WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:05.879 Well, good morning, everyone. It was great. I was at a church in Bath last weekend and 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:11.279 they did a kid's song from their holiday club. Nobody was joining in. But from the back, 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:14.939 I could see that everybody was joining in. I love that. That's great. I'm excited at 00:00:14.939 --> 00:00:19.900 the holiday club this week. I echo what Peter has said about appreciating your prayers for 00:00:19.900 --> 00:00:25.620 energy, for wisdom, for enthusiasm. As we just seek to share the gospel with the boys 00:00:25.620 --> 00:00:29.440 and girls that God brings our way. But we turn now to God's word. So can I encourage 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:34.640 you to have Philippians chapter 3 open in front of you, this diamond of a passage. 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:41.020 And it's been a real joy to study it this week. So this is Philippians 3, verses 1 to 16. 00:00:41.100 --> 00:00:43.520 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word now. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:58.799 So speak to us this morning, our heavenly father, our great God, as we turn to your 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:03.519 living word now. Would you hear our prayer? Because we make it in the name of your son, 00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:06.819 our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:14.200 Well, by show of hands this morning, I wonder who has recently completed a CV. Put your hands in the air. 00:01:15.579 --> 00:01:22.879 If you have recently done a CV. So quite a few people here this morning. CV, curriculum vitae. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:29.280 So looking up the Latin this week. I like to dig out my law books now and again. It means the course 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:36.879 of your life. Curriculum vitae. The course of your life. Well, here's what I want to do as we get into 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:43.099 these verses in this passage this morning. I want you to think about your field of work. 00:01:43.859 --> 00:01:49.819 Maybe the one that you're in. Maybe the one that you used to be in. Maybe the one that you want to be in. 00:01:49.819 --> 00:01:59.199 And I want to imagine that you had the perfect CV for your field of work. So just picture that in 00:01:59.199 --> 00:02:05.479 your mind. What would that look like? What experience would you have? Where would you have been? 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:12.759 What would you have done? Who would you have met? The perfect CV. Because what we're going to see 00:02:12.759 --> 00:02:19.699 in these verses this morning, as we get into verses 1 to 16, we're going to see Paul lay out for us 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:28.659 his quite outstanding CV. He's not interested in landing a job. What he's interested in is getting 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:39.919 right with God and gaining life with God. So here's Paul's CV this morning. And here's the question 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:47.319 that we're going to look at and try and answer this morning as we look at Paul's CV. Where is true life 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:55.120 to be found? This is a Sesame Street sermon this morning. I love Sesame Street. Or I did rather. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:01.280 This sermon this morning brought to you in association with the word out. There's four 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:06.099 outs that we need to see in these verses this morning. You ready for this? Four outs. Here's the first one. 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:14.019 Look out. See it in those verses there? How does he start at verse 1? What does he want these 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:24.040 Christians to do? Not be happy? Not think positively? He says rejoice. Do you see it there? Rejoice. 00:03:24.040 --> 00:03:35.100 So have joy in the Lord. The joy of seeing and of knowing and of loving and of trusting in Jesus Christ, 00:03:35.200 --> 00:03:42.800 your Savior and your King. Rejoice. Now John Piper would call joy the emotion of salvation. 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:50.300 But here is what Paul is aware of as he thinks about joy and as he thinks about the Christians in this church. 00:03:51.560 --> 00:04:00.280 He's concerned. He's thinking about the people who are out there. And he's thinking about the people 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:06.920 who maybe even are in this Philippine church. And what are they trying to do? They're trying to distract 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:13.879 from Christ. And what does Paul say? He says you've got to look out for them. 00:04:15.139 --> 00:04:22.079 Do you see he uses it three times there at verse 2? Look out. Look out. Look out. As if to underscore the point. 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:28.399 Now who are these people? Well the circumcision language there would suggest that these guys are 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:35.379 Judaizers. So people who are insisting that in order to be a true Christian as well as having faith 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:41.039 in Jesus Christ, you need to keep the Old Testament ceremonial laws including circumcision. 00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:49.399 So if you're into maths this morning, here is their salvation equation. That Jesus plus your work 00:04:49.399 --> 00:04:53.379 equals salvation. So they're teaching. And it's dangerous. 00:04:53.379 --> 00:05:00.219 And if that's what Paul knows about them, then check out how he feels about them. What does he call them? 