Let's turn back to Philippians
3. Philippians chapter 3. Did you know that we don't have an opinion
on the Word of God? Did you know that? That's a serious
question. Did you know we don't have an
opinion on the Word of God? So many buildings, so many preachers, they can all hold the same Bible,
but they're all different. Why is that? If we all had a copy of Shakespeare,
We'd all kind of read the same thing, wouldn't we? Or a math book. 2 plus 2 is 4. Yes! We could go school to school
to school and all cry together, 2 plus 2 is 4. Our school system is in unity,
harmony. What makes us different than
they are? Here's the answer. We don't have
an opinion on the Word of God. That's why you drive an hour
over here. It's because we don't have an
opinion on the Word of God. God wrote what He means. God wrote what He means. We read it. We hear it. We believe it. Well, what's your opinion on
election? I don't have one. I don't. God said, I didn't choose him. He chose me. He said, I'm elect
according to the foreknowledge of God before the foundation
of the world. And if he says I'm his elect,
then I'm his elect. If he says that he died only
for his elect, then he died only for his elect. I don't have an opinion about
that at all. It wouldn't matter if I did. You know that? Well, what's your opinion on
predestination? I don't have one. Well, what
about total depravity? God said, I'm dead in my trespasses
and sins. If God said, I'm dead, then I'm
dead. Well, I know God said we're dead
in our trespasses and sins, but clearly He didn't mean that. Clearly. Here's my take on it. If we're about to hear my take
on it, we are about to hear some error. Error comes. from not listening
to God's Word, but instead listening to a man's opinion on God's Word. That's the truth. Error comes
from not listening to God's Word, but instead listening to a man's
opinion on God's Word. How can we know that we're right? Our souls are on the line. You
know that? I'm not playing. One man studies God's Word and
says he believes one thing. Another man studies God's Word
and says he believes something else. How can we know that we're
right? How can we know? You want to
know the answer to that? I do. I really do. Am I really one of His? We talk about His elect. Am I
really one? Well, we all believe differently.
But we're all going to be together in the end. That's not God's
Word. You know that? That's man's opinion on God's
Word. How do you know? Turn with me
over to Matthew 7. Now this is Jesus Christ speaking. Matthew 7. Look at verse 13. Enter ye in at the straight gate. And that word straight means
narrow. For wide is the gate, and broad
is the way that leadeth to destruction. And many there be which go in
thereat. Well, we have our differences,
but let's put them aside and lock arm in arm and all walk
together through that broad gate. Isn't that something? Verse 14,
Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which
leadeth unto life. And the next seven words are
just... Oh, I wish people could just
read the next seven words. And few there be that find it. Few there be that find it. Am
I really one of His? Really? How can we know? I need to know. Our text, go over to Philippians
3, our text is verse 3. Philippians 3 verse 3 says this,
For we are the circumcision. What do you mean the circumcision?
The people of God's covenant. Now, listen to me for one second
about this covenant, okay? This is sometimes a piece of
the message where we glaze over. Listen to this for one second.
God gave Abraham and his seed circumcision. That's a filthy thing to talk
about. A little bit taboo to think about. He gave them circumcision, a
cutting away of the flesh, as a sign that, why that? As a token to them that they
were His people. His chosen, elect, His redeemed. Alright, so everybody that has
been circumcised by a doctor is a child of God? No! If fleshly circumcision was the
sign, then no women would be saved. Okay? Go to Romans chapter 2. Romans chapter 2 verse 28 says,
For he is not a Jew. Christ is the Lion of the tribe
of Judah. He is the King of the Jews. He
is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision
which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one
inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit,
and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of
God." God has called His people the circumcision for one reason
only, and it's a good one. Christ Jesus came into the world. God was manifest in the flesh. Christ took upon Himself the
flesh of a man. And then for the sake of His
people, He was cut off. Isn't that something? In His flesh, He was cut off. separated from God. Turn with me to John 6. John chapter 6 verse 51, the
Lord says, I am the living bread which came down from heaven.
If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. And the
bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for
the life of the world." There it is, the world. You say you don't have an opinion,
but you say you believe in limited atonement. When God wrote it
right there, the world. The world. What did He have to
say about that? Here's what I have to say about
it. I don't have a problem with it at all. Not at all. That's my hope of salvation. Thanks be to God, this gospel
goes unto all the world. The actual Jews think this gospel
is only to the physical nation of Israel. That's what they believe. But the good news is, it's not
just to one nation. It's not just to one tribe. It's
not just to one kindred, one tongue. It's not just to the
actual Jews. It's to the Gentiles too. That's
you and me. I don't have a problem or an
opinion on that at all. I love exactly what he's saying
right there. Turn to John 17. We understand Scripture with
Scripture. John 17 verse 6, I have manifested
thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. Thine
they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.
