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Philippians 3:7-11
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. This past week we have been focused on the cross and Jesus' death. Rightfully so, but we must remember: NO CROSS - NO RESURRECTION! NO RESURRECTION - NO LIFE! Paul expresses his faith in the finished work of the cross and the power of the resurrection in this text. He is saying that the privileges he had as a Jew are worthless in comparison to the knowledge and experience of the Lord Jesus Christ that he gained through the intimate companionship and communion with Him. He says, "I count them as rubbish (KJV says 'dung') -- worth nothing except to be thrown away, so that he can gain Christ. Because next to Christ, everything else is nothing!!!! Paul is not denigrating himself here when he recognizes that he has no righteousness that can be called his own -- especially in things that pertain to law-keeping. He is not saying that het is willfully disobedient. He is simply saying that he is seeing himself in the light of the cross of Christ and in the righteousness of Christ and Paul wants to be like Jesus! You see, righteousness comes only when Christ abides in us and we abide in Christ, as Jesus said in John 15:4, "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me." Then and only then, can we secure the spotless righteousness made possible by Jesus death on the cross. Then and only then, it is not a matter of ethics, of whether it is right or wrong, but it becomes a matter of "is it like Christ?" Paul is saying that to be united with Christ by a living faith and with its focus on the cross of Christ I must know Him. But how do you really get to know someone? By living with them! By doing what they do! Paul, I believe, is saying here, "I finally know what it is to be raised with Jesus in newness of life. Romans 6:3-5 (NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead aby the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. Paul continues in Phil. 3:10, Okay, not only should we know Him and His finished work on the cross and in the power of the resurrection, we have to know Him in the fellowship of His suffering. Paul is offering to go above and beyond "imitating" Christ. He is offering to actually "participate" in His suffering. He is renouncing his own life and "living IN CHRIST" and finding a new Life! In Phil. 3:11, Paul wants to "attain" unto the resurrection of the dead. So how does he "arrive" at his goal, or how does he "get" to his goal? Simply by dying at the cross of Christ, going to the grave and being baptized unto the death of Christ, and then attaining unto the resurrection of the dead, being resurrected into newness of life. This is being "in Christ," and means victory over all sin. Let's look at Romans 6:3-5 again. (NKJV) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. Now read Romans 6:11, Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is dead to sin and you are IN CHRIST JESUS and HE IS IN YOU and now you are free from sin. You are free from sin, free from the bondage of sin, from the suffering of sin, from the heartache of sin, from the moral corruption of sin. YOU ARE FREE FROM SIN! Oh, yes, you are still in the flesh, but now you are dead to sin, alive in Christ, and you are an overcomer over the flesh and its passions and desires. Romans 6:7 For he who as died has been freed from sin. Romans 8:13 - For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Galatians 5:17 - For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:24-25 - And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 1 John 2:16--17 For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 Peter 1:11-12 -- Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having you conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by yours good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (the day of Grace, when God deals with the Gentiles). How are you going to do this? YOU ARE FREE FROM SIN!!! Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the curse of sin, and all of its consequences -- even the wrath of God, whom the Bible says hates sin. SO WE ARE FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS -- BUT John 10:10 -- The this does not come except to steal, and kill, and destroy. Satan will try to steal your victory, kill your joy, and destroy your faith. Don't let him! The rest of that verse is "I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY. Just before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he said to Martha in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." Jesus gives life to those who believe -- truly believe -- in Him! He gives us abundant life -- a life that the world cannot know -- a life all men desire -- a life of freedom here and now. He also offers life after death and promises to come to all who believe and take us to where He is. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. Today, I want to comfort you. We have LIFE. We have JOY. We have PEACE. BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE CAN LIVE ALSO. WE LIVE IN CHRIST AND OVERCOME BY THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION! AMEN! IT IS FINISHED
