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Philippians 3:1-3 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Please take your copy of God's Word and turn to Philippians chapter 3.
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And I'm a little note heavy this morning.
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So you may find my pace speeding up because I'd like to complete the notes this morning and to do so in a reasonable amount of time and certainly for the sake of parents with children this morning.
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So let's get right to it.
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But before we read the text, 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.
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So we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands.
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Philippians chapter 3, beginning in verse 1.
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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
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To write the same thing to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
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Look out for the dogs.
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Look out for the evildoers.
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Look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
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For we are the circumcision who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.
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Now, the Christian church has a problem in our day.
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The problem of false conversion.
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I believe this is largely due to the nature of our gospel presentations.
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We offer the free grace of God to all people as it is and as we should.
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But we have largely neglected to balance this offer with the costly call of following Christ.
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Today's church has almost altogether ignored texts like Mark chapter 8, verse 34 and 35, where Jesus said,
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If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
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For whoever would save his life will lose it.
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But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it.
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The cross was a place of death.
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Someone who is willing to give all that they are for the sake of gaining Christ can have Christ.
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And Luke chapter 14, verse 28 and following.
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Jesus says,
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For which of you desiring to build the tower does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
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Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying,
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This man began to build and was not able to finish.
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Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with 10,000 men to meet him who comes against him with 20,000?
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And if not, while the other is a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
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What is Jesus talking about when he gives these examples?
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Verse 33 tells us,
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So, therefore, if any one of you does not renounce all that he has, cannot be my disciple.
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So, many people have made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, but have not truly been converted.
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This kind of easy-believe-ism, cheap-grace type of gospel that the church today presents so often.
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These people are false Christians, not genuine Christians.
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This should be a sobering thing to realize.
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It is altogether possible to declare that you are in the faith and not be in the faith.
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It is possible to think that you are saved and your end be destruction.
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This is not the first time we have considered this, and it will not be the last,
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because the Bible is packed with teaching on the matter.
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New Testament writers are very concerned with this, that people would not truly respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ,
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that they would think they're saved and find that they're not in the end.
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Let me just give you a few quick examples of this teaching.
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Jesus was concerned about it.
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Matthew 7, verse 21 and following.
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He says,
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Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven,
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but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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On that day, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, do we not prophesy in your name,
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and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?
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The people who claim Christ as Lord and do powerful signs in his name.
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Verse 23 says,
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And then I will declare to them,
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I never knew you.
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Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
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Jesus also told the parable of the sower.
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You can find it in Matthew chapter 13 and Mark 4 and Luke chapter 8,
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where there's seed that falls on the ground,
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and it's snatched away by birds, which represent the devil,
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steals the truth away.
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There's seed that falls on rocky soil,
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and because it has no depth,
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because it brings forth plant,
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but there's no root.
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The sun of tribulation comes and withers away.
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So people make professions,
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and they seem to be in the faith,
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and yet we find that they're not.
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And there's some that falls amongst the thorns,
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and the thorns represent the cares of the world,
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and the cares of the world choke out.
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The truth of the gospel.
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Paul's also concerned about this in our text today,
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and in many other places.
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Here's a few examples.
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He writes to the Corinthians,
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chapter 13 and verse 5.
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Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.
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Test yourselves,
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or do you not realize this about yourselves,
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that Jesus Christ is in you,
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unless indeed you fail to meet the test.
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He writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3, 5,
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as he's warning him about false teachers.
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He says,
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they have the appearance of godliness,
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but deny the gospel's power.
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And then to Titus in chapter 1 and verse 16,
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same type of warning.
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They profess to know God,
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but they deny him by their works.
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They are detestable, disobedient,
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unfit for any good work.
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You see,
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this problem that we have today
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is not a problem new to our day.
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In the various earliest days of the church,
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people sought what they could gain
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by professing to be Christians,
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but gave no evidence of their conversion.
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Take some time on your own
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to note the life of Simon in Acts chapter 8.
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This is just when the first dispersion
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of the church from Jerusalem had happened.
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And we already see this kind of thing taking place.
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As Paul writes to the Philippians,
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he has a particular group of false converts in mind.
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These false Christians did not seek
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to subtract from the requirement of faith,
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but to add to it.
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In the ESV translation,
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which I'm preaching from today,
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I know that many of you have in front of you.
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They are called the dogs, the evildoers,
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those who mutilate the flesh.
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But the NASB translation,
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which is a wonderful translation of the Bible,
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renders the phrase,
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those who mutilate the flesh,
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as the false circumcision.
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There's a particular group in mind,
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as Paul is writing here to the Philippians.
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These people were Jewish people
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who had professed to be Christians
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and made it their aim
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to convince Gentile converts
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that they must be circumcised
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in order to be genuine Christians.
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They were adding the work of circumcision
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to the faith of these Gentile believers.
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And this made Paul furious.
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Many times in the scripture we read
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his indictment of these particular people.
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Paul was very clear
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about the matter of circumcision.
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Romans chapter 2,
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beginning in verse 25.
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For circumcision indeed is of value
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if you obey the law.
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But if you break the law,
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your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
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Everybody's broken the law.
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So if a man who is uncircumcised
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keeps the precepts of the law,
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will not his uncircumcision
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be regarded as circumcision?
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And how do we keep the law?
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We keep it in Christ.
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Then he who is physically uncircumcised
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but keeps the law
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will condemn you
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who have the written code
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and circumcision,
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but break the law.
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For no one is a Jew
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who is merely one outwardly,
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nor is circumcision outward and physical.
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But a Jew is one inwardly,
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and circumcision is a matter of the heart
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by the Spirit,
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not by the letter.
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His praise is not from man,
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but from God.
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Righteousness,
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or perfect law-keeping,
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comes by faith
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in Jesus' perfect law-keeping.
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We are incapable of keeping the law.
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The Old Testament
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is predominantly about proving
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this very point.
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We're given a standard
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that we cannot keep
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so that we would look to
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another source
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for our salvation.
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Right?
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The law is a teacher to us
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of our need
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of a Savior.
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We cannot find ourselves
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approved before God
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by our works.
