Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. For this morning's message, my
text is taken from Paul's epistle to the church at Philippi. You
can find it in Philippians chapter three, verses one through three. That's Philippians chapter three,
verses one through three. Let me read through those three
verses. 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, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision, for we are the circumcision,
which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus.
and have no confidence in the flesh. That's my text for this
early Sunday morning. Let me read that once again and
just make a few brief comments, then I will get to my message
in earnest. Paul says finally, my brethren,
he's not concluding his letter here to the Church of Philippi.
This word finally here is used again by Paul later on in this
letter. The word finally here is not
a conclusion, but it's for emphasis. He's stressing great emphasis
on what he's about to say, and of course he has far more to
say than just the three verses I read, but finally. In other
words, with emphasis, I stress this, my brethren. Rejoice in
the Lord, and truly that's the only place for fallen men and
women to rejoice. Rejoice in the Lord. to write
the same things to you, to me, indeed is not grievous. This
is not a trouble to me. Paul was not under some mere
obligation, some religious obligation. It wasn't grievous. He says,
but for you it is safe. But then he has these amazing
words in verse two. Do you see it? If you have a
Bible, look at it. Philippians chapter three, verse
two, beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the concision, or the
cutters, those who put great emphasis upon the circumcision
of the flesh. He says, beware. Beware, look
out for these people. They are dangerous. And as a
reminder, these people were not cutters. what we would look at
as immoral people. They were religious people. They
were people that held to the Bible. They read the scriptures. They preached from the scriptures.
But Paul says, beware them. But he calls them dogs, evil
workers. They are cutters. Beware of the
concision. And here is the crux of my text. For we are the circumcision,
not as those other fellows are, not of those you're to beware.
For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and
rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no, you see that word, and have
no confidence in the flesh. My subject for this morning is
this, three hallmarks of true God worship. That's what Paul
gives us here in this text, three hallmarks of true God worship. You see, our present world is
flooded with so-called Christian worship. You know that's true
and I know that's true. It's flooded with so-called Christian
worship. You can probably find what is
called Christian worship on TV and the radio and on the internet. 24 hours a day, our present world
is flooded with so-called Christian worship. We have denominational
worship. We have that which is called
non-denominational worship. We have what is called traditional
worship, and we have what is called modern worship. There
are those who worship and call it something along the lines
of high church, and those who worship and call it something
along the lines of low church. There are those who worship and
call it adult-centered worship. And then there are those who
worship and call it youth-centered worship. But I'm here to stress
to everyone that hears me this morning, these are all man-made,
contrived schemes of insult to God. And that's the word I meant
to use, of insult to God. And the reason I say that is
this. This is not my opinion. This
is not Walter Pendleton giving you his take on this matter.
This is what the Lord Jesus Christ himself said. Listen to the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ himself, recorded by the Apostle John,
in John chapter four, and I'll begin reading in verse 19, but
as a preface, this is when our Lord met the woman at the well,
the woman from Samaria, the Samaritan woman, and the conversation went
this way, the woman saith unto him, that's John four, verse
19, the woman saith unto him, sir, I perceive that thou art
a prophet, Now look at it. Our fathers worshipped in this
mountain. So here's a woman that worshipped God. She had some
worship. Our Lord never refuted that she
worshipped. But look at what it says. The
woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our
fathers worshipped in this mountain. And ye say that in Jerusalem
is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto
her. Now listen to it, listen to what
he said. Jesus saith unto her, woman, believe me, the hour cometh
when ye shall neither in this mountain nor at Jerusalem worship
the Father. Now listen to his words here.
Ye worship, now he acknowledged that she worshiped. But he said,
ye 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 God, 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, now listen to the Lord's words, and
they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. So our Lord is clear. There is
worship. but it's not the true worship
of God. The true worship of God must
be in spirit and in truth. Now, having established this,
our Lord having established this, God's words in our text are clear. Some preachers, and of course
their worship, some people, who preach or teach or make certain
professions, some preachers, and their worship is damning.
