Sunday, May 2, 2010
THE ATTITUDE OF TRUE BELIEVERS
Phil. 3:3
Last week we looked at Paul’s stern warning against the false teachers. Watch out for the dogs; watch out for the false teachers; watch out for the concision (the mutilation). He was concerned that the Philippians would fall for their lie, which said that even Gentile Christians must be circumcised and put themselves under the Jewish law.
We noted the interesting translation of the New American Standard Version: “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.” While that is not a literal translation, its strength is in the fact that it brings out the contrast between the false religion of the Judaizers, the evil workers, and the true religion described in verse 3.
Do you notice that we often find ourselves coming back to this issue of the false religion and the true, the false Christianity and the true Christianity? At first, you might think it is just the pet peeve of the pastor, but that is not the case. Whether you believe it or not, I do not get great pleasure out of dealing with the false and the counterfeit. Brothers and sisters, this is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus confronted it and so did his apostles, even as Paul does here. Let’s be reminded by the words of Paul in II Tim. 3:1-4… (ESV)
1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
We read that and we might think Paul has in mind pagan atheists, but we haven’t finished the passage. Without a pause, Paul continues in verse 5, “Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” These proud, arrogant lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure have an appearance of godliness. They claim to be Christians. Are they? Surely not, because Paul warns God’s people at the end of verse 5, “Avoid such people.” It is such people who will hear Jesus say in the last day, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness” (Matt. 7:23).
Last week we looked at a form of false religion, that age-old heresy which says that man must work to earn his salvation, that teaching that says Jesus’ death and resurrection are necessary, but they are not sufficient. Trust Jesus, yes, but you must also work hard to gain God’s acceptance. Praise God that Jesus’ death and resurrection are sufficient. I can’t earn God’s favor, but I don’t have to, because the Lord Jesus made the way for me. He who lived the perfect life that completely pleased the Father went to the cross and died in my place. He took God’s wrath on Himself (I John 4:10)so that I might be accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6). He who knew no sin became sin for me, that I might be made the righteousness of God in Him (II Cor. 5:21).
Here’s the question: Do we have the real thing? Do you have the real thing? Have you been made the righteousness of God in Christ, or do you just have an appearance of godliness? Who can deny that this is the great question with which we must grapple? That is why Paul says in II Cor. 13:5 (ESV), “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.”
So how do you know that you have the real thing, the very life of Christ? Some time ago we spent some time in I John, because the author of that letter says plainly, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” (I John 5:13). I John contains a series of tests to help us know that we do indeed believe on the Son of God and have eternal life. Do you believe on the Christ who came in the flesh? Do you love the brothers? Do you obey God’s Word?
There is certainly nothing wrong with going to the tests of live that are in I John. However, it is still possible for us to fool ourselves. Praise God that His Word comes to us and treats this great question about assurance of eternal life from various angles. This morning, as we come to Phil. 3:3, we are going to look at a different kind of test. “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” So how is this test different from the tests of I John? Rather than looking primarily at the outward, observable actions, this test examines the inward attitude. Rather than focusing on the deed I perform, now I must look deep inside where no one else except the Lord Himself can see. This test is valuable because outward actions can deceive us. Remember that the false professors of Matt. 7 will be able to say, “Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many wonderful works?” Now we come to a test that forces us to look down to the depths of where we really live.
But can’t we be deceived in this area as well? We certainly can. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit has seen fit to urge us to explore the depths of our heart, to cry out to God, “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24).
Look again at the NASV rendering of Phil. 3:2-3, “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision, for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.” The word “true” is in italics, but that is certainly the idea that Paul has in mind. We are the true people of God. We are the true Christians, we who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. Let’s look at these characteristics one at a time.
I. Worship God in the Spirit
First of all, I must note that there is a textual difference at this point. Most of your translations will read more like this: “who worship in/by/through the Spirit of God.” The Amplified finds a way to include both translations. For those of you who have done some study of textual issues, this is one of the places where the Received Text does not follow the majority. There is very good reason to favor “who worship in the Spirit of God.” However, the ultimate difference is rather minor. In either case, God is the one who is worshiped and the Spirit spoken of is the Spirit of God.
