00:49:30.620 Everything that was gained to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 00:49:30.619 --> 00:49:34.239 And I got to understand what he really meant for the first time. 00:49:34.539 --> 00:49:40.239 Then when I opened Philippians, I realized he was talking about everything he had gained in pursuing God. 00:49:41.960 --> 00:49:43.559 That was what was hard to let go of. 00:49:44.739 --> 00:49:46.440 Well, that's the stuff that can hold us up. 00:49:46.839 --> 00:49:50.219 And we need to be willing for the Lord to come into our life and reform it. 00:49:51.019 --> 00:49:57.299 Which means showing us areas where, yeah, we might have been trusting the Lord with, you know, in this area. 00:49:57.300 --> 00:50:01.140 But in this area over here, we've never actually really trusted the Lord for. 00:50:01.500 --> 00:50:04.620 And that's why we've consistently hit a dead end our entire life. 00:50:05.780 --> 00:50:11.280 We need to ask the question, Lord, do I just need to have a fat reset button? 00:50:12.539 --> 00:50:18.500 Have my attempts to pull off what you're calling me to do actually been the hindrance the whole time? 00:50:19.900 --> 00:50:21.600 And I need to trust you instead. 00:50:23.140 --> 00:50:24.940 So, anyway, I'm going to pray.