WEBVTT

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 Good evening.

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 Let's please turn with me to Philippians chapter 3 verses 1 to 11.

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 Philippians 3 verses 1 to 11.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's word.

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 Dear God, we confess this evening that we do not treasure Jesus, your Son, our Savior and Lord, the way we ought to.

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 Because we do not see Him as we ought to.

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 We pray that you would take hold of our minds and our hearts this evening through Philippians 3 to captivate us,

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 to show us the glory of Christ,

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 so that we may see Him as we ought,

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 and treasure Him rightly,

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 that our lives might be oriented around Him.

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 So please meet with us.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Proverbs chapter 3 verses 1 to 11.

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 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.

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 To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

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 Look out for the dogs.

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 Look out for the evildoers.

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 Look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

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 For we are the circumcision,

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 who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus

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 and put no confidence in the flesh.

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

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 If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh,

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 I have more.

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 For the Lord, circumcised on the eighth day,

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 of the people of Israel,

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 of the tribe of Benjamin,

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 a Hebrew of Hebrews,

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 as to the law of Pharisee,

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 as to zeal,

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 a persecutor of the church,

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 as to righteousness under the law,

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 blameless.

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 But whatever gain I had,

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 I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

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 Indeed, I count everything as loss

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 because of the surpassing worth

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 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

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 For His sake,

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 I have suffered the loss of all things

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 and count them as rubbish

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 in order that I may gain Christ

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 and be found in Him.

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 Not having a righteousness of my own

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 that comes from the law,

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 but that which comes through faith in Christ.

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 The righteousness from God

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 that depends on faith.

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 That I may know Him

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 and the power of His resurrection

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 and may share His sufferings,

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 becoming like Him in His death.

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 That by any means possible,

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 I may attain the resurrection

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 from the dead.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 Whenever a group of Christians

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 who are zealous for God

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 gather together in His name

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 and seek to grow together in knowing God,

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 our enemy seeks to sow spiritual pride,

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 which is especially insidious

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 because it masquerades as godliness.

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 We start to take pride

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 in our theological tradition

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 and precision,

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 in our spiritual fervor,

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 in our daily disciplines

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 of prayer and Bible reading,

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 in our social activism,

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 in our cultural and missional awareness,

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 etc.

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 The Philippian church

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 was experiencing a similar temptation,

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 but Paul, in this passage,

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 uses his personal testimony

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 to remind them

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 that they ought to put no confidence

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 in their flesh,

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 in their own righteousness,

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 but that they should boast

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 in Jesus Christ alone.

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 So first,

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 we're going to look at

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 Paul's former confidence

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 in the flesh

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 in verses 1-6,

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 and then Paul's current confidence

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 in Christ

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 in verses 7-11.

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 Paul begins in verse 1

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 with the familiar command,

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 Finally, my brothers,

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 rejoice in the Lord.

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 The word finally

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 is a little misleading

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 because it makes it sound

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 like Paul's wrapping things up

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 when he is in fact

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 only half the way

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 through the letter.

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 It's kind of like the way

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 some preachers say at times,

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 in conclusion,

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 and then preach

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 for another 30 minutes.

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 But that's not,

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 you know,

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 what's probably going on here.

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 The adverb translated,

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 finally,

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 literally means

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 ask to the rest.

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 It's a very versatile word.

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 It can mean

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 from now on.

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 That's the way

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 it's translated

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 in 1 Corinthians 7-29

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 or Galatians 6-17.

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 It's translated

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 henceforth

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 in 2 Timothy 4-8.

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 It's translated

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 about the other things

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 in 1 Corinthians 11-34.

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 So basically,

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 it's a transitional word

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 that indicates

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 that what he's about to say,

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 all the things

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 that he's about to say,

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 all that remains

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 are summed up well

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 in the command,

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 rejoice in the Lord.

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 It's the command

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 that he repeats again

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 in chapter 4, verse 4.

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 Rejoice in the Lord always.

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 Again, I will say rejoice.

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 Paul frequently speaks

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 of rejoicing

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 in the book of Philippians.

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 And nearly all of them

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 refers to rejoicing

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 in Christ specifically,

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 in the events

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 of the gospel.

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 And Paul,

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 as he said

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 in chapter 1,

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 verse 25,

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 is committed

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 to the progress

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 and joy

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 in the faith

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 of the Philippians.

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 And that's what

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 he's commanding here.

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 Rejoice in the Lord.

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 What does that mean?

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 That means Christ

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 is where our joy

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 should be located.

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 Our joy in life

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 should consist

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 in this,

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 Christ and His gospel.

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 Paul will spend

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 the rest of this passage

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 unpacking in detail

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 what rejoicing

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 in the Lord

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 looks like.

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 Namely,

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 putting no confidence

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 in the flesh,

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 in our own righteousness,

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 but instead boasting in

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 and trusting in

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 Christ alone.

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 What protects us

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 from self-righteousness,

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 what safeguards us

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 from legalism,

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 what keeps us

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 from spiritual pride

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 is joy in Christ.

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 Christ.

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 But before he goes

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 on any further,

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 Paul adds this note

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 at the end of verse 1.

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 To write the same things

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 to you is no trouble

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 to me

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 and is safe for you.

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 Sometimes when we

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 become familiar

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 with certain passages

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 of scripture

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 or certain teachings,

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 we become complacent.

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 When we hear a preacher

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 saying something

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 we've heard him say before,

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 sometimes our eyes

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 glaze over

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 and our minds wonder,

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 oh, I've heard this

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 a dozen times already.

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 When we come to

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 a familiar passage

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 of scripture

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 in our Bible reading,

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 sometimes we gloss over it.

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 Oh, I know what this says.

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 I've read this many times.

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 But Paul doesn't want

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 the Philippine believers

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 to brush aside

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 what he is about to say.

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 There he goes again,

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 railing against the Judaizers.

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 No, he wants them to know

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 this is important.

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 So he says,

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 therefore it doesn't

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 trouble me to repeat

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 this to you

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 because it's safe

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 for you to hear it again.

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 The most important things

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 that you need to know

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 as a Christian

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 are likely things

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 that you already know.

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 But as forgetful,

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 sinful humans,

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 we need to be reminded

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 again and again.

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 We need to relearn,

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 remember again and again.

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 One of the fallacies

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 of modern education

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 is that it promotes

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 and rewards novelty.

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 You can't receive a doctorate

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 unless you contribute

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 something new

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 to the catalog

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 of human knowledge.

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 This works okay

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 in certain fields

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 where there are still

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 vast swaths of ignorant abyss

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 to be explored.

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 But when it comes

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 to the study of theology,

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 who God is,

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 what he's already revealed

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 to us about himself,

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 when it comes

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 to the study

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 of anthropology,

00:09:13.820 --> 00:09:14.980
 study of man,

00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:15.840
 what God has revealed

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 to us about humanity,

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 this bottle doesn't work.

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 And divinity schools

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 and seminaries

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 that uncritically adopt

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 this paradigm

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 often become incubators

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 of heresy.

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 In such matters as this,

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 it is tradition,

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 not innovation,

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 that needs to be given

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 greater weight.

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 The best Christian teachers

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 are those who say

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 the things,

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 they're not those

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 who say the things

00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:48.980
 you have never heard before,

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 but those who teach

00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:53.379
 the same time-tested gospel

00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:54.320
 and bring out

00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:55.700
 their timeless relevance

00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:56.860
 to bear on our lives.

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 And that's exactly

00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:59.320
 what Paul does here.

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 He knows the Philippians

00:10:01.519 --> 00:10:02.879
 have heard this before,

00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:04.820
 but he also knows

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 that they need

00:10:05.560 --> 00:10:06.620
 to hear it again.

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 It's safe for them.

00:10:08.740 --> 00:10:12.200
 And what Paul warns

00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:12.960
 the Philippian believers

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 against is the teaching

00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:15.159
 of the Judaizers,

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 which Paul describes

00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:18.259
 in verse 2.

00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:20.680
 Look out for the dogs.

00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.440
 Look out for the evildoers.

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 Look out for those

00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:24.659
 who mutilate the flesh.

00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.200
 The threefold repetition

00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:26.820
 of the command,

00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:27.460
 look out,

00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:28.860
 is very forceful,

00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:30.039
 and the description

00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:31.060
 of these Judaizers

00:10:31.060 --> 00:10:32.120
 become progressively

00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.360
 more specific.

