Philippians 3 (Part 21)

Philippians 3:4-6: Paul’s Righteousness.

• Philippians 3:7: But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted [perfect tense and passive voice] as loss for the sake of Christ. [Perfect tense is completed action with abiding (lasting) results. Passive voice is subject acted upon]. Philippians 3:7 is coming off from verse 4.

• Paul counted his checklist as lost. Acts 9:1-6; Philippians 3:5.

Philippians 3:8-11: Christ’s Righteousness.

• Philippians 3:8: More than that, I count [present tense--ongoing] all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

o Square one is the Saviorship of Christ. Now let’s move on. Paul turned his back on that in verse 5. It is much more than that, verse 8. Nothing is to stand in the way of gaining Christ. Renunciation of self-values goes before the recognition of Christ’s death.

o Greater riches--knowing Christ as Savior. What are my values?

• More than that: Paul’s righteousness.

Philippians 3:9: and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, . . .

• May be found in Him: Positional truth--in Christ--placed at salvation and irrevocable. We learn to increase our belief system.

• Better Righteousness.

Christianity is a position based on justification [a declaration, declared righteous].

Elements of Justification:

• Just--being just (separated to Christ). God cannot sweep sin under the rug.

• Lot was justified. 2 Peter 2, 7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men.

• Source of Justification: God. Philippians 3:8-9; Romans 8:33. The highest court has already ruled if I am a Christian [the blood of Christ]. The judge is already out of the courtroom.

• Romans 3:24-26: Yahweh, man, Jesus Christ. Think orderly.

• Romans 3, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; . . . Grace: The only thing in harmony with grace is faith. We are saved by faith and sanctified by faith. We grow in faith.

• Grounds for Justification: Christ.

• Basis for Justification: The work of Christ.

• Agent That Affects Salvation: the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 6:11.

What Justification Is Not:

• Justification is not the same as forgiveness. Forgiveness is negative; justification is positive. Forgiveness is included in justification but so much bigger.

• Justification is not a change in character but a change in position--being outside of Christ to being in Christ. That change in position is the basis for beginning to change in character.

o I need to know Him. Philippians 3, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; . . .

o Deeper Knowledge. Know Him: in addition to His already being my Savior. Ephesians 1:18-20.

o The power of His righteousness: Colossians 1:4; John 15:18-19.

Philippians 3:11: 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. • The rapture.