Christ Our All Things, All Other Things Our Nothings

Depend upon it, it is when we think much of Christ that we think little of ourselves, little of our troubles, and little of the doubts and fears that surround us. Begin from this day, and may God help you.

What if this wish became our single resolution for the year of 2021? What if this wish became our single resolution for every single year that God leaves us on this earth?

What if our one single, solitary, utmost resolution for the rest of our lives was this, “I resolve to live nearer to Christ than I have ever done before.”

I think if new year’s resolutions would have been popular during Paul’s day, that this would have been something very close to the Apostle Paul’s new year’s resolution- “I resolve to live nearer to Christ than I have ever done before.”

How do you know that?- you might ask...

Perhaps this is the very thing that Paul communicates to us in Philippians 3- and especially v. 7-8

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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

I believe these verses encapsulate the idea that the primary resolution for every believer, the ONE THING that we should be doing, is by any means possible living nearer to Christ than we have ever done before.

And this is not something that we should resolve to do once a year, but every single day that God graces us to open our eyes and continue to breathe His air- we should be resolved to live nearer to Christ!

How do we do that?

This is an important question- whether you have been saved for five months or 50 years, we must always be asking the question, “How can I draw nearer to Christ?”

Perhaps someone is listening and you don’t know Christ, you have never gained Him, you are not in Him. Then this text is for you. And my deepest prayer is for all of us to resolve to live nearer to Christ.

That is what Paul is writing about in Philippians 3:7-16. For this morning we will limit our study to vv. 7-8. Here, Paul is instructing the Philippian believers to strive towards the goal of drawing near to Christ.

Friends, in the year 2021 and beyond we must all strive towards the goal of drawing nearer to Christ.

How do we do that?

Paul explains two primary ways that he personally and continually lives nearer to Christ. We are going to look at just one of those ways this morning.

1. You must continually adjust your thinking so that knowing Christ becomes the solitary definition of “value” in your life.

If we are to live nearer to Christ this year than we ever have before, this must become our mindset. We must redefine what is and what is not of value in our lives. And in the end our definition of what is and what is not valuable must rise and fall with Christ.

We must constantly train ourselves to think about Christ is such a high and infinitely lofty way that we are not led astray by lesser glimmers.

Have you ever gone outside and starred into the sun? The consuming brightness of the sun is so great that even when you look away its afterimage is burned into your vision so that everything else that once looked so bright and appealing, now looks dark and drab in comparison. We must think this way about Christ!

“O Jesus, light of all below, Thou fount of life and fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, And all we can desire.” Edward Caswall

Does Jesus really surpass all the joys that you know? And all that you can desire? Does that actually manifest itself in the moments and hours of your life?

You might say, “I want to desire Jesus so much that He really does surpass all other joys I know! I want my desire for Jesus to surpass all other desires in my life. But how do I even begin? If I am honest with myself the glitters of this world have my affections. I find my joy in other things and not in Jesus, at least not chiefly in Jesus. What should I do to change?”

Philippians 3:7 ESV

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

Let me read for you the slightly awkward Pastor Jon translation of v. 7:

7[ἀλλʼ] ἅτινα ⸉ἦν μοι κέρδη, ταῦτα ἥγημαι

BUT everything that was[1] gain to me, these things I have reckoned to be[2]

διὰ τὸν Χριστὸν

because of Christ

ζημίαν.

loss.

The first part of this verse translated in the ESV “But whatever gain I had.” I have translated this section as:

“But everything that was gain to me”

And I translate it this way- somewhat awkward and halting- to bring out what Paul is doing with the different verbs and verb tenses.

Everything that WAS gain to me...

“Was gain”- this is an imperfect verb and it carries with in an interval of time (duration). So in Paul’s past life- there was a way he used to think and there were criteria for how Paul used to consider something as “gain.”

So before Christ, what things did Paul used to consider as “gain”?