00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:34.779
 First, he says,

00:10:34.879 --> 00:10:36.080
 look out for the dogs.

00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:38.360
 Paul's not warning them

00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:40.639
 of wild dogs with rabies.

00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:43.680
 He's calling people dogs,

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 which seems uncalled for

00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:48.900
 until you realize

00:10:48.900 --> 00:10:50.120
 that that's precisely

00:10:50.120 --> 00:10:51.460
 what the Judaizers

00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:52.920
 called Gentiles.

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:56.479
 The term Judaizer

00:10:56.479 --> 00:10:57.959
 comes from the Greek word

00:10:57.959 --> 00:10:59.259
 used in Galatians 2,

00:10:59.379 --> 00:11:00.059
 verse 14,

00:11:00.259 --> 00:11:01.559
 that means to live

00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:02.719
 like Jews

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 or to follow

00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.120
 Jewish customs.

00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:06.939
 The Judaizers

00:11:06.939 --> 00:11:07.699
 were Jews

00:11:07.699 --> 00:11:08.299
 who claimed

00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:09.099
 to be Christians

00:11:09.099 --> 00:11:10.620
 but then promoted

00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.860
 circumcision among

00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:12.779
 Gentile believers,

00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:14.319
 basically stipulating

00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:15.259
 that in order

00:11:15.259 --> 00:11:16.679
 to be a true Christian,

00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:18.059
 in order to,

00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.019
 if you really want

00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:19.519
 to be a Christian,

00:11:19.599 --> 00:11:20.339
 if you really want

00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:20.840
 to be part

00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:21.879
 of the people of God,

00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.200
 it's not enough

00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:24.580
 to simply trust in Jesus.

00:11:25.780 --> 00:11:26.899
 You also must

00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:27.660
 become a Jew.

00:11:30.060 --> 00:11:31.399
 In the Jerusalem Council

00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.379
 in Acts 15,

00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:33.460
 when some believers

00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:33.980
 who belonged

00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.540
 to the party

00:11:34.540 --> 00:11:35.259
 of the Pharisees

00:11:35.259 --> 00:11:36.300
 rose up and said,

00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:37.639
 it is necessary

00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:38.560
 to circumcise

00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:39.460
 Gentile converts

00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:40.780
 and to order them

00:11:40.780 --> 00:11:41.860
 to keep the law of Moses,

00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:43.100
 the apostles,

00:11:43.420 --> 00:11:43.879
 at the time,

00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:45.280
 led by the Holy Spirit,

00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:46.080
 deliberated

00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:47.300
 and then decided

00:11:47.300 --> 00:11:47.940
 this question

00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:49.420
 once and for all,

00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.659
 and they decided

00:11:50.659 --> 00:11:51.459
 that the Gentiles

00:11:51.459 --> 00:11:52.379
 do not need

00:11:52.379 --> 00:11:53.659
 to circumcise themselves

00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.659
 and observe

00:11:54.659 --> 00:11:56.439
 Jewish ethnic practices

00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:57.620
 in order to be saved.

00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:59.519
 But Judaizers

00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:00.539
 who followed Paul

00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:01.519
 wherever he went

00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.039
 sow trouble

00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:03.599
 in the churches

00:12:03.599 --> 00:12:04.339
 that he planted

00:12:04.339 --> 00:12:05.240
 by spreading

00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.120
 this false teaching.

00:12:08.099 --> 00:12:09.579
 And Paul calls them

00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:10.360
 dogs.

00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:12.500
 Dogs were not

00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:13.219
 cute pets

00:12:13.219 --> 00:12:14.059
 in the ancient world,

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:17.779
 but dirty scavengers,

00:12:17.779 --> 00:12:19.539
 low-life animals,

00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.220
 despised by Greco-Roman society

00:12:22.220 --> 00:12:23.839
 and considered unclean,

00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:25.220
 ceremonially unclean

00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:25.839
 by Jews.

00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.339
 And because Jews

00:12:27.339 --> 00:12:28.120
 also considered

00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:29.860
 Gentiles unclean,

00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:30.699
 they sometimes

00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:32.019
 called them dogs.

00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.639
 So Paul is here

00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:36.519
 reversing this epithet

00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:37.600
 and saying that

00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:38.199
 it's in fact

00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:39.199
 the Judaizers

00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:40.600
 who are trying

00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:41.379
 to make Jews

00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.740
 out of Gentile Christians

00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.740
 who are unclean dogs.

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:48.139
 Paul calls

00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:48.820
 these Judaizers

00:12:48.820 --> 00:12:51.680
 also evildoers.

00:12:52.379 --> 00:12:53.419
 Look out for

00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:54.159
 the evildoers.

00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:55.220
 This too is ironic

00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.180
 because the Judaizers

00:12:56.180 --> 00:12:57.060
 saw themselves

00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:57.700
 above all

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:59.060
 as good doers,

00:13:00.220 --> 00:13:01.200
 doers of righteousness,

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:03.120
 the only ones

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.120
 who are truly pure

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.860
 and lawful

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.879
 in their pursuit of God.

00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:07.919
 But Paul calls them

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:09.000
 evildoers.

00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:10.820
 Though they might think

00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:11.759
 that they are doing good

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:13.080
 by promoting circumcision

00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:13.920
 and making Jews

00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:15.160
 out of Gentile converts,

00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:15.940
 they are in fact

00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:17.280
 doing harm,

00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.020
 doing damage,

00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.820
 doing evil.

00:13:21.900 --> 00:13:23.080
 Third, Paul says,

00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:23.980
 look out for those

00:13:23.980 --> 00:13:25.379
 who mutilate the flesh.

00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:27.020
 This is the most graphic

00:13:27.020 --> 00:13:27.759
 and ironic

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.840
 of all the descriptions,

00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:29.759
 all three of them.

00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.020
 The Greek word

00:13:31.020 --> 00:13:32.180
 for circumcision

00:13:32.180 --> 00:13:32.820
 is literally

00:13:32.820 --> 00:13:34.020
 a cutting around

00:13:34.020 --> 00:13:36.639
 because it involves

00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:37.759
 cutting of the foreskin

00:13:37.759 --> 00:13:38.300
 that covers

00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:39.800
 the male genital organ.

00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.220
 But the word

00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:42.259
 that Paul uses here

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:43.519
 is not cutting around

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:45.519
 but cutting to pieces,

00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:47.179
 which is why

00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:47.860
 it's translated

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:49.259
 mutilate the flesh.

00:13:50.299 --> 00:13:51.319
 The same word,

00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.439
 the same root word

00:13:52.439 --> 00:13:53.000
 is used

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.159
 in the Greek translation

00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.319
 of Leviticus 21,

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.299
 verse 5,

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:58.019
 to prohibit priests

00:13:58.019 --> 00:13:59.200
 from ritually

00:13:59.200 --> 00:14:00.299
 unclean practices

00:14:00.299 --> 00:14:02.200
 such as making cuts

00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.639
 on their bodies

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:06.019
 as pagan priests did.

00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:10.500
 So then the very ceremonial marker

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.519
 that the Jews

00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.100
 took so much pride in,

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.500
 the very practice

00:14:14.500 --> 00:14:15.100
 that they sought

00:14:15.100 --> 00:14:15.759
 to impose

00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.000
 on these Gentiles

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.100
 in order to make them

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:18.579
 clean

00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:20.860
 and acceptable to God,

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.759
 Paul argues,

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:22.360
 in fact,

00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:23.939
 makes those

00:14:23.939 --> 00:14:24.939
 who depend upon

00:14:24.939 --> 00:14:25.779
 circumcision

00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.240
 unclean before God

00:14:27.240 --> 00:14:29.779
 because it sets up

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:31.240
 an alternate rival mode

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:31.840
 of salvation.