Let me emphasize once again this contrast between the false circumcision and the true circumcision. The Judaizers, that group of false teachers against which Paul has been warning, would claim that they were the ones who truly worshiped God. How could an uncircumcised man ever truly worship God? But now Paul says emphatically, “We are the (true) circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit.” There is a grammatical emphasis on “we;” it is “we ourselves.” The Judaziers’ thinking was upside down. They weren’t the ones who were truly worshiping God. Rather, it was Paul and all those who had put their trust wholly in Jesus Christ.
While the Judaizers focused on the externals, as symbolized by circumcision, Paul puts the emphasis on the spiritual, the inward. Paul’s claim was not in following outward forms of worship. Rather, he boldly states, “We worship God in the Spirit,” or “We worship in the Spirit of God.” Surely Paul was taking his cues from the Lord Jesus Himself. Where is the classic text where Jesus speaks about worship? Yes, in John 4, as He was dealing with the woman at the well. After Jesus revealed the secrets of her private life, she said, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.” Now let’s pick the story up and read John 4:20-24…
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We could spend weeks on this idea of worshiping in spirit and truth. Even then, there is more here than we can get hold of. This is something which we will continue to better understand until we meet the Lord. However, the basic concept is not difficult to grasp. The Samaritan woman was focusing on the place of worship -- whether in the mountain of Samaria or in Jerusalem. Her question regarded the externals. When Jesus answered, He made it clear that the externals are of little importance. Jesus focused on who we worship and how we worship, not where and when. The Samaritans didn’t really know what they worshiped, while the Jews knew what they worshiped, because salvation is of the Jews. What a loaded statement. Salvation was of the Jews. Ultimately that is true because Jesus was a Jew, and He is salvation. His very name “Jesus” means “salvation,” or “The Lord saves.” All true worship is ultimately centered in Jesus.
Then Jesus said, “The time is coming and even now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship him.” God’s children do not worship Him in the realm of externals such as certain times and places; they worship in spirit and in truth. Such worship cannot be confined to a mountain or even to the holy city. About 40 years after Jesus spoke these words, the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed. This was the place where God had commanded His people to worship. Neverthless, the hour had dawned in which worship would no longer be centered in the Jerusalem temple. Rather, it would be centered in the One who said, “Destroy this body, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).
Question: What about the word “spirit”? Does this refer to an attitude? Or, does it refer to the Holy Spirit? In other words, is Jesus saying that we must worship God in a spiritual matter, not in the external forms? I believe He is certainly saying that. But is He saying more? Is He also saying that our worship of God is initiated and empowered by the Spirit of God? I believe there are reasons that point to that truth. While Jesus will not speak about the Spirit in depth until we come to chapter 14, He has just spoken about being born of the Spirit in chapter 3, an unmistakable reference to the Holy Spirit. Notice also that in verse 23 Jesus speaks of the true worshipers worshiping the Father. He doesn’t speak generically of worshiping God, but of worshiping the Father. How does God become our Father? It happens when we are born again, when we are born of the Spirit (John 3:6). Remember what Paul says in Gal. 4:6, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." When we cry out to God as our Father, it is the work of the Spirit. Add to that the fact that the great majority of texts in Phil. 3:3 literally read, “For we are the circumcision which worship in the Spirit of God.”
Brothers and sisters, our worship goes beyond human ability. It is worship that is true and genuine because it is generated by the Spirit of God. Remember when we were going through Genesis and we came to the flood. What a catastrophe that was for all but eight people on the earth. But what did God give those eight people when they came out of the ark? He gave them a promise, assuring them that He would never again destroy the earth with a flood. Young people, what did He give them which would remind them of that promise again and again? Yes, the rainbow. Do you remember us talking about that? I suggested that we allow God to remind us of the significance of that rainbow every time we see it. Does not the Spirit of God put within us an urge to worship our God when we see the reminder of His promise? The other night I saw the full moon just peeking up over the mountains. I found myself saying, “I worship you, O Lord.” That moon is not just a sphere that orbits around the sun. It is the special creation of God. We see it and we think, “When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have ordained; What is man, that you are mindful of him? Or the son of man, that you visit him?” (Ps. 8:3-4).
We are the true children of God who worship God in the Spirit, who worship by the Spirit of God. There is something about our worship that cannot be programmed. Oh yes, we gather to worship with other saints, but that is only the overflow of a life of worship empowered by God’s Spirit. Are you tasting that? That is a mark of your sonship.
