WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:15.040 The following sermon is made available by Lakeside Bible Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:19.160 For more information about our church or to find more recorded sermons, 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:22.719 please visit us online at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:22.980 --> 00:00:25.719 We'd also love to connect with you on social media. 00:00:25.719 --> 00:00:30.660 You can find us by searching Lakeside Bible NC on Facebook and Instagram. 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:37.879 For specific questions about the Bible or our church, please email us at info at lakesidebible.church. 00:00:40.140 --> 00:00:50.280 There was a time in Paul's life when all that he wanted was to be the best Jew that he could possibly be. 00:00:50.280 --> 00:01:01.500 In fact, his entire life was consumed with religious performance that he sincerely thought was capable of making him righteous in God's eyes. 00:01:02.260 --> 00:01:09.020 But after experiencing the risen Christ on that road to Damascus in Acts chapter 9 that we just read, 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:19.439 he realized that his life was spent laboring relentlessly for a salvation that's actually impossible to earn. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:29.379 It's at that moment that he began to understand that despite his zealous commitment to God through Judaism, 00:01:30.179 --> 00:01:37.959 his death would still result in condemnation and ultimately separation from God for all of eternity. 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:43.219 Rather than be honored by God for doing his best, 00:01:43.919 --> 00:01:49.219 Paul realized that he would actually be rejected by God for not being good enough. 00:01:50.479 --> 00:01:54.139 And upon this realization, he trusted Christ, 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:58.959 and he left behind all of those achievements that he had been working for, 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:01.399 for 30 years of his life perhaps. 00:02:01.899 --> 00:02:03.280 He left it all behind. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:09.759 So what was once an all-consuming pursuit to do the best that he possibly could, 00:02:10.420 --> 00:02:15.740 to build up his list of religious achievements and good works, 00:02:15.979 --> 00:02:21.439 now his own all-consuming pursuit and passion was to know Christ. 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:24.979 And to know Christ in a greater way, 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:31.120 and then to share this gloriously freeing gospel with others. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:36.240 And that's ultimately what this entire chapter of Philippians 3 is all about, 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.099 the glorious gospel of Jesus. 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:42.719 Having spent half of his life following a lie, 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:46.840 Paul became passionate about exposing that deception. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:50.259 Exposing the deception of the Judaizers 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:54.840 and to the legalism that was beginning to creep its way into the church. 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:58.939 And he focused on pointing the Philippians to the true gospel. 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:01.879 Now as we've studied in the last couple of Sundays, 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:04.259 in verse 2 he gives a warning to the church, 00:03:04.379 --> 00:03:08.020 specifically a warning against the legalists, the Judaizers. 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.020 And then in verse 3 he gives a comprehensive description 00:03:13.020 --> 00:03:16.980 of what true Christianity actually is. 00:03:16.979 --> 00:03:20.959 Now he's turning to his own personal testimony 00:03:20.959 --> 00:03:26.679 as a way of providing a defense of the truth of salvation by grace 00:03:26.679 --> 00:03:28.739 through faith in Jesus alone. 00:03:29.899 --> 00:03:34.039 The truth is sometimes the most effective way of sharing the gospel 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:37.079 and helping people to understand the truth of the gospel 00:03:37.079 --> 00:03:40.560 is by simply sharing with them 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:43.280 the impact that the gospel has had on you personally. 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:48.000 What was at one time one of the most faithfully committed Jews 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.340 of the first century 00:03:49.340 --> 00:03:53.639 was now one of the most faithfully committed Christians. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:57.120 And these verses help us to understand 00:03:57.120 --> 00:03:58.920 what made the difference for Paul. 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:01.060 In fact, we can really ask that question 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:02.920 as we jump into these verses. 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:08.000 What is it that made Paul go from being so committed to Judaism 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:11.280 to now being so committed in the other extreme 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:13.960 to Jesus Christ and Christianity? 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:15.860 Well, let's look at it together. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:17.560 In verses 4 through 6 we see, 00:04:17.819 --> 00:04:19.379 if you want to write this down in your notes, 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:22.139 the futility of self-righteousness. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:25.819 The futility of self-righteousness. 00:04:26.300 --> 00:04:27.660 Look with me again at verse 4. 00:04:28.740 --> 00:04:29.339 Paul says, 00:04:29.420 --> 00:04:31.899 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:34.560 if any other man thinks that he has whereof 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:36.519 he might trust in the flesh, I have more. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:39.500 And then he goes through and he provides this description. 00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:43.160 Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:44.639 of the tribe of Benjamin, 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:46.399 a Hebrew of the Hebrews, 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:48.420 as touching the law, a Pharisee, 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:50.939 concerning zeal, persecuting the church, 00:04:51.620 --> 00:04:53.519 touching the righteousness which is in the law, 00:04:54.040 --> 00:04:55.920 I was blameless. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:00.279 You can almost sense an expectation on Paul's part here 00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:03.720 that the Judaizers that he had just warned against 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:08.120 might accuse him of being envious of them in some way. 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:10.680 That's often how things like this go. 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:13.040 Someone experiences something 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.040 or they have achieved something in their life, 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:18.220 and if there's a group that rejects that achievement, 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:20.780 it's easy to pass it off as if, 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:22.160 well, they just don't understand. 00:05:22.939 --> 00:05:24.000 They just don't have it. 00:05:24.740 --> 00:05:28.040 Perhaps as this letter was read to the Philippian church, 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:29.939 and maybe even other churches 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:31.860 that would have been in that area, 00:05:31.860 --> 00:05:35.020 perhaps Paul anticipated that some of the Judaizers 00:05:35.020 --> 00:05:37.740 would say he's only envious of us 00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:40.420 because he hasn't achieved what we've achieved, 00:05:41.460 --> 00:05:43.300 and saying he's only rejecting us 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:46.220 because he's not a Jew like we are, 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:47.040 or whatever it was. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:49.040 Paul was both a Jew and a Roman. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:51.080 That's what was interesting about his life, 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.699 and perhaps there had come a time 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:54.000 where some of these Judaizers 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:55.720 were unfamiliar with his testimony. 00:05:55.900 --> 00:05:58.939 Maybe they truly didn't know what his life was like before, 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:03.459 and they just passed him off as being lazy or insecure, 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:07.199 stating that it's easier to reject their teaching 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:08.160 than to live up to it. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.060 Of course, that's just conjecture on my part. 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:13.680 It could be that Paul just simply thought 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:15.659 that this was the most appropriate defense 00:06:15.659 --> 00:06:19.920 to reveal the nature of his own life prior to conversion. 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:23.659 In any case, he launched into this series 00:06:23.659 --> 00:06:25.040 of religious achievements 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:27.420 that would have made him 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:31.680 one of the most elite Jews in all of Judaism. 00:06:32.840 --> 00:06:36.040 This wasn't just he was really good 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:37.260 at following all the rules. 00:06:37.520 --> 00:06:40.939 This was Paul was one of the best of the best 00:06:40.939 --> 00:06:42.560 when it came to being a Jew 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:46.680 and leading the nation of Judaism there in Jerusalem. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:48.720 And doubtlessly, 00:06:49.220 --> 00:06:52.660 it would have put some of these prideful Judaizers to shame 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:54.820 to hear exactly what he had to say. 00:06:55.460 --> 00:06:57.660 But the purpose of it was not to boast 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:00.200 in what his life was like prior to salvation. 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:03.360 The purpose in him sharing this testimony 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:05.980 is to prove the futility 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:09.200 in one's own goodness and sincerity 00:07:09.200 --> 00:07:11.360 as a means for earning salvation. 00:07:12.960 --> 00:07:16.300 If Paul, being far more righteous 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:17.920 than these other Judaizers 00:07:17.920 --> 00:07:20.100 that had crept their way into the church, 00:07:20.100 --> 00:07:22.960 if he being far more righteous than they 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:25.920 had found his own pursuits worthless, 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:29.439 how much more then should they consider 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.320 their pursuits to be without value 00:07:32.320 --> 00:07:33.540 in terms of eternity? 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.980 If even Paul could not earn salvation, 00:07:38.780 --> 00:07:41.160 surely they who had fallen far short 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:42.160 of his accomplishments 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:44.600 could not earn salvation either. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.500 So Paul shares seven of his religious qualifications 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:52.079 that he found out were actually disqualifying. 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:55.560 And I'm gonna group them into two different categories 00:07:55.560 --> 00:07:56.860 for us to understand. 