Good morning again. How about
we open our Bibles to the book of Philippians? Chapter 3, Philippians chapter
3. We're going to read the first
16 verses, but our primary purpose for coming to this chapter is
found in verses 7, 8, and 9. The title of our message this morning
is, O That I Might Win Christ. that I might win Christ. Paul
puts it, and be found in him. Chapter 3 in Philippians. Now
before we begin to read, let us beg the Lord to meet us in
his word today. Lord, we are made acutely aware
that you're not a puppet to be moved with pulling strings, but you're the God of this universe, its maker, its sustainer, Everything in
this entire universe is of your making and of your sustaining. And when it pleases you, it will
all come to an end. Lord, this morning as we take
this single passage of scripture in this chapter, that you might
open the eyes of those who have never before seen what this chapter
unveils. How glorious, how wonderful,
how majestic is your dear Son, the only Savior of sinners, our
Lord Jesus Christ. But Lord, if you do not meet
us in this place this morning, we may as well have been elsewhere.
But if you would see fit to presence yourself, to make yourself known
to us, to bless us in the understanding of what is taught not only in
this place, but throughout our Bibles concerning the God of
heaven and earth, we plead that you would come in grace and mercy
to the minds and hearts and souls of men and women and young people
and young ladies and young men, Lord, that you would come in
this out-of-the-way place. Comparatively speaking, we're
not anything compared to all the megachurches that surround
us. have walked down that road once,
and by your grace, we vowed never to do so again. Lord, if we are
to be saved, you must save us. If we are to receive a blessing,
we won't have it because somebody tells us, have a blessed day. But if the God of the Bible sees
fit to bless, We are not only blessed, but no man can reverse
it. It is done. Done once and done
forever. Help us, we pray, for Christ's
sake. Amen. The Apostle Paul and some of
his co-workers were instrumental in founding this church at Philippi,
and hence the name Philippians. But Paul is concerned that what
has happened at other churches that he had been instrumental
in planting, He'll describe it for us here
in just a second. These people had crept into these
congregations deliberately seeking to overthrow the precious gospel
that was being proclaimed in these places. Well, instead of
me talking about it, let's find it out as we read. Verse 1, chapter
3 of the book of Philippians. Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord to write the same things to you To me, indeed,
is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs."
Now, he ain't talking about German shepherds, pit bulls, or any
other dangerous species of dogs. He's talking about religious
dogs, spiritual dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the concision, which
is a cutting of the flesh. And in our generation, people
have learned how to get you to use your physical person to get
blessings from God, and you don't even have to hurt yourself. Both
of which are utterly stupid and are not true. You can do anything
you want to with your body, and it is not going to induce God
to do one thing. Whatever he has for you, he's
had for you before this world ever started. Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision. Now, if you'll understand language
like this in the realm of being spiritual,
You'll understand this. But when people don't know God,
they have no other alternative except to resort themselves to
using physical objects, mammoth choirs and all this kind of junk. And I've had a belly full of
that, I don't know about you. But I'll leave here before I
go back to that stuff. I hope I don't live to see it.
And I hope you don't either. Now in verse 3, he speaks in
a positive sense. For we are the circumcision with
a truly circumcised of heart, which doesn't require a physical
operation. It is a spiritual one. For we
are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit. That's the spiritual worship
of God. It doesn't require altars, nor
candles, nor flowers, nor uniforms, nor anything else of that kind
whatsoever. We are the circumcision. Who
are they? Am I one of them? Which worship
God in spirit, little s? in and through our spirit, which
if it is raised from the dead by Christ, then we're alive spiritually. And secondly, rejoice in Christ
Jesus. And thirdly, have no confidence
in flesh. Now, I know the King James says,
in the flesh, but I prefer to leave the the out. Now, you can
tell people I've changed the Bible if you want to. Verse 4. Paul referring to this dangerous
group of people that he has warned the Philippians about back in
verse 1 and verse 2. And here he says, though I might
also have confidence in the flesh, People who tell you you must
do something physically in order for God to do something for you
are simply flesh merchants. And it's not true. It is absolutely
not true. Paul calls it having confidence
in the flesh. Grace says we have no confidence
in ourselves. Our only hope is Christ and Him
crucified. So verse 4, to begin again, though
I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man
thinks he has whereof, he might trust in the flesh. Paul said,
I can beat that. I more. He's referring to his
days as a Pharisee now. The fourth Christ met him on
the road to Damascus. Look what he says. Verse 5, as far as Jews are concerned
in any generation, these descriptions in verse 5 and in verse 6 are
just absolutely all that they could imagine. Though I might
also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinks that
he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Here's
his credentials. Circumcised the eighth day. How
come the eighth day? Because when God gave instruction
for the circumcision of male children, He said it's to be
done on the eighth day after the child is born. Eight days
from birth. Circumcised the eighth day of
the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, A Hebrew of the
Hebrews as touching the law, as for my opinion, Paul said,
concerning the law, I was a Pharisee. The elite group among the Jewish
