10/11/26 | Will DuVal | Philippians: The Joy of Gospel Reminders
Thad Yessa (00:03):
Welcome to the After the Sermon podcast where Pastor Will answers your follow-up questions and shares your personal applications from the sermon for the benefit of the church. I’m Thad, your host, and I’m here with Pastor Will.
Will DuVal (00:14):
Hey.
Thad Yessa (00:15):
And we want to remind you that with this podcast that sermons aren’t just a Sunday thing. And so as we start off, Pastor Will, would you give us a recap of the sermon before we dive into our questions?
Will DuVal (00:27):
Yesterday we started chapter three of Philippians in a sermon entitled The Joy of Gospel Reminders. And that was kind of the unifying theme that through line of these four reminders that Paul had for us in verse one, exhorted them once again for the 10th time to rejoice. In verse two, he told them to watch out for the Judaizers. So be vigilant about the gospel and clinging to the true gospel and not drifting into legalism or false gospels. And then the bulk of chapter three, well, this section passage for yesterday was really verses three through nine where Paul reminds them to rest in Christ, not in your own good works. And Paul gives us his spiritual resume of here’s all the good stuff I used to boast in, but now I count it all as rubbish and I boast in Christ alone, faith in him, the righteousness that comes from him alone, not myself.
(01:40):
And then lastly, remember to keep on running your race, keep on daily dying to self so that you can be raised to new life, sanctified, grow in and with Christ and sharing his sufferings, know him more deeply, walk out resurrection. I think there’s the literal sense in which Paul’s saying, look, if I have to become like Jesus and die like him for the faith, then so be it as long as I can be raised like him as well. But I think again, the point that I made is that there’s another sense in which that’s a daily occurrence for the Christian as we die to self and live for Christ instead. So yeah, that was the nutshell.
Thad Yessa (02:39):
All right. We got quite a few questions that we’ll work our way through. Thank you for submitting those questions everyone. Keep them coming.
Will DuVal (02:46):
Keep coming, thanks.
Thad Yessa (02:47):
First one’s from Maggie. How can I rejoice in my suffering if I don’t feel happy, joyful? Or is that the lukewarm Christian referred to in Revelation three?
Will DuVal (03:00):
It is certainly easier said than done. It’s certainly something that I do not do a good job practicing what I preach. I don’t think if people who knew me had even 10 adjectives to describe me, I’m not sure that joyful would be in the top 10 and that’s an indictment on me. And so yeah, you think of fruit of the spirit, what would you want to describe you? How would you want people to describe you? Loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, gentle. But especially in the midst of suffering, obviously it’s hard. So again, I just say that to relate to Maggie, you’re not alone and please don’t feel judged that I’m mostly preaching to myself. And that’s why I shared the example of me in my own complaining and discontent last week and being frustrated with various things and then needing that reminder of the gospel and of what Christ has done for me from Ephesians one and how that can bring me, should bring me a kind of joy amidst, I won’t even say suffering, but just amidst just the everyday kind of grind of life or whatever you want to call it that makes it hard to stay joyful.
(04:36):
And certainly if you’re talking about active suffering where it’s like this is not just the grind, this is losing a loved one, this is losing a job, this is whatever form of suffering might be. So I think, I don’t know, I don’t have any silver bullet other than I think the first step is identifying that, naming it or being aware, “Okay, yeah, I’m not feeling very joyful right now. I’m having a rough time. Why is that? Oh, it’s this.” And then oftentimes if we really think about it, probably we do realize like, “Okay, is that really suffering? Is me having to do the part of my job that I don’t actually enjoy and just spend all day long in the office clearing out 150 emails or whatever from my inbox and returning phone calls.” I mean, that brings me no inherent joy. It doesn’t bring me life.
