Definition

The point: Ensure that Christian acts are done in a Christian manner to be acceptable to God.

Paul's description of the Philippians' offering to him as a 'sweet savor unto God' is used to illustrate that Christian acts must be done in a Christian manner to be acceptable to God, not merely performed.

You remember, those who were here, that at the outset I mentioned that one of the motives for doing this was that our offering might not merely be collected and delivered to the people of God, but that it might be what Paul says the offering of the Philippians was when it was brought to him by the hand of Epaphroditus. He says this offering was a sweet savor unto God, a sacrifice well-pleasing unto him. So it is not enough that we do Christian acts, but they must be done in a Christian manner if they are to be acceptable unto God. Now today I want you to consider with me another great aspect o...

0:44 - 1:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He explains the historical context of Hebrew Christians tempted to revert to Old Covenant rituals, contrasting the 'better things' of the New Covenant in Christ. The sermon's…

The temple, blood sacrifices, and priests were 'as much a part of life as facing their own countenance in a mirror' for Hebrew Christians, illustrating how deeply ingrained the Old Covenant worship was.

Here were these Hebrew Christians, many of them, of course, steeped up to their ears in the ritual of the old covenant worship. To them the temple in blood sacrifices and the priest in his ornate attire was as much a part of life as facing their own countenance in a mirror. Now the gospel has come and in place of all that external and visible and tangible worship of the old economy, the gospel says Christ is now the fulfillment of all of these.

3:05 - 3:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Consciously reference the priesthood of Jesus Christ in all offerings of praise, seeking no other priest.

A man fumbling for a flashlight on a bright, cloudless day is used to illustrate the foolishness of Hebrew Christians seeking to return to earthly priests and visible sacrifices when Christ, the 'light of the sun,' has come as their High Priest.

You must have a conscious reference to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. And if you have Him in your eyes, the high priest, you'll not look for another. The man who goes out in the daylight today and has the countryside illuminated by the sun is not fumbling around for his flashlight. Imagine a man so foolish as to be fumbling down Brunnymead Road and feeling in his pockets and looking under cars and you say, What's your problem, fellow?

21:51 - 22:22 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Continuing the description, he adds that a true Christian's lifestyle demonstrates that this world is not their abiding place, and they delight in Christ's people and are…

Seeing a car with California license plates in New Jersey indicates either a recent move or someone 'just passing through,' illustrating how a true Christian's lifestyle should mark them as a 'stranger, soldier, passing through' this world, seeking a heavenly city.

A true Christian is a man who demonstrates, by the way in which he thinks, the way in which he spends his money, the way in which he daydreams, the way in which his whole lifestyle is governed, that this world is not his delightful abiding place. Everything about him says, that man is on his way to somewhere, but it's obviously not here. He's a stranger, soldier, passing through. We know the visitors amongst us when we go out in the parking lot and we see, as we could see this morning, if we see a car out there with license plates from California, we know one of two things.

33:37 - 34:18 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that time spent in praise during secret times with God is never wasted, as it is always well-pleasing to Him.

A quote from John Owen is used to powerfully assert that the 'constant solemn acknowledgement of the glory of God' through praise is the 'principal duty of the church and the animating soul and principle of all other duties whatsoever,' emphasizing the supreme importance of praise.

And from His church throughout all the earth today the Father is receiving that, may I say it reverently, which makes Him smile. John Owen said, and it struck me, it almost shocked me when I first read it, that this is the chief and end for which the church exists on earth. Listen, as I quote from Owen in closing, a constant solemn acknowledgement of the glory of God and of the holy excellencies of His nature, that is, His name, in the work of the redemption of His church by the sufferings of Christ is the principal duty of the church and the animating soul and principle of all other duties wh...

42:28 - 43:13 Read in full sermon