00:07:56.939 --> 00:07:57.819 We'll just go through them quickly. 00:07:58.060 --> 00:07:59.639 The first category is pedigree. 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:02.079 The second category is sincerity. 00:08:02.220 --> 00:08:03.920 In fact, it may be helpful for you to write that 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.360 if you've got your scripture journal with you. 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:07.319 Write down the first one in verse five, 00:08:07.459 --> 00:08:09.420 we see Paul's pedigree. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:14.879 Now, I've heard that there are two great days 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.319 in the life of a boat owner. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:19.480 Anybody own a boat or you've owned a boat before 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:21.060 in the past? 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:23.040 I've heard that there's two great days 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:24.139 in the life of a boat owner. 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:26.319 The day that he buys a boat 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.120 and then the day that he sells the boat 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:29.819 are the two best days in his life. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:31.899 Now, I've never owned a boat, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:34.299 but I have made a transaction 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:36.159 that I feel like helps me 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:38.159 to somewhat understand that statement. 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:40.340 About a year and a half ago, 00:08:40.340 --> 00:08:44.820 I bought our family a very overpriced puppy. 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:47.860 Many of you have met her 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:49.080 if you've been over to the house. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.120 She's a German short hair pointer 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:52.680 and we named her Getty 00:08:52.680 --> 00:08:56.180 after our favorite hymn writers, actually. 00:08:57.460 --> 00:08:59.280 And I remember, Ashlyn will remember this too, 00:08:59.420 --> 00:09:02.259 being so excited as we drove to Rocky Mount, 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:03.780 North Carolina is where we picked her up. 00:09:04.060 --> 00:09:05.960 Our friend, actually last week, 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.259 Marissa Wright was here 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:08.840 that helped us with the piano last week 00:09:08.840 --> 00:09:10.340 while Michaela was gone. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:13.360 And it was her husband, actually, Austin. 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:15.860 His family breeds German short hair pointers 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:16.740 and he had convinced me 00:09:16.740 --> 00:09:19.899 to buy one of these puppies from his dad 00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:21.259 from this new litter that they had. 00:09:21.340 --> 00:09:22.360 And so Ashlyn and I drove 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:24.220 all the way to Rocky Mount, North Carolina 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:25.320 to go pick up this puppy. 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:27.480 And we were excited about it, weren't we, Ashlyn? 00:09:27.680 --> 00:09:28.720 We were so excited. 00:09:28.920 --> 00:09:30.820 I had all of these dreams for Getty. 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:33.940 I had this dream that she was gonna help me 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:35.340 with my marathon training, 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:37.259 that I was gonna run with her 00:09:37.259 --> 00:09:38.440 and she was gonna help me with that. 00:09:38.440 --> 00:09:42.180 I had these dreams that she was gonna help teach my girls 00:09:42.180 --> 00:09:45.120 good responsibility and how to have chores 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:48.380 and things to do around the house to help. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.360 Julie and I would stay up late at night 00:09:51.360 --> 00:09:54.480 watching YouTube videos on how to train dogs. 00:09:54.880 --> 00:09:59.800 And we fully believed that we would have the capabilities 00:09:59.800 --> 00:10:04.480 of training this notably energetic 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:08.940 yet intelligent breed of dog to obey our every command. 00:10:09.940 --> 00:10:11.980 The problem is, as it turned out, 00:10:12.800 --> 00:10:14.539 I'm not a very good dog trainer. 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:17.220 Getty's not very fun to run with 00:10:17.220 --> 00:10:19.560 and the girls absolutely hate 00:10:19.560 --> 00:10:21.300 picking up poop out of the front yard. 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:23.159 When we went and picked up Getty, 00:10:24.220 --> 00:10:26.740 Mr. and Mrs. Wright provided us 00:10:26.740 --> 00:10:29.840 with a copy of Getty's Pedigree. 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:33.060 It's a document, if you're familiar with it, 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:35.580 it's a document that traces back her heritage 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:38.600 and her lineage that helps us understand 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.360 what we should expect in terms of her health. 00:10:41.780 --> 00:10:45.620 If we wanted to train her to be a show dog, 00:10:45.680 --> 00:10:47.040 we would have to have certain documents 00:10:47.040 --> 00:10:49.720 that would prove that she was a purebred, 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.940 German, short-haired pointer 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:52.060 and all of these kinds of things. 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:54.080 And so we're given this pedigree, 00:10:54.180 --> 00:10:56.280 we're given this and it's supposed to let us know 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:59.379 exactly who she is, what she's like, 00:10:59.459 --> 00:11:00.299 what it's supposed to be 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:01.779 as far as her background is concerned. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:05.539 And it tells us that Getty is as good as it gets 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:08.500 when it comes to GSP pedigree. 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:12.159 Now the first four descriptions that Paul gives 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:15.579 in relation to his Jewish pedigree 00:11:15.579 --> 00:11:17.980 shows us that Paul, 00:11:18.299 --> 00:11:20.899 as far as his lineage and his heritage was concerned, 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:23.299 in being a true Israelite, 00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:25.079 was as good as it gets. 00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:27.259 In fact, it would be very difficult 00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:29.780 to find somebody that was more qualified 00:11:29.780 --> 00:11:34.840 in this sense of having a good Jewish pedigree. 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:36.800 Let me just mention the four things quickly 00:11:36.800 --> 00:11:38.740 that relate to this pedigree. 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:39.879 The first thing that he says 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:42.400 is that he was circumcised the eighth day. 00:11:43.280 --> 00:11:45.460 Now the literal translation of this 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:47.220 means that he was an eight-dayer. 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:50.340 It meant that he was circumcised by his parents 00:11:50.340 --> 00:11:53.060 seven days after his birth 00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:56.459 in strict compliance with the Abrahamic covenant. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:58.619 You can read that in Genesis 17 00:11:58.619 --> 00:12:01.019 or in Leviticus chapter 12. 00:12:01.099 --> 00:12:03.259 And the point is, Paul was an insider 00:12:03.259 --> 00:12:06.519 as far as the nation of Israel was concerned. 00:12:06.779 --> 00:12:09.299 He was an insider from birth. 00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:11.339 From the very beginning, 00:12:11.339 --> 00:12:13.839 he was treated by his parents, 00:12:13.979 --> 00:12:15.459 he was raised by his parents 00:12:15.459 --> 00:12:18.279 in exactly the way that the law said 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:20.179 a child was to be raised. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.779 And that began with him being an eight-dayer. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.339 Now the second description that he says 00:12:25.339 --> 00:12:28.220 is that he was of the stock of Israel. 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:29.740 He was of the stock of Israel. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.980 This had to do with his national race. 00:12:33.959 --> 00:12:37.600 Now it was possible for a non-Jew to be an eight-dayer. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:41.799 But Paul came from a pure line of Israelites. 00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:46.519 It wasn't just that he was a proselyte to Judaism, 00:12:46.519 --> 00:12:51.000 that his parents had just wanted to move him 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.199 into this identification with Israel. 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:56.079 So even as a pagan child, 00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:58.439 he was circumcised seven days after his birth. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.019 That's not what happened with Paul. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:04.939 Paul's line, his lineage was of true-blooded Israelites. 00:13:04.940 --> 00:13:08.880 In fact, the term Israel and Israelite 00:13:08.880 --> 00:13:13.180 that Paul uses here was an inside term, 00:13:13.780 --> 00:13:16.000 which Jews referred to themselves as. 00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:19.340 Others would have referred to them as Jews, 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:24.020 but only Jews called themselves the children of Israel. 00:13:24.300 --> 00:13:26.120 So it was significant what Paul's saying here. 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.380 He says, I'm an eight-dayer. 00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:29.560 I am of the true stock of Israel. 00:13:29.920 --> 00:13:32.600 Thirdly, he says, I'm of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:13:33.160 --> 00:13:34.840 Now there was significance to this, 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.700 because Benjamin was the only tribe 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:39.519 that had stayed loyal and faithful to Judah 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.019 in the divided kingdom. 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:45.220 Eventually, when Judah went into captivity with Babylon, 00:13:45.800 --> 00:13:47.440 Benjamin went into captivity with them. 00:13:48.060 --> 00:13:50.320 After 70 years, when they came out of captivity, 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.399 Benjamin came with Judah 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:56.580 and helped to resettle the nation in Jerusalem. 00:13:57.780 --> 00:14:00.000 Israel's first king was a Benjamite. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:00.900 His name was Saul. 00:14:01.280 --> 00:14:03.320 Perhaps his parents had even named him 00:14:03.320 --> 00:14:07.940 after Israel's first king being a Benjamite. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:10.660 So in addition to his pure bloodline, 00:14:11.280 --> 00:14:14.580 Paul was from one of the most respected tribes. 00:14:15.260 --> 00:14:17.680 Do you see how he's beginning to build this pedigree? 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.000 I'm an eight-dayer. 00:14:19.260 --> 00:14:20.740 I'm of the true stock of Israel. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.560 I'm from one of the most respected tribes in Israel. 