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It will never happen.
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Listen to the words of Paul
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to the Galatian believers
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whose consciences
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have been swayed
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by these Judaizers,
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as they were called.
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He says in chapter 3,
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verse 1 and following,
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O foolish Galatians,
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who has bewitched you?
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It was before your eyes
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that Jesus Christ
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was publicly portrayed
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as crucified.
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Let me ask you only this.
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Did you receive the Spirit
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by works of the law
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or by hearing with faith?
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The answer is by hearing with faith.
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That's how they received
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the Spirit.
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Are you so foolish?
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Having begun by the Spirit,
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are you now being perfected
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by the flesh?
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Did you suffer so many things
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in vain,
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if indeed it was in vain?
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Does he who supplies
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the Spirit to you
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and works miracles among you
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do so by works of the law
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or by hearing with faith?
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Just as Abraham believed God
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and it was counted to him
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as righteousness.
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Abraham's righteousness,
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the father of the Jews,
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was given to him
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not because of works,
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but because of faith.
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Today's text is meant to serve
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both as a warning
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and as an encouragement.
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For those not in Christ this morning,
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weigh out whether or not
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you have repented of your sin
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and thrown yourself
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on the mercy of God.
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For those of you who are
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in Christ this morning,
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have your hope in the gospel
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of Jesus Christ spurred on.
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We have a great hope in Christ.
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In Philippians chapter 3,
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verses 1 through 3,
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Paul means to juxtapose for us
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the false Christian
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and the genuine Christian.
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So our outline for this text
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will be as follows.
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genuine Christians,
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Christians,
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excuse me,
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questions,
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clear my throat,
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genuine Christians,
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one, rejoice in the Lord,
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two, look out,
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the way ESV renders that,
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look out,
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three, worship in the spirit of God,
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four, glory in Christ Jesus,
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and five,
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put no confidence in the flesh.
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And I'll repeat all those for you,
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of course.
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Genuine Christians,
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number one,
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rejoice in the Lord.
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He says in the first part of verse 1,
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finally my brothers,
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rejoice in the Lord.
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Finally could also be rendered
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furthermore or so then.
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In this case,
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it's a transitional word.
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Half of the letter still remains,
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so it's reasonable to feel
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like this conclusion word
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is out of place.
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I think we do well
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when we get to chapter 3
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and go,
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finally,
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what do you mean?
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He's not about to wrap
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the letter up.
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And I don't think that Paul
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gets to this place
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and makes a mistake.
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Like he thought he was about
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to conclude the letter
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and yet he didn't quite.
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So I think we ought to see here,
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furthermore,
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my brothers,
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rejoice in the Lord.
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Paul has spoken much
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in this letter so far
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about rejoicing.
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You can see chapter 1,
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verse 4,
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and verse 18,
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and verse 25.
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Chapter 2,
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verse 2,
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verse 17 and 18,
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and verse 28 and 29.
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There's much of the theme
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of the book of Philippians
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is about joy or rejoicing.
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Here he specifically says
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that genuine Christians
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rejoice in the Lord.
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Joy should not be seen
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as happiness.
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We confuse those two words
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in our English vernacular.
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Happiness is a feeling
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that is based in circumstance.
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The root word of happiness
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is the same as the word
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for happenstance
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or circumstance.
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Happiness is not bad.
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Don't hear me say
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that it's bad to be happy.
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It's a joyful thing
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to go to a birthday party
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and enjoy the cake.
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Happiness comes from that.
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But joy is much better.
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Joy is the superior emotion
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to happiness.
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Joy is a divine emotion
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rooted in the future promises
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of God regardless
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of our circumstance.
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Let me say that again.
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Joy is a divine emotion
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rooted in the future promises
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of God regardless
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of our circumstance.
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We cannot produce it
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on our own.
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It's divine.
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It's birthed in us
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by the power of the Spirit
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and so it is a mark
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of genuine Christians.
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Bulletin says,
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the quote on your bulletin
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says by Martin Lloyd-Jones,
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God's people are meant
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to be people
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who are always rejoicing
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in the Lord.
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Who he is to us
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and that we belong to him.
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I hope that when we speak
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of joy,
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you know what we mean.
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And when I talk about it
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being this divine emotion
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rooted in future promises,
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you can say,
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yeah, yeah,
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I have that joy.
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I recognize that regardless
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of the circumstances
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I'm walking through,
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there is promise for me
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that you get pulled
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through the sorrow
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that this life delves out
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and it is full of sorrow.
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Young people,
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the longer you live,
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the more you will feel
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the weight of the utter
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brokenness of this world.
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And if you don't have
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gospel joy
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to override that,
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you will be left
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despondent.
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But if you are in the Lord,
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if you are in Christ,
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you have much
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to have joy in.
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I hope you know
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what we're talking about
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when we say this.
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If you don't,
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you may not
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be in Christ.
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You may not have a reason
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for joy
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at all.
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So do you experience
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this joy
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in the deepest recess
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of your soul
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despite what's going on
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around you,
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despite the sorrow
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that this life
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just serves up
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again and again?
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Do you rejoice
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that you are God's
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and He is yours?
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Do you hang
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on His promises?
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Genuine Christians
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rejoice in the Lord.
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Secondly,
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genuine Christians
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look out.
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Last half of verse 1,
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Paul writes,
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to write the same things
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to you is no trouble
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to me and is safe
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for you.
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The verse numbering
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is not inspired.
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And I think
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that in this case,
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we need to move
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that little two
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elsewhere in the text.
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I don't think
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he's writing about joy
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when he says
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to write the same things
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to you is no trouble
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to me and is safe
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for you.
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It's about the warning
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he's about to give
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to these believers
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and to us.
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Verse 2,
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look out for the dogs.
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Look out for the evildoers.
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Look out for those
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who mutilate the flesh.
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The text says,
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look out.
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Some translations say,
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beware.
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I want you to see that
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what Paul means
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is discern.
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Actively be looking,
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being careful,
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thinking clearly
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and biblically
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about what it is
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you're being told.
