The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ

Claim - True joy and eternal gain are found not in religious performance, but in knowing Christ and being found in Him.

Focus - Paul exposes the emptiness of every human attempt at righteousness and magnifies the surpassing worth of Christ.

Function - To warn us against confidence in ourselves and call us to rejoice in the righteousness that is by faith alone, in Christ alone.

Where Is Your Confidence?

What is it that gives confidence to be content, happy even, joyful?

Pray

Paul begins this chapter with the word “further” — which means he is not starting something new, but building on what has already been said.

So what has he just been talking about in Philippians 2?

He has been urging Christians to imitate the humility of Christ

— to live with Christlike love,

self-forgetfulness,

joyful obedience and faithful service. 

So as we move into chapter 3, we can’t forget those exhortations to live in certain ways.

Paul is not reacting against obedience or godliness - which is a risk if we read this chapter poorly. 

Those things matter deeply to him. He has just affirmed them in chapter 2!

But there is also a warning about godliness and good religion.

Put your confidence in them - and you are in serious trouble!

Our joy will collapse and our assurance will crumble.

That’s why Paul begins with the command:

“Further, my brothers and sisters — rejoice in the Lord.” (3:1)

That’s the key phrase for the passage,

Rejoice in ‘the Lord’. Not “rejoice in your progress.” Not “rejoice in your reputation.” Not even “rejoice in your christlikeness!.”

Good works are important

— but they cannot be the foundation of our confidence - they should not bring us Joy - The Lord should.

Otherwise, joy becomes fragile.

We start to compare ourselves with others.

We begin to worry about our standing before God.

We start to think: 

Have I done enough?

Am I good enough?

What do people think of me?

Where is your confidence today?

What are you depending on in life

What will make you “right” before God?

1. Rejoice in the Lord (v.1–3)

Philippians 3:1–2 NIVUK

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.

A. What Does It actually Mean to “Rejoice in the Lord”?

This is not optimism or a

Fixed Evangelical Grin -

A fake smile and enthusiasm,

it’s not a vague Christian cheerfulness.

It is a command to place your joy and confidence in Christ alone 

— not in your circumstances, not in your performance, not in your spiritual record, not in me your pastor, or even Tim Guest - all these things make terrible saviours .

“Rejoice in the Lord” means:

Resting your heart in Christ’s finished work.

Finding security in His unchanging love.

Anchoring your identity in who you are in Him — not in what you achieve.

Choosing joy not because life is easy — but because Christ is enough.

We live in a world full of shifting sands — careers change, health fails, relationships strain.

And for the Philippian church as they face suffering,

persecution,

as they see Paul suffer even more,

what is it that will safeguard them.

Keep them from failing in faith, from loosing their joy?

The only sure hope we have is the Lord Jesus - so rejoice in him!

The alpha and omega,

The unchanging God,

The same yesterday today and forever,

The one who is slow to anger and rich in love,

Who predestined his people before the beginning of time,

Such is the certainty of our salavtion in Christ.

Joy that depends on circumstances or performance will crumble.

We all know the song, but how quick we are to live by it:

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

The rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the sand fell ’flat’

But Joy in the Lord our rock, well..

The wise man built his house upon the rock.

The rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the Rock stood firm.

Paul’s used the word rejoice 5 times in Philippines so far - and he wont apologise as he says it again!

There are a lot of things that rob us of joy Often, it is our hidden source of confidence being threatened. We think: “If I lose control — I lose joy.” “If I don’t perform — I lose joy.” “If people don’t approve — I lose joy.” If i loose my keys - I define lay loose joy!

And that is all true if that is where our confidence is for a joyful life!

But Paul says, again, : Only when joy is “in the Lord” is it safe.

Pause

But it’s not just internal temptations that threaten our joy in Christ.

there are plenty of people who we are to, v2

WATCH OUT for! People want to lead the Philippians away from Joy in Christ by telling them to put their confidecene in the Jewish laws of the OT.

They are: dogs — evildoers — mutilators of the flesh - v2.

These false teachers preached Christ PLUS human conditions.

Oh, yes, you need Jesus, but you also need circumcision,

you also need to make your sacrifices at the temple

and so forth!

No - they are dangerous dogs, who bite until you fall, and then they mall you to death!

TheY mutilate the flesh - not becasue circumsision is bad, but becasue they convince you that cutting your flesh will save you!

The most dangerous teaching in the world is often religious — because it still uses the name “Jesus” — but undermines His finished work.

