Philippians week 3-Jesus Is Better

Introduction

What is your prized possession? What do you brag about the most? What are you living for in your time here on earth?

Following Jesus is going to cost you something

To cling to Jesus means we have to let go of some things.

Four different times Paul describes the idea that we must “count loss” for the sake of knowing Christ! Paul lists all of the fleshly things that he could be proud of that he himself has accomplished.

List from 3:1-6 :

He kept the law in all that he did.

He persecuted the church as a zealous pharisee.

Now that he has counted everything as a loss, Paul does this because he knows that he can’t hold onto the former things that he used to boast in and find value and worth in. Why? Because Jesus is better. “The surpassing worth of knowing Christ”. Paul is so enthralled with knowing Christ.

Ex.

Those who have been resurrected with Jesus shouldn’t walk around wearing the grave-clothes of worldliness and unbelief.

Knowing Jesus is more than head knowledge

Paul wanted to experience knowing Jesus, not just talking about knowing Jesus. Nothing else in life mattered to Paul. He was willing to lose every earthly possession and pursuit for the sake of intimately knowing Christ.

Ex. There is a difference between knowing that honey is sweet because I have a picture of it and the description says that it is sweet. But it’s a whole different thing to know that honey is sweet because I just put a spoonful of it in my mouth.

“An ounce of heart knowledge is worth a ton of head learning.”

Cross ref. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

1 Corinthians 15:31 “I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!”

Are you bored with knowing Christ?

Land the Plane