WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:15.419 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristchurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:33.460 Hello, I'm John and I'm in the youth group and also the Alameda community group here at Christchurch. 00:00:34.460 --> 00:00:44.980 So today's reading is from Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 1, verses 1 to 2, and then also chapter 3, verses 1 to 14. 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:45.820 Yeah. 00:00:49.440 --> 00:01:03.840 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and the deacons, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:07.879 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:13.159 It is no trouble for me to write the same thing to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:17.920 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:28.259 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. 00:01:28.260 --> 00:01:32.320 Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 00:01:33.260 --> 00:01:37.719 If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:44.500 Circumcision on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:47.240 In regard to the law, a Pharisee. 00:01:47.820 --> 00:01:50.219 As for zeal, persecuting the church. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:56.400 As for righteousness, based on the law, faultless. 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:02.260 But whoever were gains, to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 00:02:02.980 --> 00:02:08.659 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:11.460 for whose sake I have lost all things. 00:02:11.460 --> 00:02:16.400 I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him. 00:02:16.800 --> 00:02:21.960 Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ. 00:02:22.300 --> 00:02:25.100 The righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:27.659 I want to know Christ, yes. 00:02:28.040 --> 00:02:32.480 To know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings. 00:02:32.920 --> 00:02:34.659 Becoming like him in his death. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:38.819 And so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 00:02:38.819 --> 00:02:43.739 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal. 00:02:44.219 --> 00:02:49.979 But I press on and take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 00:02:50.680 --> 00:02:55.299 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:02:57.439 But one thing I do. 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:02.500 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. 00:03:02.500 --> 00:03:09.159 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:11.020 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:11.780 --> 00:03:12.740 Thanks be to God. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:14.979 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:16.099 --> 00:03:22.280 I want to thank you for many of you who have so warmly welcomed me back. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:27.939 We were traveling as a family to all kind of places in June. 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:34.680 New York City, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia. 00:03:35.719 --> 00:03:39.680 Visiting for two family weddings, college trips for my daughter. 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:43.300 Our family got to see the nation's capital for the first time. 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:44.819 And it was an amazing trip. 00:03:45.280 --> 00:03:49.460 But I'm really glad to be back here with my Christ Church family. 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:53.980 And I was reminded that there are many great churches out there. 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:56.760 But this one is the best. 00:03:57.980 --> 00:04:05.420 And so, you know, back in May, we started preaching the Apostle Paul. 00:04:06.180 --> 00:04:11.379 And to do that, we began to look at this amazing book in the New Testament called The Acts of the Apostles. 00:04:11.379 --> 00:04:22.000 And we turned and we looked at one of the places, one of the three places that Paul talks about his whole life transformation. 00:04:22.920 --> 00:04:30.439 And we looked in Acts chapter 9 where Saul of Tarsus became the Apostle Paul by encountering Jesus. 00:04:30.899 --> 00:04:31.079 Right? 00:04:31.159 --> 00:04:34.159 Jesus whose people Paul was persecuting. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:39.140 And on that Damascus road, Paul was, he was absolutely transformed. 00:04:39.560 --> 00:04:45.280 Not only into a Christian, not only into a follower of Jesus, but into a messenger. 00:04:46.280 --> 00:04:53.000 Into somebody that would go out and spread the gospel and begin to plant churches all over the Roman Empire. 00:04:53.820 --> 00:04:58.820 And Paul would go on to write 13 of the letters that we have in the New Testament. 00:04:58.819 --> 00:05:06.279 And then we looked not just at Paul's transformation, but the transformation that began to happen through Paul. 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:14.079 In Acts chapter 16, we saw how the Lord called Paul further and further away from ground zero. 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:22.439 And he called Paul deeper and deeper into Greco-Roman pagan territory where people had never heard the name of Jesus. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:26.519 And Paul went and began to spread the message of Jesus. 00:05:26.519 --> 00:05:34.079 And one of the first cities that he entered in, when he went to Greece, when he went onto European soil for the first time, 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:36.819 one of the first cities he went into was Philippi. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:45.079 And maybe you remember that story how Paul went there and he encountered in that city a woman named Lydia. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:46.959 She was a successful businesswoman. 00:05:47.099 --> 00:05:51.060 And she was converted when she heard the gospel truth. 00:05:52.180 --> 00:05:54.639 And then Paul encountered this other woman. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:56.519 And she was this enslaved girl. 00:05:56.860 --> 00:06:00.419 And she was converted when she encountered gospel power. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:02.879 And then there was that jailer. 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:06.539 When Paul was thrown in jail with his friend Silas, there was that city jailer. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:12.779 And he was converted when he saw gospel life in Jesus' people and how they were living. 00:06:12.779 --> 00:06:22.079 And we're told there that in the city of Philippi, these three people plus their friends and family members that they shared the gospel with, 00:06:22.139 --> 00:06:29.199 they were baptized as the first members of that church plant in the city of Philippi. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:38.539 Well, having started that church in around 52 AD, fast forward a little bit to 60, 61, 62 AD, 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:43.379 Paul is writing this letter of affection, this letter of friendship. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:49.120 And he's writing it from a prison cell to this church in Philippi. 00:06:49.120 --> 00:06:54.780 And I want to encourage you as we open it up this morning that I think there's something here for everyone. 00:06:54.920 --> 00:07:00.699 If you are here and you do not identify as a Christian, but you're exploring Christianity, 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:07.699 this is an amazing opportunity for you to engage with the primary sources, 00:07:07.699 --> 00:07:19.099 to encounter for yourself what the greatest Christian theologian has to say to this multicultural church in this Greco-Roman city of Philippi. 00:07:19.800 --> 00:07:27.060 And if you are a Christian, you're probably aware that the text that John just read for us, Philippians chapter 3, 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:30.599 is considered by most people to be one of Paul's greatest passages. 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:33.860 And that's why we're going to look at it not just today. 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:37.579 We're going to look up to verse 9 today, and then next week we're going to look at it again. 00:07:37.699 --> 00:07:39.860 From verse 10 and following. 00:07:41.159 --> 00:07:48.879 But what I want to suggest to you is that Paul is, he's posing three questions in this text. 00:07:50.039 --> 00:07:55.240 Paul is asking us, where is your joy and your confidence? 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:57.439 That's question number one. 00:07:57.500 --> 00:07:59.480 Where is your joy and your confidence? 00:08:00.539 --> 00:08:05.339 And the second question he's asking us is, what radically redefines our values? 00:08:06.339 --> 00:08:08.219 What radically redefines our values? 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:13.859 And then the third question is, what are the implications of living by faith? 00:08:15.479 --> 00:08:18.759 If you're going to live by faith, what are the implications of living by faith? 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:22.019 So let's just explore each of these for a moment. 00:08:22.979 --> 00:08:24.859 Where is your joy and your confidence? 00:08:25.019 --> 00:08:25.819 That's the first question. 00:08:25.899 --> 00:08:26.919 Where is your joy and your confidence? 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:29.000 Look at what Paul says in verse 1. 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:33.940 He says, further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. 00:08:35.080 --> 00:08:40.799 And Paul exhorts the church to ask themselves the question, what is the source of our joy? 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:43.200 What is the source of our rejoicing? 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:44.139 Right? 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.259 Like how would you fill in the blank? 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:50.820 If we said rejoice in blank, what would go in that blank? 