WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.660 As I read our sermon text, remember this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient word for his people. 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:10.339 Philippians 3, 1 through 11. 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:15.160 Finally, brethren, rejoice in the Lord. 00:00:16.440 --> 00:00:21.160 For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 00:00:22.179 --> 00:00:23.820 Beware of dogs. 00:00:24.420 --> 00:00:26.440 Beware of evil workers. 00:00:27.179 --> 00:00:29.280 Beware of the mutilation. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:40.920 For we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:48.780 Though I might have confidence in the flesh if anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so. 00:00:49.780 --> 00:00:58.879 Circumcised on the eighth day of the stock of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, concerning the law of Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church, 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:02.719 concerning the righteousness which is in the law blameless. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:06.640 But what things were gain to me? 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:10.500 These I have counted loss for Christ. 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:21.460 Yet indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, 00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:30.560 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:42.180 Not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, 00:01:42.180 --> 00:01:52.840 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death. 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:57.420 If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 00:01:57.420 --> 00:01:59.519 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:00.859 Thanks be to God. 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:01.960 Thanks be to God. 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:02.560 You may be seated. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:20.060 Oh, Lord, I ask that you please fill your people with true joy that can only come from Jesus Christ again today. 00:02:20.580 --> 00:02:25.639 And may our rejoicing in the Lord together be our strength as you promise. 00:02:26.199 --> 00:02:26.620 Amen. 00:02:26.620 --> 00:02:26.780 Amen. 00:02:27.419 --> 00:02:38.479 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stands forever. 00:02:39.299 --> 00:02:44.379 And as Luke 137 says, no word from God shall be void of power. 00:02:44.619 --> 00:02:46.599 May it be so through the ministry of his word. 00:02:52.959 --> 00:02:57.259 Well, like it or not, we live in the United States of America. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:02.679 Whose declaration of independence includes the phrase, the pursuit of happiness. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:07.679 Maybe this American ideal has never been. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:16.939 So bluntly put forward as Henry Ford himself did. 00:03:16.939 --> 00:03:20.900 There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something. 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:35.920 According to Henry Ford, the pursuit of happiness is to go after whatever your heart desires. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.899 Well, the problem is our hearts are twisted and fallen and dark. 00:03:38.899 --> 00:03:47.500 And happiness in this understanding is found in grabbing something in this realm of creation for myself. 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:52.080 Therefore, happiness is dependent upon circumstances. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:58.580 And Henry Ford pointed out what I think most Americans, maybe maybe all Westerners think. 00:03:58.580 --> 00:04:03.120 That if I work hard, I can control my happiness. 00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:06.260 It becomes this vicious cycle, doesn't it? 00:04:07.060 --> 00:04:13.420 Well, if I'm not happy, maybe I just need to work harder and accomplish something that will then make me finally happy. 00:04:13.419 --> 00:04:17.680 The Bible reveals something very different about joy. 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:23.479 Biblical joy is so much deeper and it cannot be shaken. 00:04:24.339 --> 00:04:30.659 True joy can't be manufactured, manipulated or controlled by fallen man. 00:04:31.219 --> 00:04:34.740 It's not a commodity to be bought or sold. 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:41.300 I was curious, what would Noah Webster's old dictionary say about joy and rejoicing? 00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:45.340 1828 defines joy this way. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:58.480 Joy is when your soul feels deep, contented delight because you possess and appreciate something desirable, pleasant and good. 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:03.220 Let me put that the same words in reverse order. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:20.060 If you possess, truly have something that is good, pleasant and desirable and you appreciate it, then you experience in your soul an emotion of deep, contented delight. 00:05:20.680 --> 00:05:21.640 That's joy. 00:05:22.860 --> 00:05:25.560 And rejoicing is to experience that. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:31.780 And this is different than worldly happiness because this is an inward treasure. 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:31.859 It's a treasure. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:39.279 It's a treasure that I possess in my soul that can't be taken away from me when my circumstances change. 00:05:41.599 --> 00:05:44.519 Joy is the big message of the Bible. 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:46.099 True joy. 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:52.320 The most clear part of Jesus' teachings as they build up in all of the Gospels. 00:05:52.320 --> 00:05:57.120 We get these insights in John chapters 14, 15, 16 and 17. 00:05:57.760 --> 00:06:02.700 And he pulls his disciples close and he reveals the joy of heaven to them. 00:06:03.080 --> 00:06:04.879 And Jesus said in John 15, 11, 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:21.100 See, it's the joy of Christ himself that he wants to fill the soul of a Christian. 00:06:22.759 --> 00:06:24.620 And that's our theme for today's sermon. 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:26.500 Verse one, Paul says it. 00:06:27.180 --> 00:06:30.259 Brethren, rejoice in the Lord. 00:06:30.259 --> 00:06:32.240 I say this again and again to you. 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:33.019 Rejoice. 00:06:34.339 --> 00:06:40.659 So, beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, I invite you to reflect, take stock. 00:06:42.139 --> 00:06:45.560 How precious is your joy in the Lord? 00:06:46.719 --> 00:06:49.259 How precious is your joy in the Lord? 00:06:49.259 --> 00:06:59.699 In our sermon text, I've divided it into six encouragements for us of this precious joy we have in the Lord. 00:07:00.379 --> 00:07:07.939 And the first is this, that you must be reminded to rejoice in the Lord and to protect this precious joy. 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:15.180 You and I need to be reminded to rejoice in the Lord and also to protect it. 00:07:16.099 --> 00:07:18.279 Your joy in the Lord needs to be protected. 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:22.199 And that's a big reason why we gather in his name week after week. 00:07:22.319 --> 00:07:26.919 It's to encourage and exhort and admonish and remind one another, rejoice in the Lord. 00:07:27.479 --> 00:07:32.239 No matter what else is hard in life, rejoice in the Lord. 00:07:32.679 --> 00:07:33.419 This is his day. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:34.919 Look at verse one. 00:07:35.119 --> 00:07:37.539 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. 00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:42.539 Experience the joy of Jesus himself. 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:51.120 For me to write the same things to you, Paul says, is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 00:07:51.780 --> 00:07:57.140 In other words, Paul's saying, I don't mind repeating this over and over to you. 00:07:57.140 --> 00:07:58.060 You need the reminder. 00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:01.540 Plus, this joy of Christ is what I'm bearing witness to. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:02.540 It's real. 00:08:02.540 --> 00:08:05.020 It just bubbles up from my own soul. 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:11.720 When I think of the church in Philippi and I think of Christ and his work in his kingdom, I want to tell you about this deep joy. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:14.220 And I want you to experience it. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:16.100 That's what rejoice means. 00:08:16.260 --> 00:08:17.480 Experience this joy. 00:08:19.080 --> 00:08:20.640 And he says, for you, it's safe. 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:23.640 Or other translations, for you, it's a safeguard. 00:08:24.400 --> 00:08:26.700 In other words, it needs to be protected. 00:08:26.820 --> 00:08:28.600 His very next words are, beware. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:30.280 And he repeats it three times. 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:33.100 Your joy will be under attack. 00:08:33.180 --> 00:08:33.899 It will be threatened. 00:08:35.040 --> 00:08:40.240 So you need to be reminded to rejoice in the Lord and to protect this precious joy. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:42.460 Now, let me clarify it. 00:08:42.560 --> 00:08:44.100 In verse one, when he says, finally. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:53.660 One thing you can appreciate about your translation is that it's doing its best to be word for word, but it's still understandable in English. 00:08:54.060 --> 00:08:58.180 Now, that word finally might be a bit wooden of a translation, though it's accurate. 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:09.980 But that same word in the original is used just as frequently to emphasize how the writer is now setting up a transition or drawing a conclusion to the arguments this far. 00:09:09.980 --> 00:09:12.899 To refresh your memory, it's been a few weeks. 00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:19.759 He said to them, rejoice, because the gift that you sent to me through Epaphroditus was received. 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:22.159 And his service to me was a blessing. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:25.779 And I took his service as a gift from all of you serving me. 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:28.320 Rejoice as I rejoice in you. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:30.039 He says, rejoice, church. 00:09:30.539 --> 00:09:35.759 Soon you will have my fellow soldier back in your ranks serving alongside with you. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:37.279 Rejoice, he's coming back. 00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:42.860 And rejoice, because soon you'll be reading this very letter that I'm writing to you. 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.460 Paul says, I know I'm repeating myself. 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:53.620 In fact, he uses this command, rejoice, 14 times in the four chapters of this little letter. 00:09:53.620 --> 00:09:58.919 I think Paul understood what we often forget. 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:08.279 Rejoicing is an important part of our Christian armory in the defense against the attacks of the enemy. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:16.179 This life will put Christians at war with sin, Satan, worldliness and wolves. 00:10:16.819 --> 00:10:21.959 And a big part of how we are equipped and strengthened in the battle is the joy of the Lord. 00:10:22.699 --> 00:10:25.000 The joy of the Lord is our strength. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:28.899 And your joy in the Lord is worth fighting for. 00:10:29.539 --> 00:10:33.720 So you see how in verse one, it's a command to rejoice, but don't relax. 00:10:34.019 --> 00:10:34.860 The two go together. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.559 It's a militant joy. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.039 Right now, we're the church militant. 00:10:39.319 --> 00:10:41.399 One day we'll be the church triumphant. 00:10:41.959 --> 00:10:43.139 But right now we're militant. 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:51.039 In these past weeks, we sing that beautiful Advent hymn, Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel. 00:10:51.439 --> 00:10:52.019 Remember that one? 00:10:53.479 --> 00:10:54.919 Repeats rejoice twice. 00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:56.759 The first time in a major key. 00:10:57.439 --> 00:10:57.959 Rejoice. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:59.939 The second time in a minor key. 00:11:00.699 --> 00:11:01.219 Rejoice. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:05.319 So it's joyful, but it's militant. 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:06.199 There's war. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:09.979 But Emmanuel, God is with us, his church. 00:11:10.359 --> 00:11:16.039 So we must be reminded to rejoice in the Lord and to protect this precious joy. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:20.639 The second encouragement is this. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:23.860 As with anything precious. 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:28.639 Raiders will try to rob your joy in the Lord. 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:31.360 Your joy in the Lord is precious. 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.879 It's the treasure inside of you. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:39.639 Well, you know, the tomb raiders that would try to break into the pyramids to steal the ancient gold, silver and jewelry. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.639 Because it's precious. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:41.759 Because it's precious. 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:43.399 They're going to try to get in and take it away. 00:11:44.439 --> 00:11:48.659 So his very next words are that your precious joy needs to be protected. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:49.639 It will be attacked. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:55.059 In verse one, he says, you're rejoicing needs to be safeguarded. 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:59.159 In verse two, he says, beware three times. 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:02.779 And he uses three very strong words. 00:12:03.079 --> 00:12:05.399 These are threats to your joy in the Lord. 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:07.059 Beware of dogs. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:09.240 Beware of evil workers. 00:12:09.939 --> 00:12:11.559 Beware of the mutilation. 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:13.839 What did this mean? 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:15.960 Why these words? 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:18.620 What do they have to do with the joy of the church in Philippi? 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:28.200 We really have to read verses three and four to see how Paul continues building his argument to refute these threats. 00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:34.220 The basis of the threat to a Christian's precious joy can be summarized this. 00:12:35.040 --> 00:12:39.400 You will lose your joy if you start to put confidence in your own flesh. 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:41.860 That's what he says in verses three and four. 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:44.820 Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:48.419 If anyone else thinks he might have confidence in the flesh, I mourn. 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:53.639 So do you see all three of these words tell us something about the threat to this church in Philippi, 00:12:54.039 --> 00:13:01.039 tempting these Christians to put confidence in their own flesh or to feel insecure because their flesh isn't enough. 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:08.800 Dogs, workers of evil, the mutilation. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:20.879 I love Dennis Johnson's comment that Paul paints the self-righteous Jewish legalists with the dark, unsavory hues of paganism. 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:23.039 He turns the table on him. 00:13:24.719 --> 00:13:29.839 And these three words actually have a alliteration in the original language in the Greek. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.920 The first is dogs. 00:13:31.920 --> 00:13:33.720 The Greek word is kunas. 00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:35.580 It's where we get the word canine. 00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:37.660 Kunas. 00:13:39.700 --> 00:13:41.019 Kakaos ergatas. 00:13:41.540 --> 00:13:42.580 That's evildoers. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:44.240 And katatome. 00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:46.000 They all start with the letter K. 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.220 The mutilation. 00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:52.600 Scholars have boiled these down into three categories. 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:55.940 And it's almost like it's almost like Paul has just seen this pattern. 00:13:56.659 --> 00:13:58.159 God brings the gospel to a church. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:00.920 Gentiles and all kinds of people are believing. 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:01.860 They're gathered together. 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:02.940 The spirit's ministering. 00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:10.360 But then here comes Satan dressed as an angel of light, twisting them, trying to bind them now to put confidence back in the flesh again. 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:13.300 And it's almost like he's got a shorthand for that pattern. 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:14.879 And it's these three Greek words. 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:18.180 He just rattles them off under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.180 What is the meaning here? 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:26.339 The dogs are those who rob a Christian's joy by putting confidence in pedigree. 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:33.199 So the three Ps that we can use to help us understand are pedigree, performance, and purity. 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.639 So the dogs, it's pedigree. 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:40.979 He says these legalists are the true dogs. 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:48.419 And this is a reference to Gentiles who would be considered dirty animals and scavengers in the land. 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:53.199 This would be a disgusting animal that lives in the alleys and eats trash. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:15:03.360 Even in Matthew 15, 24, Jesus used this common phrase of outsiders to the covenant people of God as Gentile dogs. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:08.860 When that demon possessed, a girl's mom came to ask him and she wasn't a Jew. 00:15:09.660 --> 00:15:13.379 And then, of course, Jesus in compassion saves her daughter. 00:15:13.640 --> 00:15:16.640 And they believe in him by grace to turn the tables. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.860 And Paul is following Christ's own pattern here. 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:28.139 In the ancient world, most dogs were not pets, but were street mongrels scavenging scraps from stinking garbage heaps. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:32.340 Disgusting and defiling carpaces were what they would eat for their snacks. 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:35.879 In Exodus 22, 31, listen to this. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:38.240 It's most likely where this became their phrase. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:45.120 Exodus 22, 31, God says, you shall be consecrated to me, O Israelite people. 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:50.000 Therefore, you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by the beasts of the field. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.379 These decaying carcasses don't eat roadkill. 00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:53.860 Don't do that. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.860 Instead, throw it to the dogs. 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:59.960 See, you people of Israel are clean and consecrated. 00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:02.460 Throw the trash to the dogs. 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:15.139 The legalists, following the ministry of the gospel, they wanted to bind Christians to a certain diet, condemning anyone who would not eat kosher food. 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:24.400 And Paul portrayed them as being the ones that are feasting on poisonous food like disease infected tramps. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.600 See how I turned the table on them? 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:32.840 You're trying to say you have to be kosher, have this Jewish diet to be in the people of God. 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:37.840 No, to bind God's true people that way is to be a dog yourself. 00:16:38.820 --> 00:16:42.879 Their pedigree is not based on a Jewish ceremonial law. 00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.600 It's not that at all. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:47.159 And he's going to explain what the true identity is. 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:50.919 So Christians, beware of dogs. 00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:57.480 Who would try to say, based on what you put into your mouth, you're the mutt. 00:16:57.819 --> 00:16:58.519 Beware of that. 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:01.339 Number two is the evil workers. 00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:11.440 Those are the false teachers who would try to rob the Christian's joy in Jesus by putting confidence in your own performance. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:25.779 Those who place their confidence of acceptance by God in detailed, obedient keeping of the ritual, ceremonial and ethical demands of the old covenant and the Jewish tradition. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:32.980 See, they're saying you have to do all these works according to the old covenant laws for the people of God in the land. 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:41.019 And Paul says by telling people that you are the ones, instead of doing good and performing your way to God's pleasure, you are the evil workers. 