1. Philippians

2. Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!- vs. 1  How can I rejoice when everything is going wrong?

3. Only 2 kinds of people can rejoice in spite of everything:  Crazy people and Christians

4. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh- vs. 1-2  BToL: Conflict is inevitable for anyone who follows Jesus and is committed to the truth of the gospel

5.  A peace that refuses to defend is a compromise of love  Is Paul calling names? Isn’t that wrong? (Matthew 7:6) Dogs...men who do evil...mutilators of the flesh... Dogs...men who do evil...mutilators of the flesh...

6. Religion always confuses sanctification with justification - Justification- “The Great Exchange” (no works) - Sanctification- Process (“work out your own salvation”)- alignment

7. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—vs. 3  We worship by God’s Spirit, not men’s rituals. We glory in Christ, not our works

8. Circumcision was given as a symbol and shadow  Symbol of God’s covenant with Abraham  Shadow of the reality of the gospel: new heart, new desires

9. ...though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

10. ...circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless- vs. 4-6

11. Paul’s resume: - obeyed God before he could talk - part of God’s chosen people - jammin’ tribe connections

12. Paul’s resume: - pure Jewish bloodline - dedicated to God’s Laws - zealous for purity in his religion - kept all 600+ commands in the Pentateuch

13. Religion= works-righteousness (performance- oriented faith: My trophies and rewards...) Jesus= gift-righteousness

14. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things...

15. ...I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith- vs. 7-9

16. As long as I rest on my religion and my moral goodness, I’ll never know Jesus

17. ...whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ...I consider them rubbish... Rubbish=”dung,” “rubbish,” “refuse,” “garbage”- human excrement  That’s how God views religion!

18. Justification must lead to sanctification, but sanctification can never precede it

19. So What? - “God loves me more on the days I have a quiet time” - “I gave to the church today. I’m really spiritual” - “I show up to work days and most people don’t. I’m more committed” - “I’m so much better than the people I work with...”

20. "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?…

21. …Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty’”- Luke 17:7-10

22. Here’s the goal: To know Jesus intimately and completely (vs. 10-11) Not to know how good I am, but to know him intimately and completely

23. Religion- Good guys and bad guys The Faith- Jesus and “everybody else.” Jesus alone is good

24. The Faith- Jesus alone is good - Kills pride and arrogance - Kills judgmentalism/hypocrisy - Brings humility and praise - Humility- I’m not better than anyone - Praise- God accepts even me

25. What are the dogs in your life? The people and beliefs that keep you trying to earn love- God’s love and people’s love? What would change if you stopped trying to earn that love?

26. What trophies and rewards are you holding onto, pointing to in pride, judging others by? How does understanding that God sees them as steaming piles change your view of them?