I must tell you that the word translated “worship” is not the usual word for “worship.” It is not the word that Jesus used in John 4. Jesus used the common word, which means “to kiss toward.” Paul uses a different word, that word (latreuw) which is sometimes translated “worship” and sometimes translated “service” (even as we find translations differing on that word in Rom. 12:2). We find both of these words in Mat 4:10 "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship (proskunew) the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve (latreuw)." There is a parallelism here, though the words are not synonymous. I believe Paul used this word instead of the normal word for “worship” in order to make it clear that he is talking about something that goes beyond normal worship. There is a sense in which everything the believer does in an act of worship. Remember what Paul says in 1 Cor 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." This is worship that permeates all of life. It can’t be programmed; it rises up from within, energized by the Spirit of God.
Do you see how different this is from what the Judaizers were promoting. They wanted to make sure that all the externals were in order, that every “i” was dotted and every “t” was crossed. The outward mark of circumcision had to be in place. Make sure you don’t eat the wrong thing. Make sure you don’t walk too far on the Sabbath. Assemble at the proper time and place. Paul says, “The mark of God’s people is that they worship in spirit and in truth. They worship by the Spirit of God.”
II. Rejoice in Christ Jesus
“For we are the circumcision which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus…” The second characteristic of the true Christian is that he rejoices in Christ Jesus.
The first thing we need to do is examine that word “rejoice.” In the New Testament, there are four distinct Greek words that are rendered “rejoice” in our English versions (at least in the KJV). Their meaning is similar, but they carry different shades of meaning. This particular word (kaucaomai) is used almost exclusively by Paul (35 times by Paul; twice by James). It is variously translated “rejoice, joy, glory, and boast.” It carries the idea of boasting. This may be in a negative sense or in a positive sense. Paul says in Rom. 4:2, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." If Abraham had boasted, it would have been improper. Perhaps the best way to bring out this negative and positive sense is to look at the contrast in Gal. 6:13-14, "For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." The Judiazers boasted in the fact that they were able to force their brand of outward religion on others; Paul boasted only in the cross of Christ. That is, he greatly rejoiced in the cross; the cross was the thing that was most valuable to him; he found more joy there than anywhere else.
Let’s look at some other places where Paul uses this word. Rom. 5:2-3,11… "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience… 11. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." You will notice that the same Greek word is translated three different ways (rejoice, glory, joy) in this one passage (a weakness of the KJV, I believe). When Paul thought of the hope he had in sharing God’s glory, he gloried; he boasted. And because of the way God used tribulations to mold his character in anticipation of that glory, he was able to glory and boast in those tribulations with great joy. Yes, he gloried in God Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 1:17-31 is that great passage where Paul boasts in Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. After emphasizing the fact that God has chosen the foolish, the weak, and the base to be His children, Paul then says in 1:29, “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” This is the reason for God’s choosing the foolish and the weak, so that no human being could ever have pride in himself in God’s presence. No Christian can ever think that God chose him because of anything in himself. Verse 31, “He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.” All boasting in human accomplishment is condemned, but there is a legitimate boasting, and that is when we boast in the Lord. We rejoice in Him, we glory in Him, we praise Him because He and He alone is worthy. There is nothing that can compare with our Lord. He is gold, and everything else is trash. As Paul put it later right here in Phil, 3:7-8, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." As we will see later, “what things” refers to all of his own accomplishments. He can’t boast in any of that; he can only boast in the Lord.
In short, this term speaks of a glorying, a boasting that is based on the great value of that thing which is the source of the boasting. Paul glories in the Lord Jesus and those things closely associated with Him. Therefore, he glories in the cross by which Jesus accomplished His salvation. He will even glory in tribulation, which God is using to make him like his beloved Lord Jesus.
This is another mark of the true Christian. We’re not really talking so much about outward behavior. This is a glorying that wells up on the inside. Without conscious effort, there is a deep knowledge within that Christ is everything to us. Ultimately, nothing else matters. Yes, you may jump up and down because your kid scored a goal at the soccer game, but there is never any comparison with your boasting in Christ. You wouldn’t give one glimpse of your Savior for a million experiences like that.