THE SHAME OF SIN I don't suppose there is any more exciting prospect to a struggling, perplexed, and beleaguered human being than the idea that there can be change for the better. The elixir the world craves today is for something that will free them from the shame, the guilt, and the penalty of sin. What they don't know is that this is freely available. To be renewed in mind and heart, to have new birth -- new life - is what they really desire. That is the message of the cross, That is the declaration of Jesus Christ when He said, "It is finished!" Since the creation of mankind, we have struggled with the problem of our wretchedness -- our inability to change our basic self for the better. We will philosophize, rationalize, perhaps even justify, our selves and our actions. We may even try to blunt some of our guilt and shame temporarily by using alcohol or other drugs. Our attention may be diverted momentarily through securing power, wealth, or pleasures of sin, but ultimately our gaze will be fixed again upon our own sin and selfishness and then, perhaps, cry out as did the apostle Paul, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Not only are we frustrated in our effort to deliver ourselves but we also become very disillusioned in our quest to deliver other people in the same boat as ourselves. Now, through the knowledge and expertise of medical science, man can cure sickness and disease, but he cannot cleanse the polluted soul. By financial assistance man can ease the binding poverty of mankind, but he cannot fill the empty heart. Through sophisticated educational programs man can strengthen the intellect, but he cannot clear the guilty and troubled conscience. At weekly psychiatric staff meetings at one of the nations largest hospitals a new difficult or unusual case would be presented by a different doctor and the experts would discuss it. And every week, after much discussion and occasional heated argument, they would consent to the same conclusion: "put the patient on another experimental drug and observe the reaction." After experiencing this week after week, a top neurologist (one who, when he spoke, everyone listened) said "Listen, for months I have attended these sessions and I have come to the conclusion that we really don't know how to help people. Almost without exception we wind up putting the patient on another drug because we don’t know what else to do. We complain about drug addiction, but we are the ones who are responsible. We can't help ourselves, so how can we help others?" With that, he walked out of the room and the rest of the staff sat in stunned silence for several minutes. There was nothing they could say because THEY KNEW THIS MAN HAD SPOKEN THE TRUTH. It is a fact. Man cannot heal himself. We have been under the curse of sin since the fall of Adam and we cannot break that curse. Man needs to be saved; he needs to be rescued from the bondage of sin and its shame. THAT IS WHY WE CELEBRATE SOMETHING SO GRUESOME AS DEATH, ESPECIALLY SUCH A HORRIFICALLY BRUTAL DEATH AS JESUS SUFFERED, ON GOOD FRIDAY. Paul knew without Christ and his death on the cross he was nothing but a wretched and shamed man. But Paul knew what it meant to be delivered. Listen to what he said in Romans 7 (paraphrased): "Okay, you see how it is. My new life tells me I should do right, but my old nature still wants to sin. So, what a terrible predicament I am in. Who is going to free me from the slavery of my deadly, old lower nature? THANK GOD! IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE -- BY JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. HE SET ME FREE!!! Why not say that now, aloud, "He set ME free!" The message of the cross is this: through the blood of Jesus Christ, when we truly believe and repent we are justified, regenerated, and born again, and the SHAME OF SIN HAS BEEN REMOVE Jesus said it," IT IS FINISHED!!" And I proclaim to you today: IT IS FINISHED. THE SHAME OF SIN HAS BEEN REMOVED! YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE! So many times we hear, or we quote, 2 Chronicles 7:14 when calling for our church or nation to pray in a time of crisis or need.
Lets look at verse 13 - "WHEN I (who? God's speaking) SHUT UP HEAVEN and there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among MY people," Verse 14 - "if MY people who are called by MY name" (Then Israel, now the redeemed, born again believers in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross.) will humble thems...elves and pray and seek My face {not seek the feel good, compromising, no-repentance-necessary, itching ear-pleasing, man pleasing, social gospel that leads people into spiritual idolatry and spiritual adultery} and turn from their wicked ways -- then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. In my opinion, perhaps verse 13 -- is the reason the world is in the mess its is in. God has shut up heaven because His people, His church, has compromised the TRUTH OF GOD's WORD to that point that it no longer has the effect it should have on the world. Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
THAT IS WHAT - Jesus was born for - Lived for - Died for - Arose for - and has empowered His church for. We are to proclaim that He is the way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6 Not only is He the way to heaven, He is heaven and it should be revealed through us. He is truth - the ultimate truth! And we as children of GOD should be a living revelation of truth. He is life and every facet of life should reveal him. THE GOOD NEWS IS - IN CHRIST (the anointed one) WE CAN DO IT!!  There's an old saying about midweek family night, prayer meetings, Bible studies, etc. They would say you go to church Sunday and get your tank filled (like a car). If you use it much, by midweek you're half empty (and if things were really tough -- you're closer to empty). So, to prevent a disaster you go to church midweek to get 'er full again. Don't get caught with and empty gas tank -- it is damaging to your engine.
