Philippians 3:1-9
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. 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 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
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.
I. Assurance comes from experiential remembrances in worship
• Worship produces reassurance by bringing our
• Assurance is protection against undesirable things
• Fake Christians lack the relational reassurance of
• Beware of “Christians” who overvalue
• God seeks worship in the Spirit that includes raising our
II. Assurance comes from spiritual facts in the Bible not effort or intention
• Religious Christians hope in the same powerless cultural things for
• Quality spiritual assurance prays for
• In every church there are
• Baptism is a sign of faith in the atonement of Jesus to
• Water baptism is a
III. Assurance does not protect from loss (vv. 8-9)
• Insurance is protection against unexpected
• Assurance provides us with
• Values are affections that determine priorities which are revealed in the “
• The error of
• The error of
TAKE OFF
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you had to repeat yourself constantly to get your point across? How did that make you feel?
TEXT
Philippians 3:1-9
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. What does the apostle Paul remind the Philippians to do in verse 1? How does this behavior act as a safeguard in our lives? Give examples of ways we can worship God.
3. What does it mean to “put confidence in the flesh” (v. 4)? Why do you think Paul uses himself as an example? Give examples of ways we can put our hope in our own behaviors instead of God’s grace. Are you putting your hope in any specific activity or behavior?
4. What things in your life would you have a hard time losing or parting with? What gives Paul the ability to consider “everything a loss” when he compares it with knowing Christ (v. 8)? What would it look like for you to truly consider Christ more important than anything else in your life?
TAKE AWAY
What is one area in your life where you need to stop striving and focus on the assurance that your faith in Christ and his righteousness is enough for you?