The Christian’s Greatest Desire

Today, let’s turn our attention to Philippians 3:1.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Christian’s Greatest Desire.”

 

In verse 1, we recognize that Paul was a Baptist Preacher.  How so?  He says, “Finally,” and has two more chapters before he’s done.

 

Also, in verse 1, we know that he is still talking to us, brothers and sisters in Christ.  We also find our first imperative or command in today’s text.

 

 

1. Rejoice in the Lord, 3:1!

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 

 

We have seen in the past that this is a letter of joy that Paul wrote to the Philippian Church, and joy is a theme that runs throughout the letter. 

 

Remember the difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is a positive emotion that usually out of our control but is determined by outward circumstance. 

 

On the other hand, joy is a positive emotion that can be decided because of an inward reality.  For the Christian, our inward reality is our saving relationship with Christ. 

 

And let’s talk about our that saving relationship works as I believe that is why Paul commanded us to rejoice.

 

The Protestant Reformation was started by Martin Luther and was the reforming of the Catholic Church.  From that reformation, the Protestant Church came or at least grew. 

 

Also, as it relates to salvation, Protestant Christians endorsed and propagated the truth that salvation is in Christ alone by grace alone through faith alone.  However, you normally hear it expressed by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

 

Our text today gives a different order, but I don’t see it as consequential.  Notice the truth of being in Christ in verses 1, 3, and 9. 

 

Also, I believe God’s grace, while not explicit in these verses, is certainly applied.  What is grace? 

 

Grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve.  It is implied regarding righteousness at the end of verse 9.

 

Our response to God’s grace is faith.  Again, look at verse 9.  We have faith in Christ which is the righteousness from God by faith. 

 

So what does that have to do with Paul’s command to rejoice?  I can rejoice because salvation is not up to me.  Otherwise, I would fail, and so would you.

 

Only Jesus can save.  Therefore, my invitation today is for you to be saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

 

 

2. Beware of False Hope, 3:2-6!

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 

We find our second imperative in verse 2…beware, beware, beware!  Beware of dogs, evil workers, and the mutilation!

 

Who are these people?  These people were called Judaizers.  They were Jews who gave the impression that they had converted to Christ.  However, they added to the gospel. 

 

Their gospel wasn’t by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.  Their gospel was Jesus plus circumcision, and that is no gospel at all.

 

In a sarcastic tone, Paul referred to them as pesky, flea-ridden, mangy mutts. He also called them evil workers, and in a direct reference to circumcision, he called them mutilation.

 

By the way, circumcision was the precise cutting away of the foreskin of the mail reproductive organ that was the outward sign of the old covenant. Paul called them carless cutters of flesh.

 

Then, in verse 3, he declared followers of Christ as the true circumcision.  Those are the ones who have been spiritually circumcised by cutting away the outward skin of our hearts that are now committed to worshiping God and rejoicing in Jesus and putting no confidence in the flesh or human morality. 

 

However, Paul had every reason to boast about his life.  His heritage was pristine.  There was not more deserving person than Paul in light of his family tree and the life he lived.  Concerning righteousness of keeping the law, he would have been found blameless. 

 

With Paul’s credentials, we are reminded that there is no hope in our genealogy.  There is also no hope in our morality.

 

However, let also take this reminder one step further to some thoughts I am hearing and seeing today.  There is no hope in generosity.  There is no hope in ingenuity, and there is no hope in nationality. 

 

Brothers and sisters, beware of false hope in anything or anyone other than Jesus.  The good news of the gospel is that eternal salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone!

 

 

3. Know Christ More, 3:7-11!

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, 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; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

As we are aware of false hope and false gospels and because there is only salvation in Jesus, the Christian’s greatest desire ought to be, should be to know Christ more.  That was Paul’s testimony.

 

In verse 7-8, he said everything earthly means nothing.  He counted it as loss, and Paul suffered loss because of his decision to follow Christ. 

 

In verse 9, he could never have the righteousness of Christ doing good.  It can only come through faith in Christ.  You can’t achieve it or earn it.  You can only receive it.  It is by faith. 

 

Consequently, I want to know Christ more.  That is verse 10.  I want to know that He is superior.  Everything is loss compared to him.  The American Dream is loss.  Early retirement is loss.  Grandchildren are loss. 

 

I want to know that His power is supreme.  That power is what raised Him from the dead.  It can save your marriage.  It can save your relationship with your children.  It can save your business. 

 

I want to know the fellowship of his sufferings.  If you follow Christ, like Paul, you will suffer at some point.  However, because of the fellowship we have with Jesus, He promises never to leave us or forsake us.  We will never be alone.

 

 

Conclusion

Today, our invitation will be different.  With your heads bowed and eyes closed, will you put your faith in truth in Christ this morning?  Will you stop trusting in genealogy or morality or generosity or ingenuity or nationality?  Today, will you be saved by grace alone through faith a lone in Christ alone?

 

Also, if you are a Christian, if your desire is to Christ more, would you stand?  If you will commit to make that your desire, would you stand?