(05:42):
It doesn’t make me want to wake up in the morning, but is that really suffering, number one? But that’s where I think prayer, I mean, you go back to the Lord when you recognize that discontent, you recognize that pessimism or that frustration or whatever form it takes of lack of rejoicing and you take it to the Lord in prayer and ask him to give you a joy, a peace, a gentleness, patience, kindness, whatever it is that surpasses understanding in the midst of certainly those around us in the world wouldn’t be able to understand why are you joyful? Like Paul, I mean, that’s why this is so convicting is he’s rejoicing. I mean, it’s the most joyful letter and he’s writing it from prison. And so yeah, I think prayer and God’s word, again, there’s nothing magical to this. Most of the answers are going to be go back to God’s word.
(07:01):
To me, that’s reading Ephesians one and praying and praying, God, please help me hear from you in your word. Help me be joyful today. And he answered that prayer, I think through his word. So thanks, Maggie.
Thad Yessa (07:19):
Next one is from Andrew. “How do I count my work, salary, belonging status all as lost while still stewarding the gifts the Lord has given me and using them to provide for my family?
Will DuVal (07:33):
“Well, I think this is… Thanks, Andrew. I mean, I want to say two things. On the one hand, I think the fact that you are just stewarding them, in other words, using them, that they don’t really belong to us. They’re given to us by God, our resources for a purpose to be used for his purpose and glory. I think on the one hand that actually helps us to put these things in their proper perspective as loss, as rubbish or scubula. I think that you get in real danger when you think of yourself as the owner to these things and I have a right to these things and clutching to them. You think of the rich young man and Jesus and him walking away sad because he had a lot of stuff and that Jesus asked him to share his toys. And so we don’t want to do that.
(08:52):
We don’t want to be that person. We want to have open hands. God, this all belongs to you anyway. And so I can gain it, great, I can lose it, whatever the Lord gives, the Lord takes away. So I think that’s the best kind of mindset with our stuff. I think the other thing though that occurs to me that has to be said that I had in the sermon and had to cut for time, but Jesus says this about our own family in a sense. He doesn’t use that same word scubula, but he used the word hate when he says, “Anyone who wants to come and follow me must hate his father and mother, his sister, his brother, his wife, his kids, his own life. You must hate it.” And again, you’ve probably heard a bunch of sermons on that and like, “Wait a minute, what?
(09:43):
God wants us to hate people.” But of course what he’s saying is in comparison to your love for me, the way that you love me, again, think about… I mean, I don’t hate the next door neighbor kids. Bennett, Molly, they’re over at my house every single day playing with my kids. I probably play with them more than their own dad. Anyway, and I generally enjoy them. There’s some different parenting and we have to do some of our own like, Hey, if you’re at our house, we don’t use those words, whatever. But I mean, I like their kids and they’re good friends now with my kids and it’s cute and all that. Compared to how I feel about my kids, you could say, okay, the way that I treat that and feel about them is hatred. It would look cruel if we were on, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t want to push the analogy too far here, but yeah, end of the day, if they’re all hanging off a bridge and I can only save three of them, it’s going to be my kids, not their kids, right?
(10:57):
I mean, there’s just no question. I’m not even thinking about it. God has given me these kids to me, to steward, to protect, to shepherd, care for, to love, to love. And so I love my kids in a way that I don’t love your kids or anyone else’s kids. And I can love Thad’s kids and I can love all the other kids at our church and my next door neighbor, but it’s not the same at all. But I think Jesus is saying in a similar kind of analogy or way, the way that I want you to, again, treasure me and understand who I really am and how glorious I really am and how not glorious everything else, how not glorious your work is compared to me, how not glorious your kids are compared to me, how not glorious your money is compared…
(11:49):
There’s no contest. If it’s all hanging off the bridge and we can only save one thing, I’m grabbing Jesus. I’m not grabbing my kids. I’m not grabbing my money. I’m not grabbing my job. I’m grabbing Jesus, if that’s all I can cling to and hold to. Again, I’m telling you what it’s supposed to be. I’m not telling you what if I’m on the bridge because I’m an idolater, I’m a sinner, I struggle with this. I love my family. If my family’s on one side and Jesus is on the other side of the bridge, that’s hard for me because I love my family and I don’t yet love and treasure Christ as much as I should. I’m going to do whatever I can to try and grab both ropes. But anyway, I hope that helps, Andrew.
