Thursday, October 20, 2011

Together We Go

  • Read Philippians all the way through.  We will concentrate on Philippians 4, so read chapter 4 in various translations using Bible Gateway (about 4 or 5).
  • If you get the book You Can Change in time, read the Introduction and Chapter 1 and be ready to discuss the questions at the end of Chapter 1 on Thursday.
  • Think about a specific personal growth issue that you would like to change (the book will help you with this; it calls it a "personal change project")
  • Listen to and comment below on C.J. Mahaney's Interrogating the Legalist Within.

4 comments:

  1. Legalism=self-atonement. CJ Mahaney defines legalism in this way, which I would have never thought of before. What height of pride! What great evil & wickedness, to entertain the thought that a sinner could cover his own sins. Yet, when I attempt to pursue holiness on MY own power, with no thought to The Holy Spirit, I am telling God the Son, that His all-sufficient death was somehow not enough. For those saved by Grace to turn from the original Truth of justification because of, "...righteousness FROM God" is quite a horrible blunder. Yet, prior to the small amount I listened, my heart is struck cold, realizing how trivial I have been, thinking, "...it's just legalism", acting as if this was a trite sin. I have not finished CJ Mahaney's sermon, but I felt compelled to write this before tomorrow.

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  2. Paul wrote Philippians from prison (whether the traditional view, Caesarea, or Ephesus) under the power of the Holy Spirit he writes, "Rejoice in the Lord always" He repeats it to add emphasis and again later in verse 4:10 he talks about his personal joy over the Philippians! I have a hard time being joyful after a east day, yet we are commanded to. Paul states this in 3:1 and 1:18. The theme seems to be about rejoicing! Even if people are preaching the gospel and accusing Paul of sin, Paul said he would rejoice in this also. We have a therefore in 2:1, before that Paul talked about joy, suffering, and in verse 2:1 he talks about unity, same love, to make his joy complete. I need some help here. Ch 3, talks about beware of evil workers, do not have confidence in yourself (self-atonement fits here I think). Paul counts all the works of the flesh as rubbish, but he wants to gain Christ. He talks about pursuing holiness, but that is only because of "...the righteousness from God" and not from the law. So, ch4, we are told to stand firm, with a therefore, so everything that came before it. I am scatter-brained here, sorry about that. I read Philippians all the way through at least twice, maybe three times, but only in the NASB. I should have read it more than that and in the other translations before commenting, my bad.

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  3. Great insights. Looks like you are seeing threads (themes) through the letter already. Probably because you read through it all more than once.
    Concentrate on chapter 4 in about 5 translations. I suggest the English Standard Version, New King James Version, New International Version, New Living Translation, and the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Let me know what you think.

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  4. Comments on CJ Mahaney: I cannot earn God's blessing by Bible study. Justification is the finished work of Christ, NO HELP from me. Not to min sanctification, but my pursuing does not merit me righteousness, I am dependent completely on the righteousness of Christ. Interrogate ourselves. Practices to break legalism: remember the cross, recall conversion, & review my hope. I forget the power of the gospel. What grace motivated practice do I have so I will REMEMBER the cross??? Rehearse my conversion, not attributable by human achievement, all by grace. Paralyzed by condemnation. CJ seems humble & makes fun of himself

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