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:08.040 Dogs. Now he's not picturing the Andrax puppy at this point. He's not thinking about Crufts and BBC One 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:14.699 on the Sunday night. First place dog. These are not the dogs he's picturing. These are flea carrying, 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:21.459 unclean, disease ridden, dangerous pests who are to be put down and avoided at all costs. Now have you met 00:05:21.459 --> 00:05:30.500 wild dogs? I've met some. I remember my honeymoon in Sicily. I took it on myself before trying to prove 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:36.120 myself as a husband to book our hotels. We got to one of those hotels. What greeted us outside that 00:05:36.120 --> 00:05:44.979 hotel? A pack of roaming wild dogs. Now listen, my bride was not happy. Paul is calling these guys 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:53.620 dogs. Don't miss the irony of what he's saying. It's the nickname that the Jews gave to the Gentiles. 00:05:54.340 --> 00:06:00.640 It's the term in Mark 7. We see that the Syrophoenician Gentile woman using to describe herself. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:07.540 The dogs. But Paul says, what does he say there? Let me tell you who the true dogs are. 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:16.540 They are those who seek to twist the gospel. Those who seek to dilute grace and relegate Christ. 00:06:17.260 --> 00:06:24.180 Those people are the true dogs. We on the other hand, we in whom God has placed his spirit, 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:34.500 we who glory in Christ, we are the true people of God. So what does Paul say? Look out for these false 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:40.519 teachers. Because you see, for Paul, it's quite simple. That if you take your eye off Christ, 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:47.420 then you take your eye off the source of true joy. Dearest Philippians, would you take it from me 00:06:47.420 --> 00:06:54.660 that the road signposted, earn your way to God, thinking that salvation is anything other than 100% 00:06:54.660 --> 00:07:02.860 Jesus Christ? Take it from me that that is a dead end. Now don't believe me, says Paul. 00:07:04.760 --> 00:07:10.820 Verses 4 to 6, what does he say? Check out. And here's where he lays out for us his CV. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:18.100 The course of his life. Now do you notice in these verses there are seven things on his CV. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:21.040 Check them out from verse 5. We'll just walk our way through them. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:30.260 Firstly, circumcised on the eighth day. So he's born into a family who strictly kept the Old Testament law. 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:36.020 He is an eight-dayer. Secondly, do you see it there? He's of the people of Israel. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:42.820 So he's a pure Jew. He's a thoroughbred. Thirdly, he's of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:48.740 If you know your Old Testament history, Saul, Israel's first king, he comes from this tribe. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:54.860 You wonder even whether that was the reason that Paul's parents called him Saul in the first place, 00:07:54.900 --> 00:07:56.400 after Israel's first king. 00:07:57.900 --> 00:08:01.319 Fourthly, he's a Hebrew of Hebrews. Do you see it? 00:08:01.379 --> 00:08:05.400 He spoke Hebrew. He's thoroughly trained in the law. 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:08.860 He even studied under the great Rabbi Gamaliel, 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:12.879 which I guess is the equivalent of being a young businessman or woman 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.159 and having been mentored by Alan Sugar. 00:08:17.159 --> 00:08:22.500 And as you see, as we just step back, what he is saying to these Philippians? 00:08:23.980 --> 00:08:27.639 So see, when it comes to pedigree, dear Philippians, when it comes to a CV, 00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:30.360 I've got one to die for. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:33.759 It's festival time. 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:37.639 So just imagine a tourist box in here this morning. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:40.559 If you are a tourist here this morning, you're so welcome. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:42.740 But they walk in here and they say, 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:44.500 listen, it's great to be home in Scotland. 00:08:45.539 --> 00:08:47.500 And you say, well, great to welcome you here. 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:48.139 What's your name? 00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:49.139 And they say, my name's Bradley. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:51.679 And you say, where do you live? 00:08:51.720 --> 00:08:53.419 And he says, I live in California. 00:08:54.419 --> 00:08:57.100 And you say, well, Bradley, have you ever actually stepped foot in Scotland? 00:08:57.100 --> 00:09:03.080 No, but my great, great, great granny once stepped foot on the bonny, bonny banks of Loch Lomond. 00:09:05.659 --> 00:09:08.480 But imagine someone else walks in here and you say, what's your name? 00:09:08.519 --> 00:09:09.680 And he says, my name's Hamish. 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.820 My name is Hamish Macduff. 00:09:13.240 --> 00:09:14.879 And you say, where do you live, Hamish? 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:16.720 And Hamish says, oh, I live in Inverness. 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:19.080 And I was born in the shores of Loch Ness. 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:20.600 And I've lived there my whole life. 00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.720 I'm fluent in Gaelic. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:28.240 And on a Friday night, I love nothing more than a good knees up Kayleigh, complete with iron brew and haggis. 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:30.360 Now, here's the question. 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:34.960 When it comes to being Scottish, who is the real deal? 00:09:37.300 --> 00:09:38.500 Paul, do you see what he's saying? 