Intro
Today is the first part of a 10 week series on a person – Paul…I have never preached this way before. Pastor James talked about a trip to the Grand Canyon when he was a kid. How small he felt at how big the Grand Canyon was. This was the segway into how big our God is and how small we are.
Pastor James believes what the scripture says about Paul. Paul was Jewish born in Tarsus (modern day Turkey) and martyred in Rome. A great missionary raised in Jerusalem. He was a Roman citizen who likely came from a wealthy family. His family business was tent making (leather worker). He was able to support himself..born about 5AD, died 67AD at age 62. Birth name, Saul, educated as a Rabi, who sat under the best professors (teachers)…he joined the opposition to persecute the church. He was the one whom held the coats while they were stoning Steven. Paul was converted when Jesus Christ appeared personally to him on the way to Damascus.
Paul was a devout Bible man. A teacher of the scriptures. He was a “Bible Guy” a “Church Guy”…he was religious.
The word religion was used 5 times in the New Testament…the word itself is not necessarily a bad word. The problem with religion is not religious observance, but once you get outside of what Christ commanded you to do, you need to be careful and turn it [religion] down. Religion is prescribed pattern worship. It’s extra things added to the scripture that God does not require from us. Paul was drowning in Religion. Jesus pulled him out.
1A). Religious leaders can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 3:1-3
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh
Repetition is a good thing. To go over and over some things is just safe. Beware of dogs – people who distort and/or add to the gospel.
Examples of this are:
- Religious duty – you have to read the Bible to be saved. Go to church.
- Moral responsibility – you have to quit smoking before you can be saved, stop living together if you’re not married
- Flesh mutilators – you have to get circumcised
No one should be allowed to corrupt your mind about the simplicity of Christ and salvation
2A). Good behavior can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 3:4, 6b
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Paul was saying if anyone can get to heaven by works it was him. He was confident in the flesh.
Pastor James mentioned that he wanted to become a Police Chaplin and told a story about his first call and how hopeless the people were; they had no pastor. No church, no one…he said to us that people just don’t know how to be saved. There are people all around us who just don’t know. They have never had a caring person or arm around them. There are people dying without Christ. Good behavior can’t save you.
3A). My family can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 3:5a
5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
Four things about Paul:
- Circumcised on the 8th day – Paul was born a Jew…he has this by birth
- Of the people of Israel – he was from Jacob, the tribe of Benjamin
- A Hebrew of the Hebrews – he spoke Hebrew…
- He was orthodox
None of that helped with Paul’s salvation…it counts as zero
4A). My knowledge can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 5b
5b as to the law, a Pharisee;
Three signs that you are leaning to hard on your learning:
- When you know the Word but you are not a loving person. You have to be growing in love. It is the truest test of your conversion.
- When nothing is minor to you – everything is a war, a fight to the death.
- If you freak when people believe differently
5A). My passion can’t save me but Jesus can. Philippians 6a
6a as to zeal,
6A) How to be saved?
1b) Surrender religious standing. Philippians 3:7-8
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
2b) Submit by faith – to Christ as Savior. Philippians 3:9-11
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
The service was closed by a video titled “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word”










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