What Jesus

Means To MePart 2 –

Jesus Christ, My

Sufficiency

Life’s UncertaintiesLife’s Uncertainties

ED WELCHED WELCH

“I wantsies…”

Sufficiency, What Is It?Sufficiency, What Is It?

CapabilityCapabilityAdequacAdequacyy

CompetencCompetencee

SuitabilitySuitability(Resource(Resource

s)s)(Appropriate(Appropriate

))(Skill(Skill

))(Power(Power

))

Big IdeaBig Idea

Jesus Christ alone is the Jesus Christ alone is the allall--sufficient sufficient one who will invade the deepest one who will invade the deepest recesses of the human heart, and recesses of the human heart, and literally take up residence within our literally take up residence within our very selves. Jesus Christ is the one very selves. Jesus Christ is the one who turns us from the emptiness and who turns us from the emptiness and destruction of sin towards abundant destruction of sin towards abundant life found only in Him and His life found only in Him and His righteousness. He then becomes righteousness. He then becomes what we most long for, and through what we most long for, and through His divine presence and power, he, His divine presence and power, he, “…has granted to us everything “…has granted to us everything pertaining to pertaining to lifelife and and godlinessgodliness…” (2 …” (2 Peter 1:3). Peter 1:3).

Who are the Philippians?Who are the Philippians?Paul’s Visit to Philippi

1.1. Paul’s “Macedonian Call” (Acts Paul’s “Macedonian Call” (Acts 16:6-10) which was a vision from 16:6-10) which was a vision from God where a man from that God where a man from that town begged Paul to come help town begged Paul to come help them, that call led to his ministry them, that call led to his ministry in Philippi with the conversion of in Philippi with the conversion of Lydia and others. Philippi was Lydia and others. Philippi was the first place in Europe to hear the first place in Europe to hear the gospel.the gospel.

2. Paul casts out demons in a slave girl and he and Silas end up in prison which led to the conversion of the jailor.

Why the Epistle?Why the Epistle? The Philippians, when they The Philippians, when they

heard of Paul’s Roman heard of Paul’s Roman imprisonment, sent imprisonment, sent Epaphroditus with financial Epaphroditus with financial help, and did so on at least help, and did so on at least two other occasions (4:16)two other occasions (4:16)

Paul writes this letter while Paul writes this letter while under house arrest in Rome as under house arrest in Rome as a thank-you note to the a thank-you note to the believers at Philippi for their believers at Philippi for their help in his hour of needhelp in his hour of need

Paul also uses the occasion to Paul also uses the occasion to send along some instruction send along some instruction on Christian unityon Christian unity

Theme: “Only in Christ is real unity and joy possible”

True Sufficiency is True Sufficiency is not not Self-SufficiencySelf-Sufficiency

Philippians 3:1-9Philippians 3:1-9

Philippians 3:1 NIVPhilippians 3:1 NIV

““Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”a safeguard for you.”

Calmly Happy

“not to trip up”

1:18 “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,”

2:17 “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

4:10 “I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.”

Philippians 3:2-4 NIVPhilippians 3:2-4 NIV

““Watch out for those dogs, those men Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the fleshand who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for — though I myself have reasons for such confidence.”such confidence.”

Judaizers Professing Jewish believers who taught that salvation is through Christ blood, along with the keeping the law, namely, circumcision. They would take pride in the fact that they would “proselyte” many believing Gentiles into their Judaic form of Christianity that included the keeping of their Jewish ceremonial laws, and therefore became a perversion of the true gospel.

Philippians 3:5-6 NIVPhilippians 3:5-6 NIV

““If anyone else thinks he has reasons If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.”legalistic righteousness, faultless.” If pleasing God is something that we do by becoming a “self made man”, then Paul could boast more then anyone!

Philippians 3:7-9 NIVPhilippians 3:7-9 NIV

““But whatever was to my profit I now But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”by faith.”

Accounting EquationAssets = Liabilities + Net Worth

My Accounting EquationNet Worth = Assets - Liabilities

TimelinePaul’s Assets

Paul’s Liabilities

Paul’s Net Worth

Before Knowing

Christ

Paul’s Good Deeds

God’s LawSelf-

Righteousness

Confronted with Christ

Paul’s Good Deeds

God’s Perfection Dung

After Knowing

ChristChrist’s Good

Deeds

God’s Perfection

Christ’s Righteousness

Christians should be the most confident, energized people on the planet because we recognize that our true net worth is based on the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, accessed through faith, untouched by market volatility, and insured by the eternal God Himself!