Philippians 3:5–6 ESV

5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

So to Paul that which WAS (at one period of time in his life) “gain” were things like his family history, his pedigree, his religious standing in his community, his education, his zeal, his title as a Pharisee, his own self-righteousness, his own ability to keep the law, the way he was held in high esteem by his nation. Paul is saying, at one time in my life- this is how I defined what was “gain” in my life. This is what Paul valued. This is what was important to him. This is what he lived for.

How about you friend? What did you used to consider as gain in your life? Religion, your standing in the community, the way other people thought about you, how much money and power you possessed, entertainment, pleasure, recreation, ease, family?

What do you still value today? How would you define that which is gain in your life and that which is not gain?

Philippians 3:7 ESV

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

Paul says that everything that was gain to me, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Or another way you could translate the last phrase is this:

“These things I have reckoned to be loss”

I used to consider all these things as gain, (religion, power, prestige, family, self-righteousness), but now- I have counted or reckoned them all to be loss.

“Counted” or “Reckoned”- to hold a view or have an opinion with regard to something. It is the way you think about something.

Paul is saying I used to think about these things as “gain,” but now “I have reckoned” them to be loss.

This is a perfect tense verb- it has the idea that an event in the past has issued in a new state of affairs. So something happened in Paul’s past and that event has issued in a new state of affairs and the effects are still ongoing. What event could that be? His salvation.

On the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:1–2 ESV

1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

Here we see Saul, the Hebrew of the Hebrews, the Pharisee. What is Saul’s definition of “gain”? He wants to destroy the church- he is breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord.

Acts 9:3–18 ESV

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

Now notice the immediate difference in Saul’s life.

Acts 9:19–22 ESV

19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

What a change! What a difference! In v. 1 Saul was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. In v. 20 he immediately proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying “He is the Son of God.” What event in the middle made the difference? Christ made all the difference!

BUT everything that was gain to me, these thing I have reckoned to be loss because of Christ.

Paul turned his back on his religion, on his status, on his self-righteousness, on his standing in his community with his people- all of it, Paul says “I have reckoned them to be loss because of Christ.”

How about you my friend? Has there ever been a time in your life where you were confronted with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the World. Jesus, who came to save sinners. Sinners like Saul, like myself, like you. Have you put your faith in Christ alone to save you from your sins? Was there ever this drastic change of mind that took place in your life, so that the things you once considered as “gain” now you reckon them to be nothing but “loss” because of Christ?

If not I invite you today to turn away from your sin, turn away from the things that you thought had value and turn to Jesus— the One who loves you and can save you from your sins.

If your new year’s resolution is to live nearer to Christ than ever before, it must start here! But it must not stop here!

Philippians 3:8 ESV

8 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

8ἀλλὰ μενοῦνγε καὶ ἡγοῦμαι πάντα ζημίαν εἶναι

BUT, more than that, I also keep on reckoning[1] everything to be loss

διὰ τὸ ὑπερέχον τῆς γνώσεως Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου μου,

because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

διʼ ὃν

Because of Him

τὰ πάντα ἐζημιώθην, καὶ ἡγοῦμαι σκύβαλα,

I have suffered the loss of all things, and I keep on reckoning them as filth

ἵνα Χριστὸν κερδήσω

so that I might gain Christ.

So Paul says I not only “have reckoned” everything that was gain to me as loss. It is not only something that you do once in your lifetime.

Indeed, I count everything as loss. The verb “count” is an iterative present- repetition of the same action- that which becomes custom or habitual practice.

So you could translate it this way:

“But, more than that, I also keep on reckoning everything to be loss”

Paul is saying that he has made it his custom or his habit to over and over again in his mind to reckon or consider or think about everything to be loss. Everything that Paul used to possess he constantly thinks in his mind that all of it is now loss. He doesn’t need it anymore and he doesn’t want it anymore.

Why? Why does Paul count all these things to be loss?

“Because of the surpassing worth / value of know Christ Jesus my Lord”

To Paul, knowing Christ Jesus his Lord was of such surpassing worth or value that everything else was left by the wayside. What once he used to value, now is completely overshadowed by the only value that Paul holds dear- knowing Christ.