Do you see it? Damning, this is why Paul says
in Philippians three, verse two, we have it recorded, beware of
dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. You see, the way of those circumcised
by God not through a circumcision made with men's hands, but the
way of those circumcised by God is the only way, because then
again, he says, for we are the circumcision, which worship God
in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh. So Paul says, 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. This
alone is safe preaching. This alone is sound preaching. So then. having established this,
having seen this from God's holy word, my question is this, what
are these three hallmarks? Remember, my subject and my title
is this, Three Hallmarks of True God Worship. So what are these
three hallmarks? These three hallmarks expressed
here by the Apostle Paul, being moved by the spirit of God to
write, what are these three hallmarks? Number one, There is the work
of God in circumcision. You hear what I said? There is
the work of God in circumcision. Now, this circumcision Paul is
speaking of here is a God-wrought circumcision. not a circumcision
made by some priest as under the Mosaic and Levitical law,
or not a circumcision made by some doctor in some hospital
of some young male child. This work here is the work of
God in circumcision. Let me show you the opposite
of that, that is uncircumcised. Turn to Acts 2. chapter seven,
if you're following along, and listen to what was said here
in Acts chapter seven by Stephen, when he was preaching to a group
of Jews, a group of Jews who were at odds, to say the best,
with the truth of the person of Jesus of Nazareth being the
Messiah. And here we see the opposite
of this circumcision. Acts chapter seven, and we read
these words, ye stiff-necked, Now look at it, and ye stiff-necked
and uncircumcised, how? Uncircumcised where? Uncircumcised
in what manner? He says, ye stiff-necked and
uncircumcised in heart and ears. Ye do always resist the Holy
Ghost. As your fathers did, so do ye. You see, the natural man, that
is, all the sons and daughters of Adam. That's me, and that's
you by nature. That's us as we are born into
this world. We are all stiff-necked. We're
all uncircumcised. How? Here's the problem. Here's
the real problem. It's not a circumcision of the
flesh. It's not that pertaining to a male child. He's stiff-necked
and uncircumcised in heart and ears. This kind of person always
resists the Holy Ghost. They resist the Holy Ghost in
the truth as it is preached from the Word of God. They resist
the Word of God and the truth that is taught there. You see,
a man or a woman, a man or a woman, old or young, being by nature
stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, they always
resist the truth of God. But now I want you to read with
me the positive. Listen to what the Apostle Paul
says. In Romans chapter two, he writes these words. And we're
still talking about this circumcision. Remember, Philippians three,
verse three, we are the circumcision. Listen to what Paul says in Romans
chapter two and verse 28. For he is not a Jew. Now hear that. For he is not
a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision,
which is outward in the flesh. Now listen to these words. 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. Do you see it? There's the circumcision that
matters. There's the circumcision who worship God. There are the
only ones who worship God. Listen also to what John said.
And while he does not use the word circumcision, he is speaking
of this work of God and circumcising the heart. The ears and listen
to what John says in the gospel according to John chapter 1 and
verse 10 speaking of Christ he was in the world and The world
was made by him and the world knew him not he came unto his
own and his own Received him not but as many as received him
to them gave he power that is the right and the ability both
gave them power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name. But who are they that truly believe
on his name? Look at it, which were born,
not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will
of man, but they are rather born of God. This is the circumcision. You see, all true worship, All
true worship must begin with an act of God in free grace. I fully realize that this is
not what most so-called Christian preachers are preaching in our
day. Most of them today walk and talk and preach and worship
under the premise of this phrase, God has done all he can do. Now
it is up to you. But that is not the truth. That's not the truth. God Almighty
must act first in circumcising the heart and the ears of any
individual before they will ever submit in spirit, in the inner
person, to the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ. All true worship,
all of it. Because remember, our Lord said
those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. So all true worship must begin
with an act of God in free, sovereign grace. Here's the second hallmark.
The first hallmark, again, there is a work of God in circumcision,
and God Almighty must perform that work. Here's the second
hallmark. All true worship proceeds from
within the inner person. All true worship, you're at number
two. All true worship must proceed from within the inner person. This inner person is a God-wrought
new self. A God wrought new person is a
person now circumcised at heart and ears. Paul calls it here
in our text, Philippians three, one through three, the spirit,
the spirit. You see it? For we are the circumcision. We've looked at that, that's
the first hallmark. This is an act of God. This is the work
of God. It's the soul work of God. It's
the work of God he must perform first, but for we are the circumcision
which worship God in the spirit. Now first of all, under this
second hallmark, true worship is primarily inward submission
to God's preached word. Now I do understand in our day
and age that most people think that worship is some kind of
outward expression of praise to God. And don't misunderstand
me. I am not saying that outward
expression of praise to God is wrong. But I'm saying if that's
all a man or a woman has, is outward expression of praise
to God, I am saying it is not true worship. Because again,
true worship must be in the spirit. Proof of that. Listen to what
James says. James chapter one, and I'll begin
reading in verse 18. This is speaking of God. Of his
own will beget he us with the word of truth, that we should
be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, now because
of this, because this is an act of God. That's what he's talking
about. That's the first hallmark. Even James is talking about this
first hallmark. He says, of his own will, begat
he us with the word of truth, that we should be kind of first
fruits of his creatures. God must work a work first. Wherefore, you see it in verse
19? Wherefore, my beloved brethren. Now listen, here's what takes
place. If God Almighty begat you, begat
you with the word of truth. Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear. Do you see that? Be swift to
hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of man worketh
not the righteousness of God. Wherefore, that is because of
this, wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which
is able to save your soul, so that's a part of the second hallmark. All true worship proceeds from
within the inner man, the spirit, the immaterial man. True worship
is not what we do with this outward body, but it's what takes place
in the inner man, in the spirit, inside, in the heart, and remember
what? The ears, the ears. Secondly, under this second hallmark,
all worship, must be in spirit and in truth. Spirit and truth
are conjoined twins. They cannot be separated. That is, there is no true inner
worship apart from the truth of the person of work of Jesus
Christ. And there is no true reception, no belief of Jesus
Christ apart from an inner, engrafted receiving of the truth of the
person and work of Jesus Christ. Listen to what Matthew recorded,
and we'll talk about truth. Well, preacher, I understand.
