Living by Grace

Providence Church. Sermon. John Moe.

Philippians 3:2-11
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

biggest struggle for many Christians = works-based living
-makes church judgmental/hurtful/condemning

power of works-based living
- v2 beware of "Jesus + something = salvation" mentality; this is works-based living
--Christ alone is sufficient; anything else robs the cross of its power
-Lev 21:5 "They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body."
--mutilators of flesh = pagan priests in OT

Why is this a problem?
- leads to pride/comparisons/hurt not grace/service/humility/healing
- pride's destructive aspects
--guilt/shame: embarrassment that we can do/give/be better on our own power
---this will destroy/break us down (despairing/despising God)
---opposite of pride is humility not shame
----the gospel humbles us by showing our proper position (we're merely beggars showing others where to get bread/life)
--superiority: think we deserve/earn our salvation
---if we're based on works then our pride will destroy our relationships with others (murder in our thoughts)

How is this broken?
- v7 "rubbish" = profanity
- "knowing Christ" in Hebrew refers to experiential knowledge
- be found "in Christ"
--identity - where's mine? in works or Christ?
- must know that Christ's life and death was for us
--be found in Christ's work
- v10 becoming like him in his death
--only by HS, must surrender unconditionally
- life comes from joy not duty