Then, there were few stations available during the night -- today there are few churches open for midweek services. According to Hebrews 10:35 IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TODAY, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT! Every road leads to Rome.
You've heard that statement, right? A similar statement is very prevalent today -- every religion leads to God of heaven. Let's think about this for a moment. Certainly, with today's transportation technology one can teach Rome, or Britain, or Israel, or South America -- even the South Pole -- from any location. We occasionally make trips to other areas of the country -- and sometimes we take a different route than we might normally use. No matter how many times we have driven to Denver or Atlanta, we still check the map each time we begin a trip. We can opt to choose a scenic route or, most likely, choose the freeway to Atlanta, or LA, or Denver or Des Moines, or Buffalo. But just to get to the freeway there is some planning that must be done. It would be utterly foolish to just start driving with no knowledge of the route and expect to reach a given destination without many unnecessary hardships. First of all, where is the freeway and which route is the best? MapQuest or Google will show you the shortest route. But, have you ever tried the shortest route and found yourself going through small town after small town with 20-30 mph speed limits, traffic lights, pedestrians or farm equipment to slow you down and raise your blood pressure? An amusing example of the shortest route: My wife and I along with our son-in-law were going from Atlanta to the home of some relatives in north Georgia so we set the GPS for the shortest route. Things were going well wen we were instructed to take a certain road. We didn't feel very comfortable about it but after all it was GPS. This road turned out to be a logging trail and we wound around and around, sometimes practically able to see our tail lights while going around a curve. We drove over roots and ruts, mountains of pine cones and other debris, until we finally reached a relatively comfortable road that finally took us to our destination. Next, avoid toll roads. This one has cost us more than the toll would have cost. Not only in time but in money. For example, the distance is often somewhat longer and often you find yourself going through small towns, or even no towns at all. There is nothing like driving through wide open spaces, the gas tank bell goes off, the light comes on, with no gas station in sight. I remember one night when our children were small we spent several hours in front of a gas pump in a closed service station -- in the middle of nowhere, Montana. The tank was on empty and we were still mile away from even a chance of a gas station. And we weren't alone. Before morning several cars joined us. Fortunately, the local sheriff notified the manager of the station and he came and opened the station early so that we could get on our way. Once, for some reason we ran two different sets of driving directions (from two different sources) for the same destination and then took both of them with us. We were following on set of directions and soon found that we did not know which direction to take. This set of directions had completely left out a portion of the trip so we switch to the correct set of directions and safely arrived at our destination. When you think about this, there are some rather deep spiritual implications in each incident, but the point I want to make is that yes, all roads lead to God -- but only IF you remember that there is one destination that must be reached first. There may be a lot of winding roads and hazards until you reach the right road. John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. The only way to get to the Father (God) is by Me." He had said earlier in John 10:9, "I am the door, by me if any man enters in he shall be saved." From Little Falls I can get to the airport without going the most reasonable way. But when I do get to the airport there is no way I can board a plane without first going through the airport gate. This is all Jesus is saying. To get on that plane to heaven you have to go through Him first. So, the question is, 'what is your destination?' The next question is, are you on the right route to reach your destination? Have you gone through the right door? The gospel of God has evolved from 'God is holy' to 'God is love' with nothing in between -- especially in the American culture. But, let's think of the Old Testament writers. When they talked about God they understood that God was holy and just; that He was omnipotent, and that He pulled no punches when He gave instructions. When He said do something -- He meant it. When He said don't do something -- He meant that, too.