00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:35.360
 the Judaizers

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:36.280
 sought to secure

00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:36.899
 their right standing

00:14:36.899 --> 00:14:37.460
 with God

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.280
 through observance

00:14:38.280 --> 00:14:39.960
 of Jewish law

00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:40.840
 and they sought

00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:42.100
 to bring Gentiles

00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:42.920
 into conformity

00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:43.840
 with their law as well,

00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:44.840
 but Paul understood

00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:45.840
 that insisting

00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:47.060
 that you need

00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:47.980
 Jesus Christ

00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.860
 plus something else

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.139
 in order to be saved

00:14:51.139 --> 00:14:52.940
 is tantamount

00:14:52.940 --> 00:14:54.540
 to denying salvation

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.620
 by grace alone,

00:14:56.400 --> 00:14:57.420
 in Christ alone,

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.019
 through faith alone.

00:14:59.019 --> 00:15:02.439
 And Paul would have

00:15:02.439 --> 00:15:03.039
 none of it.

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:05.279
 In this emphatic

00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:06.240
 threefold warning,

00:15:06.340 --> 00:15:07.340
 you can almost hear

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:09.279
 Paul's righteous anger.

00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:11.600
 The people who are

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.220
 diverting people

00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:14.579
 away from Christ

00:15:14.579 --> 00:15:15.840
 and detracting

00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:17.159
 from Christ's glory,

00:15:17.699 --> 00:15:18.519
 their dogs,

00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:20.120
 evildoers,

00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.019
 mutilators of the flesh

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:23.699
 have nothing to do

00:15:23.699 --> 00:15:24.139
 with them.

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:28.199
 He says of the Judaizers

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.460
 in Galatians chapter 5

00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:29.840
 verse 12,

00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:30.700
 I wish those who

00:15:30.700 --> 00:15:31.600
 unsettle you

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:32.860
 would emasculate

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.420
 themselves.

00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:35.900
 Those evildoers

00:15:35.900 --> 00:15:37.040
 who unsettle you

00:15:37.040 --> 00:15:37.980
 and lead you astray

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.620
 by telling you

00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:39.200
 that you need

00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:40.220
 to be circumcised,

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:41.540
 oh, how I wish

00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:42.200
 that they would

00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.040
 be castrated.

00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:46.980
 The entire letter

00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.640
 to the Galatians

00:15:47.640 --> 00:15:48.100
 is dedicated

00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:49.300
 to addressing this issue

00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:50.400
 and in Galatians 2,

00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:51.560
 Paul recalls a time

00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:52.379
 when he rebuked

00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:53.759
 Apostle Peter himself

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.220
 who would dissociate

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:55.820
 himself from

00:15:55.820 --> 00:15:56.660
 Gentile believers

00:15:56.660 --> 00:15:57.400
 due to pressure

00:15:57.399 --> 00:15:59.179
 from the circumcision party,

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.179
 the Jews,

00:16:00.299 --> 00:16:00.840
 the Judaizers.

00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:02.699
 And Paul says

00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:03.419
 about that time,

00:16:03.819 --> 00:16:04.500
 when I saw

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.319
 that their conduct

00:16:05.319 --> 00:16:06.500
 was not in step

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.199
 with the truth

00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:07.879
 of the gospel,

00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:09.579
 I said to Cephas

00:16:09.579 --> 00:16:10.439
 before them all,

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.439
 if you,

00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:12.079
 though a Jew,

00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:13.319
 live like a Gentile

00:16:13.319 --> 00:16:14.179
 and not like a Jew,

00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:14.919
 how can you force

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.699
 the Gentiles

00:16:15.699 --> 00:16:16.659
 to live like Jews?

00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:17.919
 We ourselves

00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:19.079
 are Jews by birth

00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:20.340
 and not Gentile sinners,

00:16:20.819 --> 00:16:21.399
 yet we know

00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.100
 that a person

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.620
 is not justified

00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.100
 by works of the law,

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:26.399
 but through faith

00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:27.800
 in Jesus Christ.

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:30.000
 Putting our confidence

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.519
 in our own righteousness

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.620
 through works

00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:33.259
 of the law,

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.580
 putting our confidence

00:16:34.580 --> 00:16:35.519
 in the flesh

00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.879
 is not in step

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:38.019
 with the gospel.

00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.580
 That's what Paul says.

00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.759
 So he says

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.519
 in verse 3,

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.259
 for we are

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.060
 the circumcision

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.420
 who worship

00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.860
 by the Spirit of God

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:48.560
 and glory

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:49.440
 in Christ Jesus

00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.800
 and put no confidence

00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:51.399
 in the flesh.

00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:52.920
 This is a remarkable

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:53.399
 statement.

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:55.219
 Paul,

00:16:55.339 --> 00:16:56.500
 instead of identifying

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:58.439
 himself with his fellow Jews,

00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.279
 the Judaizers,

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:01.939
 instead identifies himself

00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:03.479
 with the Gentile believers

00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:04.279
 of Philippi

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.399
 and says,

00:17:05.659 --> 00:17:07.680
 we are the circumcision.

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:10.220
 They who insist

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.539
 on physical circumcision

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.119
 are in fact

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:13.559
 not the true circumcision,

00:17:14.079 --> 00:17:15.759
 but we who put our confidence

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:16.940
 in Christ alone,

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.420
 we are the true circumcision.

00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:21.860
 In Romans chapter 2,

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:23.140
 verses 28 and 29,

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:24.300
 Paul calls this

00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:25.140
 the circumcision

00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:26.539
 of the heart.

00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:28.120
 Quote,

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:29.580
 For no one is a Jew

00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:31.220
 who is merely one outwardly,

00:17:31.560 --> 00:17:32.500
 nor is circumcision

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.680
 outward and physical,

00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:36.080
 but a Jew is one inwardly,

00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:36.920
 and circumcision

00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:38.320
 is a matter of the heart

00:17:38.320 --> 00:17:39.660
 by the Spirit,

00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.019
 not by the letter.

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:44.420
 Paul is not innovating here

00:17:44.420 --> 00:17:45.039
 wildly

00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.500
 and creating a new religion

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.539
 to suit his preferences.

00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:49.440
 No, this is what God himself

00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.079
 had promised

00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.759
 in Deuteronomy chapter 30,

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.379
 verse 6,

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.559
 which says,

00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.059
 And the Lord your God

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:57.000
 will circumcise your heart

00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.200
 and the heart

00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:58.960
 of your offspring

00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.579
 so that you will love

00:18:00.579 --> 00:18:01.619
 the Lord your God

00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:02.539
 with all your heart

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.460
 and with all your soul

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.339
 that you may live.

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.339
 That promise

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.079
 had been fulfilled

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:08.019
 by Jesus Christ.

00:18:08.659 --> 00:18:09.379
 The question

00:18:09.379 --> 00:18:10.220
 of our salvation,

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.259
 the question

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.159
 of our inclusion

00:18:12.159 --> 00:18:13.480
 in the people of God

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.879
 was never a matter

00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:16.379
 of physical circumcision.

00:18:16.380 --> 00:18:18.700
 physical circumcision

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:20.060
 was merely a shadow

00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:20.740
 that pointed

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.960
 to the substance

00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:23.700
 of heart circumcision

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:25.020
 that Christ would bring about

00:18:25.020 --> 00:18:26.640
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:18:27.800 --> 00:18:28.640
 And how do we know

00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.280
 that we belong

00:18:29.280 --> 00:18:30.580
 to this true circumcision?

00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:32.260
 We are those

00:18:32.260 --> 00:18:33.280
 who worship God

00:18:33.280 --> 00:18:34.600
 by the Spirit of God

00:18:34.600 --> 00:18:36.840
 and glory in Christ Jesus

00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:38.180
 and put no confidence

00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:38.800
 in the flesh.

00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:41.820
 The word worship here

00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:42.640
 doesn't refer merely

00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.180
 to the singing

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:44.500
 of worship songs

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.380
 or even to Sunday worship.

00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.960
 That word is often

00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:49.059
 translated service

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:51.500
 and it refers to a life

00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:53.359
 lived as a servant of God.

00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:55.859
 A life of worship

00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:57.099
 that Paul speaks of

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:58.299
 in Romans 12.1

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.680
 to present your bodies

00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:01.019
 as a living sacrifice,

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.779
 holy and acceptable to God,

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:05.240
 which is your spiritual worship.

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:07.599
 To worship God,

00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.279
 that means to live a life

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:11.180
 that is completely entrusted to

00:19:11.180 --> 00:19:12.720
 and devoted to Him

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.440
 in contrast to those

00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:15.440
 who live with confidence

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.279
 in the flesh.

