Counting all things a loss

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Jim Elliott - “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Text
Philippians 3:1–9 ESV
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Paul’s battle with the Judaizers.

Philippians 3:2 ESV
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
dogs
evildoers
mutilate the flesh
They were promoting circumcision.
Jews called Gentiles dogs- Paul is reversing it.

Paul’s gain

Philippians 3:4 ESV
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
They are not of the circumcision, we are!
They are not of the circumcision, we are!
They focus on external circumcision. We focus on circumcision of the heart
We worship by the Spirit of God and put no trust/boast/confidence in works.
if anyone had reason/cause to boast in these observations, it was Paul.
Philippians 3:4 ESV
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
:
His qualifications
Philippians 3:5–6 ESV
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
: 5-
:
They couldn’t beat that. None of his opposers could surpass his Jewishness.
many want to show how religious they are.

Paul’s loss

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:7 ESV
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:7 ESV
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:7–8 ESV
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
: 7-
whatever gain he had
whatever gain he had
whatever gain he had
everything a loss
loss of all things
Whatever went into the GAIN column of his life - pedigree/ancestry, religious achievements, education, zeal - its all in the LOSS column.
Philippians 3:8 ESV
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
count them as rubbish [skubalon - refuse, dung, garbage]

Paul’s New Gain

He is pursuing something else
“sake of Christ” v7
“surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” v8
“May gain Christ” v8
“May know Christ” v10
“May know …the power of His resurrection.”
His objective:
Philippians 3:9–10 ESV
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Philippians 3:9 ESV
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
: 9-10
Bottomline
instead of seeking after a righteousness by works of the law, I am pursuing Christ.
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