Philippians: The Arm of Flesh WILL Fail
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. WILL MY RELIGIOUS PRACTICES GIVE ME ETERNAL LIFE?
Philippians 3:5 “circumcised the eighth day . . . a Pharisee”
A. FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
1. Man’s View of Religion
2. God’s View of Religion
(also James 1:270)
3. Paul’s View of Religion
B. FROM THE NEGATIVE REALITY
1. Jesus Countered these Religious Rules
(also Matthew 15:16-20)
2. Paul reminds us
(also Titus 3:5’ Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:21)
THEREFORE, my RELIGIOUS PRACTICES will not gain me eternal life
II. WILL MY RACIAL HERITAGE GIVE ME ETERNAL LIFE?
Philippians 3:5 “of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews”
A. FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
1. Pride in Different ethnic nationalities
(also Acts 17:26)
2. Gain Favor by being a Minority?
B. FROM THE NEGATIVE REALITY
1. Of a Special PEOPLE
2. Of a Special LINE
3. Of a Special FAMILY
THEREFORE, my RACIAL HERITAGE will not gain me eternal life
III. WILL MY RIGOROUS EDUCATION GIVE ME ETERNAL LIFE?
Philippians 3:5 “according to Torah, a Pharisee”
A. FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
1. Ignorance and Superstition are No Advantage!
2. Education is not the Final Answer
B. FROM THE NEGATIVE REALITY
1. Paul claimed a Ph.D.
2. Education is not the Panacea for Mankind
3. Error of the Church Today
(also I Corinthians 1:17-25)
THEREFORE, my RIGOROUS EDUCATION will not gain me eternal life
IV. WILL MY RELENTLESS ZEAL GIVE ME ETERNAL LIFE?
Philippians 3:6 “concerning zeal, persecuting the church”
A. FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
1. Cult of “Doing Something”
2. I like to Hang Around Active, Energetic People
(also Ecc 9:10; Jer 48:10)
B. FROM THE NEGATIVE REALITY
1. Zeal, though sincere is NOT ENOUGH
2. Works cannot bring us One Step closer to Heaven!
(also Romans 10:1-2)
THEREFORE, my RELENTLESS ZEAL will not gain me eternal life
V. WILL MY RENOWNED FAULTLESSNESS GIVE ME ETERNAL LIFE?
Philippians 3:6 “according to the righteousness which is in Torah, having become blameless”
A. FROM A POSITIVE PERSPECTIVE
1. Blameless Living is Commendable
2. Moral Code of the OT Law
(also Lk 18:18-23)
B. FROM THE NEGATIVE REALITY
1. But is this Possible?
(also Romans 3:9ff; Jer 13:23)
2. Seeking Blamelessness
THEREFORE, my RENOWNED FAULTLESSNESS will not gain me eternal life