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:19.080
 And notice the God-centeredness

00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:19.980
 of this description

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:21.820
 and how it contrasts

00:19:21.820 --> 00:19:23.100
 with the man-centeredness

00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:24.000
 of the Judaizers.

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.840
 The Judaizers said,

00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.660
 you have to become like us.

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.960
 You have to be circumcised.

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.100
 You have to join

00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:32.019
 our Jewish nation.

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.920
 You have to become one of us.

00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.600
 But the true circumcision

00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:36.460
 are people who worship

00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:37.960
 by the Spirit of God.

00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:39.860
 Like Jesus said in John,

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:40.619
 for those who worship

00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.279
 with spirit and truth.

00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:45.579
 Those who not by their own strength

00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.879
 or their own works

00:19:46.879 --> 00:19:48.539
 approach God,

00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:49.639
 but those who worship God

00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.899
 by the Spirit of God.

00:19:51.859 --> 00:19:52.959
 And they do not glory

00:19:52.959 --> 00:19:54.219
 in their own qualifications

00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:55.039
 or accomplishments,

00:19:55.479 --> 00:19:56.479
 but instead they glory

00:19:56.479 --> 00:19:57.759
 in Christ Jesus

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:59.179
 and put no confidence

00:19:59.179 --> 00:19:59.839
 in the flesh.

00:20:00.899 --> 00:20:02.279
 The word glory here,

00:20:02.419 --> 00:20:03.259
 glorying in Christ,

00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:03.879
 is the same word

00:20:03.879 --> 00:20:05.019
 that's translated boast

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:07.559
 in 1 Corinthians 1, 28 to 31.

00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:10.259
 So that no human being

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.099
 might boast

00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:12.339
 in the presence of God.

00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:13.399
 This is the reason

00:20:13.399 --> 00:20:15.519
 why God saves undeserving people

00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:16.679
 by the grace of God.

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:18.379
 So that no human being

00:20:18.379 --> 00:20:19.720
 might boast in His presence.

00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.179
 And because of Him,

00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.440
 you are in Christ Jesus,

00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:23.779
 who became to us

00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.759
 wisdom from God,

00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.339
 righteousness,

00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.480
 and sanctification,

00:20:26.579 --> 00:20:27.039
 and redemption.

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.599
 So that as it is written,

00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:30.319
 let the one who boasts

00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:32.139
 boast in the Lord.

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:34.940
 If we are saved

00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.820
 because we're ethnic Jews,

00:20:37.540 --> 00:20:38.980
 if we are saved

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:40.880
 because we are properly circumcised,

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.420
 if we are saved

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:43.880
 because of our own righteousness,

00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:45.800
 then we would get the glory.

00:20:47.560 --> 00:20:49.880
 To fixate on such things

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.120
 is to have confidence

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:52.140
 in the flesh.

00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.000
 But true believers

00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:55.480
 put no confidence

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.060
 in the flesh.

00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.000
 Instead,

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.400
 they put all their confidence

00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.960
 in Jesus Christ.

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:02.860
 They boast in Christ alone.

00:21:04.340 --> 00:21:05.620
 So where is your confidence?

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:10.059
 What do you trust in

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:12.340
 for your right standing with God?

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:16.000
 Paul gives us

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:17.200
 some specific examples

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.079
 of what confidence

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.319
 in the flesh looks like

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.200
 in the following verses.

00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:22.279
 These are the kinds of things

00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.420
 that Paul himself

00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:24.640
 used to boast about.

00:21:24.940 --> 00:21:27.079
 What he used to put confidence in.

00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.299
 But now he says

00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:29.299
 he puts no confidence

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.920
 in the flesh.

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.100
 Even though,

00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:32.340
 as he says in verse 4,

00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:34.220
 I myself have reason

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.200
 for confidence

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.059
 in the flesh also.

00:21:36.680 --> 00:21:37.860
 If anyone else thinks

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.420
 he has reason

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.559
 for confidence in the flesh,

00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.380
 I have more.

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:43.600
 Paul is indulging

00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:45.799
 in some holy trash talking here.

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:48.059
 You want to talk about

00:21:48.059 --> 00:21:49.640
 some Jewish credentials?

00:21:51.380 --> 00:21:52.700
 You want to play that game?

00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.360
 Well, I beat you

00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:56.420
 according to your own terms too.

00:21:56.420 --> 00:22:01.560
 Paul was not downplaying

00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:02.100
 the importance

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:03.660
 of Jewish religious pedigree

00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.680
 because he had none.

00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:06.320
 No, he actually had more

00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.519
 than anyone else.

00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.480
 If anyone had reasons

00:22:09.480 --> 00:22:10.600
 for confidence in the flesh,

00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.080
 he did.

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:12.620
 He says in verse 5,

00:22:12.680 --> 00:22:13.640
 he was circumcised

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.539
 on the eighth day.

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:16.600
 The eighth day

00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:18.200
 was when good Jewish families

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.740
 circumcised their newborn sons.

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.880
 Paul came from

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:24.120
 an observant Jewish family.

00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:27.059
 He wasn't circumcised late.

00:22:28.120 --> 00:22:29.920
 He ticked all the right boxes.

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.160
 He was circumcised

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:33.400
 as a Jew

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:35.579
 since he was eight days old.

00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:38.919
 He was of the people of Israel.

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.299
 The Judaizers sought

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:41.039
 to make Gentiles

00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.480
 become Jews

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.259
 through circumcision

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.099
 among other things.

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:45.159
 But Paul says,

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.319
 I was born a Jew.

00:22:46.939 --> 00:22:48.339
 It's my birthright.

00:22:48.939 --> 00:22:50.480
 I am of the people of Israel

00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.779
 and not an Israelite

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:53.220
 from any ordinary tribe,

00:22:53.399 --> 00:22:54.919
 of the tribe of Benjamin.

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.919
 When there was a schism

00:22:56.919 --> 00:22:58.159
 in the nation of Israel,

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.240
 when it broke off

00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:00.319
 into Judah

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.960
 in the south

00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.259
 and Israel in the north

00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.879
 in 1 Kings 12,

00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:06.780
 only the tribes of Judah

00:23:06.780 --> 00:23:08.000
 and Benjamin

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.160
 stayed loyal

00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:10.500
 to the Davidic monarchy

00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:11.520
 from which the Messiah

00:23:11.520 --> 00:23:11.960
 would come.

00:23:12.820 --> 00:23:13.980
 It's that special tribe

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.460
 of Benjamin.

00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:16.720
 The first king of Israel

00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.620
 came from

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.920
 the tribe of Benjamin.

00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:20.200
 His name,

00:23:20.280 --> 00:23:20.860
 as many of you know,

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.560
 was Saul.

00:23:23.460 --> 00:23:25.040
 Paul's Jewish name

00:23:25.040 --> 00:23:26.120
 is Saul.

00:23:27.080 --> 00:23:27.900
 Very well may have been

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.520
 named after

00:23:28.520 --> 00:23:30.240
 the first king of Israel

00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:31.100
 from the tribe,

00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.460
 same tribe that he came from.

00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.780
 For these reasons,

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.260
 he says,

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.820
 I'm of the tribe

00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:37.400
 of Benjamin,

00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:39.740
 a Hebrew of Hebrews,

00:23:40.580 --> 00:23:41.540
 a thoroughbred,

00:23:42.380 --> 00:23:43.460
 pure stock,

00:23:44.140 --> 00:23:44.880
 as authentic

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.160
 and respectable

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:47.720
 a Jew there is.

00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:50.140
 Paul continues,

00:23:50.280 --> 00:23:51.180
 as to the law

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:52.560
 of Pharisee,

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.340
 the term Pharisee

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:55.520
 comes from the Hebrew word

00:23:55.520 --> 00:23:55.860
 that means

00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.640
 to set apart.

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:59.160
 Pharisees were the reformers

00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.140
 of their day

00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.380
 who sought to restore

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.140
 Judaism to its original purity.

00:24:03.860 --> 00:24:04.500
 They were the Jewish

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.700
 cream of the crop.

00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:08.160
 In Acts 26,

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:08.680
 verse 5,

00:24:08.780 --> 00:24:09.180
 Paul says,

00:24:09.280 --> 00:24:10.820
 according to the strictest

00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.800
 party of our religion,

00:24:12.140 --> 00:24:12.900
 I have lived

00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.960
 as a Pharisee.