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:44.259 He turns the table on them in just the same way. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:47.339 And the third one is the mutilation. 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:57.880 These are the ones who rob a Christian's joy in Jesus by putting confidence in external consecration or external purity. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:06.940 These Judaizers that followed around the ministry of the gospel by trying to bind the conscience of Christians beyond what Christ intended. 00:18:06.940 --> 00:18:15.120 They taught that if you lack this external sign of circumcision, then you are not welcome in God's presence. 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:26.600 And Paul turns the table on them by calling these outward Jews only pagan idol worshipers by calling them the mutilation. 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:28.939 That's exactly what he's alluding to. 00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:36.839 Paul selected the very same word that the Greek Old Testament uses of those self-mutilating prophets of Baal. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:40.259 Do you remember that story in 1 Kings 1828? 00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:49.599 How the prophets of Baal come before this altar that's set up as a big, great contest and they cry aloud and they cut themselves. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:56.659 They self-mutilate after their custom with swords and lances until the blood gashed out upon them. 00:18:58.539 --> 00:19:06.299 What's more is that if a priest in the Old Testament had suffered some kind of mutilation, you know, maybe a rope got tangled around the pinky and it snapped the pinky off. 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:11.039 Now that priest was no longer allowed in the presence of the Holy God. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:17.240 They'd had a mutilation and they were not consecrated, no longer able to be servants in the temple. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:29.779 So by calling these these legalists that were putting all the confidence in this external sign of circumcision, he calls them now the ones who are not welcome in God's presence. 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:34.900 Because God is not looking for an outward external circumcision. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:44.019 As with anything precious, raiders will try to rob you in me, just like the church in Philippi of our joy in the Lord. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.780 Number three. 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:46.560 So what do we do? 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:51.040 We must refute the threats to our joy in the Lord. 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.900 You and I must refute. 00:19:53.200 --> 00:19:58.120 We must fight against, push back these threats to our joy in the Lord. 00:19:58.119 --> 00:20:05.599 Johnson again commented how the religious recipe in which Paul had been raised. 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:18.839 It was a formula that blended God's initial grace with a person's own best efforts in order to yield divine approval at the final judgment. 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:23.159 So Paul was raised in that Jewish Hebrew tradition. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:32.159 God initiates you in this walk of faith and then your own best efforts at all this law keeping are what will finally give you a standing before God. 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:35.599 And he'll say you're approved because you did your best at the final judgment. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:37.299 That's what Paul was brought up on. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.059 I'm afraid many of us were brought up on something similar, a version of that. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:51.139 And so we must refute threats like that because there will be no joy in Christ if you're living in that kind of false religious formula. 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.940 And how does Paul refute it? 00:20:55.579 --> 00:21:01.740 Well, first of all, he's establishing his own credibility as one who can say, been there, tried that. 00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:02.960 It doesn't work. 00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.659 And he's going to bring the gospel instead. 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.859 So here's Paul establishing his credibility. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:10.799 Remember those three P's, the pedigree, performance and purity. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:16.899 Watch how Paul shows how he can speak to any one of those better than any of these other Judaizers. 00:21:17.659 --> 00:21:23.980 Regarding the confidence in pedigree, Paul says in verse five, I was circumcised the eighth day. 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:27.960 I got that external sign and I'm of the stock of Israel. 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:31.399 Not only do I have the external sign, I got the internal genes. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:33.379 I'm of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:39.980 Well, Benjamin was the favorite of Israel's sons and the only one born in the promised land, 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:43.460 according to Genesis 35, 16 through 18. 00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:46.019 You remember who else was from Benjamin? 00:21:46.839 --> 00:21:49.039 It was the first king of Israel. 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:51.099 Do you remember what his name was? 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:52.319 Saul. 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:55.180 See God's wonderful providence? 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:59.059 Saul in the New Testament, who God renames Paul, 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:02.360 was named after Saul, the great king from the tribe of Benjamin, 00:22:02.360 --> 00:22:05.660 who was pleasing to men, but not to God. 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:07.840 Remember who Saul persecuted? 00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:12.720 David, the type of Christ, the king after God's own heart, 00:22:13.080 --> 00:22:15.620 just as Saul persecuted the church. 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:17.759 And Jesus said, you're persecuting me. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:20.019 Isn't God's providence amazing? 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.519 He says in verse five, I was a Hebrew of the Hebrews. 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:28.640 In other words, I wasn't a mixed breed mutt. 00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:31.900 My parents, they raised me going to Hebrew school. 00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:35.660 And Paul says that the Jews who follow Jesus, 00:22:36.280 --> 00:22:39.720 if you say you follow Jesus, 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:43.540 you have no right to treat another follower of Jesus as second class. 00:22:44.060 --> 00:22:45.019 That's not the gospel. 00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:48.100 You're the real dog if that's what you do. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.400 Brief point of application. 00:22:52.860 --> 00:22:57.980 No one should look down on a fellow Christian based on what denomination they go to, for example. 00:22:57.980 --> 00:23:01.640 Don't we so quickly get proud and puffed up? 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:05.140 If someone loves Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:07.380 and they're growing as a disciple where God has put them, 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:11.299 we should praise the Lord, and we should encourage them in the faith. 00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:12.660 There's no room for pride. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:17.019 There's no room for denominationalism in that proud sense. 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:20.000 We don't compromise on our convictions of the Bible, 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:23.880 but man, we better do it with a gospel tone, right? 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:29.820 Number two, here's Paul's credibility for having confidence in his own performance. 00:23:30.040 --> 00:23:31.140 Verse five, he said, 00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:34.500 Concerning the law, I was a Pharisee. 00:23:35.540 --> 00:23:37.900 I'm the best of the law keepers. 00:23:38.380 --> 00:23:40.480 I wasn't like those liberal Sadducees. 00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:43.060 I actually believe in the resurrection of the dead. 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.540 I believe what the Bible taught. 00:23:45.780 --> 00:23:49.200 If you remember, Saul was discipled by Gamaliel, 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:53.080 and we read in Acts 5, 34 through 39, 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:58.000 that Paul's mentor was able to persuade the entire Sanhedrin. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:01.140 This would be like standing up in the middle of Congress, 00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:04.840 where you've got House of Representatives and Senators all together, 00:24:05.819 --> 00:24:07.700 and you're able to persuade the whole nation. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:09.840 That was Paul's mentor. 00:24:10.100 --> 00:24:12.080 So you want to talk about performance? 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:13.640 Paul's got that. 00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:15.360 In verse six, he says, 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:19.240 Concerning zeal, I was persecuting the church. 00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:21.920 I was trying to wipe out the Jesus sect. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.560 Well, if you and I rely on works, 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.080 or our own performance, 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:32.300 or things that we think we have done for God, 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.800 Paul does not mince words. 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:35.340 He says, 00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:38.500 All those things you thought you were doing as a good work, 00:24:39.280 --> 00:24:41.040 you were a worker of evil. 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:46.379 One example recently would be like, 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:49.960 Oh, you know, your church didn't do this toy drive, 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:53.099 or, well, I mean, our church not only did a toy drive, 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.940 we also brought Santa into the church 00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.799 so that people could take their pictures with him. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.319 Jesus says, 00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.779 You're a worker of evil. 00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.859 Did I tell you to do that? 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:04.879 You're trying to pile on all these burdens on God's people. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.559 That's not what you're called to. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:10.039 And what about confidence and purity? 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:13.000 Paul says in verse 6, 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:15.980 Concerning the righteousness which is in the law, 00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.220 blameless. 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:21.119 The Torah, the five books of the law, 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.879 and the first five that Moses wrote, 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:27.859 they include, according to the rabbis who have studied them, 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:31.539 613 laws in the Torah itself. 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.899 But Paul says, 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:34.279 Not only did I keep all of those, 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:37.639 I also kept all of the traditions of the rabbis. 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:39.500 That's called the Mishnah. 00:25:40.540 --> 00:25:43.740 And if you read reports of those who were grown up, 00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.480 even today, 00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:47.480 in that type of legalistic faith, 00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:48.800 they will say things like this. 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:51.759 You're not allowed to walk more than six feet 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:53.620 once you wake up in the morning, 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:55.660 until you wash your hands with water 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:56.500 that you had prepared 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:58.620 and left by your bedside the night before. 00:25:58.619 --> 00:26:02.299 You must wait six hours after eating chicken 00:26:02.299 --> 00:26:04.179 before you can eat any dairy product. 00:26:04.679 --> 00:26:06.579 You're not allowed to light a lamp. 00:26:07.219 --> 00:26:09.959 You're not even allowed to ask your non-Jewish friend 00:26:09.959 --> 00:26:11.579 that's in the same room to light the lamp 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:12.919 or turn on the light for you. 00:26:13.459 --> 00:26:15.339 But instead you have to hint at it. 00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:16.639 Isn't it a little dark in here? 00:26:16.699 --> 00:26:18.000 And see if they'll pick up on your hint 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:20.159 and turn it on for you if it's the Sabbath 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:22.599 so that you're not breaking the Sabbath commandment. 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:27.179 You can't even rip toilet paper on Shabbat or the Sabbath. 00:26:27.699 --> 00:26:29.579 And you have to go to sleep on your left side 00:26:29.579 --> 00:26:31.059 and then wake up on your right side. 00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:32.939 And if you hear the references, 00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:33.699 where is this from? 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:35.719 It's not from God's inspired word. 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:37.559 It's from, they'll refer to rabbis 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:39.419 who are then scholars of rabbis. 00:26:39.719 --> 00:26:41.919 They'll say things like it's from Shabbat 00:26:41.919 --> 00:26:43.719 based on the Rambam. 00:26:44.679 --> 00:26:46.639 And so you really have to understand 00:26:46.639 --> 00:26:48.779 all the teachings of the law keepers 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:50.819 in order to be able to say like Paul 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:52.119 concerning the righteousness 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:54.739 which is in the law, blameless. 00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.000 You can almost hear his tone. 00:26:57.199 --> 00:26:58.599 I hate the law. 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.019 I did it all. 00:27:00.239 --> 00:27:00.899 I tried it. 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:05.659 You don't want to know the true God of the Bible. 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:10.799 You want to keep loving an idol that you call Jesus, 00:27:10.959 --> 00:27:12.939 which is piling on wickedness 00:27:12.939 --> 00:27:14.099 because now you're blasphemy. 00:27:14.439 --> 00:27:16.359 You're calling this idol in your own mind, Jesus. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:18.000 But you don't really want to know 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.739 the true God of the Bible. 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:23.579 And yet you condemn someone who loves the Lord Jesus. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.299 It says, have mercy on me. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:27.940 And who's a chain smoker for smoking? 00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.960 You know, they're not pure. 00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:31.279 Well, do they love the Lord Jesus? 00:27:32.920 --> 00:27:35.440 Paul says everything else is evil works. 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.799 They're the mutilation. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:40.319 If you think it's your lifestyle 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:42.359 that gives you access to the Holy God, 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.059 you're a mutilator. 00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:48.700 You are unfit to be in the presence of the Holy God. 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:56.059 Well, you and I, like Paul, 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.680 even though our context is different, 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:01.079 we need to refute those subtle ways 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:03.299 that the gospel will be undermined 00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:05.379 and our joy in the Lord will be robbed. 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:08.740 The way we do that is number four. 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:11.359 It's we rehearse our grounds 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:13.419 for rejoicing in the Lord. 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:15.559 That's what Paul does really 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:17.379 with the rest of this passage. 00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:20.940 He rehearses with the Philippian church, 00:28:21.919 --> 00:28:22.919 third person plural, 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:25.240 we together, Paul and the church. 00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:28.059 Here's our grounds for rejoicing in the Lord. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:31.799 Who is it that truly belongs to God's kingdom? 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.440 Who is his covenant people? 00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:36.000 And Paul says in verse three, 00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:39.559 we are the circumcision. 00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:43.480 The Jew of Jews saying, 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:45.359 I am one with you, Philippians. 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:47.799 You know, it only took 10 men 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.139 to form a synagogue, 00:28:49.359 --> 00:28:51.000 a place where you could read the word of God. 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:53.980 And historians have found no evidence 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.220 that there was ever a synagogue 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.319 in the city of Philippi. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:58.139 It was a very Gentile city 00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:59.519 in a very Gentile church. 00:29:00.059 --> 00:29:01.159 And here's the Jew of Jews 00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:03.240 after laying out all of his credentials, 00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.919 his resume, 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.779 so the Judaizers can't get a foothold. 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:07.939 He says, I'm with the Gentile church. 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.599 I'm with these believers 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:11.919 who love the Lord Jesus, nothing else. 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.659 He identifies with them 00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:17.419 just as Christ identified with his people 00:29:17.419 --> 00:29:18.799 while they were still his enemies. 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:21.700 And he tells them, church, rejoice. 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.019 We are the circumcision. 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:27.339 We are the covenant people of God. 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:30.480 Rejoice because to the church believers 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:31.660 from all nations, 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:35.440 to us belong the fullest flowering 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.240 of all of God's promises. 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.339 You know these. 00:29:39.879 --> 00:29:41.039 Let me remind you of a couple. 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.819 Isaiah 53, 5. 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:46.319 You're condemned people of God. 00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:48.740 You're banished away because you're sin. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.759 You lost the land. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:52.680 But the punishment, 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:54.680 the chastisement that you deserve 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:56.579 that will bring you peace 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.859 and restore you to God, 00:29:57.980 --> 00:29:59.819 it will be laid not on you 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:01.460 but on the coming Messiah. 00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:05.640 Jeremiah 31, verses 31 through 34, 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.480 there will be a new covenant 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:09.879 cut between God and man 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.980 in which God will remember 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:14.440 the sins of his people no more. 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:18.340 Now the revelation we get 00:30:18.340 --> 00:30:19.160 through Jesus Christ 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.480 and the Holy Spirit breathing out 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:21.140 the New Testament 00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:23.039 is that this has happened. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.720 Colossians 2, 11. 