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Genuine believers
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are to grow
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in their knowledge
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of the truth
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and,
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therefore,
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their ability
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to spot
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counterfeit
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truth.
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If we know
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the truth,
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if we are versed
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in the Bible,
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it's not all
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that difficult
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to spot
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those things
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that are untrue,
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those things
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that don't reconcile
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with what the Scripture
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teaches.
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Paul says
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to write the same
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things to you,
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which means
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that he must be
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reiterating a point
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that he has
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previously
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made.
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I think sometimes
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this is why our mind
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ties to the idea
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of joy
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because he's
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repeated joy,
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rejoicing over
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and over again,
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but I think he's
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referring back
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to Philippians 1,
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verse 27 and 28,
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where he wrote,
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Only let your manner
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of life be worthy
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of the gospel
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of Christ,
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so that whether
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I come and see you
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or am absent,
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I may hear of you
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that you are
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standing firm
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in one spirit
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with one mind
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striving side by side
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for the faith
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of the gospel.
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The faith of the gospel.
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Right?
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And not frightened
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in anything
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by your opponents.
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This is a clear sign
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to them of their
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destruction,
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but of your salvation
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and that from God.
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This is the writing
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the same things
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to you,
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I believe that he's
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referring to,
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that we would be
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as a church,
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as churches,
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the Philippian church,
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would be standing
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together,
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firm,
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right?
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Discerning
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the truth.
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We are to discern
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those who teach
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in contradiction
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to the gospel
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of Jesus Christ.
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The good news
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that we are saved
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by grace alone,
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through faith alone,
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through Jesus Christ
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alone.
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There are so many
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false gospels
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and peddlers
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of false gospels,
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right?
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They abound.
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And the genuine
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Christian must be
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trained in the word
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in order to not
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be led astray
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by such teaching.
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Paul exhorts us
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to look out,
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beware,
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discern,
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because it is safe
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for us.
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Open-mindedness
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in the church
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is the siren call
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of the false teachers,
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right?
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Oh, tolerance
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seems to be
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the highest order
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of our day,
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right?
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As long as
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somebody's intentions
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are good,
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then let them say
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what they will.
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The genuine Christian
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will not lay aside
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loving kindness
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and gentleness,
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but they will
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contend
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for the truth.
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They will consider
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those who add to
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or subtract from
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the gospel of Jesus Christ
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dogs
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and evildoers.
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We must
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hold
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firm
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the gospel
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once for all
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delivered
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to the saints
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because it's good
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for people.
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We must not
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tolerate
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false
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teachers.
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And beloved,
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I will tell you
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that they are
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in our backyard
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and they're
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influencing your
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friends
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and your
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co-workers
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and your
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classmates
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and your
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family.
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There are
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false
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teachers
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abounding
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around us.
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The dogs
21:37
that Paul
21:37
is referring
21:38
to were not
21:39
the domestic
21:39
cedokine
21:40
that may come
21:41
to your mind.
21:41
This is not
21:42
your lap dog
21:43
that he's
21:43
referring to
21:44
here,
21:45
but they
21:46
were wild,
21:47
ravenous,
21:49
dangerous
21:49
dogs.
21:51
In fact,
21:51
he's doing
21:51
a turn of
21:52
phrase here
21:52
because often
21:53
the Jews
21:53
referred to
21:54
Gentiles
21:54
as dogs
21:55
and here
21:56
he's calling
21:56
Jews who
21:57
would lead
21:57
the Gentiles
21:58
astray
21:58
from the
21:59
true gospel
21:59
of Jesus
21:59
Christ
22:00
dogs.
22:01
They were
22:01
dangerous
22:03
men
22:03
that he's
22:04
talking about
22:05
here.
22:06
He's calling
22:07
these teachers
22:07
destructive
22:08
for the good
22:09
of people.
22:11
He further
22:12
declares
22:12
their teaching
22:13
evil
22:13
and calling
22:14
them
22:14
evil
22:15
doers.
22:18
Beloved,
22:18
we tend
22:19
to give
22:19
ear to
22:19
many false
22:20
teachers
22:20
because
22:21
of this
22:22
presumed
22:23
good
22:23
intent.
22:25
Paul does
22:26
no such
22:26
thing
22:26
and exhorts
22:27
us
22:28
to the same.
22:30
And let me
22:30
just as an
22:30
aside say
22:31
of pastors
22:32
who are
22:33
false
22:33
teachers,
22:34
they bear
22:34
a responsibility
22:35
for the
22:36
word that
22:36
they preach.
22:37
We can be
22:38
heartbroken
22:38
for them,
22:39
but they
22:40
have the
22:40
same text.
22:41
It is
22:42
inerrant
22:43
and it
22:43
is sufficient
22:44
and all
22:45
they need
22:45
to do
22:45
is open
22:46
it and
22:46
read it.
22:48
Deliver
22:48
it to
22:49
their people.
22:50
They really
22:51
have no
22:51
excuse and
22:52
I can tell
22:52
you they'll
22:53
have no
22:53
excuse on
22:54
the day
22:55
of judgment.
22:56
If we're
22:57
going to
22:57
love our
22:58
community
22:58
with the
22:59
love of
22:59
Christ,
23:01
we must
23:01
be
23:02
discerning.
23:04
We must
23:04
help people.
23:05
We must
23:06
lead them
23:06
to the
23:07
truth,
23:08
the truth
23:08
that is
23:09
safe
23:10
for us
23:11
and for
23:12
them.
23:13
We must
23:14
look out.
23:16
We must
23:16
each of
23:17
us be
23:17
more and
23:18
more like
23:19
the Berean
23:20
brothers and
23:21
sisters we
23:22
can read
23:22
about in
23:22
Acts chapter
23:24
17.
23:25
Paul came
23:26
to them,
23:27
to the
23:28
Jews in
23:28
Berea,
23:29
teaching them
23:30
of the
23:30
gospel of
23:30
Jesus Christ,
23:31
saying this
23:31
Jesus is
23:32
the Messiah
23:32
that the
23:33
Old Testament
23:33
speaks of.