religion. I've just mentioned the others
to you. Oh, it's been in the last century
anyway. Maybe it was Wednesday night. in regard to this particular
statement. A Pharisee touching the law. A Pharisee. You want to know
my zeal? Verse 6. Concerning zeal, I persecuted
the church. And he won't play in games. He
put people in prison and to death. He was the man who stood by and
had orchestrated the stoning of Stephen in Acts chapter 7. But he got more than he bargained
for that day. Oh, he got Stephen's blood all
right. But he couldn't get over. He
couldn't get away from. Stephen's God, the God of the
Bible. Not long after that event, Christ
met him on the road to Damascus. I think that's in Acts chapter
8. Concerning zeal, persecuting
the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
And no man is blameless when it comes to God's law. Now look at verses 7, 8 and 9. But what things were gained to
me, those I counted loss for Christ. Now, I want you to pay
attention in the reading of these three verses having to do with
the verb count. Count. Alright, here it's in
the past tense. Counted. That's number one. I counted. What things were gained
to me, those I counted lost for Christ. When did Paul begin this
new matter of arithmetic when it came to the law? It was when
Christ unhorsed him on the road to Damascus. Yea, doubtless, and I count,"
present tense verb, I count, all things but loss. And what's
he going to get in the place of it? For the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I've suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but done. refuse,
garbage manure. Count these things nothing. Nothing at all. That I may win
Christ. That I may win Christ. Now this other The second time
in verse 8 that we have the verb to count is in the last phrase. Let me read you the whole, a
good part of the sentence. I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but done that I may win Christ. and be found in Christ, not having my own righteousness."
Now, if there's one thing religious people are proud of, it is their
own righteousness. I mean the kind that they've
worked themselves. And they've given it to God.
And they're counting. on his blessings upon them because
they've done this. But the truth is, these things
are not any more than a pile of manure. God does not esteem
this kind of stuff. If we could be saved by our works,
the Lord Jesus should never have come to die in this world. What
a crime of all crimes, if salvation is possible some other way. Only
a fool can call things in that light. It isn't so. There's only
one salvation forever. And it'll last forever. And it's
been around forever. Not having my own righteousness. What does that mean? It means
exactly what it says. I don't have a righteousness
except the imputed righteousness of Christ. And if you don't have
that one, you don't have any either. Which is of the law. This self-righteousness is of
the law. But that which is through the
faith, not in Christ, of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith. by faith. Let me see if I can read these
last six verses or so. That I may know him, and the
power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings,
being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I
may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
Jesus." Now there's another sneaky little statement here in these
couple of verses, in verses 11 and 12. Paul tells us in verse 12, this
aspiration of his to be raised from spiritual death to spiritual
life. Not as though I had already attained. Either were already perfect.
Now listen, as a believer, Paul is perfect in God's sight. But
there ain't a true believer on this earth that will look himself
in the mirror and say, man, you're perfect. Not in ourselves we
aren't. We're still sinners. And we'll
be until we're laid in the grave, or until Christ returns, whichever
is sooner. Not as though I'd already obtained,
either we're already perfect. But I follow after, that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
Now, when our Lord met this apostle on the road to Damascus, he describes it as being apprehended
of Christ Jesus. Now, you understand, the Lord
Jesus did not come to this earth in a physical appearance in front
of Paul on the road to Damascus. He executed these things from
glory. He's seated on the right hand
of God. What does he do every day? Exactly what he wishes. He speaks and it's done. And
here this man is telling us about himself, that when Christ met
him, He was born again, born from above, born of God. But now he says that he's still
a sinner. He tells us that plainly in Romans
chapter 7, particularly the second half. Forgetting those things which
are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of
God in Christ Jesus. Let us, therefore, as many as
be perfect, and if you are in Christ, whether you like it or
not, you are perfect, but you are still a sinner. But there
is a whole being inside of you that does not sin. You try reading
1 John 3 and see if you can get out of there without admitting
that much. It's as plain as the nose on our face. Let us, therefore, as many as
be perfect, be thus minded, And if in anything you be otherwise
minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless,
whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing. And if you want those rules,
they are right here in this chapter in verse 3, verse 7 and verse
9. What a glorious picture indeed. I'm just pulling the rabbit out
of the hat, you understand? Ah, yes. I can read that ten
feet away. It's pretty good. Okay, let's go back to verses
7, 8, and 9. See if we can finish these as
soon as we can. Here's the part we're working
on in verse 7. No, it's in verse 8. At the last
part of verse 8, that I may win Christ and be found in him. And that's in verse 9. So the
Apostle Paul is willing to give up all religious claims that
he had in the Jews' religion as a Pharisee. I mean, if you
made it to be a part of the Pharisees in the Jewish religious organization,
you were on top of the mountain. But Paul gives that all up. He
gives up all of his material possessions. He gives up all
physical comforts. Where he slept, I do not know.