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.900 And then he gives us a fourth one 00:14:24.900 --> 00:14:28.080 that kind of reemphasizes and summarizes it all. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:31.280 He says, I'm a Hebrew of the Hebrews. 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:36.280 Now, this reemphasized Paul's lineage as being elite. 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:41.560 Though he was born outside of the Holy Land in Cilicia, 00:14:42.420 --> 00:14:45.800 his parents were sure to raise him 00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:48.200 as a faithful Jew in Jerusalem. 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:51.860 He was not only an eight-dayer. 00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:54.920 His parents had not only fulfilled 00:14:54.920 --> 00:14:56.960 everything that the law had said parents, 00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:59.900 Jewish parents were supposed to do with their children. 00:15:00.660 --> 00:15:03.500 But when most of the Jews in this culture 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:05.440 were Hellenized by Greek culture, 00:15:06.540 --> 00:15:09.240 Paul was raised with Hebrew as his first language. 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:13.040 Not only was he raised with Hebrew as his first language, 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:16.780 he was sent to the best Jewish school in Jerusalem. 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:21.500 Acts 22 says that he sat at the feet of Gamaliel, 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:24.120 who was a famous rabbi of the day. 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:27.120 He was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:29.419 Not only was his lineage and his pedigree short, 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:34.059 but his parents had painstakingly taking every effort possible 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:35.959 to have him in the best Jewish schools, 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:39.339 listening to the best rabbi available at the time. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.339 He did everything that he was supposed to do. 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:44.360 He was an elite Jew. 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.220 And the emphasis of this pedigree showed 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:52.080 that Paul was not a mere proselyte to Judaism 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:54.940 as many of the Judaizers might have been. 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:58.300 His family wasn't saved, or not saved, 00:15:58.360 --> 00:16:01.639 but his family wasn't converted to Judaism later on in his life. 00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:04.399 They had always been Jews. 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:08.740 He was as good as it gets when it comes to national heritage. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:12.519 And this meant something significant to these Jews 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.659 who cared greatly about their heritage and their lineage. 00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:19.060 But the second thing that he says, or the second category at least, 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.720 is sincerity. 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.100 Sincerity. 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:25.080 Now you see this in the last phrase of verse 5, 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:27.919 and then again in verse 6. 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:30.919 The first four traits had to do with pedigree. 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:34.899 The last three had to do with Paul's passion 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:38.719 in following God through Judaism. 00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:41.139 And listen to this description that he gives. 00:16:41.319 --> 00:16:43.679 The first one that he says in verse number 5, 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.399 he says, 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:52.559 Now the Pharisee movement, or denomination in Israel, 00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:55.799 came during the intertestamental time. 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:59.959 There was a 400-year gap between the last prophecy in the Old Testament 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:03.519 to when John the Baptist came on the scene in the New Testament. 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:07.139 400 years where God was silent with his nation. 00:17:08.139 --> 00:17:09.720 And during that 400 years, 00:17:09.879 --> 00:17:14.599 the nation of Israel had abandoned and turned away from 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:17.980 the true worship of God like they had done many times before. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.799 And so for noble reasons, 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:24.359 there was this movement started from within Israel 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:26.899 that was known as the Pharisees. 00:17:26.959 --> 00:17:29.579 Now the word itself means separated ones. 00:17:30.179 --> 00:17:31.439 They were separatist. 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:32.479 That's what they were. 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:36.479 And they were immeasurably committed to following the law 00:17:36.479 --> 00:17:40.459 and had even developed hundreds of their own traditions 00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:43.419 that they taught alongside the law 00:17:43.419 --> 00:17:46.259 as if it was just as important. 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:50.579 And they followed them to the extreme. 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:56.259 Unfortunately, what started as a noble task, 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:00.659 their zeal was negated by their belief 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:03.359 that lawful obedience could earn salvation. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.699 At the time of the New Testament writings, 00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:09.919 there was only, according to Josephus Flavius, 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:12.699 there was only 6,000 of these men 00:18:12.699 --> 00:18:14.500 that even existed in the world. 00:18:14.699 --> 00:18:17.139 Only 6,000 Jews that were willing 00:18:17.140 --> 00:18:20.600 to commit themselves in this way to the law 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:22.259 and to these other traditions. 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:25.940 Not only was Paul one of these elite separatists, 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:29.000 but he came from a line of Pharisees 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.320 according to his own testimony in Acts 22. 00:18:32.560 --> 00:18:35.580 Now many people believe that not only was he a Pharisee, 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:38.280 but they believe that Paul was also a member 00:18:38.280 --> 00:18:39.740 of the Sanhedrin. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:43.040 And we don't have this explicitly stated in the scripture, 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:45.140 but it's very possible that he could have been. 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:48.940 The Sanhedrin was a group of 70 men, 00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:52.380 elite leaders among the elite leaders 00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:53.620 of the nation of Israel. 00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:58.240 And they basically ruled the Jews in a spiritual sense. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:03.980 They cite Paul's persecuting authority, 00:19:04.840 --> 00:19:07.240 the fact that he was chosen and allowed 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:09.080 to persecute the church in this way 00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:12.020 as showing a sign of authority 00:19:12.020 --> 00:19:13.920 that could have only come from the Sanhedrin. 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:18.680 The fact that Paul was single and had chosen to be so 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:20.840 was an indication that he very well 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:22.779 could have been a part of the Sanhedrin. 00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:24.900 He had committed himself to the fullest extent 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:27.460 to be distracted by no other relationship. 00:19:28.320 --> 00:19:31.440 And then his role in the martyrdom of Stephen, 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.259 they cite all of these things as evidence. 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:35.779 The bottom line is he was as committed 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:39.560 as you could possibly be to the law and to Judaism. 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:42.519 Touching the law, I was a Pharisee. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.740 Here's the second thing he says. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:46.700 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church. 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:51.960 I heard this week that zeal consists of two components. 00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:55.079 One is love and one is hate. 00:19:56.639 --> 00:19:59.519 Zeal is to love something so much 00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:02.920 that you hate everything that is against it. 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:06.080 And Paul loved the law so much 00:20:06.080 --> 00:20:10.080 that he loathed everything that seemed to be against the law, 00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:12.620 especially Christianity. 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:15.800 And so Paul had taken it upon himself 00:20:15.800 --> 00:20:20.039 to lead a group of persecutors 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:23.360 that were wreaking havoc among the early church. 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.560 He was a murderer. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:29.119 He was taking men and women out of their homes, 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.319 delivering them to Jerusalem, 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.240 putting them in jail, 00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:34.059 standing them in trial before the Sanhedrin. 00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:35.940 And if they stayed committed 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:37.539 to the doctrines of Jesus Christ, 00:20:37.679 --> 00:20:39.059 they were stoned to death. 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:41.839 This was all led by this man. 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:44.359 So when he says concerning zeal, 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:47.399 as far as my passion and my sincerity for the law 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:49.759 and my sincerity and passion for Judaism, 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:53.400 I persecuted the church and I did it extremely. 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:57.539 Although this persecution was immoral and sinful, 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.379 it wasn't illegal. 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:03.240 He'd actually been tasked with this 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.480 by the high priest to carry it out. 00:21:05.740 --> 00:21:07.619 It wasn't an underground operation. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:11.299 And Paul truly believed that what he was doing 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.640 in leading this persecution 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:15.160 was actually pleasing to the Lord. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.759 That it's what God wanted for him, 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:20.460 that it actually made him right with God. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.400 And then finally he says, 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.400 touching the righteousness, 00:21:23.819 --> 00:21:25.140 which is of the law, 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:27.619 I was blameless. 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:31.299 Now Paul didn't believe himself to be sinless. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:34.200 That would have gone against the Pharisaical belief. 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:39.299 But he did see himself as objectively blameless. 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.539 And he was. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:44.519 When it came to the Pharisees' interpretation 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:48.779 of the Old Testament law and of their traditions, 00:21:49.579 --> 00:21:51.059 Paul was above reproach. 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:54.200 He was unable to be accused. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:57.680 He lived an exemplary life 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:02.940 that consisted of good works and religious commitment. 00:22:03.660 --> 00:22:04.339 Kent Hughes said, 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:08.139 Paul speaks of his blamelessness as an objective fact, 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:11.460 as incontestable as his circumcision, 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:13.860 his membership in the tribe of Benjamin, 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:16.000 and his persecution of the church. 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:18.519 All of these tangible things that Paul said, 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:20.559 you can't deny that I'm these things 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.740 as far as my pedigree. 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:23.440 I can prove it to you. 00:22:23.700 --> 00:22:25.160 He says with that same confidence 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.259 and same objectivity, 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:29.559 I was blameless according to the law. 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.220 Now here's the point of all of that. 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:36.200 If it was at all possible to earn salvation, 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.900 Paul could do it. 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:40.540 If anybody could, 00:22:41.320 --> 00:22:42.380 it would be Paul. 00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:46.880 But even Paul said that his list of accomplishments 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:50.220 was not able to make him righteous 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.519 before the holy God. 00:22:53.120 --> 00:22:57.800 He learned that the grace of God only could save him. 00:22:58.580 --> 00:23:01.100 And he was concerned with exposing 00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:03.980 the deception of this teaching 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.620 to these churches, 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.940 especially Philippi. 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:09.340 Now many people today believe 00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:11.860 that their religious pedigree and sincerity 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:13.259 can get them to heaven. 00:23:15.100 --> 00:23:17.500 The prevailing thought of the day 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:19.440 is that a good God 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:22.340 would never send good people to hell, 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:26.880 but rather he will instead be gracious 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.580 and lenient to those 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:31.420 who try hard and do their best. 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:34.180 But that's not at all 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:37.100 what the Bible teaches about God or salvation. 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:42.400 The biblical teaching is that God is perfectly holy. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:45.640 And in that holiness comes justice. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.980 And in that perfect justice 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:52.000 is zero tolerance for sin. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.700 He doesn't grade on a curve. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:58.819 No one will stand before the judgment 00:23:58.819 --> 00:24:03.059 hoping that God will be lenient 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:05.759 because they just did their best. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:09.160 Now while a Christian heritage 00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:10.980 is not inconsequential, 00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:13.759 salvation is not inherited 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:16.580 or passed down from generation to generation. 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:19.759 I can't give it to Ashlyn and Harper 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.919 the way that I can give them 00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:23.399 other material possessions. 00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.000 It doesn't work that way. 00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:28.899 Neither does sincerity equal salvation. 00:24:29.980 --> 00:24:32.279 Many people are sincerely wrong. 00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:36.500 There's no such thing as being close enough. 00:24:37.740 --> 00:24:38.960 No points are awarded 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:41.399 on the basis of passion and effort. 00:24:41.400 --> 00:24:45.240 It's either all Christ or nothing. 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:48.680 So Paul says there is futility 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.980 in self-righteousness. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.100 The second thing quickly, 00:24:53.060 --> 00:24:55.460 he talks about the surpassing worth 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:56.960 of knowing Christ. 00:24:57.080 --> 00:24:58.620 That's in verses seven through nine. 00:24:59.340 --> 00:25:03.160 The surpassing worth of knowing Christ. 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.340 Now in these verses, 00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:06.620 Paul utilizes accounting terms 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:09.880 to illustrate the futility of self-righteousness, 00:25:09.880 --> 00:25:12.500 but the value of knowing Christ. 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:13.920 Now I want you to picture if you would, 00:25:14.320 --> 00:25:17.360 Paul pulls out his spiritual ledger. 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:20.200 He's talking about gain and loss, 00:25:20.580 --> 00:25:23.500 debits and credits using accounting terms. 00:25:23.760 --> 00:25:24.920 Now according to Paul, 00:25:25.020 --> 00:25:26.140 before his conversion, 00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:28.420 when he pulled out his spiritual ledger, 00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.980 on the debit column 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:32.380 was a list of all of his sinful deeds. 00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.900 He lists all the things that he had done wrong, 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.880 all the bad thoughts he had had, 00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.340 anything he would have considered sinful 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:39.220 was listed in that debit column. 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.600 But in the credit column 00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:42.819 was everything in verses five and six, 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:46.079 his pedigree and his sincerity. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.299 And in Paul's mind, 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:51.539 so long as his credit column 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:54.200 outweighed his debit column, 00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:56.380 he would make it into heaven 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:59.240 and earn eternal life. 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:01.900 And this is how many people view salvation. 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:04.559 As long as their good column 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:06.160 exceeds their bad column, 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:08.220 they believe that God will accept them. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:11.140 Paul said after being confronted 00:26:11.140 --> 00:26:13.360 by the risen Christ in Acts chapter nine, 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:15.839 everything that he counted as a credit 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:19.299 was actually revealed to him to be a debit. 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:22.600 The good works and religious commitment 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:24.000 that he thought was helping him 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:26.640 was actually damaging to him. 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:28.200 It was pulling him away 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:29.220 from the only thing 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.880 that could possibly give him credit. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.860 And so therefore, 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:33.140 when he came to know Christ, 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:35.759 all of those things in verses five and six, 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.240 all of those accomplishments, 00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:38.500 all of those achievements, 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.240 he scratched out and moved 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:41.259 from the credit column 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.759 over to the debit column. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:44.140 He said they were good things 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:45.720 and maybe I had great zeal 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:47.119 and maybe the Lord was using me 00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:48.019 in some way or another, 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.339 but those things were actually 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:50.779 pulling me away from Christ. 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.460 They weren't pushing me towards Christ. 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:53.879 They were actually a debit. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.700 They were working against me, 00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.259 Paul says. 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:00.779 The only real credit anyone could have 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:04.079 comes from the surpassing value 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:07.460 of knowing Jesus Christ. 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:11.019 Now there's only one thing listed 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.779 in Paul's credit column 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:15.960 and that is the righteousness of Christ 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:18.599 that comes by faith. 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:21.160 But in order for Christ 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.440 to be in his credit column, 00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:25.680 he had to let go of all the other things 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.600 that he had formerly thought should be there. 