“What I’ve got against Religion”
(Phil. 3:1-3)
Dr. Richard S. Koole
Chapel Pointe
September 28, 2008
Introduction
A. The cleanest water
1. Zermatt (Tser matt’) Switzerland
A newspaper in Switzerland ran a headline one day that said that an epidemic of typhoid had broken out in Zermatt. It was very acute because the hotel managers had tried to keep it quiet for some time to protect the tourist business. Zermatt is one of those beautiful mountain villages nestled at the foot of the Matterhorn. The road is too steep for cars, and the only entry to the valley is by cog-wheel railroad. Everything is peaceful in the village. It is idyllic. If there was ever Paradise on earth, it is there at Zermatt. But typhoid had broken out, and it was some time before they found out the source of the trouble. The water main passing through the town had a crack in it, and the animal refuse from the fields was dripping into the crack and from there into the main water supply. The typhoid bacillus had bred there and the pipe was contaminated. Now a person who did not understand the nature of disease might say, “But you cannot have any better water than the water that comes from the mountains. That is beautiful water; it comes from the melting glaciers.” Yes, but the pipe that carried it was contaminated by typhoid, and consequently any water that went through it was contaminated also.
2. When religion contaminates the living water of salvation
a. Killing with the supposed cure
b. One of Satan’s favorite strategies
c. Trying to add something to what God has done
3. The damage formal religion has done
a. Even though they may mean well
b. Giving church members a false sense of security
c. Selling false security to the unsaved
1. “Inclusion”
B. Not a new threat
II. Review of Philippians
A. Chapter 2 was beautiful….three heroes
1. Paul (Ph. 2:17 & 18)
2. Timothy (Ph. 2:19-24)
3. Epaphroditus (Ph. 2:25-30)
a. “honor people like him”
B. Chapter 3 “goes ugly early”
1. Paul calls out some religious people
2. Calls them “dogs” and worse
III. Text…Phil. 3
A. Introduction…..v.1
(1) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
1. The theme of the Book of Philippians
a. Rejoice in the Lord…..despite your circumstances
b. Stock market and banks in jeopardy
2. And Paul didn’t mind repeating a warning
a. “It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again”
b. Paul knew the value of repetition
3. It was for their safety
a. “and it is a safeguard for you”
b. Warning your small kids to stay out of the street
1. Kid running in front of my car
c. Paul is about to warn them of a dangerous threat
B. Warns them about some dangerous dogs……v.2
(2) Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
1. We may think of cute little puppies
a. “purse dogs”
1. Guy on the airplane from L.A.
b. Pink ribbons, etc.
2. Not the type of dogs referred to here
a. Dirty rotten scavengers
b. Characteristics
1. Roamed streets in packs
2. They carried rabies
3. Fed on garbage
4. Attacked people
c. Cathy’s dog and my dad
1. “Stay away from Maverick!”
d. The Jews often called the dreaded Gentiles, “dogs”
1. Despised by the Jews
e. Now Paul actually called his fellow Jews, “dogs”
1. The worst possible insult!
a. They thought they were righteous and saved
b. They were so religious
f. He had a couple of other names for them—
1. “Evil Workers”
2. “The Mutilation”
*worse than it sounds
3. Who were these “dogs?”
a. They looked very religious
1. Dress
2. Talk
3. Service
b. Prided themselves in how religious they were
1. How they obeyed a bunch of rules
4. The problem…
a. They believed they had earned salvation because they obeyed a strict set of religious guidelines
1. Judiasm—the foyer to Christianity
2. Had to obey the Old Testament Law
3. Had to become circumcised
c. They were called “Judaizers”
d. Some had actually become church leaders and pastors
1. And they were distorting the doctrine of Grace
2. Paul was publicly calling them out
5. It happens today
a. My conversations with Richard M.
6. They taught that salvation came from Faith and Religion
a. Trying to deserve to be saved
*Key to all false religion
b. Satan’s most cleaver lie
7. Paul had to run them out….painful
8. I had to do the same thing at my previous church
a. Not any fun
b. But absolutely necessary
9. They had “religion” but not “Christ”
10. Choosing between a Religion and a Relationship with Christ
C. With Religion:
1. Religious Heritage will not save you
a. They might say:
1. “Of course I’m a Christian! I was baptized as a baby.”
2. “I was born in a Christian home; I’ve always been a Christian.”
3. “Member of the church”
4. “My grandparents were charter members”
b. Any person who believes they’re okay with God because:
1. Their parents are Christians
2. They were dedicated or baptized as an infant
3. They went to catechism
4. They live in a “Christian Nation”
c. All of the above are not bad things
1. …unless you base your standing with God on them
d. Then your “religious heritage” becomes a pipe that contaminates the living water of Salvation
2. Religious Achievements will not save you
a. They might say:
1. “Of course I’m a good Christian, I go to church every Sunday.”
2. “I read my Bible and pray every day.”
3. “No one is perfect, but I keep the Ten Commandments the best I can.”
