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Philippians 1:27-30 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take out your Bibles and turn with me to Philippians chapter 1.
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For quite a few weeks now, we've had a pop in the sound system, and it's only one.
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John and I were up here on Friday trying to diagnose it, and we could not recreate it, no matter what we tried to do.
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We couldn't make it happen again, but this past Monday I had the opportunity to go to a conference in Atlanta,
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at a well-funded, a well-equipped church, and I was so encouraged.
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The same thing happened to them.
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In fact, I went and told the sound guy, I know you didn't do anything wrong,
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but I just want you to know that I was encouraged, because that happens to us sometimes,
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and it's quite all right, isn't it? Wake you up a little bit.
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Our text for today is Philippians chapter 1, verses 27 through 30.
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Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us.
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It was written for his glory and our good, so we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises
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and to obey its commands.
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Beginning in verse 27, Paul writes,
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This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God.
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For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him,
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but also suffer for his sake.
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Engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
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The gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ is truly good news.
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It is the greatest declaration that this world has ever heard.
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It is the news that people who have rejected the good reign of the creator God
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and deserve eternal death
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can be made alive because of the perfect life and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.
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Jesus lived the life required by the law of God,
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a life that we could never and will never live,
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so that in him we might be counted as righteous.
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Jesus died the death that we deserved.
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He bore the wrath of God that was due to us,
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so that in him we might have all our sins forgiven.
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For those who believe the gospel,
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we add nothing to the equation of our salvation but our unholiness.
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We only bring our sin.
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It is God who does the saving.
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He justifies.
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He redeems.
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He adopts.
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And he does not do this on our merit,
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but on the merit of Christ.
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We are saved by grace alone,
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through faith alone,
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in Christ alone.
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So, in that sense,
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salvation is free.
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Paul wrote in Romans chapter 6 and verse 23,
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For the wages of sin is death,
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but the free gift of God
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is eternal life
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in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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But,
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in another sense,
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it is costly.
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You see,
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when Jesus becomes your Savior,
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he also becomes your Lord.
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You cannot separate out the true.
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And those who are,
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in fact,
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in Christ Jesus
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will willingly follow him
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wherever he leads.
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Where is it that our Savior and Lord
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leads us?
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He leads us
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to radical self-denial
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and to suffering.
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Let me show you some
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parallel texts
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to this one.
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Mark chapter 8,
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verse 34 and following.
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Jesus said,
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If anyone
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would come after me,
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let him deny himself
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and take up his cross
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and follow me.
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The cross is not a place
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of mild discomfort.
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The cross is a place
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of death.
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Verse 35,
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For whoever would save his life
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will lose it,
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but whoever loses his life
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for my sake
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and the Gospels
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will save it.
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It's a costly call
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to follow Jesus.
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John chapter 15,
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beginning in verse 18
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and following.
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Again,
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here,
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Jesus says,
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If the world hates you,
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know that it has hated me
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before it hated you.
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If you were of the world,
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the world would love you
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as its own,
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but because you are not
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of the world,
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but I chose you
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out of the world,
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therefore,
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the world hates you.
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Remember the word I said to you,
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a servant is not greater
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than his master.
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If they persecuted me,
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they will also persecute you.
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If they kept my word,
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they will also keep yours.
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I think a lot of people today
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think subconsciously
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that they are greater
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than their master.
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Those who follow Christ
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follow him wherever he leads.
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Radical self-denial
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and suffering.
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If we are to receive
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the free gift
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of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
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it is going to cost us
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everything.
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But beloved,
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this is a trade
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worth making.
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It is far more excellent
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to give up everything
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that we might gain
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Christ.
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Jim Elliot very famously said,
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I hope that this quotation
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popped into your head
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as I said those things.
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Jim Elliot,
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if you don't know,
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was one of a couple
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of Christian missionaries
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who were martyred
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in an effort
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to preach the Gospel
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to the Harani.
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Somebody's going to
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correct me on that.
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People of Ecuador.
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He said this,
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he is no fool
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who gives
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what he cannot keep
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to gain
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what he cannot
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lose.
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If we are going to answer
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the costly call
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of the Gospel,
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we are going to need
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a robust theology
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of suffering.
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I am so grateful
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that the Bible
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is not silent
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on this topic.
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I am thankful
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that we did not
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have to have
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some grand wisdom
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to think that we
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needed to prepare
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the church
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for suffering,
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but the Bible
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does it for us.
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And as we open it
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and read it
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and get into it
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and teach it
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bit by bit
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by bit
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across the years,
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I am grateful
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that we have
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some foundation
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for this
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in the life
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of our church.
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The Bible
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instructs us
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again and again
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in this matter.
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You cannot be
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a reader of the Bible
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and not see
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that it is
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teaching Christians
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how they ought
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to suffer.
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So with all this
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in mind,
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let's study today's text
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in the following
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simple outline.
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Two main points.
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Number one,
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the consistent conduct
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the Gospel demands.
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And number two,
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the togetherness
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the Gospel affords.
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And of course,
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I've got some sub points,
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but the consistent conduct
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the Gospel demands.
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The togetherness
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the Gospel affords.
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So number one,
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the consistent conduct
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the Gospel demands.
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And we see this
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in verse 27.
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Paul begins this section
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by telling the Philippians
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that they must live
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in a manner
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consistent
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with the Gospel.
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He begins the sentence
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with the word
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only,
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which means that
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if they are recipients
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of the good news,
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then they have
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no latitude
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but to live
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in light
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of it.
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Our lives
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are meant to model
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the message
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that we have embraced.
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We began
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by absolute
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surrender
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to Christ.
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We threw ourselves
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on His person
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and work.
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You become convicted
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of your sin
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and you see it
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in the light
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of God's holiness.
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You know you have
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a huge problem.
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You know you need
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as Savior.
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And if this is true
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of you,
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you throw yourself
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the mercy of God
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found in the person
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and work
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of Christ.
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We asked for it.
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We said,
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Lord, I know
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you're merciful.
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I know you will
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supply it
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in Christ.
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And with that
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kind of abandon,
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we must
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continue.
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His phrase then,
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only let
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your manner
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of life.
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Let your manner
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of life
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is a single
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Greek word.
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You could also
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render this
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conduct yourselves.
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Greek allows
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for a high
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level of
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nuance.
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I'm grateful
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for a lot of
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things in my life.