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:15.080
 He was trained

00:24:15.080 --> 00:24:16.080
 under Gamaliel,

00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.220
 the grandson

00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.980
 of famous Rabbi Hillel,

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.840
 and a noted rabbi himself

00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:22.080
 who served as the president

00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:23.040
 of the Sanhedrin,

00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.320
 the highest judicial

00:24:24.320 --> 00:24:25.220
 and legislative body

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.400
 within the Jewish community.

00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:27.940
 That's who Paul

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.820
 was trained by.

00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:29.920
 In short,

00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:30.900
 Paul was the best

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:31.900
 of the best.

00:24:32.820 --> 00:24:33.940
 He had the Jewish

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:35.160
 Ivy League education.

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:36.200
 He belonged

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.160
 to the strictest

00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:38.100
 Jewish sect.

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.560
 In Galatians 1,

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.040
 14,

00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.540
 Paul says,

00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.500
 I was advancing

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.380
 in Judaism

00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:44.380
 beyond many of my own age

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.240
 among my people.

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:47.080
 So extremely zealous

00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:47.580
 was I

00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:48.200
 for the tradition

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:48.940
 of my fathers.

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.140
 So zealous

00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:51.840
 was Paul

00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.480
 that he says

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.000
 in verse 6,

00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:54.160
 he was a persecutor

00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:54.780
 of the church.

00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:56.539
 By mentioning this,

00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:57.299
 Paul is trying

00:24:57.299 --> 00:24:58.960
 to say to the Judaizers,

00:24:59.099 --> 00:24:59.180
 hey,

00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.779
 you think you're zealous

00:25:00.779 --> 00:25:01.740
 to guard

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:02.759
 our Jewish traditions?

00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:05.299
 Before I became

00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.740
 a Christian,

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:07.299
 I was the most zealous

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.240
 persecutor

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:08.859
 of the church.

00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:10.299
 I approved

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.539
 Stephen's persecution

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.279
 and execution.

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.480
 I ravaged the church,

00:25:14.660 --> 00:25:15.480
 entering house

00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:16.500
 after house,

00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.599
 dragging off

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.279
 Christian men

00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:18.660
 and women

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.339
 and committing them

00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:19.859
 to prison.

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:22.200
 That's how zealous

00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.940
 I was

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:23.859
 for the traditions

00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:25.679
 of my Jewish forefathers.

00:25:26.959 --> 00:25:27.799
 And finally,

00:25:27.939 --> 00:25:28.319
 Paul says,

00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.119
 as to righteousness

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:30.059
 under the law,

00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:32.099
 blameless.

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:35.740
 This is the climactic claim

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:37.059
 that Paul's been

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.899
 building up toward.

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.879
 In Romans chapter 3,

00:25:39.959 --> 00:25:40.419
 verse 10,

00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.899
 Paul says unequivocally

00:25:41.899 --> 00:25:43.099
 that no one is righteous,

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.379
 no, not one.

00:25:44.959 --> 00:25:46.319
 So he's not speaking here

00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.439
 of that kind

00:25:47.439 --> 00:25:48.119
 of righteousness.

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.879
 That's why he clarifies

00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:50.439
 by saying,

00:25:50.539 --> 00:25:51.539
 as to righteousness

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:53.180
 under the law,

00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:54.980
 he was blameless.

00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.859
 Later in verse 9,

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:58.000
 he clearly distinguishes

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.000
 between righteousness

00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:00.079
 of my own

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.079
 that comes from the law

00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:02.319
 and the righteousness

00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:03.519
 which comes through faith

00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.139
 in Christ,

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.299
 the righteousness

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.220
 from God

00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.359
 that depends on faith.

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.460
 What Paul's claiming here,

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.619
 saying he's blameless,

00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:11.279
 he was,

00:26:11.399 --> 00:26:11.879
 that he was,

00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.319
 he was,

00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.960
 he had about

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.659
 the righteousness

00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:14.700
 of his own

00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.700
 that comes from the law.

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.759
 In the same way

00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.420
 that Paul was

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:20.019
 formerly a circumcised Jew

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.299
 but uncircumcised

00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:21.980
 in his heart,

00:26:22.339 --> 00:26:24.339
 in terms of surface level

00:26:24.339 --> 00:26:25.339
 observance

00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:27.000
 of the mere letter

00:26:27.000 --> 00:26:27.700
 of the law,

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:30.819
 Paul had an unblemished record.

00:26:32.579 --> 00:26:33.359
 Of course,

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.359
 he didn't understand

00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:35.359
 at all the spirit

00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:35.859
 of the law,

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.980
 the true intention

00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:39.139
 of the law of God

00:26:39.139 --> 00:26:40.000
 at all

00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.859
 because he persecuted

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:44.420
 the church

00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:47.379
 when the law itself

00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:48.740
 pointed to Jesus.

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.920
 And this is why

00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.839
 after his conversion,

00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:54.180
 Paul describes himself

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.220
 as formerly

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.420
 a blasphemer,

00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.460
 persecutor,

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.639
 an insolent opponent

00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.119
 of God.

00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.460
 He calls himself

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.859
 the foremost of sinners.

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.420
 But nevertheless,

00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.960
 in terms of the kind

00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.200
 of outward behavior

00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.559
 that these Judaizers

00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:09.519
 were preoccupied with,

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:11.700
 Paul had been blameless.

00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:14.599
 He had always observed

00:27:14.599 --> 00:27:15.059
 the Sabbath.

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:18.299
 He had scrupulously adhered

00:27:18.299 --> 00:27:19.539
 to the laws

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.659
 of ritual cleanliness.

00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:23.099
 He kept all the food laws.

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.879
 In every manner,

00:27:25.019 --> 00:27:26.379
 he had zealously guarded

00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:26.919
 the traditions

00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:28.440
 of his Jewish forefathers.

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:30.639
 And all of these things

00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.859
 used to be points

00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:33.220
 of great pride for Paul.

00:27:34.179 --> 00:27:35.960
 He had put his confidence

00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:37.460
 in these things

00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:38.599
 in the past,

00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:40.200
 but no longer.

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:43.860
 He says in verses 7 to 8,

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.420
 But whatever gain I had,

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:48.180
 I counted as loss

00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:49.340
 for the sake of Christ.

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:52.259
 Indeed, I count everything

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:53.299
 as loss

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:56.299
 because of the surpassing worth

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:58.460
 of knowing Christ Jesus,

00:27:58.600 --> 00:27:59.100
 my Lord.

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.779
 For his sake,

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.900
 I have suffered the loss

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.740
 of all things

00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.480
 and count them as rubbish

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:06.900
 in order that I may gain Christ

00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:08.560
 and be found in him,

00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.100
 not having a righteousness

00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:10.860
 of my own

00:28:10.860 --> 00:28:11.880
 that comes from the law,

00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.160
 but that which comes

00:28:13.160 --> 00:28:14.540
 through faith in Christ,

00:28:14.620 --> 00:28:16.000
 the righteousness from God

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.259
 that depends on faith.

00:28:19.320 --> 00:28:21.100
 Earlier in Philippians 1.21,

00:28:21.280 --> 00:28:21.620
 Paul said,

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.180
 For to me,

00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:23.519
 to live is Christ,

00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:25.280
 and to die is gain.

00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:26.700
 Profit.

00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:28.400
 He uses that same word here.

00:28:29.180 --> 00:28:30.920
 The things he had formerly

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:32.540
 put on the profit column,

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:35.420
 now he puts on the loss column.

00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:40.980
 Indeed, Paul counts everything

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:42.980
 as loss because of the surpassing worth

00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:43.740
 of Christ Jesus.

00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.940
 He has suffered the loss

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.700
 of all things

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.960
 and count them as rubbish

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:50.200
 in order to gain Christ.

00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:51.900
 The word rubbish

00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:53.960
 is translated as dung

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:55.480
 in the King James Version.

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:57.780
 Excrement.

00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:02.019
 You can also refer to street refuse,

00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:03.540
 garbage,

00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.000
 compost,

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.980
 rubbish that people

00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:08.740
 often threw to the dogs

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:09.619
 to forage through.