Thad Yessa (12:42):
Next one is from Lauren. What does repenting of legalism good works that are self-serving look like?
Will DuVal (12:54):
What does repenting of legalism good works that are self-serving look like? I think it starts with prayer and confession. And again, the first step is admitting you have a problem. So admitting, recognizing, yeah, why do I put such a unhealthy, I guess, maybe focus on my to-do list, my spiritual to-do list? Why do I feel… It’s like they say, I mean, sometimes you can tell what your idols are easiest by how much you feel threatened when they’re threatened. And so if it’s your church… And again, I’m going to be the last person ever as pastor to tell you not to come to church or it’s okay not to come to church, but if your car broke down and you couldn’t make it to church or something, you got sick, what does that do to you in terms of guilt and shame? And so anyway, I think the first step is acknowledging that, recognizing that, listening to those around you who know you well and who know God, who also have a good relationship with the Lord, who love you enough to say, “Hey, I feel like you’re kind of being a Pharisee on this one.” So I think it’s that.
(15:07):
I mean, I think it’s going back to the gospel time and time again and going back to what Paul does here in Philippians three of counting it as loss and not putting any stock, any spiritual capital stock in our doing for the Lord, but rather counting the only thing as valuable, being Christ in his righteousness. I’m not probably being as specific or practical as Lauren’s hoping for, but yeah, I don’t know. You have other thoughts on that?
Thad Yessa (16:18):
Yeah, I think I’d just reiterate some of what you’ve already said with the legalism, good works, just asking a question, what’s my motive behind doing this? Am I doing this to earn favor of the God, to feel better about myself versus I’m doing this to serve the Lord? I’m doing this out of response to the kindness and love he has shown me. And I think you rightly pointed out the idle idolatry kind of thing of that, and we just need the reminder, just as you said with Paul and with the sermon title, we need to remember the gospel and constantly go back to that and even just pray at the beginning of every day, Lord, would you help me not to forget the gospel, which you’ve saved me from and what you saved me to, and help me to live in light of that by the power of the Holy Spirit that I would put to death all of these attempts of self-righteousness and good works, but only to live fully before you and before your face in a way that is pleasing to you.
Will DuVal (17:24):
I think it looks like humbling yourself. Whoever’s proud will be humbled. Whoever is humble will be exalted. God hates the proud, the Pharisee and the tax collector. God hates the Pharisee. He hates the, thank God I’m not like you. He loves the tax collector. Jesus had mercy on me. And so I think it looks like humbling yourself. I think that can look like confession to others. James 5:16, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another. I mean, when was the last time you did that? Pharisees don’t do that. Pharisees don’t confess their sins to others. They put on a face to cover over. So I think that all those things help probably with the humbling and yeah. So thanks, Lauren.
Thad Yessa (18:20):
Next question is from Victoria. You mentioned a Harry Potter reference in the sermon. Heck yeah, I
Will DuVal (18:26):
Did.
Thad Yessa (18:27):
Is that safe for Christians to watch witchcraft?
Will DuVal (18:30):
I guess to be fair, I should say maybe. I mean, you’re reading it right now, right? I just started book six with my kids and anyway, I love it, but I think it’s probably a maybe thing. It’s kind of just like maybe anything like, I don’t know, alcohol or sex or I don’t know. God gives these good gifts, but it’s all about how you use them. I guess her question specifically is about witchcraft. So I guess my point in that is sex is not good for some people. They can’t handle it. Alcohol, same thing. Harry Potter, same thing. I think, is it inherently demonic because J.K. Rowling has invented this world of wizards for us? The whole witch thing is like… I guess I’ll say it quick. I mean, a witch is just a female wizard in her thing, right? But go read Deuteronomy and I don’t think that what J.K.
(19:51):
Rowling is inventing for us in the wizarding world is… First of all, it’s very clearly fiction, okay? It’s very clearly fiction.