00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:53.780 And some of us might say, well, I rejoice in my summer vacation. 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:58.960 I rejoice in my career success. 00:08:59.760 --> 00:09:01.820 I rejoice in this romantic relationship. 00:09:02.060 --> 00:09:03.780 I rejoice in the well-being of my kids. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:06.879 I rejoice in my bank account and my 401k. 00:09:07.800 --> 00:09:09.879 And these are all really, really good things. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:13.580 But Paul is telling us there's something of greater worth. 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:15.420 And what is that? 00:09:15.419 --> 00:09:19.719 He says, well, rejoice most deeply, rejoice in the Lord. 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:21.259 That's what should go in that blank. 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:25.439 Rejoice in the resurrected and living Lord Jesus. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:28.759 Paul says, make him your source of deepest joy. 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:33.000 Let him be the one that causes you to sing and to pray with joy. 00:09:33.319 --> 00:09:35.120 To love other people with joy. 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:37.659 To work hard at your job with joy. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:41.240 And what compels Paul to say this to the church? 00:09:41.319 --> 00:09:43.399 To rejoice in the Lord. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:46.120 Well, because there are these false teachers. 00:09:47.139 --> 00:09:51.720 False teachers who are seeking to pull the church to rejoice in something else. 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:57.019 And what is that something else that we're being invited to rejoice in? 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:01.240 Well, Paul says in verse 2, he says, watch out for those dogs. 00:10:01.819 --> 00:10:04.459 And in the Greek, again, it says, watch out for those evildoers. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:07.939 And then again, it says, watch out for those mutilators of the flesh. 00:10:07.940 --> 00:10:14.460 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by the Spirit, we boast, who boast in Christ Jesus. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:17.000 And who put no confidence in the flesh. 00:10:17.620 --> 00:10:20.020 Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:25.020 If others think they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:27.180 So did you hear what Paul is saying there? 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:29.440 He says confidence, confidence, confidence. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:30.220 Three times. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:40.100 These false teachers are influencing the church to put their confidence, to put their trust in, well, not in the Lord Jesus. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:45.560 But to put their confidence rather in their own flesh. 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:48.139 To make that the source of their joy. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:51.879 To put their confidence and to take pride in themselves. 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:57.919 To boast in their own resume and their own righteousness. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:04.019 And this is such a serious danger that Paul uses the strongest language possible. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:07.620 And in the Greek, again, he says three times, watch out, watch out, watch out. 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:10.580 Even as he says confidence, confidence, confidence. 00:11:11.740 --> 00:11:15.500 And hopefully he's getting our attention and prompting us to ask the question, 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:20.240 what is my source of joy and confidence before God? 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:26.680 How might I be putting confidence in myself and in my flesh? 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:34.879 Because these false teachers are trying to convince the church that, look, if you want to be confident in your relationship with God, 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:38.580 if you want to be confident that you belong to God and belong to the people of God, 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:42.440 if you want to be confident that your faith is real, 00:11:42.539 --> 00:11:45.620 and you want to be confident that you are a genuine child of God, 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:50.299 and you want to be confident that you are an authentic servant of God, 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:54.100 then you need to look at your own performance. 00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:57.679 You need to look at your own righteousness. 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:04.480 You need to look at how well are you living out the laws that God has commanded in his word. 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:10.480 These false teachers, they've come into this church that's predominantly full of Gentiles, 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:13.960 former pagans from all over the empire. 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:16.440 They're basically Greek and Turkish. 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.000 They're Egyptian. 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:18.480 They're Ethiopian. 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.080 They're German. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:21.060 They're Persian. 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:22.159 They've come from everywhere. 00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:26.379 They're all different kinds of cultures, races, ethnicities, languages. 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:31.580 And these teachers are saying to them, look, if you are not circumcised, 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:35.559 if you are not eating kosher foods, 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:40.220 if you are not practicing the Sabbath to the fullest degree, 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:46.460 if you're not following the rituals and holy days that we find in the law of Moses, 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:50.240 if you're basically a Gentile but not living Jewish, 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:53.460 then how can you really be confident before God? 00:12:53.460 --> 00:12:57.759 And Paul says, okay, to these false teachers, he says, okay, 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:03.720 if you want to play the confidence in the flesh game, I'll play it with you. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:09.440 And he says, not only can I match you with confidence in the flesh, 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:12.580 but I can outrun you and beat you every time. 00:13:13.280 --> 00:13:14.600 And here's what he says in verse 4. 00:13:14.680 --> 00:13:19.240 He says, if others think they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more. 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:37.220 Now this is a list of seven items, 00:13:37.220 --> 00:13:43.480 and you're probably aware that seven is the biblical number for wholeness and completion and perfection. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:46.480 And in this list, the first half of the list, 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:53.420 Paul gives us his inherited privileges and all of his orthodox upbringing and his amazing pedigree. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.820 And in the second half of the list, he gives us all of his personal successes, 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:02.779 all the achievements that he has performed both religiously and morally. 00:14:02.779 --> 00:14:09.100 And he says, these were my grounds for confidence in the flesh, confidence before God. 00:14:09.839 --> 00:14:14.500 He says, look, I was circumcised on the eighth day according to God's law. 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.079 I received that sacrament of initiation. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:21.279 I received that symbol of God's covenant with Abraham, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:24.459 and I received it within the first week of my life. 00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:29.319 And then he goes on, he says, look, out of all the great mass of humanity 00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:33.080 and out of all the many people in the race of Israel, 00:14:33.220 --> 00:14:37.560 God chose to put me in the tribe of Benjamin. 00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:41.780 Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son. 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:45.280 He was the only son to be born inside the promised land. 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:50.040 It says in Deuteronomy 33 that Benjamin is the beloved of the Lord. 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:54.800 It's from the tribe of Benjamin that the first king of Israel came. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:58.099 If you looked at the boundaries of the tribe of Benjamin, 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:02.459 you would find this holy city of Jerusalem and the holy temple itself. 00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:05.799 This one tribe, along with the tribe of Judah, 00:15:05.859 --> 00:15:09.500 they were the only people to be true to God's covenant 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:13.299 with the line and the house and the throne of King David. 00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:17.879 Paul says, I'm not only from the right race, I'm from the right tribe. 00:15:19.199 --> 00:15:23.000 And then he goes on, he says, I'm a Hebrew son of Hebrew parents 00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:27.679 because, you know, there's all these Hellenistic Jews who speak Greek 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:31.779 and they've basically been assimilated into Greek culture, but not me. 