You might say, I understand a little bit what you're talking about,
this inner spirit, this worshiping God in the spirit, but what about
this thing of truth? Some people say, well, I believe
in the virgin birth of Christ. That's true. That's a historical
fact. But that does not mean you know
the truth. For sake of time, I don't have
to go through, I don't have time to go through all the passages
that speak of things as truth, but I do have one particular
passage here I want you to listen to. This is what Matthew records
in Matthew chapter 15 and verse 21. I'll just read it briefly
and make a few statements. Then Jesus went thence and departed
into the coast of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan
came out of the same coast cried unto him, saying, Have mercy
on me, O Lord, thou son of David. My daughter is grievously vexed
with the devil. And notice, she's asking for
Christ's mercy, and not even for herself, but for one she
cared for. And look what it says. But he
answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought
him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us. But he answered
and said, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house
of Israel. Then came she and worshipped
him, do you see it? Worshipped him, saying, How?
Now, what was her worship? Lord, help me, help me. But, He answered and said, this
is what he's saying to her now. It is not meat, it is not proper
to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs. Do you see
what he's saying to her? He's saying, woman, you, you
are a Canaanite dog. Does that equate her with the
people even that Paul warns of? Oh yes. I am no better than anyone
else. You are no better than anyone
else. This woman was no better than
anyone else. But look at what he said. But
he answered and said, it is not meat, it is not proper to take
the children's bread and cast it to dogs. And she said, truth,
Lord. Do you see that? She said, Lord,
that's the truth. Yet, the dogs eat the crumbs. which fall from their master's
table. Isn't that glorious? Isn't that
something? The dog, she said, yes, Lord,
I'm a dog. But I'm your dog. And then listen
to our Lord's word. Then Jesus answered and said
unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee, even
as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole
from that very hour. Folks, that is true worship.
To be able to acknowledge what you truly are. A dog. A dog, see? All true worship
submits to God's word and his sovereign grace. All who truly
are circumcised in heart and ears will bow in the dust of
faith and repentance, acknowledging what and who they are before
God, and acknowledging that salvation, mercy, comes only through Jesus
Christ. Now, number three, what is the
third hallmark of this true worship? Thirdly, all true worship is
enthralled with Christ and disgusted with self. You hear what I said?
All true worship All true worship is enthralled with Christ and
disgusted with self. For we are the circumcision,
Paul wrote, which worship God in the spirit, and here's the
third one, and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence
in the flesh. Now, when I began this message,
I thought, well, maybe that's two separate points, but it's
really not. Listen to me, this is what I'm saying, this is important. The rejoicing in Jesus Christ
cannot be accompanied by and associated with glorying in oneself. You see, some people profess
Christ. They profess to believe Christ.
They profess to worship Christ. Yet, they have self-faith. They have self-repentance. Their baptism is worked out within
themselves. They do it as an act of the flesh. You see, there is a false faith.
There is a false repentance. There is a baptism that men engage
in. They go into the waters, but
it's not out of a conscience made right by a work of God.
They engage in so-called Christian works, and they engage in church
membership. Think about it. Cain, you remember
the account of Cain and Abel? Cain worshiped God, but yet Cain
nor his offering, God had no respect to it. You see, all true
worship is enthralled with Christ and disgusted with self. I don't
care where it's moral flesh or moral self or immoral flesh or
immoral self. I do not care whether it's religious
flesh or whether it's irreligious flesh. It does not matter whether
it's orthodox flesh or whether it's ignorant flesh. It does
not matter whether it's religious professions of the flesh or no
profession at all. Paul said, we are those. We are
the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit and rejoice
in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. And the kicker
to this is you look at what Paul says in Philippians 3 and go
on down, verses four through 14 especially, Paul will tell
you about what he did in the flesh. He was a very religious
man, a very moral man, a very Bible-believing man, but he said,
I count those things but dung. But for what reason? That I might
win Christ. You see, all flesh, All flesh
is an insult to God. All flesh insults God and is
no worship at all. The truth of Christ and the truth
about Christ alone is where those who are circumcised by God worship
God. You see, when God Almighty performs
a work of free, reigning, sovereign grace, in the heart and in the
ears. When he circumcises an individual
by his sovereign work of mercy and compassion, that person begins
to see a little bit about who they are and what they do, and
they are disgusted with it. They have no confidence in it,
even if it's religiousness. Ah, but they're rejoicing. Their
rejoicing is in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ,
only again, For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit
and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. My prayer for this very day is
that God Almighty might circumcise somebody in their hearted ears
and you might be able to cry out with the Apostle Paul that
this is true of me right now. May God work that work.