Pressing On

Philippians 3:1-3

 

Introduction: Rejoicing in the Lord.  When we are rejoicing in the Lord and are not dwelling on the all the trials and circumstances of this life we will walk in victory.  Rejoice and be filled with the joy of the Lord.  Walk in victory by rejoicing in the Lord.

 

I.             The Scriptures – Vs 1

A.    Guard yourself by feeding on what is written in the Word.

1.     Paul in the past had written the same before

2.     It was so important that it needed repeating

3.     The Church must do what is being said

B.    The Scriptures written was to help and instruct us to press on.

1.     No one can press on apart from feeding on the Word.

2.     Failure to study and obey the Word:

a.     Will cause one to cave in to the trials of life

b.     Heed to all false teaching

c.     But to obey the Scriptures is to show our love and loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ.

3.     The big ‘IF’

a.     John 14:15, 21, 23, John 15:10

b.     Acts 17:11, 20:32

c.     2Timothy 2:15, 3:16

 

II.          False Teachers – Vs 2  [2Peter 2:2-3]

A.    Guard yourself by watching out for false teachers.

1.     Paul was always facing false teachers.

a.     They were very savage in their attracts against him.

B.    Three groups of false teachers in this verse.

1.     Beware of false teachers who act like dogs.

a.     Both Jews and Gentiles use the term ‘dog’ as a term of contempt.

b.     The term ‘dog’ was the lowest title possible to convey contempt and ridicule.

c.     These were not referring to our present day house pet.

d.     These were vicious scavengers who could be very dangerous.

e.     They roamed the fields and forest by day and the city streets by night.

2.     There are scavengers who seek all whom they can consume with their false teachings.

a.     When anyone stepped forward to defend the sheep and truth:

1.     They snarl and sometimes become vicious and dangerous.

2.     They are ready to attack and destroy him.

3.     Matthew 7:6, 15

4.     2Peter 2:19-22

5.     Revelation 22:15

6.     Psalms 22:16  [Speaking of Jesus]

C.   Two: False teachers who are evil workers.

1.     The world is full of people who work evil things.

a.     Those who hold high positions in our institutions of higher learning, teaching high morals, righteousness, and religion.

1.     But underneath is deception  [Matthew 7:15]

2.     Jesus not being born of a virgin

3.     Jesus not the Son of God

4.     Jesus return and Millennial reign

5.     And the deception goes on and on

b.     Some teaching evil by the way they live and walk.

1.     Talk a good religion while living a base, immoral, indulgent, and extravagant lives.

2.     True religion and immorality does not mix.

c.     The point is this:

1.     They are always opposing the Lord Jesus Christ

2.     Rejects His salvation by grace alone

3.     Do not accept Jesus as the Son of God

4.     Accepts His teachings but deny salvation by the blood

5.     Go about to establish their way to God

6.     Doing what ever feels good

7.     This is merely opposing the truth, they are evil workers

D.   Three:  Beware of false teachers – Judaizers – Vs 3  - Galatians 2:3-5

1.     These were Jews who professed Christ, but held on to their Judaistic religion.

a.     In the rite of circumcision

b.     The law of Moses

2.     They believed a man became a Christian:

a.     By first becoming a Jew

b.     He must embrace Judaism with all its rituals and ceremonies

c.     He must be circumcised

d.     Begin to obey the law of Moses

e.     Then you could become a Christian

3.     Some embraced Christ but could never break from their Judaistic roots

a.     They failed to grasp that Christ was the fulfillment of the law.

b.     Failed to realize that Jesus became the Ideal Man, the Perfect Pattern

c.     That Jesus was the embodiment of God Himself

d.     Christ as the Son of God, to whom all men were to look to and obey.

4.     Some unwilling to accept Christ Jesus as the fulfillment

a.     Could not break away from their legalistic religion

b.     Have to become Jews first, before becoming Christians.

c.     Matthew 5:19-20,  1Timothy 6:3-5

5.     Thought: This is still a battle the church must fight:

a.     Not heed to false teachers

b.     Stand fast to sound doctrine

c.     Proclaim Jesus as our Redeemer and Lord

d.     Only through Him can one be saved

 

Conclusion: Beware of all false teachers.  Be sure of the message they proclaim.  Jesus is still Lord.