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One of the things
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that I'm thankful
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for is that
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I don't have
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the task
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of translating
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the Bible
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from Greek
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into English.
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I'm glad
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that there are
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more brilliant men
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than I
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that do this
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work.
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And in this case,
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there's a single
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word that they
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expand out
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in one case
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into two words
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and the ESV,
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which I'm looking
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at now,
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into five.
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There's a lot
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of nuance
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that Greek
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allows for.
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And so there's
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some things to
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point out about
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this particular
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verb.
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I'm going to do
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it fast and
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not be nerdy
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about it.
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First,
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it's in the
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present tense,
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which means
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the exhortation
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is always
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active.
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It's not a
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one-time thing.
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It's an
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ongoing,
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continual thing.
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It's a
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now and
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forward
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thing.
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It's in the
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middle voice
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and it is
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second person
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plural,
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which means
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it's an
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exhortation
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for every
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believer.
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It's always
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active and
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it's for
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every believer.
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Steve Lawson,
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who's a
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contemporary
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preacher and
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commentator,
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said this.
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This could be
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translated this
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way.
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It's a
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grand
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expansion.
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He wrote
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this.
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Live
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consistent
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with the
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gospel always.
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Take action
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with this,
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all of you,
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and that is
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God's
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command.
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Live
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consistent
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with the
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gospel always.
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Take action
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with this,
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all of you,
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and that
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is God's
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command.
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So the
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command to
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only let
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your manner
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of life be
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worthy of
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the gospel
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of Christ
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is a
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command
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for every
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believer
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always.
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And Paul
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emphasizes this
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by saying
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so that
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whether I
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come and
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see you
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or am
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absent,
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we are to
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live in a
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manner
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consistent
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with the
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gospel
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consistently
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all the
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time.
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We are
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supposed to
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be doing
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this work.
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Beloved,
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obedience is
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never
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optional.
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We are
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not saved
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by our
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works.
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We're
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saved by
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the work
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of Christ.
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We're
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not saved
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by our
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works.
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But people
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who have
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been saved
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by the
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works of
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Christ
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work to
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live lives
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of grateful
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obedience.
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We're called
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to holiness.
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We're meant
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to be putting
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off our
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old selves
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and putting
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on our
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new selves,
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this reality
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of who we
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are in
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Jesus.
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We're supposed
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to be growing
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in that
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truth.
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We've been
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set free
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from bondage
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to sin.
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Do we
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believe that?
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We no
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longer have
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to by the
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power that
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Christ provides
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by his
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spirit.
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Sin.
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And we
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can grow
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in holiness.
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Paul had
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observed this
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reality with
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the Philippian
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believers,
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right?
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He's not
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rebuking
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them here.
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He's actually
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encouraging them
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to press
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on.
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And we see
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this in
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Philippians
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chapter 2
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verse 12,
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the first
12:49
half of
12:49
it.
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He says,
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therefore,
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my beloved,
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as you
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have always
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obeyed,
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so now,
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not only
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as in my
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presence,
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but much
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more in
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my absence.
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And then he
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tells them,
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continue,
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work out your
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salvation with
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fear and
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with trembling.
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We are
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meant to
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live lives
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that respond
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to the
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gospel of
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Jesus Christ.
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God
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secondly,
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the
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togetherness
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the gospel
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affords.
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The
13:20
togetherness
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the gospel
13:21
affords.
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The gospel
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of Jesus
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Christ does
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not save
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us to
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solitariness,
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but saves,
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purchases
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us a
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people.
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We're not
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saved by
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ourselves.
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We are
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saved as
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individuals,
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but we are
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saved as
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a
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people.
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it's an
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imperfect
13:40
people,
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but it's
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a people
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who are
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meant to
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be a
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wonderful
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grace to
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us.
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If you've
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been here
13:47
for very
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long,
13:48
you have
13:48
heard me
13:49
said,
13:49
the more
13:49
I mature
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in Christ,
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the more
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I recognize
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my great
13:54
need of
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the church.
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I am
13:56
not outgrowing
13:58
you.
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I'm growing
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in my
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realization
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of how
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much I
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need you.
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What a
14:04
grace you
14:05
are to
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me.
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And it
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troubles me
14:08
that there
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are so
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many people
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in our
14:10
day that
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seem to
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mature a
14:11
bit.
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They seem
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to understand
14:13
some of
14:13
the commands
14:14
of Scripture.
14:15
They seem
14:15
to see a
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healthy picture
14:18
of what the
14:18
church might
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look like,
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and they
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get frustrated
14:21
and they
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abandon
14:22
church
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altogether.
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Other than
14:25
lending that
14:26
maturity and
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helping people
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see and grow
14:28
up in
14:29
faithfulness
14:29
to Christ,
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they dip
14:31
out altogether.
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And again,
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and again,
14:36
and again,
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I see
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these people
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no longer
14:39
mature,
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and in
14:41
fact,
14:41
in many
14:41
cases,
14:42
regress as
14:44
they deny
14:44
themselves the
14:45
grace that
14:45
can be given
14:46
to them in
14:47
the life of
14:48
a church.
14:49
We are an
14:50
imperfect people,
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but we have a
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God who works
14:53
mightily as
14:55
we meet
14:55
together.
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We have
14:57
noted over the
14:58
past few
14:58
weeks that
14:58
Paul's letter
14:59
to the
14:59
Philippians is
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deeply
15:01
personal.
15:02
This letter
15:03
does not
15:03
contain rebuke,
15:04
he's not
15:04
writing to
15:05
correct anything,
15:06
but only
15:07
encouragement.
15:09
Recall
15:10
Philippians
15:10
chapter 1
15:11
verse 3
15:11
through 5
15:12
where he
15:12
wrote,
15:13
I thank
15:13
my God
15:14
in all
15:14
my
15:15
remembrance
15:15
of you,
15:16
always in
15:17
every prayer
15:17
of mine
15:18
for you
15:18
all making
15:18
my prayer
15:19
with joy
15:20
because of
15:21
your partnership
15:22
in the gospel
15:22
from the first
15:23
day until
15:25
now.
15:26
Paul is so
15:27
encouraging
15:28
toward them.
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But even
15:32
when Paul
15:32
was writing
15:33
to rebuke,
15:35
he also
15:36
found
15:36
opportunity
15:37
to encourage,
15:39
to be
15:39
grateful
15:40
for the
15:41
church.
