The Joy of Knowing Christ

FCF (Fallen Condition Focus): We search for confidence and worth in all the wrong places—our achievements, credentials, family heritage, moral track record, and reputation—yet these things can never provide the lasting security and righteousness that only Christ offers.

INTRODUCTION

Hook: What makes you feel worthy? Successful? Secure? Your job title? Your family name? Your moral track record? The reputation you’ve built?

If Paul were alive today, his LinkedIn profile would be flawless. Perfect résumé. Spotless reputation. But when he encountered Christ, he deleted it all.

Thesis: Our confidence must shift from what we’ve accomplished to who Christ is and what He’s accomplished for us.

Read Philippians 3:1–11

Preview: Today we’ll see (1) the false confidence Paul once had, (2) the true righteousness that comes through Christ alone, and (3) the joy of knowing Christ that makes everything else rubbish by comparison.

Transition: Let’s begin where Paul begins—by exposing the danger of putting our confidence in the wrong place.

I. THE FALSE CONFIDENCE (vv. 2–6)

Paul Warns Against False Teachers (vv. 2–3)

v. 2 — “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh” The Judaizers taught: Faith in Jesus + Law obedience = justification. Modern equivalent: Faith in Jesus + moral performance, cultural expectations, achievements.

v. 3 — “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” True people of God: No confidence in the flesh. All confidence in Christ.

Transition: To prove his point, Paul lays out his own résumé—the very things he once trusted in for worth and righteousness.

Paul’s Impressive Résumé (vv. 4–6)

Circumcised on the eighth day — Perfect obedience from birth. Raised “right.”

Of Israel — God’s chosen people. Spiritual privilege.

Tribe of Benjamin — Prestigious lineage. Respected family name.

Hebrew of Hebrews — Pure heritage. Authentic, no compromise.

Pharisee — Religious elite. Expert, admired for holiness.

Zealous persecutor — Passionate defender of tradition. Proved sincerity.

Blameless under the law — Spotless moral record. Reputation untouchable.

Why it matters: Paul had every cultural marker of worth—heritage, reputation, morality, zeal. Yet he calls it all rubbish compared to Christ.

Transition: So if Paul’s flawless résumé wasn’t enough, what is? That leads us to the true righteousness that only Christ provides.

II. THE TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 7–9)

Everything as Loss (vv. 7–8a)

v. 7 — “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”

v. 8a — “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”

Paul did the math: résumé = loss compared to Christ. He gladly counted it all as rubbish (garbage, dung, worthless waste). Why? To gain Christ.

Transition: And what does it mean to gain Christ? It means receiving a righteousness that isn’t ours but His.

Righteousness Through Faith (v. 9)

False Path: Righteousness of my own from the law (my performance)

True Path: Righteousness from God through faith in Christ (His performance)

Metaphor: Trading monopoly money for real currency—you don’t cling to the fake when the real is offered.

Application: You cannot earn righteousness through moral performance, ritual, pedigree, achievements + Jesus. Only through faith in Christ alone.

Transition: And once you receive that righteousness, something profound happens—you begin to truly know Christ. Not just know about Him, but know Him personally.

III. THE JOY OF KNOWING CHRIST (vv. 10–11)

Knowing Him Intimately (v. 10)

“To know Him” = intimate, experiential knowledge. Includes:

Power of His resurrection — new life, transformation, hope

Share His sufferings — identifying with Christ in suffering

Becoming like Him in His death — dying to self, living for Him

Reflection questions:

Where have you tasted resurrection power?

Where have you shared in Christ’s sufferings?

Transition: And this intimate knowledge of Christ leads to Paul’s ultimate hope—the resurrection.

The Resurrection Hope (v. 11)

Paul’s ultimate hope: bodily resurrection. Not if but when. In the end, all that matters is Jesus.

Transition: So how do we live this out? How do we move from confidence in ourselves to confidence in Christ?

APPLICATION

Where Are You Placing Your Confidence?

Achievements at work?

Family reputation?

Moral track record?

Religious activity?

Paul’s verdict: Rubbish. Compared to knowing Christ.

The Required Shift

From résumé → Christ

From my righteousness (never enough) → His righteousness (perfect, given through faith)

Who Should We Avoid?

Anyone promoting: Faith in Jesus + ______ = salvation. If anything fills that blank besides “nothing,” it’s a false gospel.

When to Rejoice

When you fail morally (His righteousness covers you)

When you succeed (it’s not what saves you)

When you suffer (you’re sharing in His sufferings)

When you’re weak (His power is perfected in weakness)

Rejoice in the Lord. Always.

Transition: And that brings us to Paul’s final word—a conclusion that centers everything back on Christ alone.

CONCLUSION

Paul had the résumé we dream of. Credentials. Pedigree. Moral perfection. He counted it all as rubbish.

Why? Because he found something infinitely better: Knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.

Memorable refrain: Not résumé. Not reputation. Not ritual. Christ alone.

The gospel truth: Christ’s righteousness becomes ours through faith. His life becomes ours. His resurrection hope becomes ours. That’s where joy is found—not in what we’ve accomplished, but in who Christ is and what He’s accomplished for us.

Stop searching for worth in your achievements. Find it in Christ alone. Rejoice in the Lord. Always.

And here’s the line I want you to carry with you this week: “Joy is found not in what we’ve achieved, but in knowing Christ and being found in Him.”