Remember the words of David in Ps. 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.” For a time David had forgotten what was most valuable to him. He experienced a type of spiritual amnesia, but it couldn’t last forever. His gracious God convicted him of sin and disciplined him only as a loving Father could. When he came to his senses again, David cried out for a restoration of joy in the Lord. He wasn’t looking for an outward experience which could be seen by those around him. He longed for that supreme glorying that he found in his God.
Have you ever noticed that this boasting, this glorying, in the Lord Jesus is not hindered by adverse circumstances? If it is, you have every reason to question its reality. Remember that Paul wrote these words from prison. Stephen knew this attitude, even as they were stoning him to death. Just this past week I was talking to an older brother who spent some extended time in the hospital. There was real question about whether he would live or not. During that time, he asked God, “Why me?” But it’s not what you’re thinking. My brother said that the whole experience was a precious time with the Lord. The medical people thought he was doing terribly, but he said he felt great. He asked the Lord, “Why did you pick me to go through such a precious experience with you?” It was Christ who was valuable to him and he gloried in Him.
III. Put No Confidence in the Flesh
Now we come to the third attitude that characterizes the true believer. He will put no confidence in the flesh. But what is the flesh? In the scripture, the context will determine the meaning of this word. Paul is not talking about the physical skin and bone we can see with these eyes. Here “the flesh” speaks of our own ability apart from Christ. It is still possible for the Christian to trust his own ability, but the true Christian cannot settle into that way of life. His Lord won’t let him do that. Why would we want to trust our own ability, when we have the Spirit of the living God dwelling within us?
As we will explore in much more depth later in this chapter, humanly speaking Paul had much in which he might trust. As he puts it, “If any other man has reason to trust in the flesh, I have more reason.” Then he reminds his readers that he was an Hebrew of the Hebrews, even a Pharisee. He zealously kept God’s law. Nevertheless, Paul had learned not to trust his own ability. Such self-trust can only lead to destruction.
Let’s go back to the Old Testament and read Jer. 17:5-8…
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
There is a curse on the person who trusts himself, who puts his confidence in his own ability. Likewise, the one who trusts the Lord is greatly blessed. And we who live on this side of the cross have even more reason to trust God, for we have seen what He did in His Son.
We won’t talk any more this morning about trusting the flesh, because Paul is going to continue with this theme in the following verses. Suffice it to say that the true believer consistently refuses to put confidence in his own abilities.
Conclusion
We have talked about these three attitudes that characterize the true believer. We worship by the Spirit of God, we glory in Christ Jesus, and we have no confidence in the flesh. We have looked at each one separately, but you can’t really separate them. Where you find one, you find all three. Think about it. When you truly worship God in the Spirit, do you not rejoice in the Lord Jesus? And when you are so worshiping God and glorying in Christ Jesus, do you put any confidence in the flesh? Absolutely not.
When we really take time to meditate on the truth of this verse, we begin to see. How could a true believer have any other attitude than what we find here? God looked at us and saw us as slaves to sin. He saw us as having no hope and without God in the world (Eph. 2:12). Knowing there was not a thing we could do for ourselves, He sent His own precious Son into this world. The Father didn’t send Jesus with a bullet-proof spiritual vest to protect Him from all hurt. He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Is. 53:3). He was tempted in every way that we are tempted (Heb. 4:15). We know the terrible opposition He faced, because we have read it in the gospel accounts of the New Testament.
So why would God do such a thing? Why would He send His own Son to face such a cruel life and agonizing death? And why would Jesus be willing to come to this world? Didn’t He know that would happen? 1 John 4:9-10, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God sent His Son to be my wrath-removing sacrifice. Jesus took my place at the cross, bearing the wrath of God in my place. It was truly the Great Exchange -- He took my sin and gave me His life. And now through the Holy Spirit He lives within me. I am His and He is mine.
In light of those truths, how can we do anything but worship Him? How can it be otherwise than that Spirit-empowered worship of Almighty God would rise up within us? What could keep us from glorying in a God who has rescued us from slavery and made us His own child? How could we ever find anything which could compare in value to our Lord Jesus Christ? How could we glory in anything except Jesus and His death for us? And concerning putting confidence in the flesh, how could we ever be so foolish? Why would a child of this Almighty, loving God ever turn to his own puny resources?
Father, we worship you. Lord Jesus, we glory in you. O God of all sufficiency, we trust you!
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