00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:12.039
 So in short,

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.759
 Paul regards all of the things

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.599
 that he had formerly

00:29:14.599 --> 00:29:15.799
 put his confidence in

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.960
 as manure,

00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.779
 waste matter,

00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.579
 fit only for the dogs,

00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:23.779
 which is especially fitting

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.799
 since he had just called

00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:26.299
 the Judaizers dogs,

00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.660
 and they are preoccupied

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.259
 with these things.

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:31.379
 So he's saying,

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:33.160
 don't listen to the Judaizers.

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.859
 Don't listen to those

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.779
 who would have you

00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.900
 put your confidence

00:29:36.900 --> 00:29:37.619
 in the flesh.

00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:39.019
 Don't listen to those

00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.779
 who tell you

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.660
 that trusting in Jesus Christ

00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.579
 is not enough.

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.559
 You also need to meet

00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.920
 these other criteria,

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.799
 these other religious criteria,

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.680
 these other moral criteria.

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.359
 That's garbage.

00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.660
 That's manure.

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.340
 Don't go near it.

00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:58.300
 It's all loss.

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.100
 Forsake those things

00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:02.880
 so that you might gain Christ

00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:04.779
 who has surpassing worth.

00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:06.519
 That makes the loss

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.340
 of all these things

00:30:07.340 --> 00:30:08.460
 more than worth it.

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.580
 In what ways

00:30:11.580 --> 00:30:12.700
 have you been tempted

00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.640
 to put your confidence

00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.000
 in the flesh?

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:18.100
 Circumcised on the eighth day?

00:30:20.340 --> 00:30:21.840
 Do you put your confidence

00:30:21.840 --> 00:30:23.000
 in religious rites

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:24.080
 that you have gone through?

00:30:24.079 --> 00:30:27.740
 Baptism is important

00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:29.319
 and commanded by our Lord,

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:32.000
 but it is only efficacious

00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.460
 insofar as it is

00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.740
 a genuine expression

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.879
 of a person's repentance

00:30:36.879 --> 00:30:38.740
 and faith in Jesus Christ,

00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.720
 of a person's identification

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.599
 with Christ,

00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:42.779
 his union with Christ

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.599
 in his death

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.339
 and resurrection.

00:30:44.899 --> 00:30:46.439
 The ritual in and of itself

00:30:46.439 --> 00:30:47.559
 cannot save you.

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:52.000
 If you put your confidence

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.539
 in the fact

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.299
 that you were baptized

00:30:53.299 --> 00:30:54.119
 as a child

00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:56.339
 when currently

00:30:56.339 --> 00:30:57.480
 you have no faith

00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.019
 or obedience

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:59.659
 to Christ to show for it,

00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:01.359
 that's a loss.

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:03.700
 It's rubbish.

00:31:05.159 --> 00:31:06.059
 It's worthless.

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:10.720
 Or do you put your confidence

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.119
 in your religious heritage,

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.359
 your religious pedigree,

00:31:14.940 --> 00:31:16.679
 that your father is a pastor

00:31:16.679 --> 00:31:18.159
 means nothing,

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:22.119
 that your parents are missionaries

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.720
 mean nothing,

00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:26.859
 that your family has been a Christian

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:28.259
 for a hundred generations

00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.639
 means nothing,

00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:31.559
 that doesn't save you

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:33.599
 unless you put your confidence

00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.980
 in Jesus Christ.

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.819
 What else do you put

00:31:38.819 --> 00:31:39.679
 your confidence in?

00:31:40.659 --> 00:31:42.179
 Of the people of Israel?

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:43.899
 Of the tribe of Benjamin?

00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.980
 A Hebrew of Hebrews?

00:31:45.719 --> 00:31:47.019
 Do you put your confidence

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.839
 in your race?

00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:50.059
 Or in your ethnic

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:50.879
 or cultural

00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:52.179
 or national heritage?

00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:53.480
 Do you believe

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.359
 that your race,

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.379
 your ethnicity,

00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.439
 your culture,

00:31:56.879 --> 00:31:57.740
 your country

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.799
 is superior

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.719
 to that of others?

00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.259
 Not before the eyes of God.

00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:06.199
 Not when it comes

00:32:06.199 --> 00:32:07.319
 to matters of eternity.

00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:10.339
 No group of people

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:12.079
 is one whit closer to God

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.939
 simply by virtue

00:32:12.939 --> 00:32:13.679
 of their race

00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:14.959
 or ethnicity,

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.579
 culture,

00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:16.480
 or country of origin.

00:32:18.699 --> 00:32:19.959
 Paul's not telling us

00:32:19.959 --> 00:32:21.539
 that we should despise

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.039
 our ethnic

00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:23.000
 or cultural heritage.

00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:25.199
 He had deep appreciation

00:32:25.199 --> 00:32:26.619
 for his Jewish heritage

00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.799
 even after his conversion.

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:30.459
 So he says in Romans 9,

00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.079
 3 to 5

00:32:31.079 --> 00:32:32.359
 concerning his fellow Jews,

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.519
 for I could wish

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.379
 that I myself

00:32:34.379 --> 00:32:35.139
 were accursed

00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:36.379
 and cut off from Christ

00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:37.879
 for the sake of my brothers,

00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.619
 my kinsmen

00:32:38.619 --> 00:32:39.679
 according to the flesh.

00:32:40.279 --> 00:32:41.319
 They are Israelites

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:43.019
 and to them belong

00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.619
 the adoption,

00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:44.399
 the glory,

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.119
 the covenant,

00:32:45.659 --> 00:32:46.639
 the giving of the law,

00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.279
 the worship,

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.219
 and the promises.

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.599
 To them belong

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.519
 the patriarchs

00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.939
 and from their race

00:32:51.939 --> 00:32:53.240
 according to the flesh

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.219
 is the Christ

00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:55.639
 who is God over all

00:32:55.639 --> 00:32:56.559
 blessed forever.

00:32:56.959 --> 00:32:57.299
 Amen.

00:32:57.299 --> 00:33:00.139
 There were certainly things

00:33:00.139 --> 00:33:02.000
 that Paul was grateful for

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:04.059
 and proud of as a Jew,

00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:06.139
 but when it comes

00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:07.859
 to the matter of salvation,

00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:10.879
 when it comes to the matter

00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:12.619
 of righteousness before God,

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.079
 when it comes to the matter

00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.000
 of what your confidence is in,

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:18.019
 Paul puts zero stock

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:19.740
 in all of those things.

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:23.980
 If you're putting your confidence

00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.200
 in these things,

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:27.099
 it's all refuse.

00:33:30.039 --> 00:33:31.099
 What else do you put

00:33:31.099 --> 00:33:32.000
 your confidence in?

00:33:32.539 --> 00:33:34.740
 As to the law of Pharisee,

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.880
 as to zeal,

00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.220
 a persecutor of the church?

00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.480
 Do you put your confidence

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:41.960
 in the fact

00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.539
 that you belong

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.799
 to the strictest sect

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:45.039
 or denomination?

00:33:46.180 --> 00:33:47.200
 That you're the most

00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.519
 hardcore believer?

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:49.920
 That you're a Catholic

00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.119
 or a Baptist

00:33:51.119 --> 00:33:52.720
 or a sovereign gracer?

00:33:54.160 --> 00:33:55.700
 That you do well

00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:56.700
 in Christian trivia

00:33:56.700 --> 00:33:58.160
 and have lots of

00:33:58.160 --> 00:33:58.960
 scripture memorized?

00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:01.019
 That you're reformed

00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:02.460
 and have the most

00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:04.339
 thoroughly biblical theology

00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.139
 that other Christians

00:34:05.139 --> 00:34:05.920
 are ignorant of

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.759
 or don't follow?

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:08.719
 That you're a Pentecostal

00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.559
 and have the most

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.739
 robust spirituality

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:12.320
 and more numerous

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:13.699
 manifestations of the gifts

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:14.599
 of the Holy Spirit?

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:16.280
 That you're part of a church

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:16.980
 or a denomination

00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:18.039
 that's more serious

00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:19.320
 about evangelism

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:19.779
 than others?

00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:21.480
 These things

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.679
 can never save you.

00:34:25.320 --> 00:34:26.179
 These things

00:34:26.179 --> 00:34:27.000
 in and of themselves

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.300
 apart from Christ

00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:29.500
 will never

00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:31.179
 give you right standing

00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:32.239
 before God.