But in today society there is not much talk about a holy God. As a matter of fact, the very mention of the wrath of God as part of God's nature is unwelcome in most religious circles -- including the churches -- and unfortunately in many of what used to be "full gospel" churches. You will hear about the God of love, the God of generosity, and even a God of good works -- but rarely is the other side of God taught -- the side of wrath, justice and judgement. The truth of the love of God has so penetrated the consciousness that many think that God's wrath is so inconsistent with His love that they will reject the same gospel to which they learn of the love of God. But think about this. Without anger at sin and disobedience - would God be holy? First of all, Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. God would not be a Holy God if He did not are whether a person was good or bad. He would not be a holy God if His holiness were weakened with the passions of fallen man. I believe that if there is no wrath or anger there is no love, conversely, if there were no love there be no wrath. I am glad to believe in a God who is angry with me when I sin, but yet know that He loves me -- even though He cannot look upon sin -- rather than believe in a God who does not love righteousness enough to hate sin -- so that He would ignore the rod of correction and hate me. See, love and anger combined could be compared with gold. Gold alone is soft and essentially, not very useful, but when it is mixed in perfect proportion with an alloy the gold becomes firm and strong and yet malleable enough to form into precious items. So, how do we handle the commandment that tells us to sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am the Lord your God. This is found in Leviticus 20:7 and over 150 other times in the Bible. So, knowing that God is not a man that He should lie, don't you think that He intends that this verse e obeyed. Of course, He does! Elementary school English students learn that this sentence is in the imperative form. God is making a definitive command or order here -- and He means it! It is to be obeyed! And when God gives an order and it is disobeyed there are always consequences -- because He is a loving father. As any loving parent He desires that His children be perfect. And God (who is not a man that He should lie) tells us what happens to His obedient children in Luke 21:36, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. "These things that shall come to pass" are some pretty awful things., but Jesus, Himself, says that we might be accounted worthy to escape them -- if we stay 'prayed up and worthy.' And He tells us what happens to His disobedient children -- (Col 3:6) "for which thing' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" Would God do this to His children? Well -- He is not a an that He should lie, and He does not threaten and not follow through. He talks about his judgement in Matthew 25:41-46 to disobedient 'children.' 2 Peter 2 corroborates this and talks about these children who disobeyed as "accursed children" in verse 14. Remember this song?
Jesus, Jesus, How I trust Him! How I've proved Him o'er and o'er! Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more! How many of you have had to go through physical test to determine the state of your health? There are tolerance tests. function tests, biopsies, blood test, etc. Then there are personality tests, developmental tests, psychological tests, and of course, the assessment tests -- all to test various weakness or ailments. A few days ago I just sat for a while and meditated on some of the various medical tests i have undergone and the thought came to me, "What if I were to to through some tests to evaluate my TRUST HEALTH?" What if I were to go through a tolerance test to determine my trust in Jesus? Am I 'allergic' to people with whom I come in contact? Perhaps those of different ethnicity or different social status; or maybe someone with different moral standards or even different hygiene standards. Oh, yes there are those with a colorful background that when I get near I might "break out" with a "spiritual rash." Maybe I should have a developmental test. I have been a believer in Christ for a long time. How much have I matured? Am I still underdeveloped in my "to be like Jesus test," or my "love my neighbor as myself test?" How about the "renew your mind" test? Or a function test. Do I tend to still function in the "old man's sinful nature" or have I transitioned to the "new creation nature," or am I maybe functioning only slightly as a "new creation" and mostly in the "old nature?" The test might show that I could even be unstable in my functions and they see-saw from "old nature" to "new creation" and then soon swing to the polar opposite -- "new creation" back to "old nature." How is my personality test? Just how much does my personality reflect"trusting in Jesus?" Could it possibly be that I am too self-sufficient and rely on my own talents and ability? Could it be that I depend on people, or wealth, or society more than I trust in Jesus? Do I reflect the love and characteristics of my Father, or do I try to imitate the more popular personalities? What does my growth chart show? Am I still a toddler, picking myself up again after falling again and again? Have I gotten to the teenager stage with all the insecurities and rebellion? Hopeful, I have at least reached early adulthood, but my goal is to reach maturity to the point that I fully and absolutely trust Him and His eternal Word. And the assessment test? What do the combined results revealed about my trust health? do I take Jesus at His Word? Do I rest upon His promise? Do I prove Him over and over again in ALL His promises, or do I have to just use His basic promise of forgiveness and starting over again and again. Oh, for grace to trust the Great Physician more than I trust my MD's. |
Pastor BillArchives
May 2017
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You will hear the unadulterated Word of God and you are welcome!
PASTORS BLOG READING RESOURCES SERVICE TIMES CONTACT US ONLINE GIVING CHURCH OF GOD INTERNATIONAL
MINNESOTA CHURCH OF GOD CHURCH DIRECTORY