“By Any Means” An Invitation to Sacrifice Whatever It Takes to Get to Heaven

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh (1-3) … and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; … if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (9-11) … For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame -- who set their mind on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:1-19)

What Did Paul Sacrifice? A False Sense of Confidence and Pride (3:4-8): Circumcised the 8 th day Circumcised the 8 th day Israelite – tribe of Benjamin Israelite – tribe of Benjamin A “Hebrew of the Hebrews” A “Hebrew of the Hebrews” A Pharisee A Pharisee Zealously persecuted the church Zealously persecuted the church Blameless in the Old Law Blameless in the Old Law “brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel” (Acts 22:1-5)

What May We Have to Sacrifice? Cherished doctrine or belief system Cherished doctrine or belief system

What May We Have to Sacrifice? Cherished doctrine or belief system Cherished doctrine or belief system Family Relationships Family Relationships

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. … So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26-33) “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:13-14)

What May We Have to Sacrifice? Cherished doctrine or belief system Cherished doctrine or belief system Family Relationships Family Relationships Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Spiritual Pride and Notoriety

What May We Have to Sacrifice? Cherished doctrine or belief system Cherished doctrine or belief system Family Relationships Family Relationships Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Elite Scientific/Academic Status Elite Scientific/Academic Status

“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” (I Corinthians 1:26-29)

What May We Have to Sacrifice? Cherished doctrine or belief system Cherished doctrine or belief system Family Relationships Family Relationships Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Elite Scientific/Academic Status Elite Scientific/Academic Status Financial Security Financial Security

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

What May We Have to Sacrifice? Cherished doctrine or belief system Cherished doctrine or belief system Family Relationships Family Relationships Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Spiritual Pride and Notoriety Elite Scientific/Academic Status Elite Scientific/Academic Status Financial Security Financial Security Ourselves Ourselves

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

“By Any Means” An Invitation to Sacrifice Whatever It Takes to Get to Heaven “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30)

“By Any Means” An Invitation to Sacrifice Whatever It Takes to Get to Heaven “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:44-46)