00:34:36.440 --> 00:34:37.599
 Apart from Christ,

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.599
 it's all garbage.

00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:47.779
 what else do you put

00:34:47.779 --> 00:34:48.639
 your confidence in?

00:34:50.079 --> 00:34:51.179
 As to the righteousness

00:34:51.179 --> 00:34:52.059
 under the law,

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.940
 blameless?

00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:54.920
 Do you ever feel like

00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:55.719
 not praying

00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:56.839
 or reading the Bible

00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:57.920
 or going to church

00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:59.179
 because you feel guilt

00:34:59.179 --> 00:35:00.360
 or shame

00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:01.420
 because of your sins?

00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:04.940
 Do you ever feel like

00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.579
 you can't share

00:35:05.579 --> 00:35:06.720
 the gospel with others

00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:07.940
 or counsel others

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.700
 with scripture

00:35:08.700 --> 00:35:10.260
 because you haven't

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:11.360
 been consistent enough

00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:12.820
 in your spiritual disciplines?

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:14.240
 Because you don't feel

00:35:14.240 --> 00:35:15.139
 holy enough?

00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:16.639
 Because you don't feel

00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:18.000
 worthy enough?

00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:19.720
 Well then,

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.860
 you're not putting

00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:21.519
 your confidence

00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.480
 in Jesus

00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:24.139
 and what He has done

00:35:24.139 --> 00:35:25.019
 for you after all,

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.360
 are you?

00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:29.180
 You're actually

00:35:29.180 --> 00:35:30.120
 putting your confidence

00:35:30.120 --> 00:35:31.079
 in yourself

00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:33.380
 and what you have done

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:35.340
 in how you have lived

00:35:35.340 --> 00:35:36.920
 on your behavior,

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:38.360
 on your good works.

00:35:38.820 --> 00:35:40.340
 So where is your confidence?

00:35:41.660 --> 00:35:42.620
 Do you put your confidence

00:35:42.620 --> 00:35:43.240
 in the fact

00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:43.980
 that you keep

00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:45.300
 all the external markers

00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:47.400
 of Christian respectability?

00:35:48.300 --> 00:35:49.500
 That you go to church

00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:50.420
 every week?

00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.400
 That you finish

00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:51.920
 the Bible

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.800
 every year?

00:35:53.340 --> 00:35:53.980
 That you use

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.700
 certain hashtags

00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:56.539
 in your social media profiles?

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.619
 That you read

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.399
 certain books?

00:35:58.759 --> 00:35:59.500
 That you support

00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.759
 the right political party

00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:01.339
 or candidate?

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.719
 That you have not committed

00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:04.239
 any blatant sins recently?

00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:06.119
 That you're an upstanding citizen

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.339
 that cares for other people

00:36:07.339 --> 00:36:09.000
 by wearing masks properly

00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:09.939
 and social distancing?

00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:13.839
 That you recently experienced

00:36:13.839 --> 00:36:14.519
 a spiritual

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:15.679
 and emotional high?

00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:17.980
 As a Jew,

00:36:18.159 --> 00:36:18.859
 Paul ticked

00:36:18.859 --> 00:36:20.039
 all of the boxes

00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.799
 that signaled

00:36:20.799 --> 00:36:22.219
 his virtue to others

00:36:22.219 --> 00:36:23.859
 and yet considered it

00:36:23.860 --> 00:36:24.940
 all a loss

00:36:24.940 --> 00:36:27.099
 because of the surpassing worth

00:36:27.099 --> 00:36:28.579
 of knowing Christ.

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:30.579
 Even good things,

00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:32.640
 even righteous things,

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:34.360
 if you put your confidence

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.880
 in those things

00:36:35.880 --> 00:36:37.079
 for your right standing

00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:37.620
 with God

00:36:37.620 --> 00:36:39.360
 and not in Christ alone,

00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:40.960
 it's all trash.

00:36:46.340 --> 00:36:47.460
 It's the new year

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:49.000
 and I know a lot of us

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:50.079
 have New Year's resolutions.

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:51.099
 I do as well.

00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:53.339
 And I want you all

00:36:53.339 --> 00:36:54.139
 to read the Bible

00:36:54.139 --> 00:36:55.420
 and pray more this year

00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.440
 than you did last year.

00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:58.099
 I want you to do these things

00:36:58.099 --> 00:36:58.960
 because it's good

00:36:58.960 --> 00:36:59.639
 for your soul

00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:00.500
 and it will help you

00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.619
 in your walk with God.

00:37:01.779 --> 00:37:03.299
 But I don't want you ever

00:37:03.299 --> 00:37:05.019
 to put your trust

00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:07.219
 in your own righteousness,

00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:11.000
 in your own obedience

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:12.299
 to confer on you

00:37:12.299 --> 00:37:13.539
 right standing with God.

00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:13.559
 God,

00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:16.199
 your devotion

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.259
 does not save you.

00:37:17.599 --> 00:37:18.519
 Your discipline

00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:19.360
 does not save you.

00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.199
 Your sincerity

00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:21.500
 does not save you.

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.420
 Your consistency

00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:23.719
 does not save you.

00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:24.480
 Your passion

00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.860
 does not save you.

00:37:25.960 --> 00:37:26.779
 Your morality

00:37:26.779 --> 00:37:28.219
 does not save you.

00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:28.980
 Your righteousness

00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:30.500
 does not save you.

00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.880
 Christ alone

00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:33.320
 saves you.

00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:34.820
 The word

00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:36.219
 His righteousness

00:37:36.219 --> 00:37:37.059
 alone

00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:38.179
 is sufficient

00:37:38.179 --> 00:37:39.199
 for you.

00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:48.519
 this is why Paul contrasts the righteousness that we attain of our own accord on the basis of the law

00:37:48.519 --> 00:37:54.980
 from the righteousness that we receive from God through faith in Christ

00:37:54.980 --> 00:38:02.779
 doesn't matter that you're a Billy Graham or a Mother Teresa your own righteousness is woefully

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:12.660
 inadequate there is no human righteousness that makes the cut our only hope is the righteousness

00:38:12.660 --> 00:38:23.560
 from God righteousness not of our own but of another an alien righteousness or righteousness

00:38:23.560 --> 00:38:32.060
 that is imputed to us or righteousness of another that is counted as ours for our sake

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:39.699
 God made Jesus Christ to be sin who knew no sin that we might become in him the righteousness of God

00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:46.679
 a righteousness that is made available to us because Christ took our place on the cross and died

00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:54.960
 for our sins because Christ was raised from the dead for our justification that's our only hope

00:38:54.960 --> 00:39:01.559
 this is why Paul reiterates twice in verse 9 that this righteousness comes only through

00:39:01.559 --> 00:39:13.659
 faith in Christ salvation is by grace alone through faith alone because this is the way that precludes all

00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:21.659
 human boasting and makes us boast only in Jesus Christ faith is God's chosen means through which we

00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:30.719
 appropriate receive this righteousness from God because faith is the empty work faith is not a work

00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:41.639
 that we do to qualify for God's grace faith is an admission that we are unqualified and that we cannot save ourselves

00:39:41.639 --> 00:39:46.219
 faith is an acknowledgement that we are helpless

00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:53.339
 undeserving beggars who are completely disposed to the free mercy of God that's what faith is

00:39:53.340 --> 00:40:00.460
 this is why we should put no confidence in the flesh in our own righteousness but instead boast in Christ alone

00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:10.660
 confidence in the flesh and confidence in Christ are mutually exclusive whenever we add something to God's free gift of righteousness that we call grace

00:40:10.660 --> 00:40:16.559
 an additional criterion an additional requirement it nullifies the grace of God

00:40:16.679 --> 00:40:25.860
 it ordin nothing范 never bounds interchangeable the grace of God's authority as BUT

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:42.139
 the truth of god fromćez

00:40:42.139 --> 00:40:49.739
 we cannot boast in something in ourselves without detracting from the glory of christ

00:40:49.739 --> 00:40:55.839
 we cannot pretend that we have something worthy to contribute to our own salvation

00:40:55.839 --> 00:41:00.940
 without obscuring the surpassing worth of jesus christ

00:41:00.940 --> 00:41:10.940
 that's why it's our glory to be nothing that's why it serves us it's our lot to humble ourselves

