Pursuing Christ At All Costs

Introduction:

· Children want to grow up – and we all want to grow as people.

LET’S LOOK AT THE CALLING, THE COUNTING, AND THE KNOWING.

I) Christians are Called to Become Christ-like

A. We Are Saved and Sanctified by Grace

i. Christian Growth is not like getting a Christmas present from Ikea:.

1. Do we receive a gift…and then work under crushing labor?

2. Christian growth: “You’re saved by grace…but now, the burden of work!”

ii. But rather, Christian Growth is a work of God’s grace

1. God adopts us, and since he loves us, he forms us! (Phil. 2:13)

Philippians 2:13 ESV

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

2. QUOTE: ‘tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

B. We are Sanctified by Yielding to the Holy Spirit

i. Yet Christian Growth is never a passive thing (Phil. 2:12)

Philippians 2:12 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

1. Christians are instructed, commanded, urged – to work with the Spirit

2. Growing in Christ-likeness requires active participation

ii. Therefore we ought to look for growth in our lives

1. Christian Growth happens as we hear the gospel: the means of grace

2. Christian Growth is a marathon and not a sprint

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION : “DO YOU WANT TO BECOME MORE CHRIST-LIKE? PAUL SHOWS US TWO WAYS TO DO THAT. FIRST, WE COUNT OUR GAINS AS LOSSES.

II) We Become Christ-like By Counting Gains as Losses

A. We boast in our personal gains

i. Paul warns those who boast in personal gains, (vv. 2-6)

1. “Evildoers, mutilators, dogs” were boasting in personal gains (vs. 2)

2. Paul could have boasted in his personal gain (vv. 4-6)

a. Ethnic status: “pure” – Hebrew of Hebrews, tribe of Benjamin

b. Moral status: Obedient – as to righteousness under the law…

c. Professional status: educated A Pharisee

d. Personal zeal: convictions serious enough to persecute the church

ii. What personal gains do we boast in?

1. Job? Degree? A white picket fence? Good Behavior? Political opinion?

2. EXAMPLE: What do you brag about at a reunion or on a first date

iii. Our personal Gains can prevent us from knowing Jesus

1. We may to think that our life is full, complete satisfying without Jesus

2. We may think that we are so good that we don’t need a savior

B. We must Count Personal Gains as Losses (vv.7-8a)

i. Christians count their “gains” as losses

1. Paul’s way of life: Continually counting gains as table-scraps

2. EXAMPLE: a ship in a storm throws everything overboard to survive

ii. Are we counting Our Gains as Losses?

1. Will we learn NOT to boast in our “gains” in our standing before God?

2. Will we learn NOT to boast in our “LOSSES” in our standing before God

IF THE FIRST PART OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH IS *NOT* LOOKING TO OUR RESUME, THE SECOND PART POINTS US TO WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.

III) We Become Christ-like By Knowing Jesus

A. Christians have A Holy Ambition to know Jesus Christ (vv. 8)

i. Knowing Jesus is being found “in him” by faith (vs. 9)

1. Knowing Jesus means an identity built on his righteousness, not yours

2. Knowing Jesus: Who you are in Christ is more precious than anything else

ii. Knowing Jesus is being shaped by the cross

1. Knowing Jesus: shaped by his suffering, death & resurrection (vs. 11)

2. Knowing Jesus is relational: obedience, delight, conformity

B. God grants Christians the Grace to KnowJesus Christ

i. When you sense this is too great an ambition…

1. When you feel discouraged/despair about growingin Jesus

2. When you feel indifferent or apathetic owingJesus

ii. We glory in Christ: (vv. 3-4)

1. We glory in those things which are deeply precious to us

2. We glory in Jesus who counted everything a loss in order to gain us

WE’VE SAID THAT WE ARE CALLED TO GROW IN CHRISTLIKENESS. WE DO THIS BY COUNTING OUR GAINS AS LOSSES, AND BY KNOWING Jesus.

Conclusion

What hangs in the balance?