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:36.159 My Hebrew parents made sure that my mother tongue is Hebrew 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:41.799 and that we maintained our distinctive Hebrew way of life among the pagans. 00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:47.220 And having described his orthodox pedigree and upbringing, 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:51.299 he now focuses us on the second half of his list on all of his achievements. 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:55.559 He says, look, I was part of the most scholarly group of Hebrews. 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:58.179 I was a Pharisee. 00:15:59.339 --> 00:16:03.919 Pharisees take the authority and the inspiration of the Bible incredibly seriously. 00:16:04.099 --> 00:16:06.939 They study God's revelation day and night. 00:16:07.219 --> 00:16:11.019 They're scrupulous about living out God's commandments 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.379 and walking in the way of holiness. 00:16:12.599 --> 00:16:13.199 That was me. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:17.159 He says, as a measure of my great zeal for God 00:16:17.159 --> 00:16:19.740 and my fervent devotion to his word, 00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:25.779 I took action against anything that would dilute or distort 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:29.079 or derail Israel's faith. 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:31.159 And so, therefore, I persecuted the church, 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:34.240 this little group of people who said that a crucified man 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:37.439 was Israel's Messiah and the world's Lord. 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:40.240 He said, I basically stamped that out. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:47.299 And finally, Paul says, as the culmination and the climax of these achievements 00:16:47.299 --> 00:16:49.220 that give me confidence in my flesh, 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.799 he says, as for my righteousness, 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:54.320 as for my right relationship with God 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:56.139 and my right relationship with other people, 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:59.379 he says, I was outwardly obedient 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:05.039 to God's specific ritual and moral requirements. 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:08.000 And my record was absolutely faultless. 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.819 You can go ask anybody. 00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:10.799 I was completely blameless. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.240 Now, if LinkedIn had existed in Paul's day, 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:20.299 he would have had the most incredible resume you could imagine. 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:25.539 And what would a modern resume like this sound like, 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:29.519 a modern kind of confidence in the flesh list sound like? 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:31.839 I think it would sound a little bit maybe like this. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:36.159 If anyone thinks they have reason to put confidence in their righteousness, 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.079 I have more. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.440 I was born in the United States of America. 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:42.460 To hardworking parents, 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:46.519 my first words were personal responsibility. 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:52.119 I grew up in a multicultural environment. 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:55.579 I was educated at elite universities. 00:17:56.559 --> 00:18:01.859 My peers and my mentors are published in The New Yorker and Nature Magazine. 00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:04.779 I work for a Nobel Prize winner. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.759 I advocate for the oppressed and for the marginalized. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:11.799 I regularly volunteer to serve the poor. 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.920 I shop local. 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:15.259 I recycle and compost. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:16.460 I only ride a bike. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:20.339 I have not used a plastic straw since 2018. 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:26.480 I always vote, donate, march, and I post about it all on social media. 00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:29.619 My family and my friends say that I'm authentic, 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.079 that I'm trustworthy, 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:34.299 that I'm empathetic and creative and passionate. 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.480 I start my day in prayer. 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:39.660 I tithe off the gross of my income. 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:43.000 I serve my church regularly. 00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:45.579 It's an impressive list. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:49.960 An impressive list of identity markers, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.539 of cultural symbols, of personal credentials. 00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.139 And Paul has it all. 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:58.799 In fact, there's another guy in the New Testament, 00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:00.279 very much like Paul. 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:01.419 His name is Nicodemus. 00:19:01.420 --> 00:19:04.160 He was a Pharisee like Paul. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:06.420 He had the exact same resume, basically, as Paul. 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:10.460 And when Jesus entered into a dialogue with Nicodemus, 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.700 in the Gospel of John, chapter 3, 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.980 Jesus said to Nicodemus, 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.400 he said, 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:20.019 to this man who had great confidence in his flesh, 00:19:20.080 --> 00:19:20.440 he said, 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:27.320 you cannot enter into the kingdom of God with the resume that you have. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.860 You have to be born again from above. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.120 You have to be born again of the Spirit of God. 00:19:36.580 --> 00:19:37.799 He says to Nicodemus, 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:41.480 you cannot rely on all those identity markers of your resume, 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.200 your birth, 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.319 your country, 00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:44.279 your race, 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.639 your language, 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:46.899 your upbringing. 00:19:47.919 --> 00:19:49.279 You can't rely on your gender. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:51.419 You can't rely on your sexuality. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.279 You can't rely on your financial status. 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:56.119 You cannot rely on your social power. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:59.399 You can't rely on your intellect and your understanding. 00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:01.240 You cannot rely on your zeal, 00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:02.399 or your sincerity, 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.859 or all of your goodness. 00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:06.099 Jesus said to him, 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.619 you must be reborn. 00:20:08.699 --> 00:20:10.879 You have to be regenerated. 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:15.099 Something has to happen where the life of God comes into your soul, 00:20:15.199 --> 00:20:17.139 and you become a new creation. 00:20:18.899 --> 00:20:19.419 Nicodemus, 00:20:19.479 --> 00:20:23.159 it's not just that you need to have something added on to you, 00:20:23.979 --> 00:20:28.619 a new thing in your impressive resume just tacked on at the end. 00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:31.939 It's not that you need to be modified here, 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:34.059 or changed a little bit over there. 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:34.519 He says, 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:37.059 you need to become a new creation. 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:40.680 None of your confidence in the flesh 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:44.200 is going to enable you to see the kingdom of God 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:47.700 or to enter into the kingdom of God. 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:54.559 That's very much what Paul is teaching us in Philippians 3. 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.120 He's asking us, 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.080 where exactly is your joy, 00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:00.159 and where exactly is your confidence? 00:21:01.699 --> 00:21:03.639 Is it in your flesh and in yourself, 00:21:04.419 --> 00:21:05.839 or is it in something else? 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.960 And then Paul goes on. 00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:09.519 Here's the second question. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:13.119 What radically redefines your values? 