Counting Everything Loss for Christ

August 7, 2019

Text: Philippians 3:1-11

Title: Confidence in Christ

Jesus Christ is of great value

Principle: To have the same mind of Jesus Christ as a servant one must put no confidence in flesh.

Command: Put no confidence in the flesh by counting our boastings as rubbish.

Reflection

• There are times that I consider something better than knowing Christ and this is having confidence in my flesh

• My education and my skills in the ministry are my confidence in my flesh that I have to set aside in order to know Christ.

• This confidence must be put off so I could have the same mind as the Lord in terms of obedience as a slave.

Observations

• The word "rubbish" in Greek means "dung." In this, Paul described the confidence in the flesh that he had (v8)

• Righteousness is  through faith and not from the Law (v9)

• Who are the people that the Philippian believers should be aware of in verse 2?

• Faith is the only means to know everything about Jesus Christ (v10)
• Power of Resurrection (v10)

In the previous chapter, Paul addressed the issue of division and encourage them to have the same mind, love, spirit, and intent. This will only be possible if everyone would strive to have the same servant attitude as Christ in order to regard one another more important and to consider the interest of others as well. By this a command to work out the salvation with fear and trembling has been given by being obedient as Christ. The relation of this passage to the previous chapter is how to have the same attitude as of Christ. The very answer is in verse 3, "...put no confidence in the flesh.

Paul warned the Philippian believers to be aware of those who dogs, evil workers, and false circumcised folks (v2). These are different group of people they are the unbelievers, the wicked people, and the Judaizers. He focused on of those who are in false circumcision (Judaizers) with the intention to warn them against confidence in the flesh.

Judaizers are people who have confidence in the flesh. Paul knew them very well because he used to be one of them. He admitted that he has more to boast in the flesh as Jew. The list of his confidence in the flesh is found in verse 4-6. These were the boastings of Paul prior to his conversion. Like Paul, we have something that we can boast to prior to our conversion. It might be our economic status, educational attainment, authority and popularity and others. All these, according to Paul, are just rubbish and must be counted loss because there is one thing that is important and that is the surpassing value of knowing Christ.

To know Christ is not just to have a thorough understanding of Christology, but to understand Him as a servant that every Christian must imitate. Paul brought them back to the idea of Christ in chapter 2 as a slave. And to know Christ, a person must put no confidence in his flesh by considering those things as rubbish/dung.

The last three verses are the blessings of knowing Christ. First, righteousness is through faith in Christ and not from the Law.  Second, faith in Jesus, leads to knowing Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering. Finally, attaining the the resurrection from the dead.

Christlike Attitudes

August 4, 2019

Text: Philippians 2:1-11

Title: One in Spirit and Mind

Jesus Christ is a humble servant (vv5-8)

Principle: To have to same mind is to be like the mind of Jesus Christ (v5-8)

Command: Be a humble servant (v5)

Reflection

• The incarnation and death of Christ will be helpful in order for us to be a humble servant

• It is my desire to have a mind of Christ as Christ's servant

Prayer: May the Lord grant me a mind like Christ that will make me humble and obedient to His Lordship.

Observations:

• Kenosis: what is the definition of emptying of  his self(v7)

The idea in 1:27 which is unity is being tackled in this passage. Church in Philippi suffered from division. Paul commanded them to make his joy complete. This is main idea of the passage. Paul wanted them to complete his joy. The Philippian brethren were very zealous in serving the Lord through serving Paul by attending to his needs. They were very supportive in terms of finances and other things even when he was not in jail. However, Paul's joy was not completed yet. What made Paul's joy not completed yet is the division that leads to competition in service. This is true in all the churches today. Church leaders and members are competing in terms of service. How to address this problem?