00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:30.160 Let's read the verses together. 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:30.920 Look at verse seven. 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.240 Paul says, 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:34.660 what things were gained to me, 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.480 those I counted loss for Christ. 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:40.420 I had to let go of those things 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:42.720 in order to gain Christ. 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.880 And then he reemphasizes it 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.279 and he says, 00:27:45.400 --> 00:27:46.100 yea, doubtless, 00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:48.320 I count all things but loss 00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:51.220 for the excellency of the knowledge 00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:52.820 of Christ Jesus my Lord, 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:54.700 or as your scripture journals probably say, 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.299 it says, 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.799 the surpassing value 00:27:56.799 --> 00:27:59.440 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.440 for whom I have suffered the loss 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.819 of all things 00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:04.720 and do count them but dung 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:06.200 that I may win Christ 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.720 and be found in him. 00:28:08.940 --> 00:28:10.200 And being found in him, 00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:10.920 Paul says, 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:12.819 is not my own righteousness 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:13.860 which is of the law, 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.420 but it is that which is 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.799 through the faith of Christ, 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:18.620 the righteousness of God 00:28:18.620 --> 00:28:19.700 by faith. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.880 The only way that Christ 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.259 could be in his credit column, 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:25.379 the only way that he could actually 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:27.220 gain salvation 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:28.539 and eternal life 00:28:28.539 --> 00:28:29.599 is if he let go 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.900 of all the other achievements 00:28:30.900 --> 00:28:33.379 and cling solely by faith 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.299 to the righteousness 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:36.339 that comes by faith 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:38.500 through Christ Jesus. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.200 Now Paul equates 00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:42.519 in this passage salvation 00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.920 with this phrase, 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.500 knowing Christ, 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.680 or the knowledge 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:48.220 of Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.480 Now the Greek word here 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:51.519 does not refer to 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:53.099 an intellectual knowledge, 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:55.480 but an experiential knowledge. 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.720 It's not enough 00:28:57.720 --> 00:28:59.339 to know about Christ, 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:02.980 but one must know him personally. 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.380 This kind of knowledge 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:07.360 indicates that intimacy 00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:08.360 that is found 00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:10.759 in a personal loving relationship. 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.559 It's equivalent 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.819 to the Old Testament usage 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:16.019 of knowing someone 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.680 in marriage. 00:29:18.819 --> 00:29:19.879 It's not that you know 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:21.279 about your spouse, 00:29:21.940 --> 00:29:23.259 but you know them 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.000 intimately 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:26.039 through your personal 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:27.099 fellowship 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.519 with them. 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.519 The Judaizers 00:29:30.519 --> 00:29:32.200 knew all about Jesus. 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:33.680 They knew everything 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.519 there was to know 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.779 about him intellectually, 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:38.339 but they did not know him 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.859 experientially. 00:29:40.859 --> 00:29:42.220 And in that sense, 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.339 they were no different 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.279 than the demons 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.720 in James chapter 2 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:47.420 and those standing 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.039 in judgment 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.579 in Matthew chapter 7. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.000 In fact, 00:29:50.059 --> 00:29:50.799 let me read those verses 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.200 to you. 00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.220 James chapter 2 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:52.940 in verse 19 00:29:52.940 --> 00:29:53.539 if you want to write 00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.119 down the reference. 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.119 James says, 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.099 thou believest 00:29:56.099 --> 00:29:57.339 that there is one God? 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.399 Good, 00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.839 thou doest well, 00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:01.599 but even the devils 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.539 believe 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:04.059 and tremble. 00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:06.379 James says, 00:30:06.379 --> 00:30:08.379 a purely intellectual knowledge 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.039 of Jesus Christ 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:11.599 is not enough. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.940 Even the demons 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:14.480 know about Christ, 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:16.019 they have better theology 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.880 than we have. 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.160 They know everything 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.160 there is to know 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:19.960 about Christ, 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.000 but that doesn't mean 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:22.220 that they belong 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.380 to Christ. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:24.680 And then as we read 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.380 a couple of weeks ago 00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:26.460 in Matthew chapter 7, 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.380 Jesus said, 00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.240 many will say to me 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.779 in that day, 00:30:29.160 --> 00:30:29.779 Lord, Lord, 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:31.200 have we not prophesied 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.840 in your name? 00:30:32.380 --> 00:30:33.039 We have preached 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:33.840 about you, Jesus. 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.440 And in thy name 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.460 have cast out devils. 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.279 We have demonstrated 00:30:37.279 --> 00:30:39.140 power in your name, 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:39.539 Jesus. 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.900 And in thy name 00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:42.140 done many wonderful works. 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:43.080 All of these things, 00:30:43.300 --> 00:30:45.020 we put your name 00:30:45.020 --> 00:30:45.720 and Christian 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:47.080 on the name 00:30:47.080 --> 00:30:49.040 of our non-profit organization. 00:30:49.520 --> 00:30:50.660 And then I will profess, 00:30:50.800 --> 00:30:51.440 Jesus says, 00:30:51.600 --> 00:30:54.680 I never knew you. 00:30:54.940 --> 00:30:55.300 Again, 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.200 that same term. 00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.180 And then he'll say, 00:30:58.300 --> 00:30:59.060 depart from me, 00:30:59.160 --> 00:31:00.460 ye that work iniquity, 00:31:00.780 --> 00:31:01.580 evil worker, 00:31:01.960 --> 00:31:03.060 not good worker. 00:31:03.860 --> 00:31:05.240 Now what's the difference 00:31:05.240 --> 00:31:07.160 between knowing about Christ 00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:08.660 and knowing Christ? 00:31:09.320 --> 00:31:09.860 You have to answer 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.459 that question. 00:31:12.139 --> 00:31:13.379 The demons know 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:14.259 about Christ, 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.039 but they will not 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.119 submit to Christ. 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.559 Those in Matthew chapter 7 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.919 know all about Christ 00:31:20.919 --> 00:31:22.279 and even take on 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.679 the label of Christian, 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.659 but they're not trusting 00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:27.179 only in Christ. 00:31:28.139 --> 00:31:29.279 The difference between 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:30.399 knowing about Jesus 00:31:30.399 --> 00:31:31.979 and knowing Jesus 00:31:31.979 --> 00:31:33.559 is submitting to him 00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.159 as Lord 00:31:34.159 --> 00:31:36.679 and trusting only in him 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:38.560 for salvation. 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.259 That's the difference. 00:31:40.799 --> 00:31:41.420 It's not enough 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:43.240 just to know about him. 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:44.920 You must know him. 00:31:45.580 --> 00:31:46.740 And until you're willing 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:48.539 to trust Christ alone, 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.720 apart from your works, 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:53.360 you cannot experience him 00:31:53.360 --> 00:31:54.680 in an intimate, 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:56.560 personal relationship. 00:31:57.620 --> 00:31:59.620 Listen how Jesus taught this 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:00.360 in a parable 00:32:00.360 --> 00:32:01.560 in Matthew 13. 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.560 Two parables actually. 