15:42
You begin
15:43
to read
15:43
Paul's
15:43
letters in
15:44
this way.
15:45
I mean,
15:45
he's really
15:46
harsh
15:46
things,
15:48
but he
15:49
is so
15:49
positive
15:50
about the
15:51
people that
15:51
he's writing
15:52
these things
15:53
to.
15:55
And Paul
15:55
wrote a
15:55
scathing
15:56
letter to
15:56
the Corinthian
15:57
church,
15:58
which
15:58
purposed
15:59
to bring
15:59
them
16:00
some
16:01
harsh
16:01
correction,
16:02
right?
16:02
They were
16:03
an absolute
16:03
mess.
16:05
They were
16:06
allowing for
16:06
unrepentant,
16:07
really gross
16:08
unrepentant
16:09
sin.
16:09
They were
16:10
factitious.
16:11
They were
16:11
dividing over
16:12
silly things.
16:13
I follow
16:13
Paul.
16:13
I follow
16:14
Apollos.
16:15
They were
16:15
unloving
16:16
toward one
16:16
another.
16:17
They were
16:17
proud.
16:19
But listen
16:20
to Paul's
16:20
opening words
16:21
to them.
16:23
First
16:23
Corinthians
16:23
chapter one
16:24
beginning in
16:24
verse four.
16:26
Sounds a
16:27
little familiar
16:27
to our
16:28
Philippian
16:28
text.
16:29
He wrote,
16:30
I give
16:31
thanks to
16:32
my God
16:33
always for
16:33
you because
16:35
of the
16:35
grace of
16:36
God that
16:36
was given
16:36
you in
16:37
Christ Jesus
16:38
that in
16:39
every way
16:40
you were
16:40
enriched in
16:41
him in
16:41
all speech
16:42
and knowledge
16:42
even as
16:43
the testimony
16:43
about Christ
16:44
was confirmed
16:45
among you
16:45
so that you
16:46
were not
16:47
lacking in
16:47
any gift
16:48
as you
16:48
wait for
16:49
the revealing
16:50
of our
16:50
Lord Jesus
16:51
Christ who
16:52
will sustain
16:52
you to the
16:53
end guiltless
16:53
in the day
16:54
of our
16:54
Lord Jesus
16:54
Christ.
16:55
God is
16:56
faithful.
16:56
by whom
16:58
you were
16:58
called into
16:59
fellowship
16:59
of his
17:00
son Jesus
17:01
Christ our
17:02
Lord.
17:04
He's going
17:04
to spend
17:05
some chapters
17:05
telling them
17:07
all the
17:07
things that
17:08
they did
17:08
wrong but
17:09
he begins
17:09
in this
17:10
way.
17:10
Why was
17:11
Paul so
17:11
positive
17:12
about a
17:13
people who
17:14
were such
17:15
a mess?
17:17
Because
17:17
Paul gloried
17:19
not in
17:20
them but
17:21
in the
17:21
God who
17:23
had saved
17:23
them.
17:24
He had
17:24
given evidence
17:25
God's
17:26
grace to
17:27
them and
17:28
so therefore
17:28
he was
17:29
thankful
17:30
for them.
17:32
Further
17:33
Paul knew
17:33
what wretchedness
17:34
he had been
17:35
saved from.
17:37
He called
17:37
himself the
17:38
chief of
17:39
sinners.
17:40
So he was
17:41
humble and
17:42
he bore
17:42
!
17:42
patiently
17:43
with the
17:44
sinfulness
17:45
of others.
17:47
I wonder
17:48
how different
17:48
the church
17:49
might be
17:49
if we
17:50
became more
17:51
concerned
17:52
with our
17:53
own
17:53
sinfulness
17:54
and less
17:55
concerned
17:55
with the
17:56
sinfulness
17:57
of others.
17:58
Not
17:59
unconcerned
17:59
but less
18:01
concerned.
18:01
More
18:02
concerned with
18:02
our own
18:02
sinfulness
18:03
and less
18:03
concerned
18:04
with the
18:05
sinfulness
18:05
of others.
18:08
Perhaps
18:08
we would
18:10
see clearly
18:10
to take
18:11
the speck
18:12
out of our
18:12
brother's
18:12
eye if
18:13
the plank
18:14
was removed
18:15
from ours.
18:16
I think
18:17
the church
18:18
would look
18:18
so different
18:20
if we
18:21
extended the
18:22
kind of
18:23
grace to
18:23
others that
18:24
Christ
18:24
extends
18:25
to us.
18:27
So the
18:28
gospel affords
18:29
us this
18:30
togetherness.
18:30
It brings
18:31
us together.
18:33
Let's look
18:33
at some
18:33
ways that
18:34
it does
18:34
that.
18:34
So here's
18:35
your sub
18:35
points.
18:36
Number
18:36
one,
18:39
the gospel
18:39
affords us
18:39
togetherness
18:40
in standing
18:41
firm and
18:42
striving for
18:43
the faith
18:44
of the
18:44
gospel.
18:45
Standing
18:45
firm
18:46
and
18:48
striving.
18:48
Again,
18:49
verse 27,
18:50
I may
18:50
hear of
18:50
you that
18:51
you are
18:51
standing
18:52
firm in
18:52
one spirit
18:53
with one
18:54
mind,
18:54
striving
18:55
side by
18:56
side for
18:57
the faith
18:58
of the
18:58
gospel.
19:00
Standing
19:00
firm means
19:01
to be
19:02
stationary,
19:03
to be
19:04
unmoved.
19:07
This is a
19:07
Greek military
19:08
term commonly
19:09
used of
19:10
the front
19:11
line.
19:12
It pictures
19:12
a soldier
19:13
not being
19:14
pushed or
19:15
swayed.
19:16
but holding
19:17
his
19:18
position.
19:19
He's got
19:20
a spot
19:21
to stand
19:21
in where
19:22
he will
19:22
not be
19:23
moved.
19:25
Sometime
19:26
ask Clay
19:26
about Roman
19:27
military
19:28
tactics.
19:29
I'll spare
19:30
you my
19:30
horrible.
19:32
He'll
19:32
enthrall you
19:33
with it.
19:33
I'll bore
19:34
you with
19:35
it.
19:36
But they
19:36
were trained
19:37
for a
19:37
position.
19:38
And if
19:38
they gave
19:39
up their
19:39
position,
19:40
it all
19:40
fell apart.