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:27.680 In him, Jesus Christ, 00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:30.100 you also were circumcised 00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:32.580 with the circumcision made without hands 00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:34.059 by putting off the body 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:35.840 of the sins of the flesh 00:30:35.840 --> 00:30:38.440 by the circumcision of Christ. 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:41.559 Christ's death on the cross 00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:43.120 was his circumcision. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.379 He was cut off 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:47.439 so that you could be grafted in. 00:30:48.459 --> 00:30:49.539 He was punished 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:51.099 so that you could be blessed. 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:55.500 Paul says in Romans 2, 29, 00:30:55.699 --> 00:30:57.119 a Jew is one inwardly. 00:30:58.919 --> 00:31:00.899 Circumcision is a matter of the heart 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:02.339 by the Spirit, 00:31:02.979 --> 00:31:04.059 not in the law. 00:31:05.059 --> 00:31:06.979 Because Jesus was cut off, 00:31:07.719 --> 00:31:09.099 he was crucified. 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:11.500 Now the Holy Spirit 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:13.019 applies his circumcision, 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:15.299 his death on the cross for sin, 00:31:15.379 --> 00:31:16.459 he applies that now 00:31:16.459 --> 00:31:17.919 to your heart and mind 00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.879 through regeneration. 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:21.359 He melts your heart of stone. 00:31:21.719 --> 00:31:23.000 He gives you the circumcision 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.759 of the heart 00:31:23.759 --> 00:31:25.439 that's inward wrought in us 00:31:25.439 --> 00:31:26.839 by the Holy Spirit. 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:29.119 So you can rejoice 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:30.639 because now you can 00:31:30.639 --> 00:31:31.699 approach God 00:31:31.699 --> 00:31:33.319 in Jesus Christ. 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:34.619 In verse 3, 00:31:34.719 --> 00:31:35.139 Paul says, 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:37.000 you now worship God 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.360 in the Spirit. 00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:41.020 Church, we too can rejoice. 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:43.400 We are in the unprecedented era 00:31:44.040 --> 00:31:45.400 that Ezekiel prophesied 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.460 in chapter 37, 00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:49.740 verses 26 through 28. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:52.180 We are now God's nation 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:54.100 that is marked by 00:31:54.100 --> 00:31:55.600 a central blessing 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:58.880 that God dwells eternally 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:00.540 in the midst of his people 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:03.339 in an everlasting covenant. 00:32:04.399 --> 00:32:05.299 This is what we get 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.039 to be part of 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:07.680 by belonging to him 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.879 in his church. 00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:12.099 So the question was, 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.480 if you're not to put 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.019 your confidence 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.039 in your own flesh, 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.839 what do you put 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.879 your confidence in? 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:18.500 And he answers that 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.899 very clearly in verse 3. 00:32:20.599 --> 00:32:21.759 He says three things. 00:32:22.819 --> 00:32:24.220 Here's where true confidence 00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.759 that you belong to God 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.399 is found. 00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:27.460 Number one, 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:28.960 you worship God 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.000 in the Spirit. 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.319 Number two, 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.759 you rejoice 00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:34.319 in Christ Jesus. 00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.359 Number three, 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.339 you put no confidence 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.139 in your flesh. 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:42.339 When we get to approach 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.680 the Holy God 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.460 through the work 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.399 of Jesus Christ, 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:48.119 we are experiencing, 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.200 we are rejoicing, 00:32:49.420 --> 00:32:50.019 we are taking 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:51.519 what he has purchased 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.039 for us 00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:53.639 with his own blood. 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.980 Worship is a privilege 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:57.000 and a right we have 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:58.019 by belonging to him 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.220 that he purchased 00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.639 at such a high cost. 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:02.799 There's no way 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.720 that sinners like us 00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:05.039 could be with the Holy God 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.779 except for Jesus Christ 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.980 who came to satisfy 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.240 all righteousness 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.259 and to make a way 00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:11.259 for sinners like us 00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:12.000 freely 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.240 to be in the presence 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:13.799 of God. 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:17.160 When we're in his presence, 00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:19.660 you stirred up 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.400 to rejoice. 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:23.080 that's the Holy Spirit 00:33:23.080 --> 00:33:24.140 applying to us 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.240 the joy of Christ. 00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:28.060 Zephaniah 317 says 00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:29.420 that the Lord God 00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.720 is in your midst, 00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:32.240 a mighty one 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.560 who will save you 00:33:33.560 --> 00:33:35.019 and he will rejoice 00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.900 over you 00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:37.240 with gladness. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:39.259 It's Jesus rejoicing 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.740 over us 00:33:39.740 --> 00:33:40.500 with gladness 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.380 and that 00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:42.400 stirs up 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:43.560 and pulls out of us 00:33:43.560 --> 00:33:44.580 a rejoicing 00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:46.080 in response to him. 00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:48.139 So the true 00:33:48.139 --> 00:33:49.279 identifying mark 00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:50.779 of the covenant 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.500 people of God, 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.199 those who truly 00:33:52.199 --> 00:33:53.139 belong to him, 00:33:53.939 --> 00:33:55.899 is that you worship 00:33:55.899 --> 00:33:57.279 the triune God. 00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.579 Ephesians 218, 00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:00.119 it's through Jesus Christ 00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:01.559 that we have access 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:02.579 by one spirit 00:34:02.579 --> 00:34:03.839 to the Father. 00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:05.919 We must rehearse 00:34:05.919 --> 00:34:06.619 our grounds 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:07.819 for rejoicing 00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.340 in the Lord. 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:12.019 The reality is that 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.519 as much as we rehearse 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.519 this and we keep 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.219 coming together 00:34:15.219 --> 00:34:16.419 and reminding one another, 00:34:17.079 --> 00:34:18.559 we're always under attack. 00:34:18.679 --> 00:34:19.799 We are in a battle. 00:34:21.259 --> 00:34:22.639 So my fifth encouragement 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.539 for us is that 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:24.439 when we do have 00:34:24.439 --> 00:34:25.959 those waves of doubt, 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.919 those spiritual doubts, 00:34:28.739 --> 00:34:30.119 we need to follow 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.000 Paul's example, 00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:32.639 look back on our own lives, 00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:33.719 take stock, 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:35.000 and we calculate 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:36.859 what is most precious. 00:34:37.859 --> 00:34:38.980 Because if we're honest, 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:40.259 we'll be reminding ourselves 00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:41.039 that there is only 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:42.679 one precious treasure 00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:44.419 and it's deep inside my soul 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.659 where no one can steal it. 00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:47.159 So we battle 00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:48.139 our spiritual doubts 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:49.340 by calculating 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.320 what is most precious 00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:51.860 in your life. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.659 Paul says, 00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:55.099 Church, 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:56.800 don't let these false teachers 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:58.059 lead you in the wrong way. 00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.880 Take my own example. 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.420 I've laid out 00:35:00.420 --> 00:35:01.680 my credentials for you. 00:35:02.340 --> 00:35:03.400 Don't fall into that 00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:05.840 poisonous religious recipe. 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:07.000 Don't do it. 00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:08.119 Because if you do, 00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.220 it'll push you 00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:10.000 in two directions. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:12.179 you will either live 00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.719 with nervous uncertainty 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:15.039 that you're not pure enough, 00:35:15.179 --> 00:35:16.539 you have not performed enough, 00:35:17.260 --> 00:35:19.239 you have not done enough, 00:35:19.559 --> 00:35:20.599 and you'll never have 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.820 an assurance of faith. 00:35:22.960 --> 00:35:23.559 Or, 00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:25.639 you will be proud 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.780 and puffed up 00:35:26.780 --> 00:35:28.360 and overconfident 00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.820 in your own flesh, 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.920 in your own self. 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:33.539 That ambitious overconfidence 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:35.019 in what you'll be doing 00:35:35.019 --> 00:35:36.340 is burdening other believers. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:38.480 So don't follow that path. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:39.219 Either way, 00:35:39.280 --> 00:35:39.920 you will come up 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.900 disappointed 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:41.800 and hurting 00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:42.800 the very one 00:35:42.800 --> 00:35:43.599 who saved you. 00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.740 In verse 7, 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.619 Paul says, 00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:51.619 what things were gain 00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:52.360 to me. 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.639 So Paul looks back 00:35:54.639 --> 00:35:55.639 at his resume 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.900 and he said, 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.500 I used to think 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:58.820 that was a star 00:35:58.820 --> 00:36:00.019 and this was a star 00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.119 and all these things 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:01.860 made me shine. 00:36:03.699 --> 00:36:05.039 But now I look back 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:05.699 and what I thought 00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.579 was gain, 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:08.279 I had rested 00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:08.960 my confidence 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.759 of those things. 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.619 Now I have counted 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:13.000 them loss 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:14.880 for Christ. 00:36:15.719 --> 00:36:16.559 In the light 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.179 of the gospel, 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.739 he now finds 00:36:18.739 --> 00:36:19.340 all those 00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:20.880 personal achievements 00:36:20.880 --> 00:36:22.279 repellent 00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:23.759 and defiling 00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:24.980 before the face 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:25.440 of God. 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.360 In verse 8, 00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:26.779 he says, 00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:27.079 indeed, 00:36:27.179 --> 00:36:27.900 I also count 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:29.019 all things 00:36:29.019 --> 00:36:29.900 loss. 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:29.980 loss. 00:36:30.720 --> 00:36:31.740 The word loss 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.380 that he's using 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.519 really means damage. 00:36:34.579 --> 00:36:35.180 What I thought 00:36:35.180 --> 00:36:35.740 was helping 00:36:35.740 --> 00:36:37.039 was doing damage. 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.720 He's using 00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:39.680 banking terms. 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.240 See, 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:40.780 in verse 7, 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.099 he says, 00:36:41.220 --> 00:36:41.480 what I thought 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.599 was gain to me, 00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:43.840 I thought that 00:36:43.840 --> 00:36:44.760 was a profit. 00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.280 He says, 00:36:47.320 --> 00:36:47.920 it was actually 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:49.220 counted loss. 00:36:52.019 --> 00:36:52.579 You know, 00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.260 this is true. 00:36:53.720 --> 00:36:54.619 You get a credit 00:36:54.619 --> 00:36:55.000 card. 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.519 You'll never 00:36:56.519 --> 00:36:57.820 grow in your wealth 00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.539 if you keep 00:36:58.539 --> 00:36:59.360 plunging yourself 00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:00.140 further and 00:37:00.140 --> 00:37:01.680 further into debt. 00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.080 You can never 00:37:03.080 --> 00:37:04.840 enjoy a rich 00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:06.080 spiritual life 00:37:06.080 --> 00:37:06.620 if you keep 00:37:06.620 --> 00:37:07.380 digging yourself 00:37:07.380 --> 00:37:08.280 deeper and deeper 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:10.400 into a self-righteous 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:11.100 hole. 00:37:12.860 --> 00:37:13.900 Paul tells 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.580 his testimony 00:37:14.580 --> 00:37:15.380 in verse 8, 00:37:15.500 --> 00:37:16.539 for the excellence 00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:18.080 of the knowledge 00:37:18.080 --> 00:37:19.160 of Christ 00:37:19.160 --> 00:37:20.080 Jesus, 00:37:20.680 --> 00:37:21.500 my Lord. 00:37:22.940 --> 00:37:23.960 Everything else 00:37:23.960 --> 00:37:25.820 pales in comparison. 00:37:26.300 --> 00:37:26.940 This is the only 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.340 time 00:37:27.340 --> 00:37:28.600 in the New Testament 00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:29.240 when Paul 00:37:29.240 --> 00:37:30.519 refers to Jesus 00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.740 as my 00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.640 Lord, 00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:33.980 my God. 00:37:34.820 --> 00:37:35.600 His testimony, 00:37:35.820 --> 00:37:36.720 we get in the letter 00:37:36.720 --> 00:37:38.340 to 1 Timothy 1, 00:37:38.400 --> 00:37:39.780 verses 13 through 16. 00:37:39.940 --> 00:37:40.340 Paul wrote, 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:41.440 though formerly 00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.740 I was a blasphemer, 00:37:43.380 --> 00:37:44.039 persecutor, 00:37:44.400 --> 00:37:45.579 and insolent opponent, 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:46.860 but the grace 00:37:46.860 --> 00:37:47.360 of the Lord 00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:48.480 overflowed 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.760 for me 00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:51.180 with the faith 00:37:51.180 --> 00:37:51.820 and love 00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.720 that are in Christ 00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.260 Jesus. 00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.140 In Christ, 00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:55.079 Jesus came into 00:37:55.079 --> 00:37:55.559 the world 00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:56.720 to save sinners 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:57.259 of whom 00:37:57.259 --> 00:37:59.119 I am the foremost. 00:37:59.719 --> 00:37:59.939 Why? 00:38:00.399 --> 00:38:01.379 That in me, 00:38:01.500 --> 00:38:02.279 Jesus Christ 00:38:02.279 --> 00:38:03.359 might display 00:38:03.359 --> 00:38:04.599 his perfect patience 00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:05.419 as an example 00:38:05.419 --> 00:38:06.039 to you 00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:07.579 who now believe 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.239 in him 00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:09.980 for eternal life. 00:38:12.059 --> 00:38:13.059 In verse 8, 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.480 he says, 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:13.779 yes, 00:38:13.859 --> 00:38:14.519 I've suffered 00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:15.239 the loss 00:38:15.239 --> 00:38:15.859 of all things 00:38:15.859 --> 00:38:16.559 for Christ. 00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:18.559 Paul had forfeited 00:38:18.559 --> 00:38:19.579 his reputation, 00:38:20.199 --> 00:38:21.500 his self-respect, 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:22.859 his standing 00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.659 in the community, 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:25.639 his personal safety, 00:38:25.719 --> 00:38:26.079 and more, 00:38:26.219 --> 00:38:27.379 but he says, 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.879 I gained Christ. 00:38:29.819 --> 00:38:31.319 I'm found in Christ 00:38:31.319 --> 00:38:32.839 and I know him. 00:38:34.440 --> 00:38:35.519 He bears witness 00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.279 to the same thing 00:38:36.279 --> 00:38:37.259 that James does 00:38:37.259 --> 00:38:38.579 in James 1, 00:38:38.699 --> 00:38:38.839 2, 00:38:38.899 --> 00:38:39.219 and 3. 00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:39.299 He says, 00:38:39.299 --> 00:38:40.139 consider it 00:38:40.139 --> 00:38:42.219 pure joy, 00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:43.460 my brethren, 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:44.719 whenever you face 00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.940 trials of many kinds 00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:46.819 because you know 00:38:46.819 --> 00:38:47.599 that the testing 00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.759 of your faith 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:50.800 produces perseverance. 