23:35
In Acts
23:36
17 verse
23:36
11 says,
23:38
they were
23:38
more noble
23:39
than those
23:39
Jews in
23:40
Thessalonica,
23:41
who had
23:41
rejected
23:42
the gospel
23:42
because they
23:43
received the
23:44
word with
23:45
all eagerness.
23:46
They were
23:47
willing to
23:47
be taught
23:48
something new.
23:49
What do
23:50
they do
23:50
with it?
23:51
They
23:51
examine
23:51
the
23:52
scriptures
23:52
daily to
23:53
see if
23:54
these
23:54
things
23:54
were so.
23:56
This is
23:56
how we
23:57
are meant
23:57
to be,
23:58
to hear
23:59
things,
24:00
take it,
24:01
discern it
24:02
by the
24:03
scripture,
24:04
the only
24:04
standard
24:04
of truth.
24:06
truth.
24:08
So,
24:09
genuine
24:09
Christians
24:09
look out.
24:11
Are you
24:11
working to
24:12
be trained
24:13
in the
24:13
truth?
24:15
Do you
24:15
read your
24:16
Bible?
24:18
Do you
24:18
sit under
24:18
faithful
24:19
teaching?
24:20
Not
24:21
personality
24:22
driven
24:22
teaching,
24:23
but truth
24:24
driven
24:24
teaching.
24:25
Someone who's
24:25
willing to
24:25
open up the
24:26
text and
24:26
show you
24:27
what it
24:27
says.
24:29
Help you
24:29
to see it
24:30
for
24:30
yourself.
24:32
I know
24:33
we move
24:33
so fast,
24:34
but it's
24:34
why I
24:34
reference
24:35
everything.
24:35
I don't
24:36
want to
24:36
just say,
24:36
and
24:36
somewhere
24:37
in
24:37
Matthew
24:37
it
24:38
says.
24:38
I'm
24:39
going to
24:39
give you
24:39
the
24:39
reference.
24:39
You
24:40
can
24:40
go look
24:40
at it
24:40
for
24:41
yourself.
24:42
This
24:42
is the
24:43
standard
24:43
of
24:44
truth.
24:45
Are
24:45
you
24:46
part
24:46
of
24:46
a
24:46
community
24:47
of
24:47
faith
24:47
that
24:48
values
24:48
the
24:50
truth?
24:52
Genuine
24:52
Christians
24:52
look out.
24:53
Third,
24:55
genuine
24:55
Christians
24:55
worship
24:56
in the
24:57
spirit
24:58
of
24:58
God.
24:59
First
25:00
part of
25:00
verse
25:00
three,
25:01
for we
25:01
are
25:02
the
25:02
circumcision
25:03
who
25:04
worship
25:04
by the
25:05
spirit
25:05
of
25:06
God.
25:06
Again,
25:07
I'll
25:07
refer to
25:07
the
25:08
NASB
25:08
translation
25:08
of
25:09
this
25:09
verse
25:09
which
25:09
renders
25:10
circumcision
25:11
as
25:11
true
25:12
circumcision.
25:12
So the
25:13
NASB
25:13
calls
25:14
the
25:14
one
25:14
group
25:14
the
25:14
false
25:15
circumcision
25:16
and
25:16
the
25:17
Philippian
25:17
believers
25:18
the
25:18
true
25:19
circumcision.
25:21
You
25:21
see,
25:22
circumcision
25:22
was a
25:22
sign
25:23
of the
25:23
covenant
25:23
that was
25:24
always
25:24
meant
25:24
to
25:25
point
25:25
to
25:26
a
25:26
greater
25:26
reality
25:27
that
25:28
will
25:28
be
25:28
realized
25:29
in
25:29
Jesus
25:30
Christ.
25:31
The Old
25:32
Testament
25:32
speaks of
25:33
this.
25:33
Let me
25:33
give you
25:33
one example.
25:34
Jeremiah
25:34
chapter
25:35
four,
25:36
beginning
25:37
in
25:37
verse
25:37
one.
25:38
If you
25:39
return,
25:39
O Israel,
25:40
declares the
25:40
Lord,
25:41
to me,
25:41
you should
25:42
return.
25:43
If you
25:44
remove your
25:44
detestable things
25:45
from my
25:45
presence and
25:46
do not
25:46
waver,
25:47
and if you
25:47
swear as
25:48
the Lord
25:48
lives in
25:50
truth,
25:51
in justice,
25:51
and in
25:52
righteousness,
25:53
the nation
25:54
shall bless
25:55
themselves in
25:55
him,
25:56
and in
25:56
him shall
25:57
they glory.
25:57
for thus
25:59
says the
25:59
Lord to
26:00
the men
26:00
of Judah
26:00
and
26:00
Jerusalem,
26:01
break up
26:02
your
26:02
fallow
26:03
ground
26:03
and
26:03
sow
26:03
not
26:04
among
26:04
thorns.
26:06
Circumcise
26:06
yourselves to
26:07
the Lord,
26:08
remove the
26:08
foreskin
26:09
of your
26:10
hearts.
26:12
O
26:12
men of
26:12
Judah
26:13
and
26:13
inhabitants
26:13
of
26:14
Jerusalem,
26:15
lest my
26:15
wrath go
26:16
forth like
26:16
fire and
26:17
burn with
26:17
none to
26:17
quench it
26:18
because of
26:19
the evil
26:19
of your
26:20
deeds.
26:21
The
26:21
prophet
26:22
Jeremiah
26:22
is already
26:23
getting them
26:23
to learn,
26:24
helping them
26:24
understand that
26:25
circumcision was
26:26
not merely
26:26
an outward
26:27
thing.
26:28
It was
26:28
meant to
26:29
be an
26:29
inward
26:30
change.
26:32
Recall
26:33
Paul's
26:34
case from
26:35
Romans
26:35
chapter 2.
26:36
I read
26:36
to you
26:37
previously
26:37
verse 28
26:38
and 29.
