The Joy of Freedom in Christ

1. Read: Phil.3:1-11

2. About the Text:

1) Paul’s joy came from being released from a system of religious legalism.

2) This system constantly threatens to rear its ugly head.

3) It was trying to take control of Christianity in its early days.

4) We must remember what Paul taught here about joy in Christ vs. Paul’s past identity.

5) It is easy to become enamored with false identities as a substitute for Christ.

6) We must ever be vigilant that Christ be our identity.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. We must beware of efforts to change our identity.

1) The flesh is the culprit – “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11).

2) The flesh can tempt us in many ways.

a. It isn’t just about the “passions.”

b. When we put our identity in anything other than Christ, we have let the flesh control us.

c. Paul’s life illustrates this.

3) Here, Paul characterizes those who want to go back to the law of Moses as fleshly.

a. They were religious people who put confidence in the flesh.

b. This is a danger today also; many religious people are so because of the flesh.

2. We worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Jesus Christ.

1) Under the Law of Moses, worship was fleshly.

a. They offered animal sacrifices.

b. They burned incense.

c. They played instruments of music.

d. They went to a physical temple.

2) Under Christ, worship is spiritual.

a. We offer spiritual sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2).

b. We pray (1 Timothy 2:8).

c. We sing praises to God (Heb.2:12).

d. We study the word of God (Acts 20:7).

e. We give of ourselves freely (2 Cor.9:7).

f. We remember the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

3) There are many false worship practices today that are based in the flesh.

a. They would supplant worshipping God in the Spirit.

b. They would steal our joy in Christ replacing it with fleshly titillation.

3. We have no confidence in the flesh.

1) Paul is speaking specifically about circumcision.

2) Today, we could speak about any and all religious traditions that replace Christ.

3) “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:8-9).

4) “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23).

4. False identities rob us of freedom and joy.

1. Things that compete with Christ rob us of freedom and joy.

1) Paul once counted some things as gain.

a. His education.

b. His belonging the nation of Israel.

c. His membership among the Pharisees.

d. His zeal for the law.

e. His blamelessness in the execution of the Law.

2) These things were his identity in the flesh.

3) They were robbing him of a relationship with Christ.

4) They were stealing his joy.

5) He abandoned them so that he could know Christ.

6) What false identities are robbing you of a relationship with Christ?

a. Is it your job?

b. Is it your fleshly desires?

c. Is it your family?

d. Is it your education?

e. What is your identity?

f. In what do you place your pride?

g. If it is in anything but Christ, it will one day fail.

2. Paul said that he “suffered the loss of all things.”

1) There is suffering when we realize we have a false identity.

2) Our pride does not want to let it go.

3) This creates emotional pain.

4) “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

5) If it hurts us to lose something fleshly, that was competing for our identity.

6) Let go of the pride and you will let go of the pain too.

7) Compared to Christ, everything in the world is rubbish.

3. The boon in counting all things for loss is that we gain Christ.

1) Christ will not compromise with the world.

a. “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).

b. “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).

2) We must commit to Him fully.

a. “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” (Matthew 22:37-40).

b. “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).

4. We have freedom and joy when we put away all things that compete with Christ.

1. Not having my own righteousness.

1) Paul’s righteousness was “from the law.”

2) What is your own righteousness?

3) What do you struggle with?

4) What do you self-justify?

5) What do you need to sacrifice for Christ?

6) “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

7) “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:2-4).

2. We must have the righteousness that is through faith in Christ.

1) Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by hearing…”

2) Hebrews 11:6 – “Without faith…”

3. We must know Him.

1) The power of His resurrection.

2) The fellowship of His sufferings.

3) Being conformed to His death.

4. How do we do this?

1) Baptism is a statement of identity with Christ.

2) Romans 6:3-11

5. When we identify wholly with Christ, we are free and that is joyful.

1. Freedom in Christ brings joy when we …

1) Beware of False Identities of the Flesh

2) Count All Things Loss for Christ

3) Identify Wholly with Christ

2. Invitation