4. “I give at least 10 percent of my money to the church.”
5. I’m not as bad as most of my friends
*…but God doesn’t grade on the curve
b. Any person who believes they are okay with God because:
1. they’re not as bad as others
2. they feel they deserve to be saved
3. they believe they’ve earned the right to be saved
4. they remember making a decision when they were a kid
c. Religion is not all bad…a Christian…
1. should try to do good deeds
2. should read his Bible and pray.
3. should give his money to God’s work as he has been prospered.
4. should go to church and learn the word of God and fellowship with other believers.
5. should be baptized to demonstrate to others his conversion experience.
d. But unfortunately many are relying upon these things to get them to heaven.
e. Wanting to do good should be the result…not the cause of salvation
1. Ephesians 2:8-10
(8) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not by works so that no one can boast. (10) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
f. If anybody could boast of his religious pedigree, it was Paul
1. Paul gives his pedigree (Phil. 3:4-6)
(4) though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: (5) 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, (6) as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
2. If good works couldn’t save Paul…they can’t save anybody
g. Churches are filled with religious “almost Christians”
1. Can have all the of the following and not be a true child of God
a. Knowledge about Christ
b. Gifted preacher
c. Hate sin
d. Member of the church
e. Holy lifestyle
f. Teach the Bible
g. Do acts of kindness
h. Willing to suffer
i. Study the Bible
j. Perfect attendance
k. Zealous
l. Believe in God
2. All of the above are good
a. Still an “almost Christian”
b. Key is faith in Christ Jesus
h. Gene Getz (p. 137)
…millions of people today are diligently striving to become worthy of going to heaven. Human effort—doing something to become worthy of heaven—is one characteristic that is true of all non-Christian religions and cults. From Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam to Christian Science, Mormonism, Scientology, and Jehovah’s Witnesses—all have one thing in common: a salvation based primarily on works.
i. Hindu’s attacks on Christians in India
1. Anti-conversion laws
3. Religion can short-circuit Grace
a. In the back of your mind—
1. Works—just to be safe
2. Can’t hurt….hedging your bet
b. Instead of being a super Christian, you are an almost Christian.
1. Works short-circuit grace
c. The Rowboat –
A lady was arguing with her pastor about this matter of faith and works. “I think that getting to heaven is like rowing a boat,” she said. “One oar is faith, and the other is works. If you use both, you get there. If you use only one, you go around in circles.”
“There is only one thing wrong with your illustration,” replied the pastor. “Nobody is going to heaven in a rowboat!”
4. Religious leaders have led multitudes away from the truth
(2) Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
a. “those mutilators of the flesh”……v.2
1. They pushed the need for circumcision
2. Paul says “we are the true circumcision” (v. 3)
3. The play on words
a. Peritemnein—circumcision
b. Katelemnein—castration
4. The evil workers are really the mutilation (castration)
a. Destroying rather than helping
b. Choosing between Religion and a Relationship with Christ
D. With Christ:
1. True believers are compelled to worship God
(3) 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”
a. “The circumcision”…..v.3
1. The “true” circumcision
2. Changed hearts….not physical changes only
b. One evidence is a desire to worship God
1. we who worship by the Spirit of God
c. Worship can only come from the filling of the Holy Spirit
1. And that takes submission
2. Should influence all that you do
3. Should ooze out of you 24-7
4. But especially when “two or three are gathered”
*Sunday morning worship
d. But, worship is not limited to—
1. A specific time
2. A place
3 A manner of dress
4. A liturgy or ritual
5. A tradition
6. A denomination
e. Worship is an all encompassing way of living
1. Worship = “lituro”
2. “To render respectful spiritual service”
3. Jesus is “worthy”
f. Worship is directed up to God
1. It’s not about you or the other people around you
g. Worship happens to the degree you allow the Holy Spirit to fill you
1. Singing a love song to God
2. True believers can’t help but love Jesus
(3) 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”
a. “who glory in Christ Jesus”
1. “To boast with ”
b. The frauds boasted in their own efforts
1. The arrest of California church leader
2. Glory in his efforts
3. Pastors seeking the spotlight
c. “Glory in Christ Jesus”
1. Why?
--He saved your soul
2. Christ—and Christ alone
d. Glory in Christ Jesus
1. So proud of Him
2. Look for reasons to “bring Him up”
3. True believers don’t take credit for their salvation…..v.3
a. “who put no confidence in the flesh”
b. “The flesh”
1. Human efforts and achievements
2. Becoming religious
c. Don’t put confidence in your religious works
1. Rather—in your relationship with Christ
2. What it means to be a “Christian”
a. John 14:5-6
“Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way:’ (6) Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
d. The Jewish Law
1. Incredibly complex
2. Jews believed if you kept the law = salvation
e. (Rom. 3:20)—“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
4. True believers understand how to accept a gift
a. The gift of salvation
b. I don’t have enough in the bank to buy this gift
1. What it cost God
c. I could never deserve the gift
d. But I still need to accept the gift
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