Life in the Light of the Gospel - Phil 3:12 - 4:1

12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

We wrapped up our Philippians study this week by talking about the great freedom that the Gospel brings to our lives. here's what we saw...
Living in the Light of the Gospel means:
1) We Live BECAUSE we are His.
We cannot earn the right to be a child of God - We cannot work hard enough or good enough to maintain a place in his presence. We don't live IN ORDER TO BE His.
This Frees us from a life of fear - fear that our works are not enough.
Instead - we live BECAUSE WE ARE His
2) We live life FORWARD.
We forget what lies behind - namely our sins.
Like Paul we a) Understand that forgiveness is NOT based on works (Romans 4), b) Understand that forgiveness is forever (Psalm 103), c) Understand that We are Robed in Righteousness (Philippians 3:9)
Rather than being frozen by the guilt of our past - the Gospel frees us to live life foreward - to press on to the prize that is set before us - Jesus!
3) We Live as Sojourners.
Our citizenship has changed. We are not citizens in this world - this country - this city - our citizenship is heaven. Ours is a different kingdom and we serve a greater king - Jesus.
This frees us from worldly pursuits - power, possessions, people... We are free to live as foreigners in a land that isn't our own!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS...
It appears that this weeks message may NOT have been recorded. If you weren't there, you just missed it!

The Heart of the Gospel Philippians 3:1-11

What a great passage! In the context of Paul's battle with the Judaizers who added the Law to Jesus, Paul takes us deep into the very heart of the Gospel!
To the religious Judaizer Paul says - I have more reason than any of you to have confidence in the flesh! By YOUR standards, I am far better than you. Yet, none of these matters of the flesh matter - they cannot satisfy God's righteous requirements. Be the best that you can be - do all the good that you can do - and it isn't enough. As bad as that sounds, the good news is that Jesus has accomplished for you what you cannot! So, Paul says, in the light of Jesus and the righteousness that is mine - IN HIM by faith - I count all my works as dung! The Gospel is about what He has done for us.
We looked as well at all that Paul had and had accomplished in a worldly sense. He had a great family and the right blood line. He was from the right tribe. And he was a Pharisee - which came with a great deal of power and authority and privilege. Paul had accomplished much of what we pursue in our jobs, in our relationships - with our lives. And in the light of the glory and beauty of Jesus all those things looked and smelled like dung! Paul found Jesus to be his joy and satisfaction - all that he needed for life and forever more! That too is the heart of the Gospel!

Not only will our fleshly works not satisfy God, our fleshly works won't satisfy us either! The good news is that Jesus satisfies both!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 3:1-3 Beware of the Religious Dogs

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:1-3

This week's passage serves as a great warning for us: a warning to fight the tendency we all have toward religious rules and away from the true Gospel, and it is a warning to stay away from those who teach a false gospel.

Paul (or God, through Paul) calls those who would add the Law to Jesus - Dogs, Evildoers (workers of evil), and mutilators. He contrasts those who teach "works of the Law" with the "true circumcision," true followers of Christ. He says that we (the true circumcision) worship by the Spirit (not by works of the Law or the Flesh) , Glory in Christ Jesus (not in works of the Law or the Flesh), and put NO confidence in the flesh (because we know that it is Christ who has worked for us, is at work in us, and works through us).

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

The sermon is up for streaming or download - HERE.