Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“The Real Thing”

Philippians 3:1-9

The simple message of Easter is always under assault... from the secularized version of bunnies and eggs that trivializes the powerful message of death, burial and resurrection, to the religionized version that adds human contribution to the finished work of Christ. Beware - Satan has always been, and will always be, at work to take our minds away from an empty cross and an empty tomb... Christ triumphant and exalted.

I. Counterfeit spirituality

Who are these men? Judaizers

Some of them misguided Christians

Probably not powerful yet at Philippi, but they are coming

Dogged Paul wherever he went

Their kind of teaching constant threat to Church

A. Focused on externals; Symbol over substance

1. Rules and regulations

Must practice the Law of Moses

613 commandments; majority negative

Col. 2:20-23; Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch

2. Valued the symbol of circumcision

Missed its significance; sign of faith that God would protect the seed of Abraham; provide a seed who would be a blessing

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)

3. Ritualistic washings

Mt. 15:1-2; Why don’t your disciples wash their hands

Ex – instructions for proper washing of hands

Mt. 23:25-26

4. Dietary restrictions

After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand. “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” (Matthew 15:10-11)

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

5. Sabbath restrictions

Can’t spit on the Sabbath; making of mud

Did all of these things to earn God’s favor. To prove their own righteousness.

Paul understands these men because he was one of them

B. Spiritual pride in heritage (gifts by birth) – 3:4b-6

1. Circumcised the eight day

2. of the nation of Israel; Gentiles could never achieve this

3. of the tribe of Benjamin – King Saul; stayed with Judah; home of Jerusalem

4. a Hebrew of Hebrews; transition, synthesis – explains previous 3 and subsequent 3

C. Pride in spiritual achievement

5. as to the Law, a Pharisee

6. as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; not an ordinary Pharisee

7. as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless

Diet, sabbaths, washings

As far as the Law can take you, I had arrived

D. Modern sources of false hope

Church attendance, baptism, church involvement, moral activism, religious heritage

Religion is so dangerous. Encourages confidence in self.

community involvement, charitable giving

II. True spirituality

A. Not external ritual but inner reality – 3:3

Worship (“SERVE”) in the Spirit of God

Secularized Easter

Ritualized Easter; going through the motions

“I fast, I give…not like this sinner”

B. Boast in Christ

Jer. 9:23-24 – let him who boasts…

Death, burial and resurrection was scandalous, foolish

Discussions of God are OK, but don’t talk about Jesus

C. Forsake self – 3:7-9

Not renouncing his heritage or his training

Renouncing confidence in self

Message of Easter – death, burial and resurrection

If we can earn a relationship with God apart from Christ, then Christ died needlessly

Application

Are you hoping in Christ?