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:17.319 What radically redefines what you value? 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.079 And Paul says this in verse 7. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.639 Verse 7. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:24.779 After his confidence in the flesh list, 00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.119 he says, 00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.759 but whatever were gains to me, 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:29.519 I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.240 You see, 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:33.559 Paul's thinking about the life that he had 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:37.119 before his encounter with the resurrected and living Lord Jesus 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.559 on that road to Damascus. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:41.799 And he's using the language of economics. 00:21:41.939 --> 00:21:43.460 He's using the language of the marketplace 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.559 and of accounting, 00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:46.319 of losses and gains, 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.919 of credits and debits. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.519 And he says, 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:48.740 look, 00:21:48.860 --> 00:21:51.320 all of my privileges that I inherited, 00:21:51.480 --> 00:21:54.140 all the achievements that I accomplished, 00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:59.500 they used to be for me on the gain side of the ledger. 00:21:59.580 --> 00:22:01.759 That is where I found all of my confidence. 00:22:03.300 --> 00:22:04.460 But then he says in verse 8, 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:04.880 he says, 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.380 what is more, 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.120 I consider everything a loss 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:11.980 because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, 00:22:12.060 --> 00:22:14.220 for whose sake I have lost all things. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:17.900 I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ. 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:21.400 Now maybe you remember back in Acts chapter 9, 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.380 on the road to Damascus, 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:26.640 Paul sees that brilliant and blinding light 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.500 and he hears that commanding and probing voice 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.340 and Paul says, 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.460 who are you Lord? 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.680 And the answer he gets back is, 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.720 I am Jesus. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.820 Now not all conversions are that dramatic, 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:40.360 okay? 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:44.159 But they all have the same effect 00:22:44.159 --> 00:22:46.259 that Paul is describing here. 00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:47.879 And what he says is, 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:50.039 the moment I discovered something, 00:22:50.139 --> 00:22:51.679 the moment I discovered someone 00:22:51.679 --> 00:22:54.819 of such surpassing worth, 00:22:54.959 --> 00:22:56.359 such incalculable value, 00:22:57.979 --> 00:23:01.859 that someone completely revised my balance sheet. 00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:03.459 He says, 00:23:03.679 --> 00:23:08.819 that moment that I met King Jesus raised from the dead, 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:15.299 he totally reversed all of my gains into loss. 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:17.399 He says, 00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:18.940 what I discovered, 00:23:19.159 --> 00:23:21.659 that precious and beautiful treasure 00:23:21.659 --> 00:23:23.680 that I discovered in Jesus, 00:23:23.779 --> 00:23:24.059 he says, 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.259 when I compare that 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:28.579 to the best that this world has to offer me, 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:31.000 it all amounts to a loss. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:31.559 In fact, 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:34.039 he gets even more intense than that. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.419 He says, 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.940 the relative value of all else 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:39.019 in relationship to Jesus 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.320 is, 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.960 in the Greek, 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.100 it's skubula. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:44.680 It's garbage. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.840 Paul says, 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.700 it's refuge. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.400 It's excrement. 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:52.140 It's foul-smelling, 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:54.220 revolting filth. 00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.560 What makes Jesus, 00:23:57.800 --> 00:24:00.940 the eternally beloved Son of God the Father, 00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:01.800 so great, 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.080 so valuable, 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:05.659 so precious, 00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:07.939 that everything else, 00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:09.859 in comparison with him, 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:12.799 Paul calls abhorrent garbage. 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:16.439 Well, Paul gives us the answer in verse 9, 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:18.119 when he's talking about 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:20.279 two different kinds of righteousness. 00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:24.639 What are the two different kinds of righteousness? 00:24:24.839 --> 00:24:25.939 He says in verse 9, 00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:29.579 I consider them garbage 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:30.720 that I may gain Christ 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.559 and be found in him, 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.220 not having a righteousness of my own 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:34.339 that comes from the law, 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.599 but that which is through faith in Christ, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.339 the righteousness that comes from God 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:40.039 on the basis of faith. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.279 You see, 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.440 this first kind of righteousness, 00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:43.059 he says, 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:43.759 it's righteousness, 00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.419 quote unquote, 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.679 of my own. 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.559 It's about who I am. 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:50.099 It's about what I have. 00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.940 It's about what I do 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.019 and how I perform 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:55.179 and that gives me confidence in the flesh, 00:24:55.259 --> 00:24:56.440 that causes me to rejoice 00:24:56.440 --> 00:24:57.559 in myself 00:24:57.559 --> 00:24:59.919 and boast in my position 00:24:59.919 --> 00:25:01.159 and my accomplishments. 00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:02.960 And he says, 00:25:03.179 --> 00:25:04.500 this first kind of righteousness 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:06.359 compared to the second kind 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:08.339 is dramatically inferior 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:10.679 and it's woefully insufficient 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:12.019 to give you the confidence 00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:13.079 you need before God. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.639 But he says, 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.159 look at this second kind of righteousness. 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:17.899 The second kind of righteousness, 00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:18.480 he says, 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.779 it comes not, 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.059 it's not of my own, 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.319 it comes from God. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:24.220 It's a righteousness 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.619 that's in Christ. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.480 And compared to that first 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.619 kind of righteousness, 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.519 this righteousness 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:32.659 is infinitely superior 00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:35.779 and it's wonderfully sufficient 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:37.599 to save us, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:40.240 to put us into a reconciled 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.659 and a right relationship 00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.859 with God. 00:25:45.419 --> 00:25:46.220 You see, 00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.119 none of us, 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.819 had we tried 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:51.119 our absolute hardest 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:53.559 could have produced 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.759 a greater righteousness 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:56.079 of my own 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:57.659 than that which 00:25:57.659 --> 00:25:58.719 the Apostle Paul 00:25:58.719 --> 00:25:59.899 accomplished. 00:26:00.219 --> 00:26:00.379 I mean, 00:26:00.399 --> 00:26:01.000 he's a truly 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:02.299 impressive person. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.399 But, 00:26:05.539 --> 00:26:06.539 Paul says, 00:26:06.699 --> 00:26:07.599 when he compares 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.500 what he did, 00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.139 when he compares 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:09.779 the righteousness 00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.779 of my own 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:12.619 with the righteousness 00:26:12.619 --> 00:26:13.779 that God has provided 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.579 for us 00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.639 in Jesus Christ, 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.139 he says, 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.159 it amounts to 00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.519 a pile of 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:20.379 something I cannot 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.139 say in church. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.079 Scubala. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.400 Garbage. 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.259 Excrement. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.259 That's what my own 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.680 righteousness 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.720 is worth. 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:37.200 See, 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.599 the wonder 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:38.220 and the beauty 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:40.139 of this God-given 00:26:40.139 --> 00:26:40.639 righteousness 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.460 is that it comes 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.019 not from inside of us, 00:26:43.099 --> 00:26:43.720 but it comes from 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:44.619 outside of us. 00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.619 righteousness. 00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.619 It's a righteousness 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.659 that's not waiting 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:49.219 to be lived out 00:26:49.219 --> 00:26:50.179 perfectly 00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:51.319 and consistently 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:52.259 by us, 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.000 but it's a righteousness 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.539 that has, 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:54.899 in fact, 00:26:54.979 --> 00:26:56.139 already been lived out 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:56.659 perfectly 00:26:56.659 --> 00:26:57.879 and faithfully 00:26:57.879 --> 00:26:58.979 in the life 00:26:58.979 --> 00:26:59.599 of someone 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.779 better than us. 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:02.779 Right? 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.459 It's been secured 00:27:03.459 --> 00:27:04.159 by the obedience 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:04.779 of Jesus 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.619 who righteously 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.379 obeyed God 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:08.739 his whole life 00:27:08.739 --> 00:27:09.779 all the way 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.959 to and through 00:27:10.959 --> 00:27:11.899 his obedience 00:27:11.899 --> 00:27:12.500 to God 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.660 on the cross. 00:27:15.480 --> 00:27:15.839 And friends, 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:16.680 what Paul is saying 00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.099 here is that 00:27:17.099 --> 00:27:18.119 you can spend 00:27:18.119 --> 00:27:19.200 your whole life 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.900 searching high 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:22.319 and searching low 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.940 and you are never 00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.799 going to find 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:26.160 a better righteousness 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:29.859 in all the philosophies, 00:27:30.299 --> 00:27:31.660 in all the systems 00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:32.200 of life, 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:32.839 in all the religions 00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.440 of the world 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.200 than the righteousness 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.920 that comes 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:36.440 through Jesus Christ. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.519 You see, 00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.319 if you sit down 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:39.880 and you read 00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.440 the Gospels 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.019 and you see 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.599 the way that 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.740 Jesus is healing 00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.359 the sick, 00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.719 the way he's 00:27:44.719 --> 00:27:46.079 feeding the hungry, 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:48.240 forgiving people 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.419 who just royally 00:27:49.419 --> 00:27:50.240 screwed up, 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.719 the way he's 00:27:51.719 --> 00:27:52.859 raising up the poor 00:27:52.859 --> 00:27:53.480 and welcoming 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.240 the marginalized 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.199 and liberating 00:27:55.199 --> 00:27:55.919 the oppressed, 00:27:55.959 --> 00:27:56.719 when you see 00:27:56.719 --> 00:27:58.039 Jesus showing 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.079 and telling people 00:27:59.079 --> 00:28:00.459 how to really 00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:02.039 be truly human, 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.259 right, 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.519 how to love 00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.480 and worship 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:06.359 and pray to God 00:28:06.359 --> 00:28:07.299 with all your heart, 00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:09.699 how to give yourself 00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:10.599 in love 00:28:10.599 --> 00:28:11.199 for your neighbor, 00:28:11.319 --> 00:28:11.980 for other people. 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:13.319 Jesus shows people 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:13.899 how to do that 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.539 by giving up 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.119 his body to death, 00:28:16.939 --> 00:28:17.079 right, 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.819 putting himself 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.519 in the place 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.459 of sinners 00:28:19.459 --> 00:28:20.079 on the cross. 00:28:20.439 --> 00:28:21.559 When you see that, 00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.139 when you see 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:23.759 the righteousness 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.819 that God has provided 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:25.259 for us 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:26.019 in Jesus Christ, 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:28.319 it's so surpassingly 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.480 more worthy, 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.819 it's so incomparably 00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.299 more valuable 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.619 than any righteousness, 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.019 not only that any of us 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:35.919 could have achieved 00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.480 or performed, 00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:37.799 but of all of our 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.980 righteousness put together. 00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:42.079 So the robe 00:28:42.079 --> 00:28:42.659 of righteousness 00:28:42.659 --> 00:28:43.599 that God has provided 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.500 for us in Jesus 00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:45.720 makes all the righteousness 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:47.059 that we are trying 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:48.819 to weave around ourselves 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:50.319 look like tattered 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.839 and pitiful rags. 