Count It All Loss

Introduction:

Good morning and welcome to this gathering of Hope Bible Fellowship. It is a joy to be with you this morning. Go ahead and turn in your bible to Philippians chapter 3. That is where we are going to be camped out today.

What do you trust in? What do you put your trust in? Now, the easy answer because we are in church is to say God. That’s the safe answer and you know that’s what the answer should be. But, what is your life marked by? What is the defining marker in your life? If I were to interview those who know you well, your family, those who work with you, those who you hang out with, your friends, and ask them what is the defining marker of your life, what would they say? Might they say, kindness, care, helpfulness, service, your love of a particular sports franchise, or other cultural touchpoint? Would they say your political affiliation? Would they say your church membership? Would they say your family or your work in the community or your job? I ask because it’s important. For a follower of Jesus Christ, the defining marker of their life should be trusting in Jesus Christ. Who or what are you trusting in?

Today we are going to investigate our hearts by looking at Philippians 3:1-11 and Lord willing, you’ll be able to see who or what you are trusting and if it’s anyone other than Jesus, that He would graciously bring you to repentance.

Read:

Philippians 3:1–11 ESV

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 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: 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. 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

PRAY - for help

There is so much in our world that wants to get our attention as individuals and as a church off of center on the true gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no shortage of voices out there that though they seem good natured and well meaning, if we let them, will steal our focus off of the absolute, true gospel of Jesus and we will find ourselves slipping subtly into legalism or actually proclaiming a gospel that has things added to it. This is indeed a very dangerous temptation. In today’s passage we see Paul warning the Philippian church about this danger and giving them some great help in what is truly important and what needs to be locked out.

In verse one, it sounds like Paul is about to wrap up his letter, however, he is not. The word there translated as “finally” could also be translated, per D.A. Carson, as “So then.” He’s rolling into the idea of rejoicing in Christ but also continuing to carry forth this idea of emulation that we saw really fleshed out in chapter two. He’s really about to give us an example of a passion to know Jesus as better than anything else.

He’s telling them some things that it appears he has told them before and it’s good for them to read them or hear them again. And what a sweet reminder it is!

I. Rejoice and Remain Aware (v.1-2)

Paul commands them to rejoice in the Lord. That is to say, they should be in a state of happiness and well-being in the Lord. They should be glad in the Lord. They should celebrate in the Lord. They should enjoy being in the Lord. They should enjoy Jesus. They should enjoy being a Christian. This is wonderful. They should glory in the Lord. As they are glorying in the Lord and rejoicing they should also remain aware so that they see danger when it presents itself.

There are three groups that Paul calls out specifically here to beware of. He tells the Philippian church members to look out for these types of people. Now in all reality, we believe he’s likely speaking in three ways that all three point to one group in particular. This group is likely the Judaizers. These were a group of Jews who believed that non-Jewish believers should be held to all of the old covenant commands that God had given to the Jewish people in the law of Moses, most notable circumcision. We even have an account in Acts 15 of the debate within the early church about the role of the law. Paul and others argued that they needn’t pressure the new Gentile converts to do something that was not required for salvation.

a. Of Dogs - The Greek word that’s used here is not complementary. Dogs were not thought of in ancient times as we think of them today. They were not man’s best friend. They were scavengers, roaming the streets. No cute feelings here. Nasty, unclean, and dangerous. Here the word is used in a derogatory way towards these people.

b. Of evil doers - self explanatory

c. Of those who mutilate the flesh - The Greek word that Paul chooses here can be rendered as “mutilation.” Probably this is to conotate that any Gentile or non-Jewish Christian who takes on circumcision in order to convert to Christianity basically is just mutilating themselves. Jesus’s finished work on the cross make circumcision unnecessary for belonging to God’s family. In fact, Paul characterized these people as having disfigured the gospel message because they were trying to add to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Be aware- watch out. They slip in through small cracks. Sometimes when I’m in a bible study with other people from a church, especially one I am the shepherd of, and I hear something articulated that if followed logically down to its end, leads us apart from the 100 percent pure, true gospel, I pull on that thread. I’m sure to some it can seem nit picky but there is just too slippery of a slope that takes us into improper understanding of the message. I try to shepherd that as best I can. When ideas that can “mutilate” come about, I try to confront them. Thankfully, most people understand the intention here. It’s to remain faithful to the true gospel.