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.580 When you suffer 00:38:52.580 --> 00:38:54.180 for Christ's name, 00:38:54.680 --> 00:38:55.600 consider it joy. 00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:56.200 James says, 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.400 no, 00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:58.420 consider it pure joy 00:38:58.420 --> 00:39:01.020 to suffer for Christ. 00:39:02.000 --> 00:39:02.640 Paul says, 00:39:02.780 --> 00:39:03.720 all of those things 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:04.700 that I thought 00:39:04.700 --> 00:39:06.600 were adding my value, 00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:08.420 this is like revenue, 00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:09.960 profit on my account. 00:39:10.540 --> 00:39:12.780 That was a massive debt 00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:14.480 and I had to declare bankruptcy 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.780 before the Holy God. 00:39:15.780 --> 00:39:17.540 those things 00:39:17.540 --> 00:39:18.320 were damaging 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:20.000 my standing before God. 00:39:20.640 --> 00:39:21.040 In verse 8, 00:39:21.100 --> 00:39:21.400 he says, 00:39:21.580 --> 00:39:22.200 I count them 00:39:22.200 --> 00:39:23.660 as rubbish, 00:39:25.560 --> 00:39:26.080 refuse, 00:39:26.660 --> 00:39:28.220 which is rotting food, 00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.880 or dung. 00:39:31.240 --> 00:39:31.680 Children, 00:39:31.860 --> 00:39:33.000 dung is what we flush. 00:39:35.280 --> 00:39:36.540 That's why he says, 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:37.880 compared to Christ, 00:39:38.220 --> 00:39:40.120 it's garbage. 00:39:42.640 --> 00:39:44.280 It's worse than worthless. 00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:46.760 If you're like me, 00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:47.700 this is searching 00:39:47.700 --> 00:39:49.300 because my flesh 00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:50.260 so often wants 00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:51.120 to go there again. 00:39:51.280 --> 00:39:52.440 Am I doing enough? 00:39:52.700 --> 00:39:53.880 Am I going to be, 00:39:54.019 --> 00:39:54.200 you know, 00:39:54.280 --> 00:39:55.240 show up before the Lord 00:39:55.240 --> 00:39:55.960 and he's going to look 00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:56.920 at my life? 00:39:57.080 --> 00:39:57.740 Will he be pleased 00:39:57.740 --> 00:39:58.900 with my performance? 00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:01.980 And then I'm exposed 00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:03.240 to his law 00:40:03.240 --> 00:40:05.220 and I'm just laid low 00:40:05.220 --> 00:40:05.780 once again. 00:40:07.280 --> 00:40:08.480 And if the Holy Spirit 00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:09.700 is breaking up 00:40:09.700 --> 00:40:10.440 the hard soil 00:40:10.440 --> 00:40:11.160 in your heart 00:40:11.160 --> 00:40:11.740 and in mine, 00:40:12.120 --> 00:40:13.260 we will want to weep. 00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:15.260 I'm so encouraged 00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:15.960 by the passage 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:17.400 we read earlier. 00:40:18.240 --> 00:40:19.140 Justin read for us 00:40:19.140 --> 00:40:19.980 Nehemiah 8 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:22.480 in verses 9 and 10. 00:40:23.660 --> 00:40:24.560 After they had read 00:40:24.560 --> 00:40:25.660 the law of God 00:40:25.660 --> 00:40:26.780 and the people weep 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:27.460 and mourn 00:40:27.460 --> 00:40:28.220 over their sin, 00:40:30.100 --> 00:40:30.620 the Leap Knights 00:40:30.620 --> 00:40:31.440 taught the people 00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:32.320 and the people 00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:33.060 all wept 00:40:33.060 --> 00:40:33.780 as they heard 00:40:33.780 --> 00:40:34.720 the words of the law. 00:40:35.160 --> 00:40:35.720 But then God 00:40:35.720 --> 00:40:36.440 said to them, 00:40:36.820 --> 00:40:37.640 and God says this 00:40:37.640 --> 00:40:38.380 to us now 00:40:38.380 --> 00:40:39.780 after you've repented, 00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:42.420 do not mourn 00:40:42.420 --> 00:40:43.160 or weep. 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:44.940 This is the holy day 00:40:44.940 --> 00:40:45.980 of the Lord your God. 00:40:46.540 --> 00:40:47.800 Do not be grieved 00:40:47.800 --> 00:40:48.840 for the joy 00:40:48.840 --> 00:40:49.740 of the Lord 00:40:49.740 --> 00:40:50.920 is your strength. 00:40:51.180 --> 00:40:52.080 You see how quick 00:40:52.080 --> 00:40:52.780 God is, 00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:53.720 how ready he is 00:40:53.720 --> 00:40:54.780 to forgive us 00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:55.900 and to restore us. 00:40:56.780 --> 00:40:57.740 And we rest 00:40:57.740 --> 00:40:58.940 in Jesus Christ 00:40:58.940 --> 00:40:59.500 and we say, 00:40:59.660 --> 00:41:01.080 this is my only gain, 00:41:01.340 --> 00:41:02.280 my only treasure. 00:41:02.820 --> 00:41:04.160 This is the precious possession. 00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:05.040 I have Christ. 00:41:05.240 --> 00:41:06.040 I know him. 00:41:06.420 --> 00:41:07.619 I'm right before God 00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:09.559 because it's his righteousness 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:10.420 covering me. 00:41:12.259 --> 00:41:13.320 There's an infinitely 00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:14.699 more valuable treasure 00:41:14.699 --> 00:41:15.239 than anything 00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:16.279 this world can offer 00:41:16.279 --> 00:41:17.900 and it's to have communion 00:41:17.900 --> 00:41:18.980 with God 00:41:18.980 --> 00:41:20.000 through Jesus Christ, 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.199 to have the spirit 00:41:21.199 --> 00:41:21.900 of the holy God 00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:23.519 dwelling in your soul, 00:41:24.059 --> 00:41:25.179 the place where no robber 00:41:25.179 --> 00:41:26.219 can break in and steal, 00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:29.960 where moths and rust 00:41:29.960 --> 00:41:30.759 can't destroy. 00:41:31.380 --> 00:41:32.360 He is your treasure. 00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:34.800 So Paul says, 00:41:34.860 --> 00:41:35.579 I count it all. 00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:37.400 An easy loss. 00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:38.079 No brainer 00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:39.199 because I got Christ. 00:41:39.940 --> 00:41:40.860 There was a missionary 00:41:40.860 --> 00:41:43.239 who moved to Ecuador 00:41:43.239 --> 00:41:44.860 and into the jungles 00:41:44.860 --> 00:41:45.340 of Ecuador 00:41:45.340 --> 00:41:46.420 to take the gospel 00:41:46.420 --> 00:41:47.279 to an unreached 00:41:47.279 --> 00:41:48.139 people group there. 00:41:49.699 --> 00:41:50.679 And he died. 00:41:50.800 --> 00:41:52.159 He was speared to death. 00:41:52.239 --> 00:41:53.159 His name was Jim Elliot 00:41:53.159 --> 00:41:54.039 along with others 00:41:54.039 --> 00:41:54.739 on his team. 00:41:55.800 --> 00:41:56.659 But his wife 00:41:56.659 --> 00:41:57.440 kept his story 00:41:57.440 --> 00:42:00.539 and Jim Elliot's testimony 00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:01.519 even dying 00:42:01.519 --> 00:42:02.440 at a very young age 00:42:02.440 --> 00:42:03.039 was this. 00:42:03.739 --> 00:42:04.940 He is no fool 00:42:04.940 --> 00:42:06.340 who gives 00:42:06.340 --> 00:42:07.920 what he cannot keep 00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:09.240 to gain 00:42:09.240 --> 00:42:11.000 what he cannot lose. 00:42:11.820 --> 00:42:13.079 So we need to battle 00:42:13.079 --> 00:42:13.940 our spiritual doubts, 00:42:14.139 --> 00:42:15.960 calculate what is most precious 00:42:15.960 --> 00:42:17.599 in this life truly. 00:42:19.200 --> 00:42:20.519 And the sixth point is this, 00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:21.720 that when you meet your maker, 00:42:22.260 --> 00:42:23.940 make sure 00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:25.380 you'll be able 00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:26.300 to rejoice. 00:42:26.300 --> 00:42:26.460 grace. 00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:29.000 We will all meet our maker. 00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:32.080 Your soul will meet him 00:42:32.080 --> 00:42:33.120 the moment you die. 00:42:34.060 --> 00:42:35.220 And in the fullness of time 00:42:35.220 --> 00:42:36.080 when Christ returns, 00:42:36.160 --> 00:42:37.480 there will be a great resurrection. 00:42:39.039 --> 00:42:40.400 Saved and unsaved 00:42:40.400 --> 00:42:41.720 will be resurrected 00:42:41.720 --> 00:42:42.800 and stand before 00:42:42.800 --> 00:42:43.500 the creator 00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:44.240 of all. 00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:46.160 My encouragement 00:42:46.160 --> 00:42:47.519 to you who God 00:42:47.519 --> 00:42:48.440 has brought here today 00:42:48.440 --> 00:42:49.820 once again 00:42:49.820 --> 00:42:51.580 is make sure 00:42:51.580 --> 00:42:52.700 you will be able 00:42:52.700 --> 00:42:53.360 to rejoice 00:42:53.360 --> 00:42:54.460 that day. 00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:55.840 How? 00:42:56.780 --> 00:42:57.980 That's what Paul tells us 00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:59.260 in verses 9 through 11. 00:43:00.780 --> 00:43:01.460 See heaven 00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:03.660 where our souls go 00:43:03.660 --> 00:43:04.740 and the new heavens 00:43:04.740 --> 00:43:05.220 and the earth 00:43:05.220 --> 00:43:06.180 where the glory of God 00:43:06.180 --> 00:43:06.960 fills the earth 00:43:06.960 --> 00:43:08.000 as the waters 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:09.360 cover the sea. 00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.940 It's a place 00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:11.720 where the angels 00:43:11.720 --> 00:43:12.740 are rejoicing 00:43:12.740 --> 00:43:13.600 in his presence, 00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:14.980 delighting in him, 00:43:15.240 --> 00:43:16.100 where the souls 00:43:16.100 --> 00:43:17.260 of those he saved 00:43:17.260 --> 00:43:18.600 are singing before him. 00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:20.199 That's why C.S. Lewis 00:43:20.199 --> 00:43:21.440 I think rightly said 00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:23.239 joy is the serious 00:43:23.239 --> 00:43:24.199 business of heaven. 00:43:24.960 --> 00:43:26.079 Make sure you'll be able 00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:27.259 to rejoice as well. 00:43:27.839 --> 00:43:28.920 On what basis 00:43:28.920 --> 00:43:29.779 can you know this? 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.480 When you have to give 00:43:31.480 --> 00:43:33.279 an account to your God, 00:43:33.619 --> 00:43:34.900 what will he accept? 