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.460 And this is why 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.240 Paul says that 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.159 all the ways 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:57.059 that I put confidence 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.879 in my flesh, 00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:59.539 my birth, 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.379 my upbringing, 00:29:02.139 --> 00:29:02.839 my country, 00:29:03.419 --> 00:29:04.119 my race, 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.339 my intellect, 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:06.599 my understanding, 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.419 my zeal, 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:08.139 my goodness, 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.339 it's scubala. 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.220 It's just rank 00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:12.559 and rancid garbage 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.220 in comparison 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.899 with what God 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:15.939 has provided in Christ. 00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:17.519 He says, 00:29:17.779 --> 00:29:18.299 everything the world 00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:18.980 could offer me, 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.399 whatever advantages 00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.459 or status 00:29:21.459 --> 00:29:22.240 or benefits 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.859 or honors 00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.740 or comforts 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.839 that might possibly 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:25.679 come my way 00:29:25.679 --> 00:29:26.259 in the future 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.099 and that I might 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.099 put my confidence in, 00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:28.519 he says, 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.559 it's scubala. 00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.879 It's revolting refuse 00:29:31.879 --> 00:29:33.639 compared to 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.200 gaining Jesus 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:35.840 personally 00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:37.460 and knowing 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.900 Jesus relationally 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.420 and being found 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.000 in Jesus 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.160 positionally 00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:43.480 before God 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:46.259 because Paul says 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.320 when I have Christ, 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.259 his resume 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:50.440 is now my resume. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.520 His portfolio 00:29:52.520 --> 00:29:53.759 is my portfolio 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.920 and that's why 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.640 Paul defines 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.040 a Christian 00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:57.540 in verse 3. 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:57.860 He says, 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.140 a Christian is someone 00:29:59.140 --> 00:30:01.180 who puts no confidence 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:01.920 in the flesh 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:04.140 but rather they boast 00:30:04.140 --> 00:30:06.060 in Jesus Christ. 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.560 That's what a Christian 00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:08.420 is. 00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:11.240 So where's your joy 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.840 and your confidence? 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.060 What radically 00:30:14.060 --> 00:30:16.039 redefines your values? 00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:18.440 And the last question 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:19.160 briefly is, 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.259 what are the implications 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.800 of living by faith? 00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.000 What are the implications 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.080 of living by faith? 00:30:26.580 --> 00:30:27.500 So just to review, 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.759 what does it cost God 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:30.140 to provide this righteousness 00:30:30.140 --> 00:30:30.600 for us? 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.220 Will it cost Him 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.559 everything? 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.519 It cost Him the life 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.019 and death 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:34.539 of His beloved Son? 00:30:34.620 --> 00:30:35.539 He's done everything 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:36.539 that's needed 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:38.200 for our righteousness. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.980 And what does it cost 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.559 us to receive 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.140 this righteousness? 00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.180 Well, it costs us nothing. 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:45.839 It's a free gift 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:47.039 of God's grace. 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:47.680 All we need 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.240 is our need. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:48.860 All we need 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:50.059 is what Paul calls 00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.140 faith in Christ. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.660 Just to have open 00:30:52.660 --> 00:30:53.960 and empty hands 00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.759 by faith 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:56.400 to receive righteousness 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.640 from Jesus 00:30:57.640 --> 00:30:58.339 with gratitude. 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.500 Just to by faith 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.480 allow God 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.880 to put the robe 00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.960 of Christ's righteousness 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:04.680 on us. 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.759 Here's the question. 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.359 What are the implications? 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:10.559 What are the consequences 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.700 for receiving 00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:13.660 God's free grace? 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.740 If by faith 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.559 I take hold 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.900 of the righteousness 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:19.839 that God has provided 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.259 for me, 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:21.359 what will happen 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:22.400 to my life? 00:31:22.440 --> 00:31:23.200 And the answer is, 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.240 it will cost you 00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:24.779 the loss 00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:25.920 of all things. 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:28.360 That's what Paul says 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:28.880 in verse 8. 00:31:28.940 --> 00:31:29.279 He says, 00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.220 he talks about 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.259 the surpassing worth 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.560 of knowing Jesus my Lord 00:31:32.560 --> 00:31:33.480 for whose sake 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.259 I have lost 00:31:34.259 --> 00:31:35.900 all things. 00:31:36.420 --> 00:31:37.940 What does Paul mean? 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.980 What is the loss 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.400 that comes to him 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:42.400 from putting his faith 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.300 in Jesus Christ? 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.200 Well, let me just see 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:46.180 if I can draw this out 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:47.180 for you as we close. 00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:49.560 What Paul is saying here 00:31:49.560 --> 00:31:49.960 is he's saying 00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:51.380 Jesus is surpassingly 00:31:51.380 --> 00:31:52.300 great 00:31:52.300 --> 00:31:53.100 and worthy 00:31:53.099 --> 00:31:54.339 and valuable 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.240 in himself 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:55.740 no matter 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:57.059 what anyone 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.899 thinks about him. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.079 He just is that. 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:00.240 He's great. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:03.559 But Paul says 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.579 it's not enough 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:06.139 to just stand back 00:32:06.139 --> 00:32:06.939 and to marvel 00:32:06.939 --> 00:32:08.539 at the objective 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.199 beauty 00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:10.179 and excellencies 00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:11.059 of Jesus. 00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.079 Paul says 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.879 what we need to do 00:32:13.879 --> 00:32:14.619 is enter into 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.279 a subjective 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:17.099 knowing of Jesus 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:18.339 not as the Lord 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.480 but as what Paul 00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:19.879 calls him 00:32:19.879 --> 00:32:20.699 my Lord. 00:32:20.700 --> 00:32:23.259 Jesus has to become 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:23.700 for you 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:25.019 my Lord 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.680 who loved me 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.759 and gave himself 00:32:26.759 --> 00:32:27.960 for me. 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.900 This critical 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.920 and essential move 00:32:30.920 --> 00:32:32.340 from objective 00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:34.100 knowledge about Jesus 00:32:34.100 --> 00:32:36.120 to subjective 00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:37.240 knowing 00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:39.160 of Jesus 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:41.340 what Paul is telling us 00:32:41.340 --> 00:32:41.920 is that when you 00:32:41.920 --> 00:32:42.840 make that move 00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:43.940 you're going to lose 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:44.660 things that are 00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.779 extremely valuable 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.440 to you. 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.460 Think about what 00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:49.360 the Apostle Paul 00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.460 lost. 00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:53.120 By placing his faith 00:32:53.120 --> 00:32:54.059 in Jesus there 00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:55.279 on that Damascus road 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.900 he lost 00:32:55.900 --> 00:32:56.920 all of his 00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.720 former sources 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.460 of identity 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:59.039 and belonging 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.240 and meaning 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.819 and purpose. 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.900 He lost 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:04.500 his social status 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:06.120 his reputation 00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:07.120 and his standing 00:33:07.120 --> 00:33:08.519 before his community. 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.539 Paul lost 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.299 many many 00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.299 of his cherished 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:12.880 relationships. 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:14.620 He lost 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:15.640 financial support. 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.259 He lost 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.240 his personal comfort 00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.120 and security. 00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:19.819 He's writing 00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.299 this letter 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.239 from jail 00:33:21.239 --> 00:33:21.859 and a few years 00:33:21.859 --> 00:33:22.199 he's going to 00:33:22.199 --> 00:33:23.000 lose his head. 00:33:25.879 --> 00:33:27.159 What Paul is saying 00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:27.839 here is if you 00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.579 put your faith 00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.059 in Jesus 00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:30.079 you're going to 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.939 lose something 00:33:30.939 --> 00:33:31.539 that's really 00:33:31.539 --> 00:33:32.339 really valuable 00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.819 to you. 00:33:32.919 --> 00:33:33.319 For us 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:33.699 that probably 00:33:33.699 --> 00:33:34.479 means your 00:33:34.479 --> 00:33:34.979 independence 00:33:34.979 --> 00:33:37.779 your autonomy 00:33:37.779 --> 00:33:39.719 you no longer 00:33:39.719 --> 00:33:40.639 if Jesus is 00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:41.239 my Lord 00:33:41.239 --> 00:33:42.019 you no longer 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.819 belong to yourself 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:43.500 you're no longer 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.279 your Lord 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.439 you have a Lord 00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.000 that you have 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.660 to listen 00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.000 to 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.960 and follow 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.680 and obey 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.400 and surrender 00:33:49.400 --> 00:33:49.600 to 00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:50.080 and submit 00:33:50.080 --> 00:33:50.400 to 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.420 you're going 00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:51.759 to lose 00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.600 your independence 00:33:52.600 --> 00:33:53.120 and your 00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.900 autonomy 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.559 but what Paul 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:54.880 is saying 00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.519 is that these 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.039 losses 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:57.200 actually will 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:57.740 not feel 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.680 like losses 00:33:58.680 --> 00:33:59.259 to you. 00:34:01.960 --> 00:34:02.900 I was reading 00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:03.779 in my Bible 00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.400 reading plan 00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:05.320 earlier this week 00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:06.940 and it took me 00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:07.840 to Jesus' 00:34:08.059 --> 00:34:08.440 parables 00:34:08.440 --> 00:34:09.340 in Matthew 13 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:09.780 and here's 00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:10.099 what Jesus 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:10.400 says 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:10.760 he says 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:31.620 Jesus is telling 00:34:31.620 --> 00:34:32.440 us about people 00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:33.080 whose lives 00:34:33.080 --> 00:34:33.720 were changed 00:34:33.720 --> 00:34:34.400 by the joy 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:35.180 of discovering 00:34:35.180 --> 00:34:35.760 an object 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.380 of such 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:37.360 surpassing 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:37.800 value 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.420 a new 00:34:38.420 --> 00:34:39.240 precious 00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:40.140 reality 00:34:40.139 --> 00:34:40.879 that was 00:34:40.879 --> 00:34:41.119 there 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.460 for the 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:41.799 taking 00:34:41.799 --> 00:34:43.179 and they 00:34:43.179 --> 00:34:43.619 didn't just 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.239 stand back 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:44.980 and say 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.500 wow 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:46.239 that is 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.039 objectively 00:34:47.039 --> 00:34:48.039 a hidden 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.440 treasure 00:34:48.440 --> 00:34:48.799 that is 00:34:48.799 --> 00:34:49.379 objectively 00:34:49.379 --> 00:34:50.139 a pearl 00:34:50.139 --> 00:34:50.900 of great 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:51.519 price 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:52.099 no 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.339 they 00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:53.319 subjectively 00:34:53.319 --> 00:34:54.759 renounced 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.199 everything 00:34:55.199 --> 00:34:55.599 that they 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:55.859 had 00:34:55.859 --> 00:34:56.059 they 00:34:56.059 --> 00:34:56.639 subjectively 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.119 sold 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.699 absolutely 00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:58.219 everything 