(20:04):
I mean, now there is, I say that, but there is dark magic that’s… And we’re getting to book six. I mean, you’re getting to the dark stuff. So there’s dark magic in the fictional world of Harry Potter, and there is dark magic in the real world that we live in. And that’s what Deuteronomy is warning us about, the occult and that kind of stuff. Stay away from it. Okay, so here’s what I’ll say about it and then I’ll move on. If you read Harry Potter and you’re tempted to get into dark magic, if you read and you just really latch on to Tom Riddle, you’re like, Voldemort’s my guy, I want to be a death theater, stop reading Harry Potter. You’re the wrong… Yeah, then it’s not good for you. I’ve never met someone like that. I’m sure they’re out there. I’m worried about those people, but not to make light of the concern because I know there’s a whole thing 20 years ago when they came out and no, 30 years ago.
(21:04):
And when my sister was big into them and about split some churches, but you weren’t allowed to read them. I was
Thad Yessa (21:14):
Not allowed to read them.
Will DuVal (21:16):
My parents were kind of late adopters, but anyway, yeah, I think most of us have kind of moved on on that one. But it’s worth being thoughtful about, so thanks for the question, Victoria.
Thad Yessa (21:30):
If I was to make another argument for Harry Potter, I think it tells a better gospel story than some of the other Christian fiction that’s out there.
Will DuVal (21:38):
It’s straight up gospel allegory, no question about that. And it’s a lot more interesting than Lord of the Rings.
Thad Yessa (21:44):
You’d probably be in this though with your cunning and.
Will DuVal (21:50):
I don’t know if I’m, as a pastor or Christian, allowed to say that. I’ve taken the quiz and I’m a slytherin y’all. It’s bad. Pray for me.
Thad Yessa (22:02):
Victoria also has an application to spend time repenting of good works and sit with his God’s gift of salvation.
Will DuVal (22:13):
At least good work’s done for the wrong reason, right?
Thad Yessa (22:17):
Anna submitted an application this sermon put me in the mind of Ellie Holcomb’s children’s song, Don’t Forget to Remember. Maybe we’ll link that in the show notes for everyone.
Will DuVal (22:31):
Love Ellie Holcomb. Friend of the show.
Thad Yessa (22:34):
She’s coming on at some point maybe.
Will DuVal (22:37):
We’ll get her on. Yeah, Drew. Drew is my… You know that. Yeah, yeah. My best friends from growing up are cousins with Drew Holcomb. So anyway, go ahead.
Thad Yessa (22:47):
Another sermon application, this one from Josh. “Lord, strengthen me to run the race by the power of your grace. Thank you that we do extraordinary things when we are faithful in the ordinary.”
Will DuVal (23:02):
Thanks, Josh. Praise God.
Thad Yessa (23:04):
Applications both Victoria, Anna and Josh. Next question comes from Brad. “Is it a contradiction to rest in Christ? How is that differentiated from the false gospel of activity?”
Will DuVal (23:22):
Boy, that’s a really good question. I think it probably can be hard to sometimes differentiate between… And that’s why I wanted to specifically make that caveat in the sermon because I think we, like I said, I think we have some folks probably in our own church, frankly. I mean, we just spent half our staff meeting talking about all the holes that Holly has in kids’ ministry and can’t get people to serve after I sent an email to 30 something different people at our church who aren’t serving anywhere, asking them to step up. You’re a covenant member of the church who checked a box and said, “I promise I’m going to serve the church.” And anyway, some of them, there’s some valid excuses and a lot of them there’s not. And so I think, yeah, we have some folks who, in their mind, “I’m just resting in Christ, baby.” I think time and time again, you see…
(24:34):
I mean, you can’t read very much at all of, especially the New Testament and especially of Paul and his letters. I mean, Cody’s going to preach this coming Sunday on pressing on, straining toward the goal of the upward prize of Christ. And so just, again, this language of effort and exertion and straining and pressing. I mean, the guy has traveled how many thousands of miles and gone through how many beatings and shipwrecks and hardships because he’s so passionate about sharing this gospel with everyone as long as there’s breath in his lungs and you can’t walk down the hall and stay an extra 75 minutes to share it with kids when their parents are asking you, “Hey, will you please watch my kids for me? Disciple my kids for me for an hour so I can sit through a service without having a parent for an hour.” And so yeah, no, anyway, that’s my get off that, but I think it can be…
(25:42):
I think ultimately it’s like you said about your motives and it’s about what side of the equation that it’s on. Here’s the best way I can say it succinctly. We did this when we did Galatians, I think very first sermon and a couple sermons all throughout and what the gospel is and what it isn’t. Ephesians two also, “By grace, you’re saved through faith, not by works.” But then you get to verse 10, “For we are God’s workmanship created in him for good works.” So Roman Catholics will say, “Faith in Jesus plus your works leads to salvation.” We’ve got some people at our church and at other evangelical churches that would say, “I’m just resting in Jesus.” And the false gospel that they are holding to without maybe realizing it, need to be shaken and woken up, kicked in the butt, is faith in Jesus leads to salvation.