Verse 9, I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but
for them which thou hast given me. They are thine. Am I really one of his? Am I
really? When He became flesh, was He
really cut off for me? Really? Really? Isaiah wrote, He was cut off
out of the land of the living. For the transgression of my people
was He stricken. My people. Am I really one of
His people? Am I really in His covenant?
And here's why. I'm a preacher. All preachers
go to heaven. No, they don't. I'm not going to have you turn
back to Matthew 7, but right there in verse 21. Many shall
say to me, Lord, Lord, they're not going to enter into my kingdom.
We prophesied in your name. We were preachers. We cast devils out of people.
We did many wonderful works. And I'm going to say to them,
depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity. I never knew you. Am I really one of His? Am I
really in His covenant? Am I really one of the circumcision?
Now turn back over to our text in Philippians 3. I need to know. I need to know. Verse 3 says, For we are the
circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit,
and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh. Three things expose sinners as
being the children of God. in the covenant of Christ. Three
things. Number one, they worship God
in the Spirit. They rejoice in Christ Jesus. And they have no confidence in
the flesh. Now listen to this. Listen to
this. This is a vital piece. A person
who worships God in the Spirit and rejoices in Christ Jesus,
but puts a little bit of confidence in the flesh. What does that mean? It means
I'm trusting in what I've done. I'm looking to that baptism.
My hope is that I did it. I got in the water. At least
I did that. I got a little confidence in
the flesh, okay? A person who worships God in
the Spirit, rejoices in Christ Jesus, but puts a little bit
of confidence in the flesh, that person can't have any assurance
that he belongs to Christ. One of them is missing. A person
who worships God in the Spirit, and puts no confidence in the
flesh, but does not rejoice in Jesus being the Christ. That person can't have any assurance
that he belongs to Christ. A person who rejoices in Christ
Jesus, I believe Jesus is God. A person who rejoices in Christ
Jesus and has no confidence in the flesh, but does not worship
God in the Spirit, can't have any assurance that
he belongs to Christ. This is vital. Verse 3 says,
We are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit, and
rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Now I want to examine myself. That's what the scripture says
to do. Examine yourself. Am I really one of His? How does
a person worship God in the Spirit? Turn with me over to John chapter
4. John chapter 4 verse 22, our
Lord is speaking and He says, Ye worship ye know not what. We know what we worship, for
salvation is of the Jews. Let's start with how a person
can't worship God. You worship, you know not what. A person can't worship God who
has no idea who God is. That's common sense. A person who is happily, blindly
sitting somewhere where lies are being told. and the flesh
is being pumped up, cannot worship God in the Spirit. That's a pretty bold statement.
Is it? Our Lord just told that woman
at the well right there, you go to church, but you have no
idea what you worship. I'd love for all of the preachers
to get a hold of the fact that they preach, but they have no
idea what they worship. Well, we worship the greater
good. That's what we worship. We push
for the goodness of humanity. We rebuild houses after hurricanes
go through. We worship God, whoever he or
she may be. I heard a man say that one time. Verse 22 in John 4, You worship
ye know not what. We know what we worship, for
salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now
is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit
and in truth. For the Father seeketh such to
worship Him. God is a spirit, and they that
worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. How does
a person worship God in the spirit? First of all, he has to know
who God is. It's a shocking revelation. You know that? Do you know who God is? Everybody, starting with me,
needs to ask themselves, do I know who God is? The God of Scripture? Not the
God of man's imagination, our imagination? God as He has revealed Himself
in His own Word? Do we know that God? Not just do we know of Him, do
we know what He's like? Do we know just how holy He really
is? I think we've gotten a taste
of it. Do we know how strict His justice
really is? Do we understand that nobody
is allowed in Heaven? Can't come in. That woman's been
sitting on the front row with a doily on her head, baking rolls
for the Sunday school class for 70 years. She can't come in. He's a preacher, his dad was
a preacher, his granddad was a preacher, and his son says
he wants to be a preacher. He can't come in. He's full of sin. She's full
of sin. No sin can be admitted into my
presence. You know the only person who's
allowed to go into heaven is Jesus Christ. The only way I'm
going to get in is if I'm in Him. That's the only way. Do we know the level of righteousness
He demands to be in His presence? If you do, If you do, do you love all those
things? We know how holy he is, don't
we? We know how strict his judgment
and justice is, don't we? We know how perfect a person
has to be to get into heaven. He's got to be as perfect as
God. Well, I stole that thing when
I was five. Well, then you can't come in. Knowing that, do you love that
about Him? If He has me to be there, not
one sand is ever going to come near me ever again. It will not
come in. Can the fall happen again? Nope. Never again. Don't you love that? The dictionary says worship is
intense love and admiration. Absolute adoration. I adore Him as He is. Great honor, respect, reverence,
and praise. Worship is thought-consuming. You ever worshiped something? When I was a teenager, I was
just eaten up with music. I studied it. I bought everything
that came out. I thought about it all the time. It's thought consuming. It's
affection consuming. It's your true heart's desire.