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:40.000 He is the real deal. 00:09:40.680 --> 00:09:42.420 He is the genuine article. 00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:44.860 He is, as we would say, he is from good stock. 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:47.960 And he's got a pedigree to die for. 00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:50.639 And do you see how he backs that up? 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:53.120 He's got a pedigree. 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:55.539 And he's got the performance to go with it. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:56.419 Look at him. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:58.299 Continue halfway through verse 5. 00:09:58.500 --> 00:09:59.600 Fifthly, what does he say? 00:10:00.019 --> 00:10:02.360 As to the law, a Pharisee. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:08.679 So he was a member of this Jewish sect who were deeply committed to observing the Jewish law. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:14.360 And to add to that, sixthly, he was a zealous persecutor of the church. 00:10:15.240 --> 00:10:17.639 So get this, not only is he one of the good guys, 00:10:17.639 --> 00:10:20.439 but as his mission in life as one of the good guys, 00:10:20.539 --> 00:10:23.299 he's made it his mission to stamp out the bad guys. 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:29.080 And sixthly, righteousness based on the law, faultless. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:32.159 So in terms of observing the law, 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:34.939 Paul's saying he's ticking all the boxes. 00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:38.240 Do you see what he's saying? 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:39.460 There's my CV. 00:10:39.460 --> 00:10:41.500 There it is there. 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.320 I'm a pure Jew. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:44.639 I'm a zealous Pharisee. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:48.360 I think you'll find that puts me untouchable at the top of my field. 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.740 No one can out-pedigree me. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.940 Nobody can out-perform me. 00:10:55.860 --> 00:10:56.940 And look at the end of verse 4. 00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:57.620 What does he say? 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.820 If anybody, if anybody thinks they've got more confidence in the flesh, 00:11:03.180 --> 00:11:04.920 anybody thinks they've got reason for that, I've got more. 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:07.199 I've got more. 00:11:08.979 --> 00:11:13.539 Now the thing to understand is that if you were to ask Paul in his previous life, 00:11:13.860 --> 00:11:17.159 if that CV would earn him God's favor, 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:20.679 if that CV would make him right before God, 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:23.079 if that CV would gain him life, 00:11:24.079 --> 00:11:24.919 he would have responded, 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:25.860 are you kidding me? 00:11:26.939 --> 00:11:28.919 With that pedigree and with that performance? 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:32.139 Absolutely it's got me those things. 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:35.980 Let me just slow down for a minute. 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:40.080 Because you may be here this morning and you're thinking to yourself, 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:42.039 hashtag first century problems. 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:49.080 All this talk of circumcision and Pharisees and law, 00:11:49.299 --> 00:11:51.000 listen, that has got nothing to do with me. 00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:55.139 And that may be true to an extent. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:57.899 I mean, this stuff is a big deal in the early church. 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:00.919 Maybe more so than it is now. 00:12:00.919 --> 00:12:03.399 But let me ask you, see when it comes to getting right with God, 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.899 what's in your CV? 00:12:08.899 --> 00:12:11.759 What are you putting in the pedigree column? 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:17.860 The fact that the school that you went to sang hymns in assembly when you grew up? 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:22.860 The fact that you happen to live in a country that's got a historical Christian ethos? 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:26.220 The fact that you went to Sunday school growing up? 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:29.240 What's in your pedigree column? 00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:30.740 What's in your performance column? 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.560 Hey, listen, I give to charity. 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:35.560 I love recycling. 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:37.360 I'm into paying my taxes. 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:39.460 Hey, I even watch songs of praise on a Sunday night. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.060 What's in your performance column? 00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:48.779 Whatever you've got on that list that equates to, as Paul would put it here, 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:53.119 putting confidence in the flesh, trusting in your own CV, 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:56.439 then Paul would say the same thing to us as he's saying to these Christians here. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:12:58.739 That I've got more. 00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:01.059 I've got more. 00:13:01.059 --> 00:13:05.219 Now, where does that leave us then? 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:07.879 Well, here's the third out. 00:13:09.859 --> 00:13:12.219 Paul says, verses 7 to 11, found out. 00:13:13.619 --> 00:13:16.639 Here is a man who had the resume of resumes. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:19.559 Here is a man who, in terms of righteousness, 00:13:19.859 --> 00:13:23.139 was head and shoulders, leagues apart from the rest. 00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:23.919 And what does he say? 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:24.500 Check it out. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:25.119 Verse 7. 00:13:26.479 --> 00:13:27.599 Whatever gain I had. 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:29.259 Whatever gain I had. 00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:31.419 All those things that we've just looked at on his CV. 00:13:31.659 --> 00:13:32.639 Whatever gain I had. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:35.460 I now count as loss. 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:38.700 So it's a counting language. 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:42.319 He's taken all the things that were formerly in his profit column. 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:45.439 And he's transferred them to his loss column. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.419 His debit column. 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:50.679 And not only that, but he regards them all as rubbish. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:54.840 The Greek word there meaning something to be thrown out. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.879 Treated as dung. 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.000 Rubbish. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:04.220 So the question is, what did he find out that caused such a drastic change? 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:05.659 Well, he's found something. 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.259 Do you see it there? 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:06.860 Verse 8. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:10.100 That's of surpassing worth. 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:13.460 He's found Christ. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.600 But what has he found in Christ? 00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.559 That's the question. 00:14:16.740 --> 00:14:17.960 Well, two things to see. 00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:20.700 He's found a better way to life. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.360 See it there? 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:22.919 Verse 9. 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:26.399 He's trying to earn God's favour by doing. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:29.559 Trying to have a righteousness of his own. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:37.019 But how could an unholy Paul stand before a holy God? 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:43.379 See his life pursuit of trying to gain a right standing before God. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:45.039 Off the back of his own CV. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:49.099 Incapable of bringing him life. 00:14:51.099 --> 00:14:56.459 But Jesus Christ lived a fully righteous life. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:58.599 He lived a perfect life. 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.759 And just follow it through his logic. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.000 By faith in him. 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:05.059 What happened? 00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:08.279 Well, Martin Luther would call this the great exchange. 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:14.879 That Jesus took Paul's sin and shame as he died on the cross. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:20.159 And Jesus gave Paul his perfect life. 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:24.439 God put the wrong on Jesus. 00:15:25.359 --> 00:15:26.899 He never did anything wrong. 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:31.719 So that Paul could be made right with God. 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:37.340 So how can an unholy Paul stand before a holy God? 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:39.540 Well, he can do it not based on his own CV. 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:42.519 But based on Christ's CV. 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:47.680 And the fact that his life is now hidden with Christ in God. 00:15:49.160 --> 00:15:52.340 Paul's found a better way to life. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.580 And secondly, he's found a better purpose in life. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.240 Verse 10. 00:15:57.540 --> 00:15:58.580 What he was previously pursuing. 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.600 Giving himself to. 00:16:00.600 --> 00:16:01.879 Dead religion. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:04.360 A life goal. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:07.639 Incapable of bringing him that lasting joy and life. 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:08.659 Now what does he live for? 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.279 Verse 10. 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:12.139 I want to know Christ. 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:18.040 See, he wants his fellowship with his saviour and his king to be sweeter and deeper. 00:16:18.180 --> 00:16:19.200 I want to know Christ. 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:23.220 And I want to know the power of his resurrection. 00:16:23.220 --> 00:16:28.960 And I want to emulate his cross-shaped life. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:30.420 Making myself nothing. 00:16:30.420 --> 00:16:31.820 As we've seen over these weeks. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.240 Having the mind of Christ. 00:16:35.920 --> 00:16:37.360 Sharing with him in his sufferings. 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:39.139 Becoming like him in his death. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:40.960 That by any means possible. 