Philippians 3:7-11 says...
Today's verses are Philippians 3:7-11, which read,
v.7 - But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Last time Paul pulled out his "duffle bag of pride" to make the point that if we could earn our salvation or needed to add to our salvation our contribution then he was more qualified than any of them and the false teachers. His bag was full of personal accomplishments and entitlements given to him because of his heritage to obviously give him a privileged position over others.
To this, Paul called his "duffle bag of pride" not a gain but a loss. The bag by the world's standard would be a gain but in the Lord's standard it is a loss. It is not building Paul up before God's eyes but actually holding him down. His hands are holding his duffle bag rather than holding Jesus' hands.
v.8 - More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,...
To know Christ is more than just a knowledge of Him but a personal experience with Him. Paul knows Him as Christ, the Messiah, Jesus, the God-man who has come to save sinners, and His personal Lord, the master of his life who he submits all to and submits to fulfilling His will. He goes on to say that his "duffle bag of pride" is not just a loss but it is actually rubbish or garbage, waste, dung, or manure in light of this type of relationship with Christ. Paul stands with no duffle bag and doesn't want it back.
v.9-11 - ...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, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Instead of a "duffle bag of pride" that was a loss and rubbish, Paul wants to be found in Christ. He wants to be found knowing Christ in the deepest sense of the word. He wants to be found proclaiming Christ's resurrection, He is risen. He wants to be found suffering for Christ because of the gospel that Christ brought and proclaimed, to be in fellowship in suffering with Christ doing and saying what Christ had done and said. He wanted to be found willing to die to reach sinners with the gospel. Jesus did die to redeem sinners and Paul wanted to be found willing to give his life to tell of Jesus' willing sacrifice for them.
Being found in Christ means that we will also be resurrected from the dead to be with Him. Nothing in the "duffle bag of pride" could make this happen. The question this morning is how will you be found? Will you be found with your hands around your duffle bag or your arms and hands around Jesus? Is your life characterized by pursuit of things to put in your duffle bag or is it characterized by a proclaiming and displaying Christ Jesus your Lord? This is another situation where you can not have it both ways. You can't serve both God and mammon. Drop the bag and grab onto Jesus. Let's pray.
"Lord, to be found in You. To know this morning what that looks like through these verses. To have a deep personal relationship with You; to proclaim Your resurrection; to suffer for Your gospel to be spread; and to be willing to give my life for the spreading of that gospel. May I be found in You and help me to drop my bag of manure. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.7 - But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Last time Paul pulled out his "duffle bag of pride" to make the point that if we could earn our salvation or needed to add to our salvation our contribution then he was more qualified than any of them and the false teachers. His bag was full of personal accomplishments and entitlements given to him because of his heritage to obviously give him a privileged position over others.
To this, Paul called his "duffle bag of pride" not a gain but a loss. The bag by the world's standard would be a gain but in the Lord's standard it is a loss. It is not building Paul up before God's eyes but actually holding him down. His hands are holding his duffle bag rather than holding Jesus' hands.
v.8 - More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,...
To know Christ is more than just a knowledge of Him but a personal experience with Him. Paul knows Him as Christ, the Messiah, Jesus, the God-man who has come to save sinners, and His personal Lord, the master of his life who he submits all to and submits to fulfilling His will. He goes on to say that his "duffle bag of pride" is not just a loss but it is actually rubbish or garbage, waste, dung, or manure in light of this type of relationship with Christ. Paul stands with no duffle bag and doesn't want it back.
v.9-11 - ...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, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Instead of a "duffle bag of pride" that was a loss and rubbish, Paul wants to be found in Christ. He wants to be found knowing Christ in the deepest sense of the word. He wants to be found proclaiming Christ's resurrection, He is risen. He wants to be found suffering for Christ because of the gospel that Christ brought and proclaimed, to be in fellowship in suffering with Christ doing and saying what Christ had done and said. He wanted to be found willing to die to reach sinners with the gospel. Jesus did die to redeem sinners and Paul wanted to be found willing to give his life to tell of Jesus' willing sacrifice for them.
Being found in Christ means that we will also be resurrected from the dead to be with Him. Nothing in the "duffle bag of pride" could make this happen. The question this morning is how will you be found? Will you be found with your hands around your duffle bag or your arms and hands around Jesus? Is your life characterized by pursuit of things to put in your duffle bag or is it characterized by a proclaiming and displaying Christ Jesus your Lord? This is another situation where you can not have it both ways. You can't serve both God and mammon. Drop the bag and grab onto Jesus. Let's pray.
"Lord, to be found in You. To know this morning what that looks like through these verses. To have a deep personal relationship with You; to proclaim Your resurrection; to suffer for Your gospel to be spread; and to be willing to give my life for the spreading of that gospel. May I be found in You and help me to drop my bag of manure. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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