How do we break free from self-vindication & live in the Gospel?

How do we break free from self-vindication & live in the Gospel?
Philippians 3:15-21
 
October 21, 2007
 
“15 Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this to you also. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever [truth]* we have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.”
 
“Therefore, all who are mature should think this way.”
•Recognize that the mindset of “self-vindication” hinders the advance of the Gospel
–Keeps us from deeply embracing the Gospel
•The Gospel - God says we are helpless in our sin & desperately need a Savior
•Self-vindication – causes people to fundamentally say they are good people & work very hard to hold up all their good things before God & others
 
“Therefore, all who are mature should think this way.”
•Recognize that the mindset of “self-vindication” hinders the advance of the Gospel
–Keeps us from pursuing others with the Gospel
•The Gospel – motivates us to pursue others for their good with grace & truth
•Self-vindication - people become competitors & prizes
 
“Therefore, all who are mature should think this way.”
•Recognize that the mindset of “self-vindication” hinders the advance of the Gospel
•Respond by…
–Forgetting self-vindication
•“forget what lies behind”
–Pursuing others with the Gospel
•“reach forward to the opposition before me”
 
How do we break free?
•Invite God to redefine Christian maturity
•“if in anything you have a different attitude (than the mature attitude), God will reveal that also to you.” (vs. 15b)
•Maturity?
–Remembering life is found in knowing Christ
–The depth to which we have experienced & are practically living in the grace of God
•Invite others to influence our lives
•“Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.” (vs. 17)
•Be aware of the allure of the opposition
–“For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things.” (vs. 18-19)
•Opposition in Philippians:
–To Paul at Rome from believers (1:15-17)
–To the Philippian believers from those outside the church (1:27-28)
–To Paul by those outside the church at Rome (1:30)
–To Paul by believers in general (2:21)
–Jews or Judaizers impacting the church (3:2-3)
–Non-believers in general (3:18-19)
•Opposition for us?:
–“The world”
•Every strategy is anchored in self-vindication
–“The flesh”
•Aggieville flesh
•Religious flesh
•Our past
–“The Devil”
•Stir up an awareness & expectation of heaven
–“but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition (humiliation) into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.” (vs. 18-19)
•Invite God to redefine Christian maturity
•Invite others to influence our lives
•Be aware of the allure of the opposition
•Stir up an awareness & expectation of heaven
 
Remember growth is a process, not a formula…it is intentional, not accidental.