00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:58.960 they had 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.859 to go 00:34:59.859 --> 00:35:00.279 get the 00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:00.460 thing 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:00.779 of great 00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.259 value 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:03.400 and that's 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:03.779 what Paul 00:35:03.779 --> 00:35:04.059 means 00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:04.299 when he 00:35:04.299 --> 00:35:04.519 says 00:35:04.519 --> 00:35:05.039 for Jesus 00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.440 sake 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:05.759 I've 00:35:05.759 --> 00:35:06.079 lost 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:06.400 all 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:06.960 things 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:09.139 but when 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.539 he says 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:09.759 that 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.280 he doesn't 00:35:10.280 --> 00:35:10.700 think 00:35:10.700 --> 00:35:12.800 that he's 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:13.540 made any 00:35:13.540 --> 00:35:14.220 sacrifice 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:15.260 at all 00:35:15.260 --> 00:35:16.680 Paul says 00:35:16.680 --> 00:35:17.360 I really 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:18.240 haven't lost 00:35:18.240 --> 00:35:19.080 anything 00:35:19.080 --> 00:35:19.400 in fact 00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:19.860 everything 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:20.440 I've gotten 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:21.080 through Jesus 00:35:21.080 --> 00:35:21.920 has been a 00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:22.800 gain to me 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:27.280 Paul would 00:35:27.280 --> 00:35:27.740 write in 00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:28.440 Colossians 2 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:28.740 3 00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.240 he says 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:29.720 when I 00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:30.300 discovered 00:35:30.300 --> 00:35:30.900 Jesus 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.180 when I 00:35:31.180 --> 00:35:31.560 discovered 00:35:31.560 --> 00:35:32.040 the king 00:35:32.040 --> 00:35:32.460 of God's 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:32.740 kingdom 00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:33.600 I found 00:35:33.600 --> 00:35:34.000 the one 00:35:34.000 --> 00:35:34.740 in whom 00:35:34.740 --> 00:35:35.800 are hidden 00:35:35.800 --> 00:35:36.700 all the 00:35:36.700 --> 00:35:37.080 treasures 00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:37.760 of wisdom 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:38.740 and of 00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.200 knowledge 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:41.220 and Jesus 00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:42.060 has consistently 00:35:42.060 --> 00:35:42.640 down the 00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:43.440 last 2,000 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:43.980 years 00:35:43.980 --> 00:35:45.140 been moving 00:35:45.140 --> 00:35:46.020 men and 00:35:46.020 --> 00:35:46.220 women 00:35:46.220 --> 00:35:47.440 into large 00:35:47.440 --> 00:35:48.440 life changing 00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.020 decisions 00:35:49.020 --> 00:35:50.180 that may 00:35:50.180 --> 00:35:50.800 seem to 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.420 other people 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:52.320 like great 00:35:52.320 --> 00:35:52.860 hacks of 00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:53.540 renunciation 00:35:53.540 --> 00:35:55.040 but for 00:35:55.040 --> 00:35:55.900 Paul 00:35:55.900 --> 00:35:57.200 and for 00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:57.500 me 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:57.860 and maybe 00:35:57.860 --> 00:35:58.540 for you 00:35:58.540 --> 00:36:01.220 knowing 00:36:01.220 --> 00:36:01.640 Jesus 00:36:01.640 --> 00:36:02.280 personally 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.120 and relationally 00:36:03.120 --> 00:36:04.980 knowing 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.620 Jesus 00:36:05.620 --> 00:36:06.300 intimately 00:36:06.300 --> 00:36:06.840 and 00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:07.760 experientially 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.960 as 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.740 my 00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.220 Lord 00:36:10.220 --> 00:36:11.140 who 00:36:11.140 --> 00:36:11.560 loved 00:36:11.560 --> 00:36:11.860 me 00:36:11.860 --> 00:36:12.460 and who 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:12.760 gave 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.180 himself 00:36:13.180 --> 00:36:13.860 for 00:36:13.860 --> 00:36:14.240 me 00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.080 that 00:36:15.080 --> 00:36:15.440 so 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:15.820 far 00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:16.519 surpasses 00:36:16.519 --> 00:36:16.880 all 00:36:16.880 --> 00:36:17.120 other 00:36:17.120 --> 00:36:17.660 things 00:36:17.660 --> 00:36:18.900 that 00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:19.380 losing 00:36:19.380 --> 00:36:19.940 all 00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:20.860 to get 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.280 him 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.519 is actually 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:23.660 a gain 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.739 and what 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:25.219 you'll find 00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:25.519 is that 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:25.960 you actually 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:26.539 get back 00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.000 everything 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.399 that you 00:36:27.399 --> 00:36:27.659 thought 00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.219 you lost 00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:28.879 your identity 00:36:28.879 --> 00:36:29.859 your belonging 00:36:29.859 --> 00:36:30.739 your meaning 00:36:30.739 --> 00:36:31.779 your purpose 00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:33.019 your relationships 00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.639 your freedom 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:36.319 everything 00:36:36.319 --> 00:36:37.519 comes back 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.000 to you 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.000 in Jesus 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:41.219 friends 00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:41.800 it's only as 00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:42.119 you look 00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:42.539 upon 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:44.719 the treasure 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.699 of who 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:46.320 Jesus is 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:46.920 that pearl 00:36:46.920 --> 00:36:47.320 of great 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.800 price 00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:49.659 that you 00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.239 too will be 00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:50.960 carried away 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:52.219 by joy 00:36:52.219 --> 00:36:53.960 and by the 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.480 power of 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.039 God's free 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:55.300 grace 00:36:55.300 --> 00:36:55.739 to go 00:36:55.739 --> 00:36:56.460 sell 00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.059 absolutely 00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:57.440 everything 00:36:57.440 --> 00:36:58.059 you have 00:36:58.059 --> 00:36:59.219 to get 00:36:59.219 --> 00:36:59.480 it 00:36:59.480 --> 00:37:00.820 and to 00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.159 say with 00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:01.539 Paul 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.440 I have 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:02.760 lost 00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:03.719 all things 00:37:03.719 --> 00:37:04.920 for the 00:37:04.920 --> 00:37:05.219 sake 00:37:05.219 --> 00:37:06.099 of the 00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:06.760 surpassing 00:37:06.760 --> 00:37:07.199 worth 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:08.440 of knowing 00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.420 Christ 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:09.800 Jesus 00:37:09.800 --> 00:37:11.659 as my 00:37:11.659 --> 00:37:12.840 Lord 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:15.340 let's take a 00:37:15.340 --> 00:37:15.740 moment to 00:37:15.740 --> 00:37:16.300 just reflect 00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:16.659 on that 00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.260 as we come 00:37:17.260 --> 00:37:18.099 to the table 00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:18.400 of our 00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.679 king 00:37:18.679 --> 00:37:20.400 in the name 00:37:20.400 --> 00:37:20.599 of the 00:37:20.599 --> 00:37:20.800 Father 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:21.039 Son 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.360 and Holy 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:21.740 Spirit 00:37:21.740 --> 00:37:22.519 Amen