26:39
For no
26:40
one is a
26:40
Jew who
26:41
is merely
26:41
one
26:42
outwardly,
26:43
nor is
26:44
circumcision
26:44
outward and
26:45
physical,
26:46
but a
26:46
Jew,
26:47
here God's
26:48
people,
26:48
is one
26:49
inwardly,
26:50
and circumcision
26:51
is a matter
26:51
of the heart
26:52
by the
26:53
spirit,
26:53
not by the
26:54
letter.
26:55
His praise
26:55
is not
26:56
from man,
26:57
but from
26:58
God.
26:59
Salvation
27:00
does not
27:00
come from
27:01
our keeping
27:01
of the
27:01
law because
27:02
this is
27:03
impossible.
27:04
Salvation
27:05
comes by
27:05
faith in
27:06
the completed
27:06
work of
27:07
Jesus Christ,
27:08
imputed or
27:09
given to
27:10
us by
27:11
the power
27:12
of his
27:13
spirit.
27:14
Let's look
27:15
briefly at
27:16
a longer
27:17
explanation of
27:18
this in
27:18
John chapter
27:19
4.
27:20
So join me
27:20
there if you
27:20
would to
27:21
John chapter
27:21
4.
27:22
I'm going
27:27
to read
27:27
the account
27:27
of the
27:28
Samaritan
27:28
woman at
27:29
the
27:29
well.
27:37
This
27:37
sets up
27:37
the same
27:38
problem
27:38
of,
27:40
in this
27:40
case,
27:40
a woman,
27:41
not these
27:41
Judaizers,
27:42
but a
27:42
woman who
27:43
was looking
27:44
to the
27:44
outward
27:44
expression
27:45
of what
27:45
it meant
27:46
to belong
27:46
to God.
27:47
And Jesus
27:48
says something
27:48
striking and
27:50
helpful too
27:51
here.
27:51
So we're
27:51
going to
27:52
begin to
27:52
verse 1
27:52
and I'll
27:52
read fairly
27:53
quickly and
27:54
maybe pause
27:54
and make
27:55
some remarks
27:55
along the
27:56
way.
27:56
I don't
27:56
have any
27:56
remarks planned,
27:57
but we'll
27:57
see how it
27:58
goes.
27:58
Beginning
27:59
in verse 1.
28:00
Now when
28:00
Jesus learned
28:01
that the
28:01
Pharisees had
28:02
heard that
28:02
Jesus was
28:03
making and
28:03
baptizing more
28:04
disciples than
28:04
John,
28:05
although Jesus
28:05
himself did
28:06
not baptize,
28:07
but only his
28:07
disciples,
28:08
he left
28:09
Judea and
28:09
departed again
28:10
for Galilee.
28:11
And he had
28:12
to pass through
28:13
Samaria.
28:15
Now Samaria
28:15
was an area
28:17
of the land
28:18
where people
28:18
who were
28:19
half-breeds
28:21
lived.
28:22
People who
28:23
in the
28:23
return from
28:23
exile had
28:24
gone intermarried
28:26
amongst the
28:26
people of the
28:27
land, so they
28:27
were seen as
28:28
lesser people.
28:29
They were
28:29
kind of
28:29
cast out
28:30
from the
28:31
Jewish
28:32
purity
28:33
otherwise.
28:34
They were
28:35
looked down
28:35
on people.
28:36
So verse 5.
28:37
So he came
28:38
to a town
28:38
of Samaria
28:38
called
28:39
Sakaar,
28:39
near the
28:40
field that
28:40
Jacob had
28:40
given to
28:41
his son
28:41
Joseph.
28:42
Jacob's
28:43
well was
28:43
there,
28:43
so Jesus
28:44
wearied as
28:44
he was
28:45
from his
28:45
journey,
28:45
was sitting
28:46
beside the
28:46
well.
28:47
It was
28:47
about the
28:48
sixth hour
28:49
midday.
28:50
A woman
28:50
from Samaria
28:51
came to
28:51
draw water.
28:52
Jesus said
28:52
to her,
28:53
give me a
28:53
drink.
28:54
For his
28:54
disciples had
28:55
gone away
28:55
into the
28:56
city to
28:56
buy food.
28:57
The
28:57
Samaritan
28:58
woman said
28:58
to him,
28:59
how is it
28:59
that you,
29:00
a Jew,
29:00
ask for a
29:01
drink from
29:01
me,
29:02
a woman of
29:02
Samaria,
29:03
for Jews
29:04
have no
29:04
dealings
29:04
with
29:05
Samaritans.
29:06
Jesus
29:06
answered her,
29:08
if you
29:08
knew the
29:08
gift of
29:09
God and
29:09
who it
29:09
is that
29:10
is saying
29:10
to you,
29:10
give me
29:11
a drink,
29:12
you would
29:12
have asked
29:12
him and
29:13
he would
29:13
have given
29:13
you living
29:14
water.
29:16
The woman
29:16
said to
29:16
him,
29:17
sir,
29:17
you have
29:17
nothing to
29:18
draw water
29:18
with and
29:19
the well
29:19
is deep.
29:20
Where do
29:20
you get
29:21
that living
29:21
water?
29:23
Are you
29:23
greater than
29:24
our father
29:24
Jacob?
29:24
He gave
29:25
us the well
29:25
and drank
29:26
from it
29:26
himself as
29:27
did his
29:27
sons and
29:28
his livestock.
29:29
Jesus
29:30
said to
29:30
her,
29:31
everyone
29:31
who drinks
29:32
of this
29:32
water will
29:33
be thirsty
29:33
again,
29:34
but whoever
29:34
drinks of
29:35
the water
29:35
that I
29:36
will give
29:36
him will
29:36
never be
29:37
thirsty
29:37
again.
29:38
The water
29:38
that I
29:39
will give
29:39
him will
29:39
become in
29:40
him a
29:40
spring of
29:41
water
29:41
welling
29:42
up to
29:43
eternal
29:43
life.
29:44
So Jesus
29:45
is speaking
29:46
metaphorically
29:47
of life
29:48
of the
29:48
spirit and
29:49
she's still
29:49
thinking real
29:50
practically,
29:50
right?
29:50
She just
29:51
wants to
29:51
have her
29:52
physical
29:52
thirst
29:53
met.