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:45.820 I may attain the resurrection of the dead. 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:48.100 Now here's what we need to see. 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:52.080 That this isn't Paul turning over a new leaf. 00:16:53.140 --> 00:16:59.760 This is the fruit of Paul, by God's grace, having been given a new heart. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:05.660 I don't know if you've ever heard the acronym FOMO. 00:17:07.299 --> 00:17:09.640 It's a phrase the kids use these days just to show you that. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:10.480 I'm still down with the kids. 00:17:11.140 --> 00:17:12.519 F-O-M-O. 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:15.099 Fear of missing out. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:18.400 So the feeling that somehow your peers are doing something. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.379 Your peers have something that's superior. 00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:22.879 Far superior than what you currently have. 00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.759 Fear of missing out. 00:17:24.759 --> 00:17:28.980 Now let me ask you as you look at Paul right here. 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:32.920 Does he strike you as a man who is missing out? 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:38.519 Does he strike you as a man who is missing out? 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:47.500 Does Paul not strike you as a man who's found everything he ever needs or wants in Jesus Christ? 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:52.559 Saul, in his previous life, who had everything. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.819 What did he find out? 00:17:54.899 --> 00:17:55.539 It was nothing. 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:59.879 But Paul, who has nothing but Christ. 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.919 And yet he finds out that he's got everything he ever needs. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.839 Now what a complete reversal that is. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:13.359 Do you see now that his CV, the course of his life, what he's all about now, doesn't read Paul. 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:16.399 It simply reads Christ. 00:18:17.779 --> 00:18:19.659 That's why Paul lives like he does. 00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:24.200 Because in Jesus Christ, he's found something of surpassing worth. 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:29.060 And if that's the why, then look how he moves on to the how. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:32.980 How does he live in light of this new CV? 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:36.259 Well, fourthly and finally, verses 12 to 16, what does he say? 00:18:37.060 --> 00:18:37.800 I'm flat out. 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:44.279 He's pulling out all the stops in his pursuit of Jesus Christ. 00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:45.580 There is no time to waste. 00:18:45.700 --> 00:18:46.860 There is no time to lose. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:49.000 He's going hard after holiness. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:53.919 He is longing after the things of God. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:56.699 Notice the wee phrase he uses here to describe it. 00:18:57.899 --> 00:18:58.979 Pressing on. 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.799 Do you see how he uses it twice in these verses here? 00:19:02.439 --> 00:19:03.639 Pressing on. 00:19:05.319 --> 00:19:07.500 Come with me and let's quickly look at these together. 00:19:07.639 --> 00:19:12.799 For they are so refreshingly important when it comes to living out the Christian life. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:15.379 What motivates Paul to press on? 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.079 Verse 12. 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:19.019 See that he knows whose he is. 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.960 I press on to make it my own. 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.680 Why, Paul? 00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:27.799 Because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:31.599 It's funny when you're preparing for sermons. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:34.980 I find certain verses as you meditate on them, they just stick there. 00:19:35.899 --> 00:19:37.519 And this was one for me this week. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:39.459 Why does Paul press on? 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:44.259 Because Christ Jesus has made Paul his own. 00:19:45.199 --> 00:19:46.379 Do you understand what he's saying? 00:19:46.719 --> 00:19:50.240 Paul found Christ, but only because Jesus first found Paul. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:55.440 And if you like stooped down and put his hand on Paul's life and said, 00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:56.539 Paul, you're mine. 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.039 You're mine. 00:19:58.359 --> 00:19:59.400 I'm calling you out. 00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.140 I'm setting you apart to live differently. 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.720 You are mine. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:09.700 And as we think about that, it's not a wonderful description of what it means to be a Christian. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:17.319 Jesus, by his grace, put his hand on our life and said, you're mine. 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:24.099 I wonder if some of us, do we need to recapture that wonder this morning as we think about that? 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.359 What does Paul do with that? 00:20:28.419 --> 00:20:30.659 The fact that Jesus Christ has made him his own. 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.439 Is it like a game of hide and seek? 00:20:33.419 --> 00:20:35.399 A two-year-old at the minute loves hide and seek. 00:20:36.139 --> 00:20:38.220 Now that Paul's been found, I mean, is that game over? 