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:02.880 In fact, 00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:04.120 write down that reference. 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:06.239 Matthew 13, 44 and 45. 00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.659 Jesus said, 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:09.639 again, 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.659 the kingdom of heaven, 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.559 which is a reference 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.239 to salvation, 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:12.939 again, 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:13.839 the kingdom of heaven 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.719 is like unto a treasure 00:32:15.719 --> 00:32:16.699 hidden afield. 00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.179 The witch, 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.259 when a man hath found 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:19.859 this treasure, 00:32:20.179 --> 00:32:21.099 he hides it 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:22.500 and then for joy 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.859 goes and sells 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:25.039 all that he has 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:26.719 to buy that field. 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:28.179 In other words, 00:32:28.239 --> 00:32:29.000 a guy's coming along, 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.739 he finds a treasure 00:32:29.739 --> 00:32:30.259 in a field 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:31.299 and he finds that 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:31.979 that treasure 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:33.519 is way more valuable 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.259 than anything else 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.740 that he has. 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:35.700 So he goes home 00:32:35.700 --> 00:32:36.880 and he sells all of his goods 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:37.720 and he sells his house. 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.900 He has nothing left 00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:39.660 and he goes 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:40.259 and he takes it 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:41.319 and he buys that field 00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:42.220 in order that he can 00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:43.019 gain that treasure. 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:45.000 And then in verse 45, 00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.839 he gives another parable. 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:46.220 He says, 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:46.519 again, 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.539 the kingdom of heaven 00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:49.160 is like a merchant man 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.940 or a retailer 00:32:49.940 --> 00:32:51.880 seeking goodly pearls 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.759 who when he has found 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.799 one pearl 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:56.160 of great price, 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.620 he went and sold 00:32:57.620 --> 00:32:58.460 all the land 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.799 or sold all that he had 00:32:59.799 --> 00:33:00.779 and bought it. 00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.920 So this retailer 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.599 comes through, 00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:04.160 he's got a thriving business, 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:06.180 he finds this one pearl 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.200 of great price 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:08.440 and he sells his business 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:08.879 and everything 00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.859 that goes along with it 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:10.960 in order to get 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.379 this one pearl. 00:33:12.639 --> 00:33:13.440 And Jesus says, 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.139 that's exactly 00:33:14.139 --> 00:33:15.240 what salvation is. 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:15.879 You can have 00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.740 all of these things, 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:17.259 you can have all 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.500 of these religious accomplishments, 00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.299 you can have 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.119 all of these things 00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:21.740 you're trying to achieve, 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.039 things that are making 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:24.180 you happy right now 00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.879 that you think 00:33:24.879 --> 00:33:25.960 will bring you joy 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.660 in life 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.740 but when you finally 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.660 come to understand 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:29.299 the treasure 00:33:29.299 --> 00:33:30.539 that you can find in me, 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:31.339 you'll give up 00:33:31.339 --> 00:33:32.200 all of that stuff 00:33:32.200 --> 00:33:33.539 in order to have me instead. 00:33:33.819 --> 00:33:34.740 That's exactly 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:35.659 what Paul is saying 00:33:35.659 --> 00:33:36.519 salvation is. 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:38.259 All of these things 00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:39.119 I had worked for, 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.639 Paul said, 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.940 all of these achievements 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.779 I had had 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.359 were nowhere near 00:33:43.359 --> 00:33:45.299 the surpassing worth 00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:48.460 of knowing Jesus Christ. 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:50.259 And then he takes it 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.079 a step further 00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:52.799 in verse number eight, 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:53.819 he says, 00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:54.960 for whom I have suffered 00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:55.700 the loss 00:33:55.700 --> 00:33:58.220 of all things 00:33:58.220 --> 00:34:00.160 and do count them 00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:00.980 but dung 00:34:00.980 --> 00:34:01.559 or rubbish 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.360 or excrement 00:34:02.360 --> 00:34:04.100 that I may win Christ 00:34:04.100 --> 00:34:05.460 and be found 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.960 in him. 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:08.960 Think about Paul's life 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.780 before conversion. 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.420 He had everything 00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.800 that a man like Paul 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.440 could ever want. 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:15.960 He had power, 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:18.460 he had authority, 00:34:18.460 --> 00:34:20.820 he had friendship, 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.000 wealth, 00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:24.659 honor, 00:34:25.579 --> 00:34:26.039 fame, 00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.260 accolade, 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.579 everything that this world 00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:29.199 pursues. 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:30.400 Paul had it 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:30.940 and he had it 00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:31.880 at a young age. 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.440 He was not an old man 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.019 at this point. 00:34:34.820 --> 00:34:36.340 He had done so well 00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.420 in his pursuit of Judaism 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.619 that he had accrued 00:34:38.619 --> 00:34:40.019 everything that a person 00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:41.699 could ever want 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:42.699 in Judaism. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.800 He had it all. 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:46.920 But when he trusted Christ, 00:34:47.560 --> 00:34:49.200 all of that became loss 00:34:49.200 --> 00:34:50.400 and he suffered 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.380 the loss of it all. 00:34:52.140 --> 00:34:55.800 Instead of friendship, 00:34:56.660 --> 00:34:58.539 what Paul now had 00:34:58.539 --> 00:35:00.180 was abandonment. 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:04.440 Even some of his closest companions 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.660 in the ministry, 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.820 aside from just a few, 00:35:08.580 --> 00:35:10.519 eventually abandoned him. 00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:13.980 instead of wealth, 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.860 he was poor 00:35:15.860 --> 00:35:17.719 and he relied on 00:35:17.719 --> 00:35:18.699 whatever he could make 00:35:18.699 --> 00:35:20.719 in making tents 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:21.980 or whatever gifts 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.739 some of these churches 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.759 would pass his way. 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:26.000 Instead of honor, 00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:27.639 he was tortured, 00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:30.519 imprisoned for four years 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:32.780 and put to shame. 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.840 But he said, 00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:35.940 all of those things 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:37.219 that I once lived for, 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:40.119 I now count as trash. 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:43.019 in order to know Christ 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:44.519 and be found in him. 00:35:45.759 --> 00:35:47.259 You may look at that sacrifice 00:35:47.259 --> 00:35:48.500 and think it's not worth it. 00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:50.079 It's not worth that kind of loss. 00:35:50.699 --> 00:35:52.139 It's not worth losing my family. 00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.980 It's not worth losing my friends. 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:55.840 It's not worth losing my job. 00:35:56.280 --> 00:35:58.320 It's not worth losing my money 00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.480 or my hobbies. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.039 You may say, 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:02.559 the cost that Paul paid 00:36:02.559 --> 00:36:04.059 that Jesus calls us to 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.679 is way too great. 