29:54
Verse 15,
29:54
the woman
29:55
said to
29:55
him,
29:55
sir,
29:56
give me
29:56
this water
29:56
so that I
29:56
will not be
29:57
thirsty or
29:57
have to
29:58
come here
30:00
Jesus said
30:01
to her,
30:02
go call
30:03
your husband
30:04
and come
30:05
here.
30:06
So he's
30:06
exposing her
30:07
sinfulness.
30:09
He's showing
30:09
her her
30:11
need of
30:11
living water.
30:13
The woman
30:13
answered him,
30:14
verse 17,
30:14
I have no
30:15
husband.
30:16
Jesus said
30:16
to her,
30:16
you are
30:17
right in
30:17
saying I
30:18
have no
30:18
husband,
30:18
for you
30:19
have had
30:19
five husbands
30:20
and the
30:21
one you
30:21
now have
30:21
is not
30:22
your
30:22
husband.
30:23
What
30:23
you have
30:23
said is
30:24
true.
30:25
The woman
30:26
said to
30:26
him,
30:27
sir,
30:27
I perceive
30:28
that you
30:28
are a
30:28
prophet.
30:29
Our
30:30
fathers
30:30
worshipped
30:31
on this
30:32
mountain
30:32
where they
30:33
are,
30:33
but you
30:34
say that
30:34
in Jerusalem
30:35
is the
30:35
place where
30:35
people
30:36
ought to
30:36
worship.
30:37
So she's
30:38
getting it,
30:38
right?
30:38
Jesus is
30:39
teaching her
30:39
a spiritual
30:40
thing.
30:42
She's
30:42
recognizing
30:43
her
30:43
sinfulness
30:43
and she's
30:44
trying to
30:44
understand
30:45
how it
30:46
is she's
30:46
to be
30:46
restored
30:46
to God.
30:48
We
30:48
worship
30:48
here,
30:49
but you
30:49
say we're
30:49
supposed
30:49
to worship
30:50
there.
30:50
Outward
30:51
sign.
30:53
Verse 21,
30:54
Jesus said
30:54
to her,
30:55
woman,
30:55
believe me,
30:56
the hour
30:57
is coming
30:57
when neither
30:58
on this
30:58
mountain nor
30:59
in Jerusalem
31:00
will you
31:00
worship the
31:00
Father.
31:02
You
31:02
worship what
31:02
you do
31:03
not know,
31:03
we worship
31:04
what we
31:04
know,
31:05
for salvation
31:06
is from
31:06
the Jews.
31:07
But the
31:08
hour is
31:08
coming and
31:09
is now
31:10
here when
31:11
the true
31:11
worshipers
31:12
will worship
31:12
the Father
31:13
in spirit
31:14
and truth,
31:15
for the
31:16
Father is
31:16
seeking such
31:17
people to
31:18
worship him.
31:20
God is
31:21
spirit and
31:21
those who
31:21
worship him
31:22
must worship
31:22
in spirit
31:24
and truth.
31:25
inner devotion,
31:28
change of
31:28
heart.
31:29
We will
31:30
do things
31:31
as outward
31:32
expressions
31:32
of who
31:33
we are,
31:34
but at
31:34
the core
31:35
of it,
31:36
we must
31:36
be fundamentally
31:37
changed.
31:39
We're going
31:40
to worship
31:40
in the
31:42
spirit of
31:43
God because
31:44
we have
31:45
the spirit
31:45
of God.
31:47
And I
31:48
think in
31:49
this moment,
31:50
she's being
31:51
changed.
31:52
verse 25,
31:54
the woman
31:54
said to
31:54
him,
31:55
I know
31:55
that Messiah
31:56
is coming,
31:57
he who
31:57
is called
31:58
Christ.
31:59
When he
32:00
comes,
32:01
he will
32:01
tell us
32:02
all things.
32:04
And Jesus
32:04
said to
32:04
her,
32:05
I who
32:06
speak to
32:06
you
32:06
am he.
32:09
So,
32:11
we worship
32:12
God in
32:13
the spirit
32:14
of God.
32:15
We are
32:15
given the
32:16
ability to
32:17
bring forth
32:18
fruit,
32:18
bring forth
32:19
devotion to
32:21
God because
32:21
we have
32:22
the spirit
32:23
of God.
32:26
So,
32:26
do you
32:26
place
32:26
confidence
32:27
in anything
32:28
other than
32:28
the power
32:29
of the
32:29
spirit of
32:30
Christ to
32:31
effectually
32:31
apply the
32:32
work of
32:32
Christ on
32:34
your behalf?
32:35
If you
32:36
place confidence
32:36
of your
32:37
worship in
32:38
the mode
32:38
of worship,
32:39
in the
32:40
feelings you
32:40
have in
32:41
worship,
32:42
all the
32:42
good things
32:43
you do,
32:44
it's very
32:44
likely that
32:45
it's
32:46
misplaced.
32:47
Many of
32:48
you know I
32:48
worked for
32:49
some time
32:49
at a local
32:50
university
32:51
called
32:51
Truett
32:51
McConnell
32:52
and I
32:53
was the
32:53
director of
32:53
admissions
32:54
and part
32:55
of the way
32:55
the school
32:55
expressed that
32:56
it was a
32:56
Christian
32:56
college is
32:57
that the
32:57
application
32:58
had a
32:59
testimony
32:59
section on
33:00
it.
33:01
We didn't
33:01
grade them.
33:02
It wasn't
33:03
like you
33:03
got demoted
33:04
points and
33:04
couldn't get
33:05
into the
33:05
school if
33:06
you weren't
33:06
truly a
33:07
believer.
33:07
It was just
33:07
a way of
33:08
saying,
33:08
oh,
33:08
don't miss
33:09
the fact
33:09
that we
33:10
are a
33:10
Christian
33:10
school.
33:11
How people
33:12
got to
33:12
that point
33:12
and missed
33:13
it,
33:13
I don't
33:13
know,
33:14
but they
33:14
seemed to.
33:15
And I
33:16
had to
33:16
stop reading
33:21
most of
33:22
them
33:22
expressed
33:23
the things
33:24
I do
33:24
that make
33:25
me a
33:25
Christian.