(26:58):
But the real gospel, according to Ephesians two: eight all the way through 10, and Paul, all through Philippians, all through Galatians, is faith in Jesus leads to salvation plus works. Jesus said, “You’ll know them by their fruit.” So I would say the short answer to how can we tell the difference of when we’re resting in Christ in a gospel way and when we’re holding to a false gospel of laxity is, frankly, are there works? What’s your fruit? I mean, if you’re one of the can’t be bothered to get off my butt to go disciple some kids on Sunday, then… And that’s just one example. I mean, there’s lots of different ways to serve the church and there’s lots of different fruit, right? But my Lord, I mean, there’s some folks that if they were in a court of law, is there enough evidence to convict you as a Christian?
(27:59):
I’m not seeing it. So I would say then you’re in, okay, what gospel are you actually clinging to when there’s not life change, when there’s not good works accompanying your so-called faith? Flowing out as an outcropping of that and of the salvation. The faith leads to salvation which leads to work. So yeah, that’s what I would say. Hope that helps.
Thad Yessa (28:28):
Brad also has asked to differentiate between take up your cross and simply dealing with the hardships of life.
Will DuVal (28:42):
Well, I think maybe this is even clearer for me because I think the way he asked that, what’s the difference between taking up your cross and simply dealing with the hardships of life? Some people say, “Well, we all have our crosses to bear this hardship.” I guess that is one aspect of what Jesus is saying there. The way that I interpret more so really what Jesus is saying is about the cross is not just enduring hardship.What did Jesus do on the cross? It was way more than just enduring hardship. It was death to self. I mean, Jesus himself said, “Father, let this cup pass for me, but not my will, but yours be done.” So Jesus was submitting totally to the Father and saying, “Not my will.” And so it was a dying to self like Philippians two, “Count others is more significant than himself, emptied himself, humbling himself to becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” That’s what taking up your cross is.
(29:58):
So I would say taking up your cross There’s not just enduring suffering, although that’s an aspect of it. There’s suffering that comes with dying to self. But I would say taking up your cross is, I want to lay in bed today and Netflix and chill, but there’s these kids that need the gospel up at church and so I’m going to serve. I’m going to sign up and I’m going to serve in kidsman. That is taking up your tiny, tiny little, very easy to bear cross.
(30:37):
I gave some other practical examples of serving your spouse, of extending grace and patience to your kids. So anyway, I hope that goes even farther than just the enduring hardship aspect.
Thad Yessa (30:56):
All right. We’ve got two more that were submitted online. So just as a reminder, you don’t have to just use the cards. You can submit them by scanning the QR codes that are on the screen or also in the bookmarks that wet.
Will DuVal (31:10):
We’re going to do one minute a piece on these because I got a lunch to run to.
Thad Yessa (31:14):
Katie asks the Billy Graham quote about good deeds keeping people out of heaven. Do you think that’s true, that people who have faith in Jesus but believe a gospel of Jesus plus something won’t be in heaven?
Will DuVal (31:34):
Let me quickly say two things. First of all, I don’t think that that’s actually what Billy Graham meant by that quote and that’s not how I was intending to use it in the sermon. So if Katie or someone else misunderstood that, I apologize. What I think he’s saying is not that like a Roman Catholic who thinks I’ve got to do these good deeds, but actually that’s not on the left-hand side of this salvation equation. I don’t think that Billy Graham is saying that that person’s good deeds are keeping them out of heaven. I think that more so what he’s talking about is the Pharisee who’s saying, “I don’t need Jesus, period, because I’m a pretty good person. Look at my pretty good person. I help care for my elderly parents. I pay my taxes. I show up at work on time every day. I apologize when I did something wrong.” I’m a pretty good person, so they minimize their need for a savior.