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:06.960 But think about 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:09.340 what unbelievable treasure 00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:11.980 Paul had found in Jesus 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:14.260 that he was willing 00:36:14.260 --> 00:36:15.160 to continue 00:36:15.160 --> 00:36:17.120 in that type of suffering 00:36:17.120 --> 00:36:18.579 for Christ's sake. 00:36:19.780 --> 00:36:21.620 No one was forcing Paul 00:36:21.620 --> 00:36:22.240 into this. 00:36:23.079 --> 00:36:24.559 Think about what he gave up. 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:27.100 What kind of value 00:36:27.100 --> 00:36:28.380 is there in Christ 00:36:28.380 --> 00:36:29.579 that not only 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:30.880 would he suffer that loss, 00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:32.220 but he would remain 00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:33.059 in that suffering 00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:34.180 for the rest of his life 00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:35.000 willingly. 00:36:35.000 --> 00:36:36.599 Why? 00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:38.719 In order that he might 00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:40.900 know Christ. 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:44.219 Jesus said in Mark chapter 8, 00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.500 if any will come after me, 00:36:48.179 --> 00:36:49.679 let him deny himself 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:51.400 and take up his cross 00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:52.860 and follow me. 00:36:54.039 --> 00:36:54.679 And then he says, 00:36:54.780 --> 00:36:57.619 for whosoever will save his life 00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:59.179 shall lose it. 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:01.539 Everybody that tries to hang on 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.380 to all the stuff, 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:04.039 living your life 00:37:04.039 --> 00:37:04.599 for the wealth 00:37:04.599 --> 00:37:05.200 and the fame 00:37:05.200 --> 00:37:06.000 and the friendship 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:06.860 and all the other things. 00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:08.400 Save up all of that stuff. 00:37:08.480 --> 00:37:08.940 Eventually you're going 00:37:08.940 --> 00:37:09.500 to lose it. 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.619 You can't keep it forever. 00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:13.559 Eventually it will all be gone. 00:37:14.280 --> 00:37:14.960 But whoever 00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:16.539 will lose his life, 00:37:16.680 --> 00:37:17.880 give all of that up 00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:21.059 in order to follow me, 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:22.200 Jesus says. 00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:23.640 For my sake 00:37:23.640 --> 00:37:24.400 and the gospels, 00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:26.360 the same shall save it. 00:37:26.579 --> 00:37:27.460 What they will end up 00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:28.240 getting in eternity 00:37:28.240 --> 00:37:29.280 is far greater 00:37:29.280 --> 00:37:29.800 than anything 00:37:29.800 --> 00:37:31.160 they're trying to hold on to now, 00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:31.940 Jesus says. 00:37:32.380 --> 00:37:33.760 And then he asks this question 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.860 that I'm sure you've heard before. 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:37.460 What shall it profit a man 00:37:37.460 --> 00:37:39.640 if he gain the whole world, 00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:41.380 gets everything that he wants, 00:37:42.019 --> 00:37:44.340 but he loses his own eternal soul? 00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:48.000 And then Jesus says, 00:37:48.380 --> 00:37:50.680 what are you willing to give 00:37:50.680 --> 00:37:52.820 in exchange for your soul? 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:55.940 What is it in this life 00:37:55.940 --> 00:37:58.480 that's so worth holding on to 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:00.220 that you're unwilling 00:38:00.219 --> 00:38:00.959 willing to let it go 00:38:00.959 --> 00:38:02.739 in order to truly follow Christ? 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:05.259 That's the question Jesus asked. 00:38:06.899 --> 00:38:08.419 There's not a thing in this world 00:38:08.419 --> 00:38:10.480 that could ever compare 00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:12.039 to the surpassing value 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:13.000 of knowing Jesus, 00:38:13.339 --> 00:38:15.359 the excellency of the knowledge 00:38:15.359 --> 00:38:16.919 of Christ Jesus, my Lord. 00:38:17.919 --> 00:38:19.659 Paul traded those pleasures 00:38:19.659 --> 00:38:22.159 in order to stand before God, 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:24.359 not having his own righteousness, 00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.519 but having the righteousness 00:38:25.519 --> 00:38:26.240 of Christ. 00:38:28.420 --> 00:38:30.120 And we have to ask the question then, 00:38:30.780 --> 00:38:32.980 are we willing to give up all 00:38:32.980 --> 00:38:34.160 in order to follow Christ? 00:38:36.620 --> 00:38:38.340 Have we found in Christ 00:38:38.340 --> 00:38:41.059 the treasure that's hidden in the field 00:38:41.059 --> 00:38:44.000 and the pearl that's of great price? 00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:45.019 And if we haven't, 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.619 what is it that you see 00:38:46.619 --> 00:38:47.500 as more valuable 00:38:47.500 --> 00:38:49.980 that would prevent you 00:38:49.980 --> 00:38:51.019 from following him 00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:54.139 or trusting him? 00:38:55.039 --> 00:38:55.960 There's the futility 00:38:55.960 --> 00:38:57.039 of self-righteousness. 00:38:57.719 --> 00:38:59.360 There's the surpassing worth 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:00.420 of knowing Christ. 00:39:01.019 --> 00:39:02.179 And then quickly and finally 00:39:02.179 --> 00:39:03.260 in verses 10 and 11, 00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:05.820 there's the ongoing pursuit of Christ. 00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:06.920 Look at what Paul says. 00:39:08.699 --> 00:39:10.699 That I may know him. 00:39:11.300 --> 00:39:12.119 This is what he wants 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:13.019 more than anything now. 00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:13.880 This is his passion. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.820 This is his pursuit. 00:39:16.139 --> 00:39:16.880 I want to know him 00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:18.539 and the power of his resurrection 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:19.500 and the fellowship 00:39:19.500 --> 00:39:20.480 of his sufferings 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:22.039 being made conformable 00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:23.019 unto his death 00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:24.360 if that by any means 00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:25.059 I might attain 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:26.400 into the resurrection of the dead 00:39:26.400 --> 00:39:27.619 or eternal life. 00:39:29.519 --> 00:39:30.880 Once Paul had tasted 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:31.960 of the goodness of Christ, 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:33.480 he wanted more and more 00:39:33.480 --> 00:39:34.759 and more and more. 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:37.679 Verses 10 and 11 00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:40.480 reveal Paul's ongoing pursuit 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:41.539 of Christ. 00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:43.980 The man that was once 00:39:43.980 --> 00:39:45.539 consumed with self-righteousness 00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:46.820 was now utterly consumed 00:39:46.820 --> 00:39:47.420 with Jesus. 00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:49.159 But these verses 00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:50.000 aren't speaking 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:50.840 to the process 00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:51.739 of sanctification. 00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:53.900 Paul hasn't got there yet. 00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:55.000 He's going to get there 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:56.239 in verses 12 to 16. 00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.300 That's what we'll study 00:39:57.300 --> 00:39:57.759 next Sunday. 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.340 He's not talking about 00:39:59.340 --> 00:40:00.340 sanctification, 00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.840 this pursuit of righteousness 00:40:01.840 --> 00:40:03.139 after salvation. 00:40:03.279 --> 00:40:04.500 He's talking about 00:40:04.500 --> 00:40:05.539 the salvation 00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:06.340 and the benefits 00:40:06.340 --> 00:40:07.779 that Jesus brings 00:40:07.779 --> 00:40:08.639 in salvation. 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:10.099 He wants to experience 00:40:10.099 --> 00:40:10.799 those things. 00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:12.119 He's passionate about 00:40:12.119 --> 00:40:14.019 knowing Christ in that way. 00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:15.239 And there's three of them 00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:15.980 that he mentions here. 00:40:16.259 --> 00:40:16.659 Power, 00:40:17.359 --> 00:40:17.759 partnership, 00:40:18.319 --> 00:40:18.960 and life. 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:20.400 Let me just mention them quickly. 00:40:20.799 --> 00:40:21.639 First thing he says, 00:40:21.699 --> 00:40:22.839 I want to know the power 00:40:22.839 --> 00:40:24.219 of his resurrection. 00:40:24.779 --> 00:40:26.159 The power of his resurrection. 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:28.339 Now the resurrection 00:40:28.339 --> 00:40:30.039 was the ultimate display 00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:31.119 of the power 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:32.019 of Jesus Christ. 00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.619 If we were going to 00:40:33.619 --> 00:40:34.460 reference his power, 00:40:34.599 --> 00:40:35.739 it was seen ultimately 00:40:35.739 --> 00:40:37.179 and in its greatest extent 00:40:37.179 --> 00:40:38.719 in his resurrection 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:39.559 from the dead. 00:40:40.259 --> 00:40:41.480 Now Paul had realized 00:40:41.480 --> 00:40:42.379 in his pursuits 00:40:42.379 --> 00:40:43.119 for salvation, 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.859 there was no power 00:40:44.859 --> 00:40:45.940 within himself 00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:48.019 to gain salvation. 00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:50.059 He couldn't be good enough. 00:40:50.739 --> 00:40:51.639 He couldn't do enough 00:40:51.639 --> 00:40:52.319 religious things. 00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.359 He had all the zeal, 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.379 all the partnerships, 00:40:54.639 --> 00:40:55.159 all the things 00:40:55.159 --> 00:40:55.960 that you could ever want. 00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:56.920 And it wasn't enough. 00:40:57.119 --> 00:40:58.179 He realized in himself 00:40:58.179 --> 00:40:59.300 there was no power 00:40:59.300 --> 00:41:00.000 for salvation. 00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:00.559 So he says, 00:41:00.720 --> 00:41:01.699 all I want to know 00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:02.360 is Christ 00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.220 and the power 00:41:03.220 --> 00:41:04.179 that he has 00:41:04.179 --> 00:41:05.360 to bring salvation. 00:41:06.280 --> 00:41:07.260 I want the power 00:41:07.260 --> 00:41:07.880 of Christ. 00:41:08.539 --> 00:41:09.340 I want the power 00:41:09.340 --> 00:41:10.199 of his resurrection. 00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.179 The only thing 00:41:11.179 --> 00:41:11.780 that can actually 00:41:11.780 --> 00:41:12.820 bring me life. 00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:13.500 The only thing 00:41:13.500 --> 00:41:14.019 that can actually 00:41:14.019 --> 00:41:15.440 bring me salvation. 