19:41
The tactic
19:41
totally fell
19:42
apart.
19:43
They had
19:44
to stand
19:45
firm.
19:46
They had
19:46
to stay
19:47
in their
19:48
spot.
19:50
They didn't
19:50
do it
19:51
alone.
19:51
They did
19:52
it shoulder
19:52
to shoulder
19:53
to shoulder.
19:56
Striving
19:57
is from
19:57
the Greek.
20:00
Here I go.
20:01
Sunathleo,
20:02
I think,
20:03
from which
20:04
we get
20:04
the words
20:05
athlete
20:06
or
20:07
athletic.
20:08
it pictures
20:10
a maximum
20:11
effort.
20:13
If we
20:13
were running
20:14
a race,
20:14
this would
20:15
be a word
20:15
that would
20:15
help us
20:16
think of
20:17
sprinting,
20:18
not jogging.
20:19
This is
20:20
maximum
20:20
effort.
20:22
Standing
20:22
firm
20:23
and
20:24
striving
20:25
together.
20:27
What are
20:28
we to
20:28
stand firm
20:29
and strive
20:30
in?
20:31
One
20:32
spirit
20:32
and in
20:34
one
20:34
mind.
20:36
Paul
20:37
uses these
20:37
two phrases
20:38
to express
20:38
the entire
20:39
inner working
20:40
of a human
20:41
being.
20:42
We are to
20:43
stand firm
20:43
and strive
20:44
with all
20:45
of our
20:46
being.
20:49
And don't
20:49
lose that
20:49
we're meant
20:50
to do
20:51
so
20:52
together.
20:54
William
20:54
Hendrickson,
20:55
a 20th
20:56
century New
20:56
Testament
20:57
scholar,
20:57
wrote of
20:59
these two
20:59
words,
21:00
the unity
21:00
here envisioned
21:01
is one of
21:02
striving and
21:04
struggling
21:04
side by
21:05
side like
21:06
gladiators.
21:07
against a
21:09
common
21:10
foe.
21:12
We don't
21:13
need to
21:13
stand firm
21:14
and strive
21:15
if there's
21:16
not something
21:17
to stand
21:17
firm and
21:18
strive
21:19
against.
21:21
There's a
21:21
foe.
21:22
There's a
21:22
common
21:23
foe
21:25
because we're
21:26
meant to
21:26
stand firm
21:27
and strive
21:27
for the
21:28
faith
21:29
of the
21:30
gospel.
21:31
So anything
21:33
that is
21:33
pressing
21:35
against
21:35
is a
21:36
foe
21:36
to the
21:36
faith
21:37
of the
21:37
gospel.
21:38
It's
21:38
what we're
21:38
meant to
21:39
stand firm
21:39
and strive
21:40
together
21:41
against so
21:43
that we're
21:43
doing it
21:44
for the
21:45
faith
21:45
of the
21:46
gospel.
21:48
Paul here
21:48
is referring
21:49
to the
21:49
objective
21:50
truth
21:51
of the
21:52
gospel.
21:53
We're
21:53
to stand
21:54
firm and
21:54
strive for
21:55
the
21:56
apostles
21:56
teaching,
21:57
Acts chapter
21:57
2 and
21:58
verse 42,
21:58
for sound
21:59
doctrine,
22:00
Titus chapter
22:01
2 and
22:02
verse 1,
22:03
and for
22:03
the faith
22:04
that was
22:04
once for
22:05
all delivered
22:05
to the
22:06
saints,
22:07
Jude chapter
22:09
3.
22:10
Now as
22:11
an aside,
22:12
this is not
22:12
found in
22:13
our text,
22:14
I think the
22:15
church in
22:15
our day is
22:16
going to
22:16
need to
22:17
learn,
22:17
so expect
22:18
this coming
22:19
in the
22:20
coming months,
22:21
how to do
22:22
theological
22:22
triage.
22:24
I know that
22:25
most of you
22:25
don't work
22:26
in an
22:26
emergency room,
22:27
maybe one
22:28
of you
22:28
does,
22:29
but if a
22:30
bus full
22:30
of people
22:31
were in
22:31
an accident,
22:32
all of those
22:33
people would
22:33
be in
22:33
various
22:34
conditions
22:34
as they're
22:35
rushed into
22:36
the emergency
22:37
room,
22:37
and what
22:38
doctors,
22:39
sometimes charge
22:39
nurses do,
22:40
is they very
22:40
quickly do
22:41
triage,
22:42
they establish
22:42
who is
22:43
most severely
22:44
injured and
22:45
who is less
22:46
severely injured,
22:47
so they can
22:47
address the
22:48
needs of the
22:49
room.