It’s the Jesus PLUS something else Gospel.

But the true gospel says:

Christ has done everything.

Paul uses such strong language - Because what you rely on for righteousness, what you put your confidence in determines your eternal destiny.

but we need nothing but Jesus Christ.

And so Paul gives three reassurances for genuine believers: v3

You don’t need anything else…

“For it is we who are the circumcision…(in other words true believers - those:) (1) who serve God by his Spirit, (2) who boast in Christ Jesus, (3) and who put no confidence in the flesh.”

1. We serve by the Spirit — not in our own strength. Christian service is not performance for credits— it is dependence on God.

We do what we do because Christ lives in us , not so that he lives in us.

Our preaching, parenting, praying, work ethic, morality

— all must flow ‘from’ His power, not to ‘get’ his power… or it becomes empty religion.

We don’t behave to be saved, but are saved to behave.

And as such, next part of v3

2. We boast in Christ — not ourselves. The Christian’s testimony is not “Look what I’ve done for Jesus” — but “Look what Jesus has done for me.”

A good way to know if the gospel has really taken root in you is when Christ becomes the hero of your story - rather than yourself.

We boast in Christ alone (we need nothing else) for salavtion.

we thank him for every good godly work in us, rather than pat ourselves on the back.

for,,, (that last phrase in v3)

3. We put no confidence in the flesh. Not 99% Christ and 1% me. Not “Christ plus effort.” Not “Christ plus morality.”

Christ alone.

Application Questions:

When you feel guilty before God, what do you turn to for assurance — your improved performance, or Christ’s blood?

When things go well, do you subtly take glory? Or is your heart led to worship Him?

Philippians 3:3 NIVUK

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

True joy comes only when your deepest confidence is in Christ — not in self.

Rejoice in the Lord.

And Paul moves on to prove his point with his own example:

2. Rejoice Not in Self (v.4–7)

Philippians 3:4 NIVUK

though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

And He goes on to lists seven reasons why he could have claimed religious confidence — and then throws all seven away.

But notice he demonstrates how his righteousness looks very holy and impressive. v5-6

circumcised, an Israelite, a Benjaminite, a Hebrew; a Pharisee; zealous, faultless according to the law.

This is what self-righteousness looks like.

Not always arrogant.

Sometimes very respectable.

Very “Christian-looking.”

Very moral.

Very impressive to others.

But Paul says:

Philippians 3:7 NIVUK

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

It’s accountancy language: “All that I thought was credit — was actually debt!”

Our biggest obstacle to grace is not always our worst sins — but our best moral qualities.

The idea that I contribute something to my standing before God.

Application: What would be on your spiritual CV?

I’m a good parent.

I give to church.

I pray often.

I don’t sin - much

I don’t do what others do.

I serve faithfully.

I understand doctrine.

Most These are wonderful things — unless you use them to feel secure before God.

You cannot trust in them Fro salavtion,

. They are gifts from God to us,

— not currency to buy his favour.

They will buy you nothing on judgement day

they are useless to save.

Remember - Christliekless is good, godliness is our goal,

but all in worshipful repsonce to saving Grace - Christ alone saves.

Put not confidence or joy in self.

And why would we when we know:

3. The Surpassing Worth of Christ (v.8–9)

Philippians 3:8 NIVUK

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

For Paul, Christ didn’t simply replace old truths — He became everything. Notice: Paul does not merely say “knowing about Christ”. He says:

“Knowing Christ… Jesus… my Lord.”

This is personal. Deep. Relational. Life-altering.

A. Christ Is Not Simply Useful — He Is Beautiful

Perhaps we are guilty of approaching Jesus as:

Useful for forgiveness.

Useful for comfort.

Useful for guidance.

But Paul says: He is not useful — He is infinitely everything

All other things are loss,

if everything else is stripped away -

He is enough.

I’m not sure what you are struggling with,

And I don’t know what you think is making you ‘good’ with God - what is your confidence in?

What causes you to doubt your faith

Or causes you to have confindece in your faith…

But we want to say that we are to (v9)

Philippians 3:9 NIVUK

… be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

This is the core of the gospel:

Not my righteousness… But His righteousness — credited to me… Received by faith alone.

Not earned. Not improved. Not supplemented. Only received.

False confidence must be exposed.

Self-righteousness must be abandoned.

Christ must become our only treasure.

