Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3 5 8 Assets

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by birth Assets attained by work

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Introduction Ø Salvation as a transaction - Acts 9: 1 -9 Ø Kerdos - gain or profit column Ø Zemia - loss or loss column Ø Jesus describes this transaction Matthew 16: 25, 26 ; 13: 44 -46 Ø Galatians 1: 14

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by birth 1. Circumcised the eighth day ü ü Jew by birth not proselyte Forgotten the meaning of circumcision Salvation not by ritual

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by birth 2. Of the nation of Israel ü God’s chosen people Amos 3: 2 ü Descendant of Abraham, Isaac etc. ü Romans 3 Salvation is not by heritage

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by birth 3. Of the tribe of Benjamin ü Last son born to favorite wife ü Saul first king from this tribe ü Jerusalem given to the tribe Salvation is not by family status

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by birth 4. A Hebrew of Hebrews Family maintained Jewish upbringing ü Language, orthodox training & customs Salvation is not by tradition ü

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by work 1. As to the law, a Pharisee ü Pursued education - Acts 22: 3 ü Devout Jew – Acts 23: 6 ; 26: 5 ü Pharisees - elite, influential, respected Salvation is not by religion

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by work 2. As to zeal, a persecutor of the church ü Zeal was the supreme religious virtue ü Shown in Acts 8: 3 & Acts 9: 1, 2 ü Judaizers proselytized : Paul persecuted Salvation is not by sincerity

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Assets attained by work 3. As to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless ü A model Jew outwardly ü Went above and beyond Salvation is not by legalistic righteousness

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Conclusion Paul anticipates the Judaizers argument of not having confidence in the flesh by giving reasons why he, of all the Jews, has a claim to these seemingly spiritual assets, and yet because of Jesus Christ’s great exchange of salvation they have become mere liabilities in knowing Christ.

Assets or Liabilities Philippians 3: 5 -8 Application What liabilities in your life are you treating as assets? (What do you still need to give to the Lord? ) Have you exchanged all of your assets for those of Christ Jesus. (Is the great transaction complete? )