22:49
That's why
22:50
if you've
22:50
ever broken
22:51
your arm and
22:52
gone to the
22:52
emergency room,
22:53
you sit for
22:53
hours,
22:55
because you're
22:55
alright,
22:56
you're going
22:56
to be okay,
22:57
they're going
22:57
to take care
22:58
of you,
22:58
if you go
22:59
in with a
22:59
one-hoe-two
23:00
fever,
23:01
they're going
23:01
to make you
23:01
sit for a
23:02
really,
23:02
really long
23:03
time,
23:04
but somebody
23:04
with a
23:05
bullet wound
23:05
is going
23:05
to get
23:06
rushed into
23:07
the back,
23:07
so this is
23:07
what happens
23:08
in an
23:08
emergency room,
23:09
triage,
23:10
and we need
23:11
to learn how
23:11
to do that
23:12
theologically,
23:13
what are
23:14
what are the
23:14
things that
23:14
first order
23:15
issues for
23:17
Christians,
23:17
what are the
23:20
things we're
23:20
going to
23:20
stand firm
23:21
and strive
23:22
together
23:22
because they're
23:23
under attack,
23:25
it's those
23:26
first,
23:26
those primary
23:27
doctrines that
23:28
were meant to
23:29
battle about,
23:30
that's the
23:30
stuff,
23:30
all we've got
23:31
to get in
23:31
there,
23:32
we've got to
23:32
make sure the
23:33
purity of the
23:33
gospel is
23:34
preserved,
23:35
that's a fight
23:36
worth fighting,
23:37
right,
23:38
that's a
23:38
thing to
23:39
die for,
23:41
so many
23:42
Christians today
23:43
are in
23:43
battles over
23:44
tertiary
23:46
issues,
23:48
unimportant
23:49
things,
23:50
they don't
23:50
matter at
23:50
all,
23:51
just
23:52
embittered
23:53
toward one
23:54
another over
23:55
stuff that
23:55
does not
23:57
matter,
23:58
and there's a
23:59
lot that matters
24:00
in these
24:00
first order
24:01
doctrines,
24:02
there's plenty
24:03
for us to
24:04
be standing
24:05
firm and
24:05
striving for,
24:07
that stuff
24:09
needs to be
24:10
laid aside,
24:12
so we're to
24:12
do this work,
24:13
this is an
24:13
important work
24:14
for us to
24:15
be doing,
24:16
and I'm
24:16
going to
24:16
take you to
24:16
a parallel
24:17
text,
24:17
it's a bit
24:18
lengthy,
24:18
so if you'll
24:19
turn there
24:19
with me,
24:19
keep yourself
24:20
marked in
24:21
Philippians,
24:21
go to
24:22
Ephesians
24:22
chapter 4,
24:35
I'm going to
24:36
read you
24:36
16 verses,
24:37
I'm going
24:38
to do it
24:38
with some
24:38
haste,
24:39
with a
24:40
couple
24:40
little
24:40
comments,
24:41
beginning in
24:41
verse 1,
24:42
Ephesians 4,
24:44
Paul writes,
24:45
I therefore,
24:46
a prisoner for
24:46
the Lord,
24:47
urge you to
24:47
walk in a
24:48
manner worthy
24:48
of the
24:48
calling to
24:49
which you
24:49
have been
24:49
called,
24:50
similar
24:50
language,
24:51
yes,
24:52
with all
24:53
humility
24:53
and gentleness,
24:56
with patience,
24:57
bearing with one
24:58
another in
24:59
love,
25:00
eager to
25:01
maintain the
25:01
unity of the
25:02
spirit in the
25:03
bond of peace,
25:04
right,
25:04
it's a
25:05
unity that
25:05
exists because
25:06
we're in
25:07
Christ,
25:07
we have the
25:08
spirit,
25:08
therefore,
25:09
and that's the
25:09
thing we have
25:10
to work to
25:10
preserve,
25:11
there is one
25:12
body and one
25:13
spirit,
25:13
just as you
25:13
are called to
25:14
the one hope
25:15
that belongs to
25:15
your call,
25:16
one Lord,
25:17
one faith,
25:17
one baptism,
25:18
one God and
25:19
father of all,
25:19
who is over all
25:20
and through all
25:21
and in all,
25:22
but grace was
25:24
given to each
25:24
one of us
25:25
according to
25:25
the measure of
25:25
Christ's gift,
25:26
therefore it
25:27
says,
25:27
when he ascended
25:27
on high,
25:28
he led a host
25:29
of captives
25:29
and gave gifts
25:30
to men,
25:32
and saying he
25:32
ascended,
25:33
what does it
25:33
mean but that
25:33
he also descended
25:34
into the lower
25:35
regions,
25:35
the earth,
25:36
he who descended
25:37
is the one who
25:37
also ascended
25:38
far above all
25:39
the heavens that
25:39
he might fill
25:40
all things,
25:42
and I love that
25:42
parenthetical
25:43
insertion because
25:44
Paul just loves
25:45
to speak about
25:46
the glory of
25:46
Christ,
25:47
right,
25:47
inserts that
25:48
into the middle
25:49
of this,
25:50
verse 11,
25:50
and he gave
25:51
the apostles,
25:52
the prophets,
25:53
the evangelists,
25:54
the shepherds,
25:55
and teachers,
25:56
I would argue,
25:57
although not at
25:58
length now,
25:58
that the apostles
25:59
and prophets,
26:00
we have as a
26:01
gift to the
26:01
church in the
26:02
form of the
26:02
scripture,
26:03
right,
26:03
we've got the
26:04
Old Testament
26:04
and we've got
26:05
the New Testament,
26:06
we have people
26:07
who are gifted
26:07
in evangelism,
26:08
who are meant
26:09
to help all
26:09
of us be
26:10
evangelists,
26:11
and we have
26:11
shepherd teachers,
26:12
pastors who
26:13
shepherd the
26:14
flock,
26:14
for what purpose,
26:15
why,
26:16
why were the
26:16
gifts given
26:17
to the church,
26:18
verse 12,
26:19
to equip the
26:21
saints for the
26:22
work of ministry,
26:23
your work,
26:23
the work of
26:24
ministry,
26:24
for building up
26:25
the body of
26:26
Christ,
26:27
until we all
26:27
attain to the
26:28
unity of the
26:30
faith,
26:30
the word there,
26:31
the faith,
26:32
and of the
26:32
knowledge of the
26:33
Son of God,
26:34
to mature manhood,
26:35
to the measure
26:36
of the stature
26:37
of the fullness
26:38
of Christ,
26:41
why,
26:42
so that we may
26:43
no longer be
26:44
children,
26:45
tossed to
26:46
and fro,
26:48
standing firm,
26:51
striving together,
26:52
is the opposite
26:52
of this,
26:53
being tossed
26:54
to and fro
26:56
by the waves
26:57
and carried
26:57
about by
26:58
every wind
26:59
of doctrine,
27:01
by human
27:01
cunning,
27:02
by craftiness
27:03
and deceitful
27:05
schemes.
27:06
Together,
27:07
together,
27:08
we're meant
27:09
to stand firm,
27:10
together,
27:10
we're meant
27:11
to strive so
27:11
that this
27:12
isn't happening.
27:15
How?
27:16
Paul says,
27:16
rather,
27:17
speaking the truth
27:18
in love,
27:19
we are to grow
27:20
up in every way
27:21
into him
27:21
who is the head
27:22
into Christ,
27:24
from whom the
27:25
whole body,
27:25
joined and held
27:26
together by
27:26
every joint
27:27
with which it
27:28
is equipped,
27:28
when each part
27:29
is working
27:30
properly,
27:31
makes the body
27:32
grow so that
27:33
it builds itself
27:34
up in love.
27:37
So just picture,
27:38
so the reason I
27:39
pulled you there,
27:39
you can go back
27:39
to Philippians
27:40
now if you'd
27:40
like to,
27:41
right?
27:41
We are being
27:42
exhorted to
27:43
stand firm
27:43
and strive
27:44
together for
27:45
the faith
27:46
of the gospel.