00:41:15.639 --> 00:41:16.099 Paul said 00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:17.340 that I may know him 00:41:17.340 --> 00:41:19.699 and that kind of power 00:41:19.699 --> 00:41:20.840 because in me 00:41:20.840 --> 00:41:22.519 is no power at all. 00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:24.300 I need the power 00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:24.860 of Christ 00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:25.679 and I want it, 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:26.379 he says. 00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:28.099 Then he says 00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:28.659 the fellowship 00:41:28.659 --> 00:41:29.579 of his sufferings. 00:41:29.839 --> 00:41:30.879 This is partnership. 00:41:32.159 --> 00:41:33.119 This is partnership. 00:41:34.940 --> 00:41:36.079 He wasn't saying 00:41:36.079 --> 00:41:36.960 that he desired 00:41:36.960 --> 00:41:37.699 to suffer. 00:41:38.259 --> 00:41:39.000 Nobody wants 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.579 to suffer. 00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:41.779 What he was saying 00:41:41.779 --> 00:41:42.960 is that in Christ 00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:43.879 he had someone 00:41:43.879 --> 00:41:44.739 who understood 00:41:44.739 --> 00:41:45.519 the suffering 00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:46.699 that he would experience. 00:41:48.259 --> 00:41:49.219 Rather than go 00:41:49.219 --> 00:41:50.139 through the difficulties 00:41:50.139 --> 00:41:50.779 alone, 00:41:51.879 --> 00:41:52.839 Paul partnered 00:41:52.840 --> 00:41:53.539 with Jesus 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:54.620 through the power 00:41:54.620 --> 00:41:55.500 of the Holy Spirit 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:57.460 in suffering. 00:41:58.200 --> 00:41:59.180 This is a benefit 00:41:59.180 --> 00:42:00.460 of salvation 00:42:00.460 --> 00:42:01.500 in Christ Jesus. 00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.600 Not only do we 00:42:03.600 --> 00:42:05.079 experience his power, 00:42:05.200 --> 00:42:05.820 the only power 00:42:05.820 --> 00:42:06.620 that can save, 00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:08.180 but he then partners 00:42:08.180 --> 00:42:09.180 with us. 00:42:10.140 --> 00:42:11.160 And when we have 00:42:11.160 --> 00:42:11.760 to let go 00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:12.840 of all those other things 00:42:12.840 --> 00:42:13.500 and we suffer 00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:13.980 the loss 00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:14.660 of all things 00:42:14.660 --> 00:42:15.900 in order to gain Christ, 00:42:16.100 --> 00:42:17.079 we are partnering 00:42:17.079 --> 00:42:18.000 with him. 00:42:18.100 --> 00:42:18.980 We have fellowship 00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:19.700 with him. 00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:20.839 It's the same word 00:42:20.839 --> 00:42:21.579 that Paul used 00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:22.319 in chapter 1 00:42:22.319 --> 00:42:23.000 when he thanked 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:24.219 the church at Philippi 00:42:24.219 --> 00:42:24.960 for partnering 00:42:24.960 --> 00:42:25.939 with him in the gospel. 00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:26.559 He said, 00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:27.619 I have this partnership 00:42:27.619 --> 00:42:28.500 with Christ now. 00:42:28.819 --> 00:42:29.679 Christ is with me. 00:42:29.980 --> 00:42:30.500 Everybody else 00:42:30.500 --> 00:42:31.279 may abandon me, 00:42:31.500 --> 00:42:32.619 but Christ is with me 00:42:32.619 --> 00:42:33.980 and he has strengthened me 00:42:33.980 --> 00:42:35.439 and he is helping me. 00:42:35.639 --> 00:42:36.000 And he said, 00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:37.079 I want to know Christ 00:42:37.079 --> 00:42:37.799 in that way. 00:42:38.399 --> 00:42:39.319 And then the last thing 00:42:39.319 --> 00:42:39.919 that he has 00:42:39.919 --> 00:42:40.779 or mentions 00:42:40.779 --> 00:42:42.939 is being conformable 00:42:42.939 --> 00:42:43.739 unto his death 00:42:43.739 --> 00:42:45.000 or becoming like him 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:45.419 in death 00:42:45.419 --> 00:42:46.259 is what that means. 00:42:46.799 --> 00:42:47.659 And then he says, 00:42:47.659 --> 00:42:49.699 in becoming like him 00:42:49.699 --> 00:42:50.319 in death, 00:42:50.940 --> 00:42:53.359 I am brought life 00:42:53.359 --> 00:42:54.319 through the resurrection 00:42:54.319 --> 00:42:55.199 of the dead, 00:42:55.739 --> 00:42:56.599 through his resurrection. 00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:58.179 And this is a little weird. 00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:59.059 I really think 00:42:59.059 --> 00:42:59.719 these two phrases 00:42:59.719 --> 00:43:00.519 work together, 00:43:00.899 --> 00:43:02.159 but as verse 11 especially 00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:03.480 is a little bit difficult 00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:05.500 as far as piecing the words apart 00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:06.179 and really grabbing 00:43:06.179 --> 00:43:06.759 and understanding. 00:43:07.039 --> 00:43:08.000 Here's what I think it is. 00:43:08.739 --> 00:43:10.039 Paul explained it this way 00:43:10.039 --> 00:43:11.179 to the Galatians 00:43:11.179 --> 00:43:12.339 in Galatians chapter 2. 00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:13.599 You know the verse. 00:43:13.699 --> 00:43:13.920 He said, 00:43:14.019 --> 00:43:15.500 I am crucified with Christ. 00:43:15.500 --> 00:43:15.940 Nevertheless, 00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:18.079 I live. 00:43:18.840 --> 00:43:19.619 Yet not I, 00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:21.000 but Christ lives in me. 00:43:21.780 --> 00:43:22.400 In the life 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:23.139 which I now live 00:43:23.139 --> 00:43:23.639 in the flesh, 00:43:23.719 --> 00:43:24.559 I live by the faith 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:25.400 of the Son of God 00:43:25.400 --> 00:43:26.219 who loved me 00:43:26.219 --> 00:43:27.280 and gave himself for me. 00:43:27.519 --> 00:43:28.420 When Paul says 00:43:28.420 --> 00:43:29.380 I'm crucified with Christ, 00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.260 he's not talking about 00:43:30.260 --> 00:43:31.440 a literal crucifixion. 00:43:32.179 --> 00:43:32.920 Paul was still living. 00:43:33.639 --> 00:43:33.880 Of course, 00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:34.739 he hadn't been crucified. 00:43:35.820 --> 00:43:37.019 He was talking about 00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:38.260 putting to death 00:43:38.260 --> 00:43:39.659 the old man, 00:43:39.780 --> 00:43:40.639 the old way, 00:43:40.760 --> 00:43:41.800 the old sin 00:43:41.800 --> 00:43:44.060 in order to be given 00:43:44.060 --> 00:43:45.000 new life 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:46.200 in Christ Jesus. 00:43:47.180 --> 00:43:48.400 And in putting to death 00:43:48.400 --> 00:43:49.120 the old man 00:43:49.120 --> 00:43:49.840 and his sin, 00:43:50.200 --> 00:43:51.420 he was crucified 00:43:51.420 --> 00:43:52.180 with Christ 00:43:52.180 --> 00:43:52.860 in that way. 00:43:53.220 --> 00:43:54.120 He became 00:43:54.120 --> 00:43:55.260 conformed 00:43:55.260 --> 00:43:56.019 to the death 00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:56.600 of Christ 00:43:56.600 --> 00:43:58.280 and only by conforming 00:43:58.280 --> 00:43:58.920 to the death 00:43:58.920 --> 00:43:59.500 of Christ, 00:43:59.880 --> 00:44:01.160 spiritually putting himself 00:44:01.160 --> 00:44:01.680 to death, 00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:03.080 was he able to attain 00:44:03.080 --> 00:44:03.720 the resurrection 00:44:03.720 --> 00:44:04.300 of the dead, 00:44:04.600 --> 00:44:05.800 the eternal life 00:44:05.800 --> 00:44:07.320 that only Christ 00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:08.160 can give. 00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:09.620 And Paul said, 00:44:09.680 --> 00:44:10.640 that's all I want to know. 00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:12.480 I just want to know Christ. 00:44:12.839 --> 00:44:13.920 I want to know his power. 00:44:14.219 --> 00:44:15.219 I want to know his partnership 00:44:15.219 --> 00:44:16.639 and I want to know the life 00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:18.619 that only he can bring. 00:44:19.920 --> 00:44:21.099 What a wonderful testimony 00:44:21.099 --> 00:44:21.839 that is. 00:44:24.819 --> 00:44:26.219 I'm thankful that 00:44:26.219 --> 00:44:28.299 God gives us this 00:44:28.299 --> 00:44:29.679 here in Philippians 3. 00:44:31.339 --> 00:44:33.099 Not only as 00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:36.679 an inspiring look 00:44:36.679 --> 00:44:38.019 at the life 00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:38.719 of a man 00:44:38.719 --> 00:44:39.940 who loved Christ 00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:40.760 probably more 00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:41.559 than any of us 00:44:41.559 --> 00:44:42.119 ever have, 00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:46.500 but to be moved 00:44:46.500 --> 00:44:47.340 by the grace 00:44:47.340 --> 00:44:47.800 of God 00:44:47.800 --> 00:44:48.599 in his life, 00:44:49.099 --> 00:44:51.579 to see exactly 00:44:51.579 --> 00:44:52.840 how awful 00:44:52.840 --> 00:44:54.340 Paul was, 00:44:55.200 --> 00:44:56.960 yet God loved him 00:44:56.960 --> 00:44:59.240 and gave him 00:44:59.240 --> 00:45:00.119 this power 00:45:00.119 --> 00:45:01.579 and gave him 00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:02.500 this partnership 00:45:02.500 --> 00:45:03.159 and gave him 00:45:03.159 --> 00:45:03.599 this life. 00:45:03.720 --> 00:45:04.820 And that's exactly 00:45:04.820 --> 00:45:05.920 the salvation 00:45:05.920 --> 00:45:07.400 that God offers us. 00:45:07.400 --> 00:45:09.440 it doesn't matter 00:45:09.440 --> 00:45:10.059 what your past 00:45:10.059 --> 00:45:10.519 is like. 00:45:11.099 --> 00:45:12.099 It doesn't matter 00:45:12.099 --> 00:45:13.920 how many good works 00:45:13.920 --> 00:45:14.680 you've trusted in 00:45:14.680 --> 00:45:15.280 for salvation 00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:16.000 up to this point. 00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:16.900 If you'll just let go 00:45:16.900 --> 00:45:17.400 of those things 00:45:17.400 --> 00:45:18.059 and follow him, 00:45:18.059 --> 00:45:19.260 he will save you 00:45:19.260 --> 00:45:20.139 and you will reap 00:45:20.139 --> 00:45:21.079 those benefits too. 00:45:22.240 --> 00:45:24.019 Only he has that power. 00:45:24.019 --> 00:45:25.179 Thank you for listening 00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:25.820 to this sermon 00:45:25.820 --> 00:45:26.400 made available 00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:27.820 by Lakeside Bible Church. 00:45:28.259 --> 00:45:29.239 Feel free to share it 00:45:29.239 --> 00:45:29.920 wherever you'd like. 00:45:30.440 --> 00:45:31.400 Please do not charge 00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:32.539 for it or alter it 00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:33.159 in any way 00:45:33.159 --> 00:45:34.039 without express 00:45:34.039 --> 00:45:34.800 written consent 00:45:34.800 --> 00:45:36.199 from Lakeside Bible Church. 00:45:36.759 --> 00:45:37.920 Don't forget to visit us 00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:38.579 online at 00:45:38.579 --> 00:45:39.880 lakesidebible.church 00:45:39.880 --> 00:45:41.059 or find us on 00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:42.119 Facebook and Instagram 00:45:42.119 --> 00:45:42.800 by searching 00:45:42.800 --> 00:45:44.519 for Lakeside Bible NC. 00:45:45.259 --> 00:45:46.119 If you live in the 00:45:46.119 --> 00:45:47.259 Charlotte or Lake Norman area, 00:45:47.400 --> 00:45:48.059 we'd love for you 00:45:48.059 --> 00:45:48.840 to attend one of our 00:45:48.840 --> 00:45:49.619 worship services. 00:45:50.059 --> 00:45:50.920 We meet every Sunday 00:45:50.920 --> 00:45:52.019 morning at 10 a.m. 00:45:52.019 --> 00:45:52.820 in the gym 00:45:52.820 --> 00:45:54.380 at Cornelius Elementary School. 00:45:54.740 --> 00:45:55.820 We'd love to meet you.