00:41:10.940 --> 00:41:19.179
 before him because he deserves all the glory and what god calls us to do here in chapter 3

00:41:19.179 --> 00:41:28.519
 mirrors what jesus already did for us in chapter 2 in chapter 2 verse 6 it said that christ though

00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:35.760
 he was in the form of god did not count equality with god a thing to be grasped but emptied himself

00:41:35.760 --> 00:41:43.060
 by taking the form of a servant now the same word count is used in chapter 3 verses 7 8 whatever

00:41:43.060 --> 00:41:50.720
 gain i had i counted as loss for the sake of christ indeed i count everything as loss because of the

00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:55.620
 surpassing worth of knowing christ jesus my lord for his sake i've suffered the loss of all things

00:41:55.620 --> 00:42:02.800
 and count them as rubbish in order that i might gain christ we are called to empty ourselves of all the

00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:09.240
 vain glory in the same way that christ emptied himself of his real glory by taking on human flesh

00:42:09.240 --> 00:42:18.480
 likewise chapter 2 verse 8 said that being found in human form jesus humbled himself by becoming

00:42:18.480 --> 00:42:25.260
 obedient to the point of death even death on the cross and now chapter 3 verses 9 to 10 tell us that we

00:42:25.260 --> 00:42:33.260
 should be found in christ christ christ was found in human form so that we might be found in christ

00:42:33.260 --> 00:42:42.260
 and he was obedient to death so that we might share in his suffering becoming like him in his death

00:42:42.260 --> 00:42:50.460
 just as christ's humiliation preceded his exaltation it's only by sharing in christ's sufferings becoming

00:42:50.460 --> 00:42:56.139
 like him in his death in the present that we attain the resurrection from the dead and glory in the

00:42:56.139 --> 00:42:56.539
 future

00:42:56.539 --> 00:43:04.780
 since we are to share in christ's sufferings the sufferings in view are not any kind of suffering

00:43:04.780 --> 00:43:09.980
 and certainly not the suffering that we bring upon ourselves by sinning but rather the suffering

00:43:09.980 --> 00:43:18.619
 that involves dying to ourselves to serve others suffering that is involves dying to ourselves for the sake of christ

00:43:18.619 --> 00:43:31.420
 and yes the christian life is full of such sufferings christian life is full of many deaths dying to self

00:43:32.619 --> 00:43:41.099
 but they are a joyous they're joyous sufferings they're glorious deaths because in them we experience

00:43:41.420 --> 00:43:48.539
 more of christ our savior and we become more like jesus and we are more and more assured

00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:56.300
 as we endure those sufferings and endure those deaths that we will be with him in glory they will be raised from the dead

00:44:00.139 --> 00:44:08.219
 to identify ourselves with christ and follow the pattern of christ until that day when our union with christ is

00:44:08.219 --> 00:44:17.259
 consummated fulfilled that was paul's lifelong aspiration and that should be our lifelong aspiration

00:44:19.259 --> 00:44:26.940
 to be a christian is to declare for me to live is christ to die is gain to be a christian is to deny

00:44:26.940 --> 00:44:34.940
 ourselves and to take up our cross and follow jesus to be a christian is to love and treasure christ more than

00:44:34.940 --> 00:44:43.019
 anything else and anyone else brothers and sisters do you know that that is your main business in life

00:44:43.019 --> 00:44:51.739
 do you know that that is your calling that that is the reason why you are alive today

00:44:51.739 --> 00:45:01.019
 to know christ to love christ to make him your supreme treasure that's why you are breathing right now

00:45:01.019 --> 00:45:11.659
 make it your first and foremost business each day to cherish christ to count everything else rubbish

00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:14.539
 compared to the surpassing worth of knowing christ

00:45:14.539 --> 00:45:23.259
 we must lay down all that we once held dear all that we once considered gain

00:45:23.259 --> 00:45:36.460
 our intellect our degrees our spouses our children our abilities our career our status our charitable

00:45:36.460 --> 00:45:43.820
 giving our giving our righteousness count them all loss for the sake of christ

00:45:46.139 --> 00:45:51.900
 empty yourselves of these things as christ emptied himself for us take up your cross as christ took

00:45:51.900 --> 00:46:02.380
 up his cross for us died to yourself as christ died for us then and only then will you experience the fullness of joy that is found in christ

00:46:03.579 --> 00:46:10.139
 that's what it means to rejoice in the lord that first command that paul started with in chapter 3

00:46:12.139 --> 00:46:18.460
 isn't this a wonderful paradox in one sense god demands everything of us

00:46:18.460 --> 00:46:26.539
 us he bids us to die to die to ourselves and to live it to live to christ to submit all our purposes and

00:46:26.539 --> 00:46:32.139
 priorities to him to give up all our credentials pretensions and vainglory

00:46:33.420 --> 00:46:38.860
 but all that we lose will be compensated in infinitely greater ways because those who partake in christ's

00:46:38.860 --> 00:46:42.780
 sufferings and death will also partake in his glory and resurrection life

00:46:42.780 --> 00:46:50.940
 so in one sense god demands everything of us but in another sense god demands nothing of us

00:46:52.460 --> 00:47:01.260
 he bids us come empty-handed he supplies everything that is necessary he supplies the atoning sacrifice

00:47:01.260 --> 00:47:07.660
 for our sins in jesus christ he supplies the righteousness that we need and brings us into right relationship with

00:47:07.659 --> 00:47:12.619
 himself he supplies the resurrection power of jesus christ that will raise us from the dead

00:47:13.339 --> 00:47:19.339
 so that we should put no confidence in the flesh in our own righteousness but boast in christ alone

00:47:23.899 --> 00:47:29.659
 18th century pastor augustus topolody puts it beautifully in his hymn that i think we have in the

00:47:29.659 --> 00:47:33.579
 the projection for you in the hymn rock of ages cleft for me

00:47:37.659 --> 00:47:47.659
 not the labor of my hands can fulfill thy laws demands could my zeal no respite no could my tears

00:47:47.659 --> 00:47:59.019
 forever flow all could never sin erase thou must save and save by grace nothing in my hands

00:47:59.019 --> 00:48:09.500
 the hands i bring simply to thy cross i cling naked come to thee for dress helpless look to thee for grace

00:48:10.059 --> 00:48:15.900
 foul i to the fountain fly wash me savior or i die

00:48:20.619 --> 00:48:21.500
 heavenly father

00:48:21.500 --> 00:48:28.619
 forgive us

00:48:28.619 --> 00:48:31.820
 forgive us for the ways we get in the way of your grace

00:48:34.139 --> 00:48:34.780
 forgive us

00:48:39.019 --> 00:48:40.699
 that is so hard for us to die

00:48:40.699 --> 00:48:49.179
 we want

00:48:49.179 --> 00:48:51.899
 we want you to receive all the glory

00:48:51.899 --> 00:49:00.779
 we don't want people who look at our church we don't want people who look at our lives to say oh

00:49:00.779 --> 00:49:01.739
 they're so clever

00:49:01.739 --> 00:49:08.699
 oh they're so zealous oh they're so passionate oh they're so disciplined

00:49:09.659 --> 00:49:15.099
 god when people look at us we want them to say oh christ is so precious

00:49:16.619 --> 00:49:22.059
 christ is so worthy christ is so sufficient

00:49:22.059 --> 00:49:25.099
 god

00:49:25.099 --> 00:49:25.739
 god humble us

00:49:25.739 --> 00:49:30.460
 help us to die to ourselves so that jesus receives all the glory

00:49:36.699 --> 00:49:38.539
 and help us as your people

00:49:40.940 --> 00:49:45.579
 with unfail unveiled faces beholding the glory of the lord

00:49:45.579 --> 00:49:48.219
 help us to be transformed

00:49:49.099 --> 00:49:50.299
 into the same image

00:49:51.420 --> 00:49:53.420
 from one degree of likeness to another

00:49:56.699 --> 00:49:57.420
 yes lord

00:50:05.500 --> 00:50:11.420
 in jesus name we pray amen

00:50:15.579 --> 00:50:21.739
 yes

00:50:26.860 --> 00:50:29.259
 yes

00:50:29.259 --> 00:50:34.380
 now

00:50:35.259 --> 00:50:40.539
 yes