Philippians 3:4-7 “The Arm of Flesh WILL Fail”

Philippians 3:4-7 “The Arm of Flesh WILL Fail”

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