There are many times you can't figure out how he got from one
place to the other. He was shipwrecked three times,
and on and on and on. This man just actually sacrificed
everything. All earthly relationships. I
mean, the people he knew, they don't know him any longer. You
follow me? Because he ain't going to talk
with them if he don't talk about Christ. And they don't like Christ. They hate him. And this world isn't any different
today than it was then. Oh, that I might gain Christ,
as that could be translated, to be found in him. So what is it to be found in
Christ? Paul uses that expression. We
just pointed it out at the beginning of verse 9, and be found in Him. Not having my own righteousness,
but rather the imputed righteousness of God the Son, our Lord Jesus
Christ. So what is it to be found in
Christ? It is to be found in that everlasting
covenant of grace that the Holy Trinity entered into with each
other in old eternity before this world was ever made. Before there was ever a human
being. It says in this scripture, The Son is praying and talking
to His Father, as you've given Him power over all flesh, that
He should give eternal life to as many as you have given Him. And this is life eternal, that
they might know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
you've sent. So to be found in Christ is to
be found in the covenant of grace in Christ. To be found in Christ
is to be found in Him as our federal head and representative.
This is indeed important. If you will, I'll risk asking
you to turn just, well, I better not promise you just one time,
but it won't be very many. You know, not over 50 or so. Did I tell you what the text
is, Romans chapter 5 and verse 19? Romans 5 and verse 19, speaking of Christ as our federal
head, and our federal representative. Now, we understand at least a
little bit about these terms, about being represented by someone
else, many times whom we do not know and perhaps do not even
like, but are in office and they have the right to act on our
behalf, whether we like what they do or not. So here we have
it in verse 19 of Romans chapter 5. For as by one man's disobedience,"
what man is that? That's Adam in the garden. He
sinned willfully and deliberately by eating of that tree of forbidden
fruit. For as by one man's disobedience,
many, all mankind without exception, every member of the human race
forever and ever, These were made sinners. So by
the obedience of one, that one is who? Christ. He's the only one who's rendered
perfect obedience to God's law and God's justice. It can only
be Him. So by the obedience of one shall
many Be made righteous. What I'm here to tell you, 99.9%
of today's professing Christianity would deny. They'd call me a
liar. When I would say to you that
the only righteousness for a sinner is found in the imputed righteousness
of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can find this covered in
Romans chapter 4 and in, I think it's Psalm 32, and several other
places in our Bibles. That's certainly not all of them
by any means. So we're found in him as our
federal head and representative. Now we've looked at those verses
in 1 Corinthians 15, all along about verse 50-some, where it
talks about this very same thing about a federal head. Then we learn that according
to Galatians 6.14, to be found in Christ is to be found in Him
on the cross, in His death. We're united to Him in His life
and in His death. Oh, and thank God in His resurrection.
resurrected in Christ. Here's the statement out of Galatians
6, verse 14, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto
me, and I unto the world. Isn't that clear? The only thing we can glory in
is in the cross of our precious Lord Jesus Christ. If you find
people who claim to be followers of Christ, who have nothing to
do with His death, His crucifixion, His cross, then you've met some
people that don't know God, and they don't believe this Bible.
Alright, number four. We are to be found in Him as
our righteousness. Remember now, in the book of
Jeremiah, there are two statements having to do with the Lord Jesus,
and righteousness that are very significant. They're part of
those hyphenated Jehovah-hyphen names that are so blessed and
so wonderful. We are to be found in Christ
as our righteousness. So Jeremiah the prophet tells
the Lord's people in his generation, You shall call His name, the
Lord Jesus now, the incarnate Christ. Before His incarnation,
you can call Him by this name, the Lord our righteousness. And then if you jump over, that
was on 23.6, and jump over to chapter 33, I'm thinking verse
16, it doesn't matter, you can find it in that section anyway. It is her name shall be called. Who's her? It's the Blessed Bride
of Christ, the Church. She shall be called by His name. It's interesting to see people
when they get married and they don't take their husband's name.