33:26
And I
33:27
go to
33:27
church and
33:28
I go on
33:28
mission trips
33:28
and I
33:29
go and
33:29
like listing
33:30
out the
33:31
things that
33:32
are these
33:32
evidences in
33:34
their minds
33:35
that they
33:35
were in
33:35
fact in
33:36
the faith,
33:36
but very
33:37
little talk
33:38
about the
33:38
completed work
33:39
of Jesus
33:40
Christ.
33:42
Do we
33:42
have evidences
33:43
that we're in
33:43
the faith?
33:44
Absolutely.
33:45
But more
33:45
than that,
33:46
when you're
33:46
sharing your
33:47
testimony,
33:47
you want to
33:47
talk about
33:48
the completed
33:48
work of
33:49
Jesus,
33:49
right?
33:50
Because
33:50
it's because
33:51
of that
33:51
that we're
33:52
found in
33:53
Christ and
33:53
we can
33:54
worship in
33:55
the Spirit
33:55
of God.
33:56
So genuine
33:56
Christians
33:56
worship in
33:57
the Spirit
33:58
of God.
33:59
Fourth,
33:59
genuine
33:59
Christians,
34:00
glory in
34:01
Christ Jesus.
34:02
Never fear,
34:02
these are
34:02
going to get
34:02
faster.
34:05
Glory in
34:05
Christ Jesus,
34:06
the last
34:06
half of
34:07
verse 3,
34:07
and glory
34:08
in Christ
34:09
Jesus.
34:11
John
34:11
MacArthur
34:11
in his
34:12
commentary on
34:12
this text
34:13
stated,
34:14
glory describes
34:15
boasting
34:16
with exultant
34:17
joy about
34:18
what a person
34:18
is most
34:19
proud of.
34:21
I really
34:21
like that,
34:22
and I knew
34:22
I couldn't
34:23
pass off
34:23
exultant as
34:24
my own
34:24
word.
34:25
So,
34:25
John
34:26
MacArthur
34:26
said,
34:26
glory describes
34:27
boasting
34:27
with exultant
34:28
joy about
34:30
what a person
34:30
is most
34:31
proud of,
34:33
right?
34:33
It's what
34:34
we brag
34:35
about.
34:37
Genuine
34:37
Christians know
34:38
that we have
34:38
nothing to
34:39
boast in
34:40
except for
34:41
the person
34:41
and work
34:42
of Jesus
34:43
Christ.
34:44
If we
34:45
glory,
34:45
we glory
34:46
in him.
34:48
We do
34:49
not commend
34:49
ourselves
34:50
to God
34:50
or to
34:51
anyone else
34:52
by anything
34:53
that we
34:54
have done,
34:55
but by
34:55
what God
34:56
has done.
34:58
2 Corinthians
34:59
chapter 10
35:00
verse 17
35:01
and 18,
35:02
let the
35:02
one who
35:03
boasts
35:03
boast
35:04
in the
35:05
Lord.
35:06
For it is
35:06
not the
35:07
one who
35:07
commends
35:07
himself
35:08
who is
35:08
approved,
35:08
but the
35:09
one whom
35:09
the Lord
35:10
commends.
35:11
in
35:13
contrast,
35:14
the
35:14
false
35:15
Christian
35:15
boasts
35:16
in
35:17
their
35:17
works.
35:19
This
35:19
must not
35:21
be and
35:21
will not
35:22
be so
35:22
among
35:23
genuine
35:23
Christians.
35:25
To be a
35:26
Christian is
35:26
to be
35:27
humbled
35:28
before
35:28
God.
35:30
So,
35:31
do you
35:31
glory in
35:32
Christ
35:33
alone.
35:34
Would you
35:35
say that
35:36
you are
35:36
accepted by
35:37
God
35:37
because
35:37
of
35:38
Jesus
35:39
and because
35:40
of Jesus
35:41
alone?
35:43
Do you
35:43
find yourself
35:44
believing that
35:44
you have
35:44
anything to
35:45
offer God
35:46
apart from
35:48
Christ?
35:50
Genuine
35:51
Christians,
35:51
glory in
35:52
Christ Jesus.
35:54
And lastly,
35:55
genuine
35:55
Christians,
35:56
put no
35:56
confidence
35:57
in the
35:58
flesh.
35:59
You see
35:59
this in
35:59
the last
35:59
part of
36:00
verse 3.
36:02
The flesh
36:03
represents our
36:04
unredeemed
36:05
humanness.
36:07
It represents
36:08
any work that
36:09
we can do
36:09
apart from
36:10
the working
36:10
of God
36:11
in us.
36:13
Genuine
36:13
Christians
36:13
recognize
36:14
that the
36:15
words of
36:16
Jesus in
36:16
John 6
36:18
verse 63
36:19
are true.
36:20
He said,
36:21
it is the
36:21
spirit who
36:22
gives life.
36:23
The flesh
36:24
is no
36:24
help at
36:25
all.
36:26
And
36:26
agree with
36:27
Paul's
36:27
declaration in
36:28
Romans 7
36:29
verse 18,
36:31
for I know
36:31
that nothing
36:32
good dwells
36:33
in me
36:33
that is
36:34
in
36:35
my
36:36
flesh.
36:38
Genuine
36:38
Christians
36:39
put no
36:40
confidence
36:41
in our
36:42
flesh.
36:42
We'll
36:43
explore this
36:43
idea much
36:44
further next
36:45
Lord's
36:46
day.
36:47
The
36:47
genuine
36:48
Christian
36:48
places no
36:49
confidence in
36:50
the flesh
36:50
because the
36:50
genuine
36:51
Christian knows
36:51
that they
36:52
have no
36:52
reason to
36:53
place confidence
36:54
in the
36:55
flesh.
36:56
The
36:56
genuine
36:56
Christian is
36:57
aware of
36:58
their own
36:58
sin
36:59
brokenness
37:00
apart from
37:02
the delivering
37:02
grace of
37:03
Jesus
37:03
Christ.