00:43:36.420 --> 00:43:37.759 According to verse 9, 00:43:38.619 --> 00:43:39.639 your only hope 00:43:39.639 --> 00:43:41.039 of rejoicing in heaven 00:43:41.039 --> 00:43:43.440 when you meet your maker 00:43:43.440 --> 00:43:45.019 is to be found 00:43:45.019 --> 00:43:46.420 in him. 00:43:46.420 --> 00:43:48.659 to be found 00:43:48.659 --> 00:43:49.740 in Christ's righteousness 00:43:49.740 --> 00:43:51.579 not your own merits, 00:43:52.019 --> 00:43:53.159 but in him. 00:43:54.260 --> 00:43:55.059 The holy life 00:43:55.059 --> 00:43:56.059 of Jesus Christ 00:43:56.059 --> 00:43:57.019 roping, 00:43:57.300 --> 00:43:57.920 covering you 00:43:57.920 --> 00:43:58.840 completely 00:43:58.840 --> 00:44:00.000 so that that's all 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:01.220 the holy God can see 00:44:01.220 --> 00:44:02.220 is Christ 00:44:02.220 --> 00:44:03.900 clothing you. 00:44:05.180 --> 00:44:05.840 Paul writes 00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:06.440 in verse 9, 00:44:06.559 --> 00:44:07.220 not having 00:44:07.220 --> 00:44:08.539 my own righteousness 00:44:08.539 --> 00:44:10.039 which is from the law, 00:44:10.340 --> 00:44:10.860 from things 00:44:10.860 --> 00:44:11.840 I must do. 00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:13.460 Whatever brings 00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:14.500 you glory 00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.679 in this life, 00:44:16.380 --> 00:44:17.179 it's really like 00:44:17.179 --> 00:44:18.800 a big bag of sand 00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.840 tied to your ankle 00:44:19.840 --> 00:44:20.679 pulling you deeper 00:44:20.679 --> 00:44:21.059 and deeper 00:44:21.059 --> 00:44:21.820 into the ocean. 00:44:22.420 --> 00:44:23.840 If it brings you glory, 00:44:24.039 --> 00:44:25.039 it's pulling you 00:44:25.039 --> 00:44:25.659 toward hell. 00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:28.179 You don't want 00:44:28.179 --> 00:44:29.039 anything 00:44:29.039 --> 00:44:30.460 of your righteousness. 00:44:30.739 --> 00:44:31.059 You want 00:44:31.059 --> 00:44:31.699 the righteousness 00:44:31.699 --> 00:44:32.559 of Christ, 00:44:33.179 --> 00:44:33.659 that which 00:44:33.659 --> 00:44:34.500 he freely 00:44:34.500 --> 00:44:35.400 put onto you, 00:44:35.500 --> 00:44:36.460 the only way 00:44:36.460 --> 00:44:37.719 he gives it. 00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:39.340 He says also 00:44:39.340 --> 00:44:40.000 in verse 9, 00:44:40.099 --> 00:44:40.760 you get this 00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:41.260 righteousness 00:44:41.260 --> 00:44:42.200 that is Christ 00:44:42.200 --> 00:44:43.540 through faith 00:44:43.540 --> 00:44:44.360 in him. 00:44:45.320 --> 00:44:46.380 Not by works, 00:44:46.520 --> 00:44:47.340 but by receiving 00:44:47.340 --> 00:44:47.900 freely. 00:44:48.760 --> 00:44:49.640 As Calvin said, 00:44:49.780 --> 00:44:50.420 faith is the 00:44:50.420 --> 00:44:51.680 poor beggar's hand. 00:44:52.120 --> 00:44:52.740 It's the instrument 00:44:52.740 --> 00:44:53.920 that God puts 00:44:53.920 --> 00:44:54.720 the blessings 00:44:54.720 --> 00:44:55.300 of Christ 00:44:55.300 --> 00:44:56.100 and makes him 00:44:56.100 --> 00:44:56.620 your savior. 00:44:56.940 --> 00:44:57.700 You bring nothing 00:44:57.700 --> 00:44:58.880 to the equation. 00:45:01.780 --> 00:45:03.380 The uncompromised 00:45:03.380 --> 00:45:04.320 only criteria 00:45:04.320 --> 00:45:05.380 that the holy God 00:45:05.380 --> 00:45:06.020 will accept 00:45:06.020 --> 00:45:06.940 is the righteousness 00:45:06.940 --> 00:45:07.640 which is 00:45:07.640 --> 00:45:09.100 from God 00:45:09.100 --> 00:45:10.800 by faith. 00:45:12.140 --> 00:45:13.840 It's faith alone, 00:45:14.160 --> 00:45:14.820 not faith 00:45:14.820 --> 00:45:16.460 plus anything else. 00:45:17.360 --> 00:45:17.700 And when you 00:45:17.700 --> 00:45:18.800 behold God 00:45:18.800 --> 00:45:19.860 in Jesus Christ 00:45:19.860 --> 00:45:20.400 by faith, 00:45:20.520 --> 00:45:21.160 God promises 00:45:21.160 --> 00:45:21.880 verse 10 00:45:21.880 --> 00:45:23.100 that you will 00:45:23.100 --> 00:45:23.580 know him. 00:45:24.200 --> 00:45:24.620 You will have 00:45:24.620 --> 00:45:25.700 such close union 00:45:25.700 --> 00:45:26.680 that he is 00:45:26.680 --> 00:45:27.800 already sharing 00:45:27.800 --> 00:45:28.360 with you 00:45:28.360 --> 00:45:29.920 now in this life 00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:30.800 the power 00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:31.980 of the resurrection. 00:45:33.280 --> 00:45:33.780 It says, 00:45:33.960 --> 00:45:34.360 Holy Spirit 00:45:34.360 --> 00:45:34.980 making you 00:45:34.980 --> 00:45:35.760 a new creation 00:45:35.760 --> 00:45:36.200 already, 00:45:36.620 --> 00:45:37.540 killing sin in you, 00:45:37.920 --> 00:45:38.620 growing your love 00:45:38.620 --> 00:45:39.060 for God, 00:45:39.460 --> 00:45:39.980 causing you 00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:40.580 to rejoice. 00:45:42.180 --> 00:45:43.040 You see how 00:45:43.040 --> 00:45:44.120 suffering prepares 00:45:44.120 --> 00:45:44.960 you to rejoice 00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:45.500 in heaven. 00:45:46.180 --> 00:45:46.980 The more closely 00:45:46.980 --> 00:45:47.440 you and I 00:45:47.440 --> 00:45:48.480 identify with Christ 00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:49.140 right now 00:45:49.140 --> 00:45:50.240 in his suffering, 00:45:50.460 --> 00:45:51.180 in his death 00:45:51.180 --> 00:45:51.700 on the cross 00:45:51.700 --> 00:45:52.520 to save us, 00:45:53.280 --> 00:45:54.100 the more he 00:45:54.100 --> 00:45:55.420 strips our souls 00:45:55.420 --> 00:45:56.680 away of our own 00:45:56.680 --> 00:45:57.820 flesh and our 00:45:57.820 --> 00:45:58.560 remaining sin. 00:45:59.220 --> 00:46:00.060 It's suffering 00:46:00.060 --> 00:46:00.640 that he uses 00:46:00.640 --> 00:46:01.420 to sanctify 00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:02.240 and prepare us 00:46:02.240 --> 00:46:03.180 to rejoice 00:46:03.180 --> 00:46:04.540 in his presence. 00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:06.480 In verse 10, 00:46:06.700 --> 00:46:07.420 Paul calls this 00:46:07.420 --> 00:46:08.420 the fellowship 00:46:08.420 --> 00:46:10.119 of Christ's 00:46:10.119 --> 00:46:10.579 suffering. 00:46:11.260 --> 00:46:11.900 We are 00:46:11.900 --> 00:46:12.880 fellowshipping, 00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:13.680 we are partners, 00:46:13.860 --> 00:46:15.159 we are communing 00:46:15.159 --> 00:46:16.639 with Jesus Christ 00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:17.659 when we suffer 00:46:17.659 --> 00:46:18.320 in Christ, 00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:20.320 which God uses 00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:20.940 to make you 00:46:20.940 --> 00:46:21.500 more and more 00:46:21.500 --> 00:46:22.380 conformed 00:46:22.380 --> 00:46:23.760 to his death. 00:46:24.139 --> 00:46:25.039 Not alive to 00:46:25.039 --> 00:46:25.760 yourself and your 00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:26.039 flesh, 00:46:26.159 --> 00:46:27.099 but conformed 00:46:27.099 --> 00:46:27.559 to the death 00:46:27.559 --> 00:46:28.139 of Christ. 00:46:28.860 --> 00:46:30.059 He died for you, 00:46:30.139 --> 00:46:30.880 now he lives 00:46:30.880 --> 00:46:31.420 in you. 00:46:32.079 --> 00:46:32.619 You share 00:46:32.619 --> 00:46:33.579 in his death 00:46:33.579 --> 00:46:34.200 on the cross, 00:46:34.639 --> 00:46:35.820 you belong to him, 00:46:35.820 --> 00:46:36.740 and you will 00:46:36.740 --> 00:46:37.820 share in his 00:46:37.820 --> 00:46:38.360 resurrection. 00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:40.519 Fellowship 00:46:40.519 --> 00:46:41.280 with our 00:46:41.280 --> 00:46:42.180 Lord Jesus Christ, 00:46:42.280 --> 00:46:43.160 especially in 00:46:43.160 --> 00:46:43.580 suffering, 00:46:44.580 --> 00:46:45.420 is the way 00:46:45.420 --> 00:46:45.780 that God 00:46:45.780 --> 00:46:46.720 purifies you 00:46:46.720 --> 00:46:49.059 and it's the way 00:46:49.059 --> 00:46:49.640 that he grows 00:46:49.640 --> 00:46:50.320 your assurance. 00:46:51.080 --> 00:46:52.100 God proves 00:46:52.100 --> 00:46:53.059 himself over 00:46:53.059 --> 00:46:53.860 and over 00:46:53.860 --> 00:46:54.420 and over 00:46:54.420 --> 00:46:55.539 because in 00:46:55.539 --> 00:46:56.140 that suffering 00:46:56.140 --> 00:46:56.740 you are not 00:46:56.740 --> 00:46:57.080 alone, 00:46:58.039 --> 00:46:58.780 the Lord Jesus 00:46:58.780 --> 00:46:59.900 was with you 00:46:59.900 --> 00:47:00.820 through it. 00:47:02.220 --> 00:47:02.840 And that's 00:47:02.840 --> 00:47:03.360 the confidence 00:47:03.360 --> 00:47:04.240 we need to 00:47:04.240 --> 00:47:05.100 know that when 00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:05.940 I meet my 00:47:05.940 --> 00:47:06.259 maker, 00:47:06.440 --> 00:47:06.900 I will be 00:47:06.900 --> 00:47:07.279 able to 00:47:07.279 --> 00:47:07.639 rejoice. 00:47:08.659 --> 00:47:09.119 That's what 00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:09.619 it means to 00:47:09.619 --> 00:47:10.599 attain the 00:47:10.599 --> 00:47:11.059 resurrection 00:47:11.059 --> 00:47:11.679 from the 00:47:11.679 --> 00:47:12.619 dead with 00:47:12.619 --> 00:47:13.239 rejoicing. 00:47:15.019 --> 00:47:15.579 Well, 00:47:15.619 --> 00:47:16.119 Henry Ford 00:47:16.119 --> 00:47:16.679 had said 00:47:16.679 --> 00:47:17.099 from the 00:47:17.099 --> 00:47:17.539 perspective 00:47:17.539 --> 00:47:18.279 of proud 00:47:18.279 --> 00:47:19.099 fallen man 00:47:19.099 --> 00:47:20.199 under the 00:47:20.199 --> 00:47:20.739 curse of 00:47:20.739 --> 00:47:21.500 a covenant 00:47:21.500 --> 00:47:22.139 of works, 00:47:22.839 --> 00:47:23.380 this lie, 00:47:24.039 --> 00:47:24.779 there is no 00:47:24.779 --> 00:47:25.659 happiness except 00:47:25.659 --> 00:47:26.059 in the 00:47:26.059 --> 00:47:26.659 realization 00:47:26.659 --> 00:47:27.860 that we 00:47:27.860 --> 00:47:28.739 have accomplished 00:47:28.739 --> 00:47:29.500 something. 00:47:30.119 --> 00:47:30.539 You see how 00:47:30.539 --> 00:47:30.940 Paul just 00:47:30.940 --> 00:47:31.880 totally destroyed 00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:33.360 that statement. 00:47:33.360 --> 00:47:34.840 the truth 00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:35.099 of the 00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:35.660 gospel is 00:47:35.660 --> 00:47:35.880 this, 00:47:35.940 --> 00:47:36.280 that there 00:47:36.280 --> 00:47:36.940 is no 00:47:36.940 --> 00:47:38.539 joy except 00:47:38.539 --> 00:47:39.480 in communion 00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:40.320 with the 00:47:40.320 --> 00:47:41.340 triune God 00:47:41.340 --> 00:47:42.099 because Jesus 00:47:42.099 --> 00:47:43.220 Christ has 00:47:43.220 --> 00:47:43.720 accomplished 00:47:43.720 --> 00:47:45.800 everything for 00:47:45.800 --> 00:47:46.220 those who 00:47:46.220 --> 00:47:46.700 love him. 00:47:47.620 --> 00:47:48.280 Make sure 00:47:48.280 --> 00:47:48.960 you love 00:47:48.960 --> 00:47:49.559 the Lord 00:47:49.559 --> 00:47:50.360 Jesus Christ 00:47:50.360 --> 00:47:51.079 and you 00:47:51.079 --> 00:47:51.640 commune with 00:47:51.640 --> 00:47:52.559 him again 00:47:52.559 --> 00:47:52.940 today. 00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:54.320 Remember 00:47:54.320 --> 00:47:54.640 Jesus' 00:47:54.920 --> 00:47:56.019 words in 00:47:56.019 --> 00:47:56.720 John 16 00:47:56.720 --> 00:47:57.240 22, 00:47:57.420 --> 00:47:57.720 you have 00:47:57.720 --> 00:47:58.519 sorrow now, 00:47:59.160 --> 00:47:59.940 but I 00:47:59.940 --> 00:48:00.820 will see you 00:48:00.820 --> 00:48:01.340 again. 00:48:02.140 --> 00:48:02.920 Your hearts 00:48:02.920 --> 00:48:04.420 will rejoice 00:48:04.420 --> 00:48:05.900 and no one 00:48:05.900 --> 00:48:06.820 will take 00:48:06.820 --> 00:48:07.620 your joy 00:48:07.620 --> 00:48:08.580 from you. 00:48:10.500 --> 00:48:11.100 When you 00:48:11.100 --> 00:48:11.420 meet your 00:48:11.420 --> 00:48:11.680 maker, 00:48:11.800 --> 00:48:12.140 make sure 00:48:12.140 --> 00:48:12.480 you'll be 00:48:12.480 --> 00:48:12.860 able to 00:48:12.860 --> 00:48:13.320 rejoice. 00:48:14.000 --> 00:48:14.300 Let's 00:48:14.300 --> 00:48:14.500 pray. 00:48:14.500 --> 00:48:14.600 Amen.