A Line in the Sand

Phil 3:17-4:1

 

 

 

The Church, nearly from it’s inception, has struggled with groups who go too far.  Some make demands that God has never made and others teach a theology of “everyone’s fine”.  Neither are right and both need to be opposed.

 

There are those same groups working in our tradition even today.  I was recently at a preacher’s workshop and sat there in stunned disbelief as one of the Bible teachers from one of our most highly respected colleges tried to convince us that Baptism, while good isn’t necessary for salvation.  Christians can be seen by how good their lives are and that’s all God ever wanted.

 

On the other hand, in a recent magazine, they had several articles about how clapping was instrumental worship and that you had to give every Sunday or you were sinning.  They made the point that those on Social Security were wrong if they gave it all on the first Sunday of the month, they had to divide their giving up and give every week.

 

Paul, in our text deals with how to handle people like that and also about Christians who put their desires above scripture.  His words against them were very strong.  There is only so much a church can allow.  Then they are expected to draw that proverbial line in the sand and say, “this stops here and now.”

 

PRAYER

 

I.       Pressing Toward The Goal

A.   God gives us room to grow

1.                 One of the most common issues I deal with as a minister are Christians who feel they have failed and will never be good enough for God to really save them.

a)                In a recent conversation, a newer Christian asked if he will still be able to go to heaven because no matter how hard he tries, he keeps committing one sin or another.

b)                This man is typical of so many who don’t understand God’s grace.

2.                 Look at what Paul has to say about this.

a)                READ vs 13-14

b)                Did you catch it?  Paul the great apostle wasn’t doing Christianity perfectly!

c)                 He sometimes sinned.  He sometimes failed.  He sometimes got it right!

d)                but he understood grace.  Even though he couldn’t live perfectly, God perfected him through the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ for his sins.

B.   Our response to Grace

1.                 Look again at our text.

2.                 Paul says “forgetting what is behind and straining for what is ahead, I press on towards the goal.”

3.                 In other words I know I’ve sinned and I want to be in heaven so bad, so I keep trying to live right even though I fail.

4.                 In case they missed the point Paul reiterates it in vs 16

a)                This isn’t cheap grace.

b)                It isn’t live as you want, you’re covered.

c)                 Many Christians look at salvation as an event rather than a journey.

d)                I was baptized, so now I do whatever I want.

e)                 Paul tells them in vs. 16, “only let us live up to what we have already attained.”

f)                  We’ve got grace, but live a life worthy of that grace.

5.                 I received an email this week from a man in N. Carolina who asked about how we viewed baptism.  He wanted to know if we believed that anyone who was baptized was without a doubt saved, even if their was no fruit of salvation.  I responded to him that God knows the heart.  He is the one that does the saving.  We can only take people at face value of the fruit they show.  There are many who got wet, but were never saved.

II.    The Line in the Sand

A.   We must stand for what is right

1.                 Paul moves on to a side discussion about grace.

2.                 He tells them that grace covers those seeking to do right not those who willfully rebel against him.

3.                 Someone once said, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

4.                 That is so true.  We need to be standing firm in the Truth.

B.   Losing grace

1.                 Paul is talking to Christians about Christians who have lost the grace of God.

2.                 Notice who falls into this category in verses 17-19

a)                People who do not live according to the pattern given by the apostles.

(1)              There are teachings of the scripture that are open for debate, and then there are teaching in which there is no debating.
(2)              When people add to what God says we need to do to be Christians to take away from what God says we need to do to become Christians, they are not living according to the pattern.

b)                People who live for themselves and their own desires.

(1)              When my desires come in conflict with God’s teachings and I don’t change, I am not living in the pattern God has set for us.
(2)              When I am more worried about my happiness than pleasing God.  I am not living in the pattern God has set for us.

c)                 People who are focused on earthly things rather than heavenly things.

(1)              When earthly treasures are more important that heavenly treasures, I am not living in that  pattern.
(2)              When I am focused on how my money can serve me rather than how can I serve God with my money, I have strayed from the pattern.
(3)              Many of you have heard of Napoleon Dzombe from Malawi. He has become a very wealthy man in his country.  Today he is almost bankrupt.  Why?  Not because of poor business decisions, but because he has used his entire wealth to feed the poor in his area and build a hospital to given them medical attention they would never have received otherwise.  He knows where his true wealth is.

3.                 What does Paul call these fallen Christians?  Enemies of the cross!  That is a strong rebuke!

C.   Our response to sin

1.                 Just as we are expected to respond to grace, we are also expected to respond to sin.

2.                 Sin should grieve us.

a)                Even as Paul calls these people enemies of the cross, it was done with tears.

b)                He doesn’t want to label them in such a way, but has no recourse left to him.

3.                 Stand firm

a)                Stay focused on God’s will for you and the church.

b)                Remember where your citizenship is.

(1)              In our patriotic times, it’s easy to feel allegiance to our country or a political party.
(2)              But in the end, those affiliations don’t matter.
(3)              God is not American, he is not Republican, He isn’t white.
(4)              Our citizenship is in Heaven.  All others are secondary.

c)                 Remember what God has done for you.

d)                Stand firm in the Lord

(1)              If your actions or teachings are against biblical patterns, you are not standing firm in the Lord.
(2)              If you are not standing firm in the Lord, you are in danger of Hell.
(3)              God’s grace covers the Christian pressing towards the Goal, but won’t cover the Christian pulling away from Lord.

D.   Are you pressing on or pulling away?