Christ surpasses all other things - Christ alone

With all that set,

Paul now moves to show in more detail what knowing Christ looks like in everyday life

4. Knowing Christ

Philippians 3:10–11 NIVUK

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul gives us three expressions of what it means to truly know Christ. Not just intellectually. Not just emotionally. But experientially — in the whole of life.

Let’s take each 1, Knowing Christ by

A. Knowing the Power of His Resurrection

This is not just future hope — it is present power.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in believers today (Eph 1:19–20).

What does this look like?

New resurrected Desires

Things you once loved now lose their grip. You begin to treasure Christ more than comfort, money, status.

You love what He loves. You hate what He hates.

Your heart is alive in Christ.

New life to Battle Sin

Romans 6:4 — “We were raised with Him to walk in newness of life.”

Resurrection power means sin no longer rules over you. The chains have been broken.

You may still battle with sin — but it is no longer your master. Christ is.

New Courage for Mission

The resurrection produces boldness. The disciples turned from fear to fearless witness because Jesus was alive.

Dead men don’t fear much. If you’ve already died with Christ and been raised with Him — what can man do to you?

Application: Where do you feel weak or defeated today? Where do you feel stuck? Tempted? Powerless?

Remember, rejoice in the knowledge of the resurection of Christ for you.

Christ wants to meet you there.

Next we know Christ by

B. Participation in His Sufferings

This is not about earning salvation — Jesus already suffered for us. This is about following Him — embracing His way of life.

What does this look like?

Dying to Self

It means we don’t fear laying down your rights, preferences, comfort — for Christ’s sake.

We’re free from the lies of comfort in this world, and rejoice yes, even in suffering!

Why, becasue of the surpassing worth, it’s better, to know Christ!

It means our joy is saying “Lord, not my will… but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Daily decisions to live for His glory, not mine.

Obeying when it costs.

Speaking truth when it’s unpopular.

Being distinct when the world mocks.

Sometimes following Jesus means walking into storms — not away from them - but those storms now show us Christ - who suffered for us.

Loving Difficult People

Christ loved sinners, enemies, betrayers. So can we.

We can forgive when it’s costly — serve when it’s inconvenient

And do it all with Joy.

living faithfully will invite misunderstanding, rejection, ridicule — sometimes even persecution.

The early church rejoiced that they were “counted worthy to suffer for the name” (Acts 5:41).

When Christians suffer with Christ and for Christ — they grow closest to Christ.

Application: I wonder Where Christ is calling you to know Him more in a way that might cost you?

A relationship?

Your schedule?

Your reputation?

Your comfort?

Christ wants to meets us in those places

Finally, we can know Christ by

C. Becoming Like Him in His Death & Resurrection

V11

“…becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”

This is about final hope — but also present identity.

What does this look like?

4 quick observations:

Identity:

Our old self has died. Our life is hidden with Christ (Col 3:3).

We are not defined by our past — nor by our performance — but by Christ’s righteousness. We are becoming like him…

Perspective:

The Christian faces death differently.

Paul already told us: “to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).

If you know how your story ends, it frees you to live with courage and hope now.

Eternal Hope:

Paul isn’t unsure when he says “somehow…” — he’s expressing awe.

Resurrection is not wishful thinking — it is promised reality.

One day, every tear will be wiped away. Every sin removed. Every sorrow undone.

Living Today in Light of That Day

Future resurrection changes how we invest time, spend money, love people, pray, relate, forgive, and serve.

We don’t cling to this world — because we are heading for a better one.

Application: So What difference would it make if you lived this week as someone who already belongs to the age to come?

Would your worries shrink?

Would your prayers deepen?

Would your boldness grow?

Would your love expand?

Closing Challenge

Knowing Christ is not a hobby – it is life itself.

To know Him in resurrection power… To follow Him in suffering… To be conformed to Him in death and glory… That is the path to real joy.

So think now - what is our confidence in?

What is it that strips us of joy?

What is it that has diverted our joy away from Christ to something else?

What is it we secretly think we need ‘to do’ to be saved even?

Paul says:

I lost everything — but I gained Christ.

I died to myself — but I found true life.

I threw away my righteousness — and received His righteousness.

This is the greatest exchange in the universe:

our failure for His perfection.

our sin for His righteousness.

our death for His life.

This is Christianity.

‘rejoice in the Lord’

Prayer

Lord Jesus, strip us of every false confidence. Free us from our self-righteousness. Show us that all things are loss compared to knowing You. Let us boast in nothing but Your cross. And may we be found in You — clothed in Your righteousness — now and forever.

Amen.