27:47
And Paul is
27:47
using these
27:48
strong,
27:48
this really
27:49
strong language,
27:50
this military
27:51
type of language,
27:53
but how are we
27:53
doing that,
27:54
though?
27:55
How do we
27:55
do that work?
27:57
I think Ephesians
27:58
helps us
27:59
see it.
28:02
Humility
28:02
and gentleness
28:04
and patience
28:06
and forbearance
28:08
and eagerness.
28:10
we're meant
28:13
to speak
28:13
the truth
28:14
to one another.
28:16
It's a much
28:16
different picture
28:18
of a lot
28:18
of what I
28:19
see going on
28:20
out around
28:21
us,
28:22
the type
28:22
of contention
28:26
that we see
28:26
happening
28:27
around us.
28:29
It's troubling
28:30
to me
28:30
and I hope
28:31
it's not
28:31
true
28:32
of us.
28:34
I hope
28:35
it's not
28:35
true
28:35
of us.
28:37
Paul goes
28:37
on to say
28:39
in verse 28,
28:39
this is the
28:40
second sub
28:40
point,
28:41
togetherness
28:41
in sanctification.
28:43
He says,
28:44
and not
28:46
frightened
28:46
in anything
28:47
by your
28:49
opponents.
28:51
We don't
28:52
have to
28:52
rage against
28:53
the machine
28:54
because our
28:54
God reigns
28:55
providentially
28:56
over the
28:57
machine.
28:58
Right?
28:58
We are
28:59
secure
29:00
in him.
29:02
Paul says
29:03
this is a
29:03
clear sign
29:04
to them
29:04
of their
29:05
destruction,
29:05
but of
29:06
your
29:06
salvation
29:07
and that
29:08
from God.
29:11
Beloved,
29:12
as I made
29:12
the point
29:13
already,
29:13
opposition
29:13
to the
29:14
gospel
29:14
should
29:15
be
29:15
expected.
29:17
Peter wrote
29:18
1 Peter
29:18
chapter 4
29:19
verse 12,
29:19
beloved,
29:20
do not
29:20
be surprised
29:21
at the
29:22
fiery trial
29:22
when it
29:23
comes upon
29:23
you to
29:23
test you
29:24
as though
29:24
something
29:25
strange
29:26
were happening
29:27
to you.
29:28
Of course
29:29
opposition
29:30
comes to
29:31
those who
29:31
are followers
29:31
of Christ
29:32
because the
29:32
world
29:33
crucified
29:33
Christ.
29:36
2 Timothy
29:37
chapter 3
29:37
and verse
29:38
12.
29:39
It surprises
29:40
me how many
29:41
Christ followers
29:42
have never
29:43
heard this
29:44
verse.
29:46
You can
29:47
count yourself
29:47
in a minority,
29:48
I think,
29:49
in a moment.
29:51
2 Timothy
29:52
chapter 3
29:52
verse 12.
29:53
Indeed,
29:54
all who desire
29:55
to live a
29:55
godly life
29:56
in Christ
29:57
Jesus
29:57
will be
29:59
persecuted.
30:01
And I don't
30:02
find any
30:02
wiggle room
30:03
in that.
30:04
How do we
30:05
escape that?
30:06
By an overly
30:07
strict definition
30:08
of persecution,
30:09
possibly.
30:10
It's possible
30:10
that we think
30:11
of persecution
30:11
only as
30:12
being burned
30:13
alive in a
30:14
fire or
30:14
being put
30:15
in an arena
30:15
with lions,
30:17
which certainly
30:17
is persecution.
30:18
Maybe that's
30:19
the only way
30:19
we think
30:19
about it.
30:20
I think we
30:21
need to
30:21
broaden the
30:22
definition,
30:23
though,
30:23
to see that
30:24
not being
30:25
liked,
30:26
being passed
30:27
over for
30:28
a promotion,
30:29
having to
30:29
leave a job
30:30
altogether,
30:31
being uncomfortable
30:32
at a family
30:33
gathering.
30:34
These kinds
30:35
of things
30:36
are a
30:38
rejection
30:38
of the
30:39
gospel of
30:41
Jesus Christ.
30:42
For to be
30:43
godly in
30:43
this world,
30:45
many are
30:46
not going
30:47
to want
30:48
to hear
30:48
what we
30:49
have to
30:51
say.
30:52
I read it
30:52
to you
30:53
already,
30:53
John chapter
30:53
15,
30:54
verse 18
30:55
and following.
30:56
Do we
30:56
really think
30:57
that we're
30:58
greater
30:58
than our
31:00
master?
31:01
I hope
31:02
not.
31:03
I hope
31:04
not.
31:05
But Paul
31:05
says that we
31:06
shouldn't be
31:06
frightened in
31:07
anything by
31:09
our opponents,
31:09
and we
31:09
should not
31:10
be frightened
31:10
because if
31:12
God is for
31:13
us, who
31:15
can be
31:15
against us?
31:17
If God
31:18
is on our
31:19
side, who
31:20
cares what
31:22
other people
31:23
think?
31:26
William
31:27
Gurnall,
31:27
who's a
31:27
17th century
31:28
Anglican
31:28
preacher,
31:29
this is the
31:29
quotation on
31:30
your bulletin
31:30
this morning,
31:30
said,
31:31
let your
31:32
hope of
31:32
heaven master
31:33
your fear
31:34
of death.
31:36
We have
31:37
the promise
31:37
of heaven
31:38
if we're
31:38
in Christ.
31:39
God is
31:39
our God.
31:41
Why should
31:42
you be
31:42
afraid to
31:43
die who
31:44
hope to
31:44
live by
31:46
dying?
31:48
Paul says
31:49
that the
31:49
immovable
31:50
nature of
31:51
the believer's
31:51
faith gives
31:53
testimony to
31:54
our God.
31:55
It speaks
31:57
to the
31:58
guilt of
31:59
our
31:59
persecutors
32:00
and it
32:00
speaks to
32:01
our
32:01
confidence
32:02
in our
32:03
deliverer.
32:06
Christians
32:06
await an
32:07
unshakable
32:08
city and
32:09
recognize that
32:10
this world
32:12
is not
32:12
our home.
32:14
This is
32:15
temporary.
32:16
This is
32:16
fleeting.
32:17
This is
32:18
not our
32:20
dwelling
32:20
place.
32:22
I'm going to
32:22
give you
32:22
another long
32:23
cross-reference.