Philippians 3:7-9 NIVPhilippians 3:7-9 NIV

True Sufficiency True Sufficiency is realized is realized

through through KnowingKnowing ChristChrist

Philippians 3:10-11Philippians 3:10-11

Philippians 3:10-11 NIVPhilippians 3:10-11 NIV

““I want to know Christ and the power I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”from the dead.”

Two Greek verbs for knowing:Two Greek verbs for knowing: OidaOida: to know : to know fullyfully GinoskoGinosko: to know : to know experientiallyexperientially

“If you really knew [ginosko] me, you would know [oida] my Father as well. From now on, you do know [ginosko] him and have seen him.”” (John 14:7 NIV)

This word “ginosko” is open, vulnerable and intimate; it wants to learn, identify, and experience, every aspect of the other, and is so intimate and personal that it is used to identify the sexual relationship between husband and wife.

Philippians 3:10-11 NIVPhilippians 3:10-11 NIV

““I want to know Christ and the power I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”from the dead.”

dunamis – inherent power; power that is not derived but is native

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”” (1Corinthians 15:51-55 NIV)

Philippians 3:10-11 NIVPhilippians 3:10-11 NIV

““I want to know Christ and the power I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”from the dead.”

koinonia – to share in common summorphizo (sun: with;

morphe: a form) – to make of like form with a person or thing

Philippians 3:10-11 NIVPhilippians 3:10-11 NIV

We cannot intimately know Christ We cannot intimately know Christ without coming face to face with our without coming face to face with our sinsin and what it did to Christ! and what it did to Christ!

““God made him who had no sin to be God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”become the righteousness of God.” (2Corinthians 5:21 NIV)(2Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

The just, Jesus Christ, exchanged His The just, Jesus Christ, exchanged His righteousnessrighteousness for the for the sinsin of the unjust. of the unjust.

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” (Romans 6:11-13 NIV)

True Sufficiency is True Sufficiency is attained through attained through

diligentdiligent consistencyconsistency

Philippians 3:12-14Philippians 3:12-14

Philippians 3:12-14 NIVPhilippians 3:12-14 NIV

““Not that I have already obtained all this, or Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”Jesus.”

The outcome of the entire good work that Christ is doing in us is certain!

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

Reaching HeavenwardReaching Heavenward

The process of reaching the The process of reaching the heavenward calling in Christ Jesus heavenward calling in Christ Jesus is seen as doing “is seen as doing “oneone thingthing” which ” which as the apostle tells us is to as the apostle tells us is to forgetforget, , strainstrain forwardforward,, and and movemove onon..

Forget What?Forget What? Our Our failuresfailures Our Our successessuccesses

epekteino (middle voice) – signifying to stretch one self beyond the norm

Reaching HeavenwardReaching Heavenward

There is no such There is no such thing as spiritual thing as spiritual retirementretirement in the in the word of God. If we word of God. If we are still alive, we are still alive, we are to still press are to still press on!on!

Reaching HeavenwardReaching Heavenward

When Paul says,When Paul says, I I press on toward the press on toward the goal, goal, he uses the he uses the word picture of a word picture of a hunter stalking his hunter stalking his prey and is focused prey and is focused and undistracted, and undistracted, listening, watching, listening, watching, and always and always movingmoving forwardforward..

True Sufficiency True Sufficiency is is EternalEternal

Philippians 3:20-21Philippians 3:20-21

Philippians 3:20-21 NIVPhilippians 3:20-21 NIV

““But our citizenship is in heaven. And But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”will be like his glorious body.”

One Final WordOne Final Word

““I was young and now I am old, yet I have I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” children begging bread.” (Psalms 37:25 NIV)(Psalms 37:25 NIV)

““But seek first his kingdom and his But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV)(Matthew 6:33 NIV)

““And my God will meet all your needs And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NIV)(Philippians 4:19 NIV)

One Final WordOne Final Word

This is what we are striving, stretching This is what we are striving, stretching and pressing for; this is the ultimate and pressing for; this is the ultimate sufficiency of our existence. Only in sufficiency of our existence. Only in Jesus Christ is the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is the knowledge of who we are and what we need truly we are and what we need truly evident!evident!