Living in Serentiy: Philippians 3:1-11

Sermon Seed #5 in the Series “This Is Living!” Philippians 3:1-11

Text: When we see this passage in light of its context in Philippians, we can see that Paul is doing two things. First, he is taking an opportunity to reaffirm the Gospel, that salvation does not come by works. Second, he is advancing the cause of community through humility in the church. The conflicts in Philippi, and the conflicts in just about any church fight, revolve around people trying to gain special privilege, influence, recognition, or power based on their own achievement. This impulse of fallen humanity creates havoc disguised as piety in the life of the church.

The source of disunity in the church is usually selfish ambition disguised as piety. The Judaizers Paul warned against hid their ambition and self-promotion under the pretext of theological purity. Their theology was actually in error, but they couldn’t let go of it, because to do so would be to surrender their superiority over others. The result was not only doctrinal confusion, but discord and disunity in the body of Christ. Paul’s answer was to take their eyes off of human achievement, and put them on the the one goal that they could never achieve on their own: knowing Christ.

Big Idea: True humility (and true serenity) comes when you come to grips with the fact that the only accomplishment in life that matters is simply knowing Christ.

Gospel Focus: Living is Knowing Christ. All of our efforts count for nothing; it’s His work that matters. Joy comes from letting God be God, rather than trying to be God ourselves. We can safeguard our hearts when we choose joy in Christ over achievement apart from Christ.

Bullets:

Knowing Christ … really knowing him … (Philippians 3:7-11)

• Power of his resurrection

• Fellowship (koinonia … sharing, participating) of his sufferings-We need to see suffering as an opportunity to live in fellowship with Christ.

• Becoming like him his death

• Becoming like him in his resurrection