Paul begins with four "ifs": encourage from Christ; comfort from love; participation in the Spirit; affection and sympathy.  He gave these for them to evaluate if these four "ifs" our existing in them. For sure these were present in them or else they were not Christians at all. So if these were present Paul requested to make his joy complete by being united (mind, love, spirit, and intent). Verses 3 and 4 make this unity more likely to happen. It is by considering others better that we are and in terms of their interests. This idea goes back to 1:24 that he chose to continue to live for the sake of others. If we are thinking for the sake of others, there would be division. It takes humility and sacrifice to live for the sake of others. If we are living just to be better than others and centers on our own interest church will be in chaos. For this reason, Paul is begging to make his joy complete. These two, considering others better than we are and looking for the interest of others  are attitudes of Christ. Christ who has the right to consider others better than anyone else and look for his own interest went down as a slave in order to obey His Father even to the point of death on the cross for the people. Therefore, have the same attitudes as Christ's in order to avoid division and competition in service in our church.

THE TWO COVENANTS

TEXT: JOHN 1:15-18

 15( John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) ¹⁶ For fromhis fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.^[d] 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸  No one has ever seen God; the only God,^[e] who is at the Father's side,^[f] he has made him known.

THE 3 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TWO COVENANTS


I. Mosaic Covenant Judges while New Covenant Saves


II. Mosaic Covenant Supports New Covenant while New Covenant Complements Mosaic  
     Covenant


III. Mosaic Covenant Brings Man to Christ while New Covenant Brings Man to the Father

THE INCARNATION

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

     

            The first five words (And The Word Became Flesh) are the part of the most incomprehensible statement. This is so incomprehensible that the infinite God be confined in the humanity of Jesus Christ, the Creator being one of the creation and the eternal God be part of time. These idea are so incomprehensible. After Apostle John introduced the Word who is the eternal and infinite God, he introduced the Word who became flesh. This not mean the Word ceased to be Word or ceased to be God after He became flesh but He continued to be who He is originally.

PRINCIPLES

1) Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man 

   These how the Word 

• He is a creator who became one of the creation
• He is the eternal who lived in time
• He is the infinite who confined Himself to finite

2) Jesus Christ revealed His glory to man

• Christ's glory is divine glory (glory of only Son of the Father)
• Christ's glory is the glory of the Father (being one essence)

3) Jesus Christ provided salvation

• Full of Grace - God revealed the very grace of God by which man can be saved (You have been saved by grace....)
• Full of Truth - God revealed the very truth from God by which man can be saved (And the truth will set you free)

APPLICATION

1) I must acknowledge that Jesus is fully God and fully Man

2) I must acknowledge that Jesus is the provided grace and truth for the 

    salvation of man

3) I must acknowledge that Jesus and the Father are one being God

JESUS IS GOD

TEXT: John 1:14
THESIS: The 3 Evidences of Jesus' Divinity


I. His Former Nature

        Jesus became flesh. That's a wonderful and very monumental statement of His divinity. If Christ became flesh, the question would be this, "What was His nature when He was not yet come into flesh?" That would make other religions who do not believe Jesus as God. His former nature will speak about His claim.


II. His Followers' Testimony


       The statement "We see His glory" meaning they witness the very glory of Jesus as the ONE and ONLY. This ONE and ONLY is the exclusivity of Christ as begotten Son who is the very promised and prophesied in the Old Testament. This proves that He is divine.




III. His Former Companion


       Who is the former companion of Jesus when He was not yet incarnate? There is only one answer and this is His Father. He is from the Father. Full of grace and truth is the very attributes of the Father and He came from the Father with full of grace and truth means that their essence are one. This proves that He is fully divine. 

RECEIVE OR REJECT

John 1:10-14

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 

PRINCIPLES

1) The Purpose of His Incarnation

• is to give light to everyone - this mean to reveal the truth about God and His plan
• For the unbelievers, Jesus reveals Himself to them to exposed their sins and gives evidence to their hatred toward the truth which is the light.
• For the believers, Jesus reveals Himself to them to exposed their sins and have life

2) The Response to His Incarnation

• Unbelievers Will Reject 
• These people are ignorant about the Incarnate Word who is the light 
• Believers
• These people will receive Jesus as He is because of the Revealed Truth