I sure ain't going to perform the meeting. But plenty do. You just go right
ahead is all I can say. If you knew what that meant spiritually,
I don't think you'd be so gung-ho. But if you don't know God, it
don't matter what you do, pretty much. You're headed for hell
anyway. You might as well enjoy all you
can while you're here. This is honest to goodness, sincere,
business, gracious, alive. Something else indeed. Then finally, we are to be found
in Christ at death, at judgment, on judgment day, and He'll be
the judge, and at the wedding feast. Now I want to work on
a bit further The phrase in verse 9, not having my own righteousness. Now who is this that do not have
their own righteousness? The only people I know are the
followers of Christ. I don't know any other religion
that has a savior, a redeemer, a substitute to take his people's
place, to die in their ruined place instead. to offer a sacrifice
to God that is well-pleasing in His sight, as typified by
Abel and his sacrifice of a lamb and hundreds and hundreds and
thousands and thousands of others throughout the Old Testament.
So this statement is absolutely true. And it's illustrated in
several places in our Bibles. For example, I forgot to write
down the Scripture reference for these two, and there's nobody
home up here right this second, so they're not responding. There's
none righteous, no, not one. I don't care what people say.
I don't care if they tell you you're the most wonderful person
this world has ever seen. They can give you this honor
and that one and the other one. Doesn't make any difference.
Not at all. None righteous. Followed by these
three words. No. Not. One. Not a one. Not a one. You see how far we've fallen
in religion that is called Christianity in America? Lord, you'd be dragged
out of the pulpit And no telling what would happen when you got
on the outside. They might go back to stoning people. I don't
know. I ain't particularly wanting to find out, but if the opportunity
avails itself, I just might have to go. Here's another quote from
our Bibles. Our righteousness is as filthy
rags. And that rag is a menaceful cloth. It's not a pretty sight. Here's another one from Psalm
39, verse 5 by David. Man at his best state is altogether
vanity. We're vain. We think ourselves
to be something and we're not anything. There are some, and indeed all
of us, have been members of this clan. There are some who lay
claim to a holiness before God in our own works and high morals. Here are five examples. that help us to see the different
parties of self-righteousness. Some rely on a natural human
righteousness. They say, I think well of people
and I have a good disposition. I'm kind. Therefore, I think God will accept
me without having to have a Redeemer. or a Savior, or a cross, or the
shedding of blood. Some rely on a religious righteousness. I fast, I tithe, I do this and
I don't do that. It's much like the Pharisee and
the Publican in Luke chapter 18, verses 9 through 14. where
the Pharisee prays, and before he's finished praying, he looks
over there at that poor publican who was a tax collector for the
Romans. He said, I thank God I'm not
like him. In his whole prayer, he didn't ask for anything. He
just told God how good he was. And he wasn't good. This is the
parable that our Lord Himself constructed on purpose to represent
this. And before things were over,
we found out that the publican is the one that went down to
his house justified before God. He was the one that wouldn't
even lift his eyes to heaven and beat on his chest, God be
merciful to me, the sinner of all sinners. Then thirdly, some people were
lying. On a moral righteousness under
this banner, I keep the Ten Commandments. And I tell you to your face,
you're lying. I hope you're not, if you're
a believer. You won't deny this. But if you
deny it, you're still lost. Lost! Here's another kind of righteousness. Somebody called this a negative
righteousness. Boy, that's a trick, isn't it?
A negative righteousness. This person wants you to know
that there are certain things that he's never done. that other
people do. Then finally, there is a comparative
righteousness. That's the Pharisee and the temple
in Luke 18. Everything he said to God is
what he did. or did not do. And he certainly
did not want to be compared to this poor publican. So in all of this, we judge ourselves
by God's standard of holiness. Now, this righteousness which
is of God's providing, this righteousness which is of
God. It is purposed by God the Father. It is His righteousness. Secondly, this righteousness
is purchased by God the Son. It's His righteousness, not ours. It's gospel righteousness, but
we're not the author of it. But Christ is. In both His active
and passive life, which means the places He went, the preaching
He did, the work that He performed, all of that is His active obedience.
Then there is a passive obedience when it's what other people did
to the Lord Jesus, particularly in his crucifixion and his hanging
on the cross. Some people don't like to put
it this way, but I think it's a valid term to speak of Christ
and his active and passive obedience. All right, the third one is,
it's provided by the Holy Spirit. We're said to be sanctified by
the Spirit through faith. And that's the only way faith
can come. Through the inward working of God the Holy Spirit,
upon the hearing and believing of the gospel that is all of
grace. My, what a statement here in this part of our Bibles. Can
I read you verse 7, 8, and 9 again? But what things were gained to
me, Those I counted lost for Christ. Now that's Paul. What
about me and you? Can I say that? Have I said that? Can you or have you said that? What things were gained to me,
those I counted lost for Christ? Yes, doubtless. And I count all
things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,
my Lord. for whom I have suffered the
loss of all things, and do count them but done, that I may win
Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by faith." And then that spills over into verse
10. I can't get it started now. I
just had it on my tongue. That I may know Him and the power
of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made
conformable unto His death. To be one with Christ is to be a believer and a follower
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you.