Paul is dedicated to the Philippians and us trusting not in themselves but in Jesus Christ alone.

II. Refuse To Trust in Self (v. 3-7)

What does it mean to put confidence in the flesh?

Paul offers himself as an example.

People put their confidence in a lot of things. Paul had more reason than anyone to put his confidence in his Jewishness but he counted it all loss compared to actually knowing Jesus. He knew that none of that other stuff truly mattered.

What are some things he could have placed confidence in?

a ritual

his ethnicity

his rank

his tradition

his rule keeping

his zeal

his obedience to the law

Philippians 3:7 ESV

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

Paul wanted them and us to know that all of his accomplishments, his nationality, his ethnicity, his work and obedience to the law, he counted all as loss because it paled in comparison to resting in Christ alone. Knowing Christ means resting in, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

III. Rest in Christ Alone (v. 8-11)

In verse 8, Paul goes further in letting us know that knowing Jesus is superior to anything. He says that basically all those other things that he counted as loss, the things he lost are rubbish. This is strong language. Today we read it and we see rubbish and we think trash. The Greek word used there can actually refer to dung. As if to say, all this other stuff I count as dung so I may know Christ. Nothing was as important to Paul as knowing Jesus. Not just that, but he actually counted all that other stuff as trash or dung. Its not just ignoring it but the joy of knowing Jesus is so great that he would count it all as loss, all as rubbish, so he could glory more in Jesus.

all things to be loss - Intensify - Everything (not just his identity) is a disadvantage compared to knowing Christ Jesus.

The surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

As Paul rounds out this passage he points to three theological realities that we would do well to understand. He points to justification, sanctification, and glorification.

1. Justification - Christ alone as our righteousness. (v. 9)

Only the righteous can enter heaven. None of us are righteous. We need another source of righteousness.

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

In theological terms we refer to this righteousness as imputed righteousness. We have to have God’s righteousness. And God has provided for that in Jesus Christ.

- A gift of God. - Man - Sin - Christ - Redemption

- Received by faith. Gospel. Repent and believe.

I have heard it said justification means “just as if I never sinned.” I also heard from the writing of my seminary professor Dr. Jeff Dodge that it more closely means “just as if I’d always obeyed.” We don’t only get forgiveness but we get Jesus’s own right standing before God imputed to us. It’s put on us! I talk about it a lot because it’s just that amazing!

2. Sanctification - know Jesus more. Become more like Him. (v. 10)

Paul knew he wasn’t done yet. You are not done yet. I’ve talked about sanctification a lot lately in this Philippians series.

J.I. Packer wrote in Knowing God, “Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord” (Knowing God, 34).

3. Glorification - Look forward to your resurrection. (v. 11)

Trusting and resting in the finished work of Christ upon the cross and seeing His daily working in our lives making us more and more like Him should increase our anticipation for the glorious end, the final resurrection when we will see Christ and be with Him for eternity. If you skip ahead to the end of chapter 3 you will see two glorious verses that we will cover in a future message but it connects here.

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Conclusion:

The question I asked at the beginning was, “who or what do you trust?” Maybe I should also add or amend it to say “what do you treasure?” What marks your life?

Look at the distinguishing marks of someone who has been justified and is being sanctified… Marks of a Christian.

Mark 1 - Are you serving by the Spirit of God? Or are you getting bored with this whole thing?

Mark 2 - Are you boasting in Christ Jesus?

Mark 3 - Do you put no confidence in the flesh?