3) The Outcome to the Response about His Incarnation

• (Implied) Those who rejected the Incarnate Word have nor right to become children of God
• (Direct) Those who received (repent and believe) the right to be God's adopted son in Christ Jesus

APPLICATION

1) I must believe that Jesus Christ by obeying Him

2) I must know Him more through studying the Scripture

3) I must live as God's adopted son in Christ Jesus

           

The Light Bearer

John 1:6-9

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through Him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world

PRINCIPLES

1) The Light Bearer is Appointed by God

            John the Baptist did not appoint by any man nor himself to be Jesus' witness but rather appointed by God alone. He was appointed by God in prophesy (Isaiah 40  and Malachi 3). His parents knew that he will be used by God for a very important purpose. 

2) The Light Bearer Must Have a Knowledge about the True Light

            In verse 7, 8, and 9, the purpose of the light bearer is to witness of the Light who is Jesus. He must not witness about himself nor other people but Jesus alone must b proclaimed. 

3) The Light Bearer is the Instrument to Make the True Light Known to Every Man

APPLICATION

1) If we are witnesses of the Light (Jesus Christ), we must consider the calling of God.

2) If we are  witnesses  of the Light, we must not seek our glory but seek God's glory alone.

3) If we are  witnesses of the Light, we must know Him by meditating the Scripture.

4) If we are witness of the Light, we must do our best to bring the Light to all men through evangelism. 

IMPERSONAL OR PERSONAL CREATOR

John 1:2-3
"He was in the beginning with God. 
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made."


            Why did John use the term LOGOS meaning WORD instead of Son of God in connection with the Jesus Christ in John 1:1?


1) The Hebraic Concept


            The Hebrew people knew that everything was created through God's Word. For example, "God said 'Let there be light" and in the creation the phrases "God said", "God called" gives an idea that through LOGOS the whole universe came into existence.


2) The Greek Concept


            The Greek believes that a Supreme Being created the whole universe. But they believe that the power of God that made everything come into existence is impersonal. The Greeks called this impersonal power to create as LOGOS or WORD. 


          Apostle John chose the term Logos to connect to both Jews and Greeks in order to introduce who Jesus is.


PRINCIPLE


1) He was in the beginning with God. This tells the intimate relationship and fellowship with God. (Note : It does not imply Jesus is different from God in nature but the purpose is to set the distinguishing mark in terms of work)


2) All things were created through Him (Affirmative). This tells us the unique role of Jesus Christ in creation. He is the very instrument so that everything will exist.


3) ..and without Him nothing was made that was made (Negative). The implication of this is Jesus is God in terms of creation. Without God there will be no creation. This gives an idea that the complete work of creation is a creation of one God. God the Father and God the Son are one.


APPLICATION


1) We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is not impersonal but personal. Therefore we must give reverence to Him.


2) We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the creator of ourselves. Therefore we must value my life by worshiping Him and obeying Him.


3) We must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the creator of everything around us. Therefore we must take good care of the things He have given for us for our own good and for His glory.






          

IS JESUS CHRIST TRULY GOD?

IS JESUS CHRIST TRULY GOD?

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

PRINCIPLES

1) The Preexistence of Jesus Christ.

            In the beginning was the Word tells that His preexistence. He is not only exist before the creation but He exists from the very beginning. That is why He is described as the ALPHA and the OMEGA. He was before even the creation of the heavenly realm (angelic realm).

2) The Second Person - Jesus Christ

            And the Word was with God tells the distinction of  the Second Person to the other Persons in the Trinity though the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. John used the word GOD and not the Father in order to give distinction of the Word with the other Persons in the Godhead. Jesus is the Word to emphasize His work which is distinct to the other two Persons in the Godhead.

3) The Divinity of Jesus Christ

           And the Word was God tells the Divinity of Christ. He did not become God but He is God from the very beginning. He is God and proves in His preexistence and His work as Logos- representation and the very revelation of God.

APPLICATION

Christian must believe that Jesus Christ is God. Anyone who did not believe Jesus Christ as God is not of God.


                                                                                        Grace and Peace to You from the Lord Jesus Christ