Gaining Christ (2)
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Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
Philippians 3:1-4
Paul used two words three times in these four verses. What are the two words?
2. When Paul said beware of dogs, evil workers, and the mutilation, who and what was he speaking of?
3. When Paul used the word “flesh” what was he speaking about?
Philippians 3:5-
circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Describing the True (3:3–6)
First, Paul was a true Israelite. Starting at the point of their interest, he disclosed that, with reference to circumcision, he was an “eighth-day one.” If his opponents were circumcised, he was too, and his was completely in accord with the law. Further, he was of the people of Israel. This set him apart from Gentiles. Second, Paul was a Hebrew. The chiastic arrangement (an inverted relationship between the elements of parallel phrases) places the tribe of Benjamin first. He had an enviable ancestry and remained true to that heritage. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews
The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Describing the True (3:3–6)
First, Paul was a true Israelite. Starting at the point of their interest, he disclosed that, with reference to circumcision, he was an “eighth-day one.” If his opponents were circumcised, he was too, and his was completely in accord with the law. Further, he was of the people of Israel. This set him apart from Gentiles. Second, Paul was a Hebrew. The chiastic arrangement (an inverted relationship between the elements of parallel phrases) places the tribe of Benjamin first. He had an enviable ancestry and remained true to that heritage. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews
The first few points Paul list are Family Heritage. Family heritage is important because:
Created a sense of connection
Gives a senes of indentity and unity
Medical reason
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
The next examples Paul list are personal achievement. Personal achievement is important because;
Philippians 3:7
It can give you a sense of pride
Personal ahievement reflect the things that are important to you.
They are spiritually rewarding
They give you a sense of accomplishment.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:
Paul uses the word “loss” three times in these passages.
Loss for the Knowledge of Christ. (v8). This means much more than knowledge about Christ, because Paul has that kind of historical information before he was saved. to “know Christ” means to have a personal relationship with Him through faith. it is this experience t hat jesus mentions in . You and i know about many people, even people who lived centuries ago, but we know personally very few. “Christianity is Christ.” Salvation is knowing Him in a personal way.
Loss for the Righteousness of Christ. (v.9)) Righteousness was the great goal of Paul’s life when he was a Pharisee, but it was a self-righteousness, a works righteousness, that he never really could attain. But when Paul trusted Christ, he lost his own self-righteousness and gained the righteousness of Christ. The technical word for this is imputation. (Read carefully). It means to “put on one’s account.” Paul looked at his own record and discovered that he was spiritually bankrupt. He looked at Christ’s record and sow that He was perfect. When Paul trusted Christ, he saw God put Christ’s righteousness on his account. More than that, Paul discovered that his sins had been put on Christ’s account on the cross. ().
Loss for the Fellowship of Christ. (v. 10-11). When he became a Christian, it was not the end for Paul, but the beginning. he experienced with Christ was so tremendous that it transformed his life. and this experience outlined in the years to follow. it was a personal experience(“That I may know Him”) as Paul walked with Christ, prayed, obeyed His will, and sought to glorify His name. when he was living under the law, all Paul had was a set of rules. but now he had a Friend, a Master, a constant Companion. It was also powerful experience (“and the power of His resurrection”), as the resurrection power of Christ went to work in Paul’s life. “Christ lives in me” (). Read and 3:13-21 for Pauls’s estimate of the resurrection power of Christ and what it can do in your life.
It was also a painful experience (“and the fellowship of His sufferings”). Paul knew that it was a privilege to suffer for Christ. (). In fact, suffering had been a part of his experience fro the very beginning. (). As we grow in our knowledge of Christ and our experience of His power, we come under the attack of the enemy. Paul had been a persecutor at one time, but he learned what it means to be persecuted. but it was worth it. for waling with Christ was also a practical experience (“being made conformable unto His death”). Paul lived for Christ because he had died to self ( explains this); he took up his cross daily and followed Him. the result of this death was a spiritual resurrection () that caused Paul walk “in newness of life” (). Paul summarized this whole experience in , so take time to read it.
Yes, Paul gained far more than what he lost. In fact, the gains were so thrilling that Paul considered all other “things” nothing but garbage in comparison! No wonder he had joy-his life did not depend on the cheap things of the world but on the eternal values found in Christ. Paul had the “spiritual mind” and looked at the things of earth from heaven’s point of view. People who live for things are never really happy, because they must lose their value. Not so the believer with the spiritual mind; his treasures in Christ can never be stolen and they can never lose their value. Maybe now is a good time for you to become an accountant and evaluate in your lift the “things” that matter most to you.
