Philippians 3:1-11
A "safe" life of joy is gained by knowing Christ
1. True safety is Knowing Christ
- Living by the law is dangerous
- Look out for the dogs…
- Look out for the evildoers…
- Look out for those who mutilate the flesh …
2. True gain is Knowing Christ
- Any time we require behavior that is not Biblically proscribed, either overtly in the way we talk about things or more subtly through innuendos or strong suggestions, we run the risk or being modern-day circumcisers.
- Our preferences & practices should never become the primary means to or gauge of our righteousness
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, "What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"
- The only thing we can and should boast in is Christ and Him crucified.
- It is better by far to know Christ and be found in Him than anything else.
3. True Joy is Knowing Christ
- The goal of our life in Christ is our present and future knowing of Christ
- Knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord means:
- to be found in Him & have fellowship with Him
- to participate together with Him in His suffering in this present life
- to live life in light of His Cross & informed by the Cross
- to experience the power of His resurrection now & in the future (esp. in struggles/suffering)
- to become like Him in His death – living a self-sacrificial life for the sake of others
- to know the hope that we too will be resurrected after we die
- to be found in Him & have fellowship with Him
- We can rejoice now because:
- We possess the righteousness of Christ Jesus Himself
- He's healed us from our greatest malady by taking all our sins on Himself.
- He's given us the riches of eternal life
- We're complete in Him & He won't withhold any good thing that we are in need of to conform us to His image.
- We possess the righteousness of Christ Jesus Himself
- If we're found in Christ, if we know Him, we'll receive the ultimate, far superior prize of Christ Jesus Himself. He is the greatest reward.
Potential Application Questions:
- What are the areas where we are tempted to put confidence in our own abilities or "right living"?
- What do we consider superior? (asked other ways... What do we consider gain? What knowledge are we proud of? What do we boast in?)
- How have your own personal preferences affected your view of others negatively? What is a biblical way of viewing those preferences?
- What do we rejoice in the most on a daily basis (not what is theologically right to rejoice in but what do we really rejoice in the most)?
- Where do you see that your joy is conditioned on how you have or have not lived up to certain standards?
- How would the Lord have you respond and seek to value and know Him more?
