Philippians 3 LOSING EVERYTHING MAKES ME HAPPY?????

Philippians 3:1 NIV

3:1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Paul shows his concern by repeatinq his message over and over.

2 Peter 1:12-15 NIV

[1 2] So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. [13] I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, [14] because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. [1 5] And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will be able to always remember these things.

What are these "thinqs"Paul refers to???

It is the basic message of salvation in the death and resurrection ofJesus and Jesus alone!

NOTHING we can do will give us that salvation.

The safeguard Paul refers to is essential.

We cannot be led astray from the fact that we are

POWERLESS without Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. Philippians 3:2-6 NIV

[2] Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. [3] 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--- [4] though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: [5] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; [6] 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

What was the Jewish circumcision?

Was it a form of salvation?

It was an unconditional devotion to God. A reminder.

Verse 3 states that we are the circumcision, who serve God by his Spirit who boast in Christ Jesus (not circumcision)and who put NO confidence in the flesh. (Ephesians 2: 8,9).

Note the terms Paul uses when warning who to be aware of and watch out for.

Dogs /Evildoers /Mutilators of the flesh.

These are all a description of people that try to persuade you that you are responsible for your salvation. They believe that strict adherence to the LAW of Moses is your pathway to God's grace.

Total lies!!!

We can have no confidence in our own goodness or actions in regard to salvation.

NOTE: Put yourself in the position of the Jews. From the beginning they lived under the LAW. But once Jesus arrived and offered a new and better way, adherence to the Law was fulfilled in and through faith in His death and resurrection. That is like asking a person to completely deviate from their way of life after hundreds of years.

What makes this new way so much better?

Understanding and knowing God's Word makes all the difference. People should have known about the prophecies of Jesus the Savior from their own study and knowledge. What about us? We have God's Word. How much knowledge and understanding do we have of it?

People haven't changed much from then to now.

We are all guilty of living our own lives than taking instruction from God.

Thank God for GRACE!!!

Of all people, Paul, was the one person that could try and claim confidence in the flesh. After all, he did way more than most anyone else to earn his salvation.

Circumcised according to Jewish law.

From the tribe of Benjamin (A tribe with superior military abiliy).

The term Hebrew means "the one who is oposed", on the other side and different from all the others. Abraham was one of the earliest references as a Hebrew. He was a solitary "believer" among a group of idol worshipers.

A Pharisee was a person who was separated from society to study and teach the "LAW".

Paul was a zealous defender of the Law.

Philippians 3:7-1 1

[7] But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8] What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ [9] and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ---the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. [1 0] I want to know Christ---yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [1 1] and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul can truly say that he lost everything to follow Christ. His life as King Saul, before Jesus's intervention was one of power, prestige and wealth.

But now a totally transformed Paul, has abandoned all of that.

In fact he considers all of that fit only for the aarbaqe pile. We put things in the trash when they have become worthless. In essence he stands before God in Jesus totally stripped of everything because he realized the futility of earthly pleasures and rewards.

The goal is the resurrection at which the REAL PLEASURES AND REWARDS will be awarded and recognized. He reiterates this well in the following scripture. Philippians 3:12-14

[1 2] Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [1 3] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

So, where do we go from here?

Paul leaves us instructions which will lead us to that same attitude and final destination. Philippians 3:1 5-21

[1 5] All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. [1 6] Only let us live up to what we have already attained. [1 7] Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. [1 8] For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. [1 9] Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Points to regard.

Let the Spirit of Jesus guide in all matters.

Become ONE BODY.

Choose the proper examples/models of people (that meet these requirements) to follow.

Why? It all boils down to to destruction and shame (hell), or eternal life and JOY!!!

DON'T SET YOUR MIND ON EARTHLY "GARBAGE". This, and only this, will produce the transformation from earthly alien status to heavenly citizenship with God.