(32:32):
I think that’s what he’s talking about. Now, to answer Katie’s question about people who have faith in Jesus, but also believe that it’s Jesus plus something else, will they also be in heaven? I mean, I don’t know. I would just say, look, I really myself, I go back and forth on that. And for the record, I’m confident that I know Catholics that seem to be genuine and they nuance and they talk, well, and I think they do it in spite of official Roman Catholic doctrine, I will say, as opposed to truly understanding Catholic dogma. But anyway, I think there are regenerate born again Catholics who will be in heaven for sure. I think there are frankly a lot more that won’t because they have been led astray and the gospel has gotten lost in the legalism and in the dogma sadly. I think it’s really sad.
(33:40):
But all of it to say, it is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we’re saved. Whether or not someone understands the aloneness of that, they might think that I also need to do this sacrament or need to not do this mortal sin or whatever they think they’re doing. If they have that true faith in Christ, that true and a true repentance of sins. I think you can’t have too much of the minimization of sin there. There’s still got to be this cognizance that no matter how much could I do, it’s not outweighing. I’m not a mostly good person. I have sin and that’s a real problem. And I don’t deserve a relationship with God. I need a savior. I have him. His name is Jesus. If you’ve got that, then I think that’s what is important. I think that’s what the Bible teaches.
(34:45):
The thing that causes me to really pause on that is Galatians five that I read yesterday, quoted yesterday where Paul says, “If you accept circumcision, if you really want to do this and you really want to keep striving to do it through the law, to reconcile yourself to God through the law, you are severed from Christ.” That’s probably as hard as it gets to say, “Wow, I don’t know.” I mean, you better be real careful with what kind of works you’re trying to add to Jesus. So last one.
Thad Yessa (35:20):
Last one. In Philippians three: 1-11, Paul emphasizes the righteousness in salvation came through faith in Christ rather than through our own works or religious observance. How should we reconcile this with the denominations that teach baptism is necessary for salvation and that someone who genuinely believes in Jesus but has not been baptized cannot be saved? Second part, and how should we interpret passages like Acts 2:38, which seem to connect baptism directly to salvation alongside Paul’s teaching in Philippians?
Will DuVal (35:56):
Yeah. So this is specifically about the Jesus plus baptism one, because that is a really fair point. Thank you, Garon, that of all the pluses that people can get tripped up on, the one that frankly can be the most biblically confusing maybe is baptism because you have Acts two, repent and be baptized and be saved. You have one Peter three, and this is the one I’m going to go to and then quickly put a period on it, is one Peter three says, “You are saved by baptism.” You say, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, what?” But then you keep reading, it says, “But not as a removal of dirt from the body, but rather as a cleansing of our conscience.” So the way that we understand this as evangelicals who hold all the Bible as infallible and intention sometimes, but not in contradiction is to say there’s two baptisms.
(36:49):
There’s the most important saving, baptism, the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, washes your sin away, that internal cleansing, that’s got to be there. So you have to be baptized. One Peter three. If you don’t have that cleansing your sins away, you ain’t saved. But then the outward, sorry, physical washing as a symbol, sacrament, whatever you want to call it, is not necessary. If something happens and you don’t get to do the symbol and you’re walking on your way to get baptized in church and you get hit by a bus, you’re going to heaven, you’re fine. So that’s how I would reconcile it. And yeah, it’s Church of Christ and Catholics and others who teach that water baptism has to be there or else it’s just the wrong ones. Yeah.
Thad Yessa (37:42):
Well, that’s it for this week’s episode. We pray that you’ve been edified and listening as you seek to change and to love God more as you apply God’s word after the sermon. So go and continue to apply the sermon and make disciples and Lord willing, we’ll catch you here next week.