Is this your habit? Do you keep on reckoning everything to be loss because of the surpassing value of know Christ? Did you do that today?

Paul then takes it one step even further...

Philippians 3:8 ESV

Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things (aorist passive tense), and I keep on reckoning (iterative present) them not just as loss, but as rubbish!

Rubbish- σκύβαλον (only time used in the NT)

“Useless or undesirable material that is subject to disposal, refuse, garbage, in various senses, “excrement, manure, or kitchen scraps.”

“The word means what must be eliminated.”

“All of that is worth no more than the contents of a garbage can.”

“To convey the crudity of the Greek, however: ‘It’s all crap.’”

Do you see the progression here? Do you see the stern manner in which we must constantly be shaping our thinking?

V.7- “I have reckoned to be loss.”

V. 8 “I keep on reckoning everything to be loss.”

V. 8 “I keep on reckoning them as filth.”

Why?

Philippians 3:8 ESV

“In order that I may gain Christ.”

I challenge you to make this your new year’s resolution: “I resolve to live nearer to Christ than I have ever done before.”

If you are going to do that then you must continually adjust your thinking so that knowing Christ becomes the solitary definition of “value” in your life.

Everything else must be loss, indeed must continually be reckoned as filth in comparison to the infinite value of know Christ.

How do we go about shaping our thinking this way? It is not enough to wake up every day and repeat like a mantra, “Christ is the only real value in my life.” There is no real power in shaping your thinking that way. Where do we go to find real power to conform our thinking?

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Renew your thinking and be transformed in your thinking through God’s Word. That means you must seek Christ in His Word until your thinking is so transformed by God’s power that Christ really is your solitary definition of “value” in your life.

How will you know when Christ because the solitary definition of “value” in your life?

It will change the way you spend your time. Think about it, if you really believed that everything else in comparison to knowing Christ was like filthy garbage or excrement how would you spend your time?

If binge watching a show on Netflix is like excrement and seeking Christ in His Word is like the most delicious prime rib you have ever put in your mouth which one would you spend your time feasting on?

Yet, how do we spend the bulk of our time? We say we value knowing Christ, then why do we spend more time on the internet? Why do we spend more time watching Fox news, or Hulu? Why do we spend hours watching movies or playing games, or pursuing hobbies, or climbing the corporate ladder at work, or shopping, or socializing with our piers, but we spend so little time with Christ?

I am not saying you can never do those things. I am saying that the amount of time you spend doing other things is a reflection of what you value. It helps you determine what you really believe is “Gain” in your life.

If you truly want to make a resolution to live nearer to Christ than you have ever done before, then you must continually adjust your thinking so that knowing Christ becomes the solitary definition of “value” in your life.

“If you don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled at the table of the world for so long. You soul is so stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.” (John Piper)

Change your thinking today- reckon Christ to be great in your mind. Tomorrow seek Christ in His word, and cause your thinking to be conformed to the truth that in comparison to Christ everything else is filth.

“Blessed were we if we could make ourselves masters of that invaluable treasure, the love of Christ; or rather suffer ourselves to be mastered and subdued to Christ’s love, so as Christ were our all things, and all other things our nothings, and the refuse of our delights.” (Samuel Rutherford)

Make all other things the refuse of your delights in comparison to Christ. Make Christ you ALL THINGS, and all other thing you NOTHING. What do you truly delight in? What do you feast your soul on? What has your affections? I am afraid that all too many of us given our affections unto manure!

You must transform you thinking- take everything in this life, of this world, that you now think of as “gain” and “valuable” and reckon them to be loss. Hold all these objects before your mind and say these things have no value. And then over and over again keep on reckoning those things as loss. Any chance you get remind yourself that all those things are worthless. And then over and over again keep on reckoning those things as nothing better than manure. And then seek after Christ. Spend as much time as you can on Christ. Seek Him in His Word, discover how lovely He really is. Make Him your treasure. Give him your affections. Make knowing Christ the surpassing value of your life. Desire nothing else except to gain Him!

And never stop reckoning these things to be true.

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

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