32:24
Return with
32:24
me, if you
32:24
will, to
32:25
Romans chapter
32:26
8.
32:34
I can't
32:35
bear to
32:35
begin reading
32:36
this without
32:36
finishing the
32:37
chapter.
32:38
That's why
32:38
this is a
32:38
little bit
32:39
long.
32:44
You're
32:44
likely familiar
32:45
with verse
32:45
28.
32:49
I think
32:49
the college
32:50
students right
32:50
now are
32:51
studying
32:51
Providence
32:52
and this
32:52
is the
32:52
theme,
32:53
this verse
32:53
for them
32:54
as they're
32:54
thinking about
32:55
the life
32:55
of Joseph.
32:57
Paul writes,
32:57
and we
32:57
know that
32:58
for those
32:58
who love
32:58
God, all
32:59
things work
33:00
together for
33:00
good, for
33:01
those who
33:02
are called
33:02
according to
33:04
his purpose.
33:06
And I
33:06
think a lot
33:07
of Christians
33:07
then go,
33:08
well, then
33:09
I've got to
33:09
figure out,
33:10
in all of the
33:11
trouble that I
33:11
have in my
33:12
life, I've
33:12
got to figure
33:12
out what the
33:13
good is that
33:14
he's working.
33:15
No, you
33:15
don't.
33:16
Paul tells
33:16
you.
33:17
Don't be
33:18
confused.
33:18
Don't pull
33:18
this out and
33:19
misunderstand
33:19
it.
33:20
Right?
33:20
What's the
33:21
purpose?
33:22
Verse 29,
33:23
for those whom
33:24
he foreknew,
33:25
don't get
33:25
distracted by
33:26
these words,
33:27
make your brain
33:27
spin,
33:28
those whom
33:28
he foreknew,
33:29
he also
33:29
predestined for
33:30
what?
33:31
To be
33:31
conformed to
33:33
the image
33:33
of his
33:35
son.
33:35
That we
33:36
would grow
33:36
up in
33:37
Christlikeness.
33:38
Isn't this
33:38
what we've
33:39
been talking
33:39
about?
33:40
This is what
33:40
we've been
33:40
talking about.
33:42
This together
33:43
in sanctification,
33:44
this suffering
33:45
is about
33:46
bringing about
33:47
Christlikeness
33:48
in God's
33:48
people to
33:50
the praise of
33:50
his name in
33:51
order that he
33:52
might be the
33:52
firstborn among
33:54
many brothers.
33:56
Verse 30,
33:58
and those whom
33:58
he predestined,
33:59
he also called,
34:00
and those whom
34:00
he called,
34:00
he also justified,
34:02
and those whom
34:02
he justified,
34:03
he also glorified.
34:05
He guaranteed
34:05
everything will
34:06
come to pass,
34:07
right?
34:08
Paul says,
34:08
look,
34:09
it's one,
34:10
six,
34:10
I'm confident
34:11
of this,
34:11
he who began a
34:12
good work in you
34:12
will bring it to
34:13
completion at the
34:13
day of Christ.
34:15
He's saying the
34:15
same thing here,
34:16
verse 30,
34:17
what then shall
34:19
we say to
34:20
these things?
34:22
If God is for
34:23
us,
34:24
who can be
34:25
against us?
34:27
Who could be
34:27
against us?
34:29
Just to speak
34:30
to our cultural
34:30
moment,
34:31
not the
34:32
Democratic Party.
34:34
Y'all calm down.
34:35
If God is for
34:36
us,
34:37
who could be
34:39
against us?
34:40
He who did not
34:41
spare his own
34:42
son but gave him
34:43
up for us all,
34:44
how will he not
34:44
also with him
34:45
graciously give us
34:47
all things?
34:48
He gave us his
34:49
son.
34:50
Why would he not
34:51
also give us
34:52
all things?
34:53
Verse 33,
34:54
who shall bring
34:54
any charge
34:55
against God's
34:56
elect?
34:56
It is God
34:57
who justifies.
34:59
Who is to
35:00
condemn?
35:01
Christ Jesus
35:02
is the one who
35:02
died.
35:03
More than that,
35:03
who was raised,
35:04
who was at the
35:04
right hand of
35:05
God,
35:05
who indeed
35:06
is interceding
35:07
for us,
35:08
praying for us.
35:11
Verse 35,
35:13
who shall
35:14
separate us
35:14
from the love
35:15
of Christ?
35:16
Shall
35:16
tribulation,
35:17
or distress,
35:18
or persecution,
35:18
or famine,
35:19
or nakedness,
35:20
or danger,
35:20
or sword?
35:22
As it is
35:23
written,
35:23
for your sake
35:24
we are being
35:25
killed all the
35:26
day long.
35:26
We are regarded
35:27
as sheep to
35:28
be slaughtered.
35:30
No,
35:31
in all these
35:33
things we are
35:33
more than
35:34
conquerors through
35:35
him who loved
35:37
us.
35:38
For I am sure
35:39
that neither death
35:40
nor life,
35:40
nor angels,
35:41
nor rulers,
35:41
nor things present,
35:42
nor things to
35:43
come,
35:43
nor powers,
35:44
nor height,
35:45
nor depth,
35:46
nor anything
35:46
else in all
35:47
creation will
35:48
be able to
35:49
separate us
35:49
from the love
35:50
of God in
35:51
Christ Jesus,
35:53
our Lord.
35:55
Beloved,
35:55
we have
35:56
nothing to be
35:57
afraid of.
36:00
Nothing to
36:01
be afraid of.
36:03
And our
36:04
lack of fear
36:05
speaks judgment
36:07
to those
36:09
who are our
36:10
persecutors.
36:12
God is for
36:12
us.
36:14
Who can be
36:15
against us?
36:18
And beloved,
36:18
we will not
36:19
persevere to
36:20
the end,
36:21
right?
36:21
We will not
36:22
press on all
36:23
the way to the
36:24
end in the
36:25
faith if we
36:26
don't do it
36:28
together.
36:30
God supplies
36:31
sanctifying power,
36:33
helps us grow up
36:34
into this
36:34
Christ likeness.
36:36
It is his
36:36
provision,
36:37
but he does
36:39
so most
36:40
often through
36:41
graces.
36:43
That's how he
36:43
grows us up.
36:44
That's how he's
36:45
working in us
36:45
through his
36:46
word,
36:47
prayer,
36:48
and the
36:49
church.
