Religion confuses sanctification Religion confuses sanctification with justificationwith justification

Judaizers are Judaizers are “dogs”“dogs”

Works-righteousness is Works-righteousness is “dung”“dung”

In Christ, love can’t be earned In Christ, love can’t be earned and personal trophies can’t be a and personal trophies can’t be a point of pridepoint of pride

Result? Humility, Freedom and Result? Humility, Freedom and PraisePraise

I want to know Christ and the I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from attain to the resurrection from the dead- vs. 10-11the dead- vs. 10-11

THE GOAL IS NOT TO BE KTHE GOAL IS NOT TO BE KNOWNNOWN BY GOD FOR MY GOOD WORKS, BY GOD FOR MY GOOD WORKS, BUT TO KNOW JESUS THROUGH BUT TO KNOW JESUS THROUGH HIS SHIS SACRIFICEACRIFICE FOR ME FOR ME

I come to know God by exI come to know God by experienceperience

In his powerIn his power

Based on his WordBased on his Word

Accessed through prayerAccessed through prayer

A real faith will always include life-A real faith will always include life-changing power changing power

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - 2 gone, the new has come! - 2 Corinthians 5:17Corinthians 5:17

Fellowship of sharing in his Fellowship of sharing in his sufferings= koinonia- sufferings= koinonia- intimate intimate communioncommunion

Through pThrough painain and suffering and suffering

Changed how Paul viewed his Changed how Paul viewed his circumstances: opportunity to circumstances: opportunity to know Jesus intimatelyknow Jesus intimately

Not that I have already obtained Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me- vs. 12Jesus took hold of me- vs. 12

...predestined to be conformed to ...predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son- Romans the likeness of his Son- Romans 8:298:29

The end-result: sThe end-result: sinlessinless perfection perfection

Because I won’t be perfect until Because I won’t be perfect until heaven, does that mean I can heaven, does that mean I can just relax and do what I want?just relax and do what I want?

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus- vs. 13-heavenward in Christ Jesus- vs. 13-1414

  

THE WAY TO BECOME WHAT GOD THE WAY TO BECOME WHAT GOD CCREATEDREATED ME TO BE IS TO BECOME ME TO BE IS TO BECOME GOAL-ORIENTED AND SINGLE-GOAL-ORIENTED AND SINGLE-MINDEDMINDED

If I have any other ultimate goal If I have any other ultimate goal than Jesus, I have the wrong than Jesus, I have the wrong goalgoal

What are some lesser goals What are some lesser goals Christians have? What makes Christians have? What makes them wrong?them wrong?

Following Jesus means 2 things:Following Jesus means 2 things:

  

1) Leaving the p1) Leaving the pastast behind behind

My past can inform me, but it My past can inform me, but it shouldn’t control meshouldn’t control me

I leave my righteousness behind. I leave my righteousness behind. I brag on God, not meI brag on God, not me

Following Jesus means 2 things:Following Jesus means 2 things:

I leave my sins and failures behindI leave my sins and failures behind

For I am the least of the apostles For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not am, and his grace to me was not without effect- 1 Cor.15:9-10without effect- 1 Cor.15:9-10

Following Jesus means 2 things:Following Jesus means 2 things:

A true view of myself leads to A true view of myself leads to self-aself-acceptancecceptance in Christ, which in Christ, which brings effective (life-changing) brings effective (life-changing) ggracerace

If I don’t admit the truth about If I don’t admit the truth about myself, I’m not open to the grace myself, I’m not open to the grace of Godof God

Following Jesus means 2 things:Following Jesus means 2 things:

  

2) Living with an e2) Living with an eternalternal perspective perspective

How does that perspective change How does that perspective change my life?my life?

All of us who are mature should take All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have Only let us live up to what we have already attained- vs. 15-16already attained- vs. 15-16

  

The tests of maturity: righteousness The tests of maturity: righteousness in Christ, single-minded devotion, in Christ, single-minded devotion, leaving the past behind and living leaving the past behind and living in light of eternityin light of eternity

Have I experienced God’s power in Have I experienced God’s power in my life? If not, do I need to my life? If not, do I need to place my faith in Jesus?place my faith in Jesus?

Can I embrace the times of Can I embrace the times of suffering as an opportunity to suffering as an opportunity to know and experience Christ’s know and experience Christ’s comfort?comfort?

What do I need to leave behind? What do I need to leave behind? Do I understand that I am not my Do I understand that I am not my sins? That I am not the things sins? That I am not the things that have been done to me?that have been done to me?

Can I forgive and move on?Can I forgive and move on?

How might living in light of How might living in light of eternity change the decisions eternity change the decisions I’m making today? I’m making today?