Lose It All For Christ

Contrasting Religiosity

V1-3

Look out for:

Dogs

Evildoers

Mutilator of the Flesh

We are the:

Circumcision

Worship by the Spirit of God

Glory in Christ Jesus

To glory is to boast

The Example of Paul

V4-6

No one has a reason to boast in their accomplishments like Paul

His resume reads:

First, his ethnic credentials

Circumcised on the 8th day

of the people of Israel

Tribe of Benjamin:

The only tribe that sided with Judah

Then his personal achievements

A Hebrew of the hebrews

As to the law, Pharisee

As to zeal, persecuted the church

As to righteousness, blameless

In todays words we might say:

My ancestors signed the Declaration of Independence

My family bled at Gettysburg

My grandfather stormed the beach of Normandy

As soldier of soldier

A Navy Seal

As to patriotism was on the Bin Laden raid

Paul is saying “If anyone can boast in their lineage and accomplishments, it’s me”

What is Truly of Value

V7-11

Whatever gain those things gave Paul, he considered it worthless compared to Christ

The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord

There is nothing of more value than Jesus

Consider all things as rubbish

not just trash, but feces

things we gain when we lay it all down for Christ:

Gain Christ

Be found in Him

The Righteousness of Chirst that only comes through Faith

Sharing in his resurrection

Paul saw sharing in the sufferings of Christ, and sharing in His death as a beyond worthy trade off in order to also be able to share in His resurrection

If your Christian life is off, this is where it starts

If you struggle with worry, sin, prayer, worship, finding joy; it is all rooted in not seeing how wonderful sharing in the resurrection from the dead is