36:50
We are
36:50
sanctified
36:51
together.
36:53
If we're going
36:53
to stand firm,
36:54
if we're going
36:54
to strive,
36:55
we're going to
36:55
have to do it
36:56
together.
36:58
Third and
36:58
finally,
36:59
togetherness and
36:59
suffering.
37:00
verse 29 and
37:02
34 has been
37:03
granted to you
37:03
for the sake of
37:04
Christ.
37:04
You should not
37:05
only believe in
37:05
him,
37:06
but also suffer
37:06
for his sake,
37:08
engaged in the
37:09
same conflict
37:10
that you saw I
37:10
had and now
37:11
hear that I
37:12
still have.
37:15
Salvation and
37:16
suffering are
37:17
inseparably bound
37:18
together.
37:21
Spiritual
37:21
conflict is a
37:22
sign that we
37:23
are identified
37:23
with Christ.
37:26
It's a sign
37:26
that people know
37:27
that we are
37:28
identified with
37:29
Christ,
37:29
right?
37:30
The gospel
37:30
has an enemy
37:31
in the world.
37:34
Paul was
37:35
imprisoned for
37:36
the very faith
37:37
that he is
37:37
exhorting the
37:38
Philippians to
37:39
stand firm
37:40
and to strive
37:40
for.
37:41
He's riding
37:41
this very
37:42
lever from
37:43
imprisonment
37:43
for that
37:45
faith.
37:47
And he
37:48
says that
37:49
it has been
37:50
granted to
37:51
us,
37:52
that it is
37:52
given to
37:53
us by
37:54
God,
37:55
that it's
37:56
a gift
37:56
from God.
37:59
That for
37:59
the sake
38:00
of Christ,
38:00
you should
38:01
not only
38:01
believe in
38:02
him,
38:02
but also
38:03
suffer for
38:04
his sake.
38:06
Suffering for
38:06
the sake
38:07
of the
38:08
gospel is
38:10
a blessing.
38:11
It's a
38:11
gift given.
38:13
Do you view
38:14
it that way?
38:15
Do you get
38:16
all uncomfortable
38:16
every time we
38:17
talk about
38:17
suffering?
38:18
You're like,
38:18
oh no,
38:18
we're talking
38:19
about suffering
38:19
again.
38:20
I think
38:22
that most
38:23
of us
38:23
spend our
38:25
time avoiding
38:26
discomfort.
38:28
Maybe as
38:28
the highest
38:29
value,
38:30
I'm going
38:30
to do
38:31
everything I
38:31
can to
38:32
avoid
38:32
discomfort
38:33
and to
38:33
find comfort.
38:35
Think about
38:35
how much of
38:35
your life
38:36
is oriented
38:37
around being
38:38
comfortable
38:39
and avoiding
38:39
things that
38:40
are uncomfortable.
38:43
Perhaps
38:44
our lives
38:44
are missing
38:45
the joy
38:46
that Paul
38:47
calls us
38:47
to because
38:49
we have
38:49
not suffered
38:50
for the
38:51
sake of
38:51
Christ.
38:52
This letter
38:52
is full
38:53
of joy
38:54
rejoicing.
38:55
He is
38:56
just overjoyed
38:58
writing a
38:58
letter from
39:00
a Roman
39:00
prison.
39:02
Maybe we
39:02
miss out
39:03
on that.
39:04
Maybe we
39:04
don't really
39:04
understand
39:05
the goodness
39:06
of Christ
39:08
because we
39:08
haven't really
39:09
suffered
39:10
for his
39:11
sake.
39:13
I want us
39:13
to have the
39:14
faith that we
39:15
can observe
39:15
in Paul
39:16
as he
39:16
writes in
39:17
Philippians
39:17
chapter 4
39:18
verse 4
39:18
and following
39:19
rejoice in
39:20
the Lord
39:20
always.
39:21
Again I
39:22
will say
39:22
rejoice.
39:24
Let your
39:25
reasonableness
39:25
be known
39:26
to everyone.
39:27
The Lord
39:28
is at
39:29
hand.
39:30
He is
39:31
present.
39:32
He is a
39:32
help in
39:33
times of
39:35
trouble.
39:36
I want us
39:37
to have the
39:37
faith that we
39:37
can observe
39:38
in the
39:38
apostles as
39:39
they stand
39:39
trial before
39:40
the Sanhedrin
39:41
as recorded
39:42
by Luke
39:43
in Acts
39:43
chapter 5.
39:44
When they
39:45
had called
39:46
in the
39:46
apostles,
39:47
they beat
39:48
them and
39:49
charge them
39:50
not to
39:50
speak in
39:51
the name
39:51
of Jesus
39:52
and let
39:53
them go.
39:56
Verse 41
39:57
does not
39:57
tell us that
39:58
they then
39:58
went and
39:59
made a
40:00
woe is
40:00
me post
40:00
on all
40:01
of their
40:02
social media
40:02
accounts.
40:03
says this,
40:09
then they
40:10
left the
40:11
presence of
40:12
the council
40:12
rejoicing,
40:15
rejoicing
40:16
that they
40:17
were counted
40:18
worthy to
40:20
suffer dishonor
40:21
for the
40:22
name.
40:23
It had
40:24
been granted
40:24
to them,
40:25
been granted
40:26
salvation,
40:27
and they
40:28
had been
40:28
granted the
40:29
opportunity to
40:30
suffer for
40:32
the sake
40:32
of Christ.
40:34
Beloved,
40:35
our suffering
40:36
puts on
40:37
display the
40:38
suffering of
40:39
Jesus, a
40:41
people who
40:41
so love
40:43
God that
40:44
they will
40:44
give up
40:45
everything for
40:47
him.
40:48
They'll pursue
40:49
him through
40:50
a costly
40:51
call to
40:53
give up
40:54
what they
40:55
cannot keep,
40:56
to gain
40:57
what they
40:58
cannot lose.
41:00
I want us
41:01
to have
41:02
this kind
41:03
of faith,
41:04
and I want
41:06
us to have
41:06
it together.
41:08
The gospel
41:09
demands a
41:10
consistent
41:10
conduct,
41:11
and it
41:12
affords us
41:13
togetherness.
41:15
Let's pray
41:16
together for
41:16
the grace
41:16
to obey
41:17
all that
41:18
our God
41:18
commands.