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:43.039 In the race, is Jesus now, is he kind of like the coach at the sidelines? 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:46.519 Is he cheering Paul on, saying, well, now listen, I've got you into the race. 00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.819 It's up to you to keep running. 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.619 Come on, I'll be here cheering you on. 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:50.240 No. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:58.700 Paul presses on to make it his own because Christ Jesus has made him his own. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:04.400 Do you see the most fundamental reason why you and I must go hard after Christ? 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:10.740 Is that Christ is in us by the spirit of God, moving us to go hard after him. 00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:15.700 It's all of Paul and all of Christ. 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:19.859 Paul presses on, do you see it, because he knows whose he is. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:25.160 And he presses on, verse 14, because he knows what is his. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:27.940 So there's a prize to be won. 00:21:29.700 --> 00:21:30.920 There's a prize to be won. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:32.680 God, through Christ, do you see it? 00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:34.799 He's almost beckoning Paul home. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:40.119 Inviting him, calling him to come to his presence, homeward to heaven. 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:41.740 That's what Paul's running for. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:46.639 And that's where his sights are set. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:52.300 But you see it, verse 12, he runs as one who knows that he's not yet perfect. 00:21:54.540 --> 00:21:57.100 And he runs as one who knows that he's not there yet. 00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:02.580 In other words, he's not standing at the finishing line, shouting encouragement to these Philippine 00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:03.920 Christians, saying, come on. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.840 Paul's still on the course. 00:22:06.780 --> 00:22:09.300 He's getting his sanctified sweat on too. 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.140 And do you see what he's saying? 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:13.700 The mature Christian, that's how they think. 00:22:14.600 --> 00:22:15.920 That there's a prize to be won. 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:18.600 I'm not perfect yet, but I'm going there. 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.299 I'm running. 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:23.140 I was praying about this this morning. 00:22:23.140 --> 00:22:26.279 I wonder if some of us, do we need to get back in the game? 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:30.500 Do we need to get back in the race? 00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:34.620 Let me ask you this morning, are you sitting here with your feet up? 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:39.880 Are you sitting here having taken your feet off the gas? 00:22:41.059 --> 00:22:43.440 Are you acting like the spiritual hair? 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:47.880 Rather than plodding on, persevering like the spiritual tortoise? 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:55.580 Truth is in the race that we all need to be spurring one another on. 00:22:55.860 --> 00:22:57.460 Listen, I need others to help me. 00:22:58.019 --> 00:23:00.819 That's why we love to surround ourselves with people. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.200 Because they encourage us to keep going. 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.000 I need others in this race. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.240 Did you watch Mo Far on Friday night? 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.740 Incredible athlete. 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:12.160 Incredible athlete. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:15.680 I watched a little thing on the BBC Sport website about how he trains. 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:17.540 Don't know if anyone else watched this. 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:19.660 He goes to the Pyrenees. 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:25.519 So he goes somewhere with really high altitude so he can compete against the Kenyans and Ethiopians. 00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:27.140 The guys are really going at it for him. 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:28.680 He gets to a high altitude. 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.240 And he gets changed. 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.640 And he gets on the track. 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:33.140 And he chases a bike. 00:23:33.140 --> 00:23:34.720 That's what he does. 00:23:34.780 --> 00:23:37.259 I mean, there must be more to it than that, presumably, to be world champion. 00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:38.520 But it's essentially what he does. 00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:39.440 He gets on the track. 00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:40.720 And he says to somebody, 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:42.820 If you just go a little bit faster than me, 00:23:43.820 --> 00:23:44.740 then I'll chase you. 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:47.860 Because I need somebody who's running this ahead of me, 00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:49.020 who I can look at, 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.440 and I can sprint as well. 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.920 This is how Mophara trains. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:55.160 It's kind of what Paul is saying here, isn't it? 00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:59.000 He doesn't want these Philippians simply to admire him. 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:03.500 He wants these Philippians to perspire with him. 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:07.220 Get back in the race. 00:24:07.320 --> 00:24:09.019 Verse 13, do you also see what he does? 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:11.320 He, in pursuit of what is lying ahead, 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.920 he forgets what lies behind. 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:18.279 I take it that he actively puts out of his mind 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:20.340 anything from his past 00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:23.960 that may hinder him in his pursuit of Jesus Christ. 00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:27.840 He wonders, he reflects on the CVs, 00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:29.360 he reflects on his past life, 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:31.539 whether that voice of accusation comes at him 00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.900 from the evil one. 00:24:33.060 --> 00:24:34.200 Do you remember what you did, Paul? 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.220 Do you remember who you were? 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:39.800 And you held people's coats to free them up 00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:41.440 so they could stone that man, 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:43.120 that Christian martyr, Stephen. 00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:45.920 And here you are telling people 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:47.000 to have the mind of Christ. 00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:47.559 Who are you? 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.400 What Paul is doing here is 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:54.019 he's not adopting a positive mental attitude. 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:56.880 This is not what Robbie Williams sang 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.660 all these years ago, 00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:59.519 no regrets, they don't work, 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:01.420 no regrets, they only hurt. 00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:04.600 What he's doing is he's bringing his theology into play. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.320 And as we were singing earlier, 00:25:08.360 --> 00:25:10.740 that in Jesus Christ, he is a new creation. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:13.080 That the old has gone 00:25:13.080 --> 00:25:14.779 and the new has come 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:18.680 and Jesus has dealt with his sin on the cross. 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.779 What is it we sing? 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:25.240 When Satan tempts me to despair 00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:28.299 and tells me of the guilt within, 00:25:29.580 --> 00:25:32.539 upward I look and I see him there 00:25:32.539 --> 00:25:35.500 who made an end to all my sin 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:39.660 because the sinless Savior died, 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:42.720 my sinful soul is counted free 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:45.400 for God the just 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.799 is satisfied 00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:49.900 to look on him 00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:52.119 and pardon me, 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.839 to look on him 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.380 and pardon me. 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:59.140 Perhaps you're here this morning 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:01.020 and you're hearing that voice of accusation 00:26:01.020 --> 00:26:03.460 in connection with perhaps 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.940 your failure from yesterday, 00:26:05.800 --> 00:26:07.720 maybe even your failures from yesteryear, 00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:10.060 well, the call this morning 00:26:10.060 --> 00:26:11.600 is to come to the cross 00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:15.140 and to see that Jesus paid it all. 00:26:16.040 --> 00:26:16.960 And if we confess, 00:26:17.060 --> 00:26:18.800 he is faithful to forgive. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:21.639 And as far as the east is from the west, 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:23.359 so far has he removed 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:26.099 our transgressions from us. 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.539 Now I think Paul's point here 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.879 is not never look back 00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:32.359 because we do look back, don't we? 00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:33.259 We do look back 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.460 and it just reminds us, 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.619 God, how gracious 00:26:35.619 --> 00:26:37.419 and how patient you are with us. 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.960 He's not saying don't look back. 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.859 What he's saying is 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:42.079 only look back 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:44.279 for the purposes of looking on, 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.419 pressing on. 00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:47.400 The stuff on my CV, 00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:48.240 that's the old me, 00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:48.820 says Paul. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.600 It's the old me. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.420 What I'm about now in my life, 00:26:51.740 --> 00:26:52.580 I'm about Christ 00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:54.820 and declaring him crucified. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.440 And heaven is ahead of me 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:00.279 and I'm pressing on for that goal. 00:27:00.800 --> 00:27:01.820 Do you see he presses on 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:03.039 knowing whose he is 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.960 and he presses on knowing 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.660 what is his. 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.620 Look out. 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:12.900 The road that these false teachers 00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:14.080 are telling you to go down, 00:27:14.180 --> 00:27:14.539 Philippians, 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.579 take it from me, 00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.299 it's the dead end. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.940 How do I know? 00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.839 Well, check out. 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.659 Check out my CV. 00:27:20.879 --> 00:27:21.579 Take it from a guy 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.639 who was fields ahead 00:27:22.639 --> 00:27:24.379 at the top of his game. 00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.759 Take it from a guy 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.599 who was found out. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.519 What did I find out? 00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:30.139 That Christ is glorious. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.359 That I am his 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.619 and he is mine. 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.599 And so my life goal now 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:37.579 is that I'm flat out 00:27:37.579 --> 00:27:39.200 in my pursuit of him. 00:27:39.200 --> 00:27:43.160 Wonderful chorus 00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:45.120 that I was reflecting on 00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.539 this week 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.860 that we'll sing later on. 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.840 Knowing you, Jesus. 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.539 Knowing you, 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:52.380 there is no greater thing. 00:27:53.460 --> 00:27:54.420 You're my all. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.980 You're the best. 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.640 You're my joy, 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.660 my righteousness. 00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.980 And I love you, Lord. 00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:02.660 Dear Philippians, 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.660 Christ is the chorus 00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.400 of my life 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:06.160 and Christ is the chorus 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.740 of my life. 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:07.660 Make it yours 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:09.220 and make him yours as well 00:28:09.220 --> 00:28:10.339 because life 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.400 is found 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.360 in Christ 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.120 alone. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.339 Just before we 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.900 move on to the next part 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.360 of our service, 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.920 why don't we just take 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:19.200 a moment of silence 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.980 and let's just allow God 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.740 by his spirit 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.500 through his word 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:24.039 to maybe just speak 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:25.099 to some of us this morning 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:26.079 and then I'll close 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.519 in prayer. 00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:32.779 And so, 00:28:32.959 --> 00:28:33.459 Father God, 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:34.359 we thank you 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:36.579 for the wonderful truths 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.539 that we have seen 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.879 in your word 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.459 this morning. 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:42.219 And would you help us 00:28:42.219 --> 00:28:42.779 this week 00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:44.740 by your spirit 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.819 that is at work 00:28:45.819 --> 00:28:46.719 in us 00:28:46.719 --> 00:28:48.959 by your grace 00:28:48.959 --> 00:28:50.459 to keep 00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:51.279 running 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.419 with you 00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.940 and to keep 00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.519 running 00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.420 for you 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.980 because we ask 00:28:56.980 --> 00:28:58.140 in the glorious name 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.840 of our Saviour 00:28:58.840 --> 00:28:59.960 and King Jesus Christ. 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:00.940 Amen.