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Text: Philippians 3:1-9

Brian continues to share the message of Philippians, at vv. 3:1-9

Prepare

Questions to Consider:

1. In verse 1, what is Paul's main command? How is your joy in the Lord? Does Paul assume that this joy will have obstacles it must overcome? Given the verses that follow, what's the obstacle present here? Paul exhibits a patient will to secure their joy in Jesus. Is this our will also? Are we so patient? Is the joy of others in Jesus a big enough deal that we feel the need to secure it in the first place? How might we better secure it in ourselves and others?
2. In verses 2-3, Paul begins his attempt at securing their joy in Jesus. What's his emphasis in these verses? If you could summarize what distinguishes real Christians from false professors and teachers, what summary would you give? If you could give that summary a collective heart, would it be glorying in Christ Jesus alone?
3. In verses 4-6, Paul moves to underscore why we glory in Christ Jesus alone. For the sake of argument, he offers a list of his 'credentials' as an unbelieving man that, we'd suppose, would suffice to earn God's eternal favor and acceptance. How do people repackage these credentials today? As a Christian, do you sometimes find yourself returning to a works-based version of salvation? How does that hinder, even nullify joy in Jesus?
4. In verses 7-9a, Paul turns 'his righteousness' on it's head—he counts it as loss for the sake of gaining Christ. How did that come about (consider Acts 9:3-9; also Gal 3:10-14 and 6:12-15)? We often talk about repenting of sin, but have we perceived that, perhaps, the greatest sin we need to repent of in coming to faith in Christ is that of trusting in our own righteousness as meriting eternal life with God? In the glory of the risen Jesus, God's standard of righteousness for Heaven, what becomes of 'our righteousness'? Consider Isaiah 64:6.
5. In verse 9b, Paul completes his thought to this point. What's the benefit he gives as grounds for glorying in Christ? Can we, as sinners, be justified by keeping the Law of God? When grace opened his eyes, what did Paul see about *God's way of being righteous in His sight? God demands, not just a sinlessness, but a righteousness that pleases Him—and here, Paul says, God Himself gives that! How? In Whom? Job asks, 'how can a man be in the right before God?' What does the Gospel answer to that most important question? When we hear about the justifying grace that comes by way of faith in Jesus, do we let that enflame our hearts with joy in Jesus?