SoLo Lives! Ministry

The Secrets of Real Joy Part V
Ptr. Vince Burke / Sunday, July 27, 2008

When we’re asked, “How are you?”, and we say “Fine!”, does our expression match our words? When we speak of heaven, do we light up with the glory of the Lord? If ours is a blank look, we can’t be quite convincing, can we? Paul reminds us with a stern warning: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision, for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh” (Phil. 3:1-4).

So which is the right path and how do we get there?   Someone said, “LOOK AROUND AND BE DISTRESSED; LOOK WITHIN AND BE DEPRESSED; LOOK TO JESUS AND BE AT REST.”  The path to REAL JOY REQUIRES that we…

1. Turn from RITUAL that has NO RESPONSE. Legalists put a yoke on us by making us go through rituals, making us believe that Christ is not enough and that we have to add something else to be saved. Rituals, however, can turn into a public spectacle just for show.  God’s Word, through Paul, says we have to cut ourselves off from the false gospel that tells us we need to observe meaningless rituals that actually don’t get us anywhere. Only the personal knowledge of Christ will result in true Christianity and cause a real transformation that happens in the heart, where good works follow through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

2. Avoid RELIGION that has NO REALITY. Paul could be in the honor roll, with impressive credentials when it comes to religion. “If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.  But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ “ (Philippians 3:4-8).

Christianity is not addition, but subtraction, as Paul discovered.  Religion puts confidence in the flesh, where good works and accomplishments get A+ rating. Religion breeds a “holier-than-thou” attitude. It banners the slogan: “Our way is the best way.” It is nothing but pride.

Religion is a set of do’s and don’ts that puts us in bondage, because we’ll never know when good is good enough.  So we keep striving. Religion then becomes possible without God in the picture. It even becomes possible without having a relationship with Him. But God’s Word says that no one is justified by fulfilling the law. What the law does is point to us how we have missed the mark. It all boils down to who we know. Religion keeps us in bondage, while Christ sets us free. To experience true freedom is to have real joy.  What do we choose to embrace?  Christ or religion?

3. Respond to GOD’S GRACE by FAITH. From false circumcision that promotes false religion which in turn promotes self-righteousness, we need to go the opposite direction toward Christ.  “…and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:9-11).

D. L. Moody said: “The law shows me how crooked I am. Grace shows me how to straighten out.” Our sins before the Holy God make us unacceptable to Him. But God’s grace has been extended to us through Christ. By accepting Christ, we become acceptable and right with God. On account of Christ’s death on the Cross, not only do we have a zero balance where the debt of our sins has been debited from our account, we also end up with a positive balance for the righteousness of Christ which has been credited to our account.

Self-righteousness vs. Christ’s righteousness – ours will always fall short for Christ’s is more than enough.  THE WAY TO JOY IS TO ABANDON THE WAY OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACCEPT THE WAY OF GRACE. The Lamb over me equals righteousness – that should be inscribed in our hearts. We must reject all attempts to save ourselves by ritual or religion and enter into a personal relationship with Christ.

Do we personally, intimately, experientially know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord? Do we have His righteousness by faith? Do we choose to take the path to real joy by responding to God’s grace?  If yes, then we all have the reasons to REJOICE!