Adding to the Word

Philippians 3:1-10

  1. Introduction:

    1. Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

    2. Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

    3. Jeremiah 36:32 Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

    4. Sometimes people who add various steps to the gospel message believe they have more than others who simply trust in grace to save them.

  1. Use Philippians 3.

    1. Verse 4-6 – Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: {5} Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; {6} Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

    2. In Philippians, Paul took his evidence to court to prove he was righteous, but in the end, the prosecutor took his evidence and used that against Paul to prove he was unrighteousness. Then Paul looked at the evidence with the eyes of Christ, and determined his righteousness was nothing but loss to him as far as Christ was concerned.

    3. Things that are gain to us in this life might not be eternal gain.

      1. There is nothing wrong with doing good things, as long as you do not trust in those things to make you righteous before God.

      2. There is nothing greater than simply trusting Christ.

      3. Gain in worldly wisdom - I Corinthians 1:19 – For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

      4. Lose life - Matt. 10:39 - He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

      5. Worldly reputation.

    4. The law reveals our unrighteousness.

      1. Romans 7:7-14 – we keep doing evil when we try to do right.

      2. Zeal - Acts 9:1,2 – Saul on the road to Damascus trying to stop Christianity from spreading.

      3. Satan does not present seekers of God with a doctrine of not trusting in Christ for their eternal salvation, but adds to trusting whatever sounds good at the moment.

        1. He gives them confidence in something else.

        2. He gives them something other than Christ, or in addition to Christ, so they will think they have more than others, or they will have more than what Christ offers so they must be better than others who are simply trusting in Christ.

        3. They are trusting in what they do, what they have, or what they desire, instead of simply trusting in Christ.

        4. They have overconfidence, but their confidence is in the wrong things, not the right things.

  1. Verse 7 – But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

    1. Joseph, a secret disciple – John 19:38 – But he could not stand it very long.

      1. Wealth - The rich young ruler must leave his riches behind - Luke 18:18-27.

      2. Live the good life - Zacchaeus gave it all away - Luke 19:8,9.

      3. Statute in life - Jesus went into Jerusalem on a donkey (a royal animal) - Luke 19:29-40.

  1. Use Galatians

  1. Use Acts 15:1