That's what it is. Do you worship the one and only
creator and ruler of the universe, God? Worship is humbling. I must bow,
you must stand. He must increase, I must decrease. If I don't worship the ground
He walks on with my soul in my spirit, And in truth, as I know
Him to be in the truth. Not as I've made Him to be in
my mind. As I see Him in truth, with my soul. If I don't worship
the ground He walks on, then I can't have any comfort that
He's revealed Himself to me. That He's chosen me and called
me unto Himself. And here's why. Any person who
actually sees Him as He is will worship the ground He walks on.
Every person. They'll bow the knee and worship the ground He walks
on. Go back over to our text in Philippians 3. Verse 3 says, We are the circumcision
which worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus. Do you know who God is? Christ
Jesus. This man who walked the earth,
He's the God. People will have anybody in their
mind, and in their heart be God, but Jesus Christ. Anybody can
be God, but Jesus Christ. God kills. He made that clear in His Word.
I kill. I make a life. God is sovereign. We don't let Him do anything.
Not if He's God. If we do, then I'm God. We bow the knee to whatever He
says. But you tell people that Jesus
is this God? Life and death is in His hands. You're in His hands. It's not
your choice. Salvation is up to Him. Totally His choice. He has mercy
on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He hardens. If
He didn't want to choose me, stone. You tell people that their fate,
their life, their hope, their outcome is totally in His hands. totally at the mercy of His hands.
You tell people the truth in God's Word, and they will hate you for it.
He said, you'll be hated for the truth's sake. They will hate the God you're
telling them about. Jesus wouldn't do that. Jesus
wouldn't put anybody in hell Turn to John chapter 5. John chapter 5 verse 22 says,
For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment
unto the Son. Now turn to Revelation chapter
1. Revelation chapter 1 verse 1
says, The revelation of Jesus Christ. That's who this is talking
about. Verse 18. He says, I am He that liveth
and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys of hell
and death. That's Jesus Christ. Call His name Jesus. Call His
name Emmanuel. Because in this man, God is with
us. The Lord Jesus Christ is not
a weak martyr who tried and failed. Mel Gibson got it wrong. He is not a weak martyr who tried
and failed. His death was the only reason
he came. They thought they defeated him.
It was His accomplishment. He is the High King of Heaven. High and lifted up. Now, that's
the truth about Jesus Christ. Do you know that? As we hear the truth about Him,
does that cause our hearts to reject Christ Jesus or rejoice
in Christ Jesus? Rejoice means to be happy, to
glory in. We rejoice, don't we? Here's
why. The actual God, the High Judge
of the earth is our help. Happy is the man that hath the
God of Jacob for his help. He is the one who holds the keys
of hell and death. And if He be for us, then who
can be against us? Our text in Philippians 3 says,
verse 3, We are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit,
and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh. No means none. Not at all. Not one ounce. No confidence. Confidence means
firm belief, trust, assurance, self-reliance. No confidence
in the flesh, in this body. In its ability, in its purity,
in its worthiness, I cannot get myself to heaven. I can't. I can't. This body, there's nothing
pure in it. It's filthy rags, nothing but
sores from the crown of my head to the sole of my foot. Isn't
that what Isaiah said? He was telling the truth. I am so unworthy I can never
be worthy to enter into his presence. Cannot get myself to God. I have no confidence in this
flesh. Where is all of our confidence? It's in Jesus Christ. We look
to Him. If I'm going to get there, He's
got to get me there. You know what that's called?
Faith. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest
frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. I don't want to hear anybody
tell me, you're not as bad as you say you are. You're a good
old boy. Pick your head up. I dare not
trust the sweetest frame, but I completely, wholly lean on
the Lord Jesus Christ's name. His name is Savior. God is with
me. On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand. If anybody tells you anything
other than that, you're on sinking sand. Get out of it. If I can say that from the depths
of my soul, in truth, worshipping and loving and adoring God for
who He says He is, rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ for
everything that He has done, then based on the Word of God,
I am one of His. If you can say that from the
depths of your soul, in truth. Worshipping, loving, and adoring
God for who He is as He has declared Himself to be in His Word. Rejoicing
in the Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done, then based
on the Word of God, you are one of His. Isn't that comforting? Verse 3 says, We are the circumcision,
which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and
have no confidence in the flesh. The one resounding theme of scripture
is God gets all the glory and I get none. That's wherein we
differ. No opinion. That's what it says. That's what we believe. May the
Lord bless it to our hearts. Let's stand together.