37:05
Galatians
37:06
chapter 6
37:07
beginning in
37:08
verse 12.
37:09
This might
37:10
feel a little
37:10
bit familiar
37:11
to you.
37:12
As a quick
37:13
pause, I am
37:16
so thankful
37:17
for how often
37:18
the Lord
37:19
knits together
37:20
our services.
37:22
I know that
37:23
you don't have
37:23
the text for
37:24
the morning
37:24
living in
37:25
your head,
37:26
but I often
37:27
do.
37:27
I've been
37:27
preparing notes
37:28
all week.
37:29
how often
37:31
the cross
37:32
references
37:32
used,
37:33
this text,
37:35
at least a
37:35
portion of
37:36
it, maybe
37:36
more of it,
37:37
I'm not sure
37:37
now, Darrell
37:39
read this
37:39
morning.
37:40
I think it
37:41
was just
37:41
verse 14
37:42
that he
37:42
read this
37:43
morning.
37:44
Some songs
37:45
that we
37:45
sang earlier
37:46
directly speak
37:47
to this very
37:48
issue that
37:49
we're talking
37:49
about.
37:50
It's just a
37:50
glorious thing
37:51
that the
37:51
Lord orders
37:52
our time.
37:53
Even as
37:53
we're making
37:54
plans, he
37:54
plans in
37:55
and through
37:56
our planning.
37:57
So Galatians
37:57
chapter 6,
37:58
beginning in
37:59
verse 12,
38:01
it is those
38:02
who want to
38:02
make a good
38:03
showing in
38:03
the flesh
38:04
who would
38:04
force you
38:04
to be
38:05
circumcised
38:05
and only in
38:06
order that
38:07
they may
38:07
not be
38:08
persecuted
38:08
for the
38:09
cross of
38:10
Christ.
38:10
These are
38:11
Jewish people
38:12
who wanted
38:13
to take up
38:13
Christianity
38:14
but didn't
38:14
want to leave
38:15
behind Judaism
38:15
because they
38:16
were being
38:16
persecuted
38:17
for being
38:17
Christian.
38:18
So they
38:18
still were
38:19
keeping these
38:19
outward signs
38:20
and convincing
38:21
others to
38:22
do the same.
38:23
Verse 13,
38:24
for even
38:24
those who
38:25
are circumcised
38:25
do not
38:26
themselves
38:26
keep the
38:27
law,
38:27
but they
38:27
desire to
38:28
have you
38:28
circumcised
38:29
that they
38:30
may boast
38:31
in your
38:31
flesh.
38:33
But far
38:34
be it
38:34
for me
38:34
to boast
38:35
except in
38:36
the cross
38:36
of our
38:37
Lord Jesus
38:38
Christ,
38:39
by which the
38:39
world has
38:40
been crucified
38:40
to me
38:41
and I
38:41
to the
38:42
world.
38:43
For neither
38:44
circumcision
38:45
counts for
38:45
anything
38:46
nor
38:46
uncircumcision,
38:48
but a
38:48
new
38:49
creation.
38:52
So do you
38:53
ever place
38:54
any measure
38:54
of confidence
38:55
confidence in
38:56
your flesh?
38:57
It should
38:58
not be
38:59
so.
39:02
Now if
39:02
you are in
39:02
Christ this
39:03
morning,
39:03
I hope in
39:04
looking at
39:04
these things
39:05
you have
39:06
been encouraged
39:06
that you've
39:08
been able to
39:08
say,
39:08
I do rejoice
39:09
in the
39:10
Lord.
39:10
I care to
39:11
be discerning.
39:12
I want the
39:13
true gospel to
39:14
be preached
39:14
for my good
39:15
and for the
39:16
good of
39:17
others.
39:18
I don't
39:18
think that I
39:19
can worship
39:20
God unless
39:21
by the
39:22
Spirit of
39:23
God.
39:23
I glory
39:24
in Christ
39:25
Jesus and
39:25
I put no
39:26
confidence in
39:28
the flesh.
39:28
I hope this
39:29
is massively
39:29
encouraging to
39:31
you.
39:31
Paul here
39:32
in the text
39:33
would call
39:34
you brothers,
39:36
brothers,
39:37
beloved.
39:38
It's a
39:39
wonderful thing
39:39
to be found
39:40
in Christ and
39:41
as we're
39:42
gauging out
39:43
whether or not
39:44
we are in
39:44
Christ to see
39:45
evidence that
39:46
we are in
39:47
fact in
39:48
him.
39:50
If you have
39:50
any concern
39:51
of this this
39:52
morning,
39:52
if you're
39:52
just not
39:53
sure,
39:55
let me just
39:55
invite you
39:56
to repent
39:57
and believe.
39:59
To recognize
40:00
that you have
40:00
nothing to
40:01
offer,
40:01
that's the
40:02
beauty of
40:02
the gospel,
40:03
that you
40:03
need nothing
40:04
to offer
40:05
except your
40:07
faith.
40:08
Just believe,
40:09
just believe
40:10
that Christ
40:10
came,
40:12
he lived a
40:12
life that we
40:13
could not
40:13
live,
40:14
perfect
40:14
righteousness,
40:15
he fulfilled
40:15
every requirement
40:16
of the law,
40:18
that he died
40:19
the death that
40:19
you deserve,
40:20
so that by
40:21
faith in him
40:21
you can have
40:22
his righteousness,
40:23
God will see
40:24
you,
40:24
declare you
40:25
righteous,
40:26
and that your
40:26
punishment will
40:27
be taken away
40:27
by him.
40:29
Believe that he's
40:30
resurrected,
40:31
that he's seated
40:32
at the right hand
40:32
of the Father,
40:33
that he rules
40:34
over all things,
40:35
that he has
40:35
sure promises
40:36
for you,
40:37
one day he will
40:38
return for you,
40:39
throw yourself
40:40
on the abundant
40:42
mercy of God
40:44
in Christ.
40:45
grace.
40:46
It's a wonderful
40:47
free offer of
40:48
grace that will
40:50
cost you
40:50
everything,
40:51
but it is so
40:53
worth it.
40:55
Let's pray
40:55
together.