Background
Some people pursue a career, some pursue an education, others pursue a position, power, or status; some pursue fame or riches, others a house or car; still others a business, some a boyfriend or girlfriend, and others a cellphone.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ…
Paul had good cause to boast
Paul here, in verse 2 is referring to Judaizers who he called “dogs,” “evil workers,” and the “concision.” These people boasted in the law and their obedience (self-righteousness), and this false teaching had entered into the church at Philippi.
Paul reminded the Philippians in verse 3 that believers have no confidence in the flesh, and that our confidence is in Christ’s finished work.
Nevertheless, though these people were boasting in their good works and accomplishments, Paul had more cause to boast . . . And if salvation were based on good works – he was in there!
Verses 4-6:
Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Circumcised the eighth day… A religious rite that can be compared to baptism, communion, or church membership among us today.
Of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews… For us today, it might be having a good background, a good family name, graduated from Yale, Harvard, M.I.T., Oxford, etc.
As touching the law, a Pharisee… This was cause for boast to a Jew in those days: a good position, doctor, lawyer, actor/actress, professional athlete, priest, or Sunday school teacher today.
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church… In our time for example it might be boasting about being a faithful attender, religious, wearing a cross, repeating the Model Prayer 10 times a day, praying 3 hours a day, reading your Bible 2 hours a day and 10 chapters.
Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless… Leading a “good” life, obeying the ten commandments, not making trouble, being a nice person, doing good things for people, not going to nightclubs or other “sinful” places in our times.
Paul had good cause to boast in his day, and so may you, but Paul said in verse 7,
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Gain to me… those things which he could boast in, that made him look good to the people around him, that made him look “worthy” of the praise of men or heaven.
[He] counted loss for Christ… He saw them as negative and not worth boasting about. When God gives us a right perspective, we realize that they are in truth unhelpful, of no eternal value, and cause for boasting, whether in pursuit of them or promoting them to others. They are potential causes for distancing ourselves from Christ!
Paul had attitude adjustment on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3). At the time, he had much cause to boast, and was going to persecute Christians whom he thought were in error, when he had His perspective changed. There was a change in his heart and mind about these things when the Lord appeared to him, and he fell on his face in humility and submission. Paul realized, that in the end, God is no respecter of persons, and the only Person that mattered was not himself, but Jesus Christ.
Of course, we live in this world, but we do not have to be like those who are of it.
Of course, we need to earn a living and support our families or ourselves, but we do not have to give them our primary focus.
Of course, we need material things, but we do not have to put them first.
BUT:
The Lord tells us to put Him first and He’ll take care of the rest (Matthew 6:33).
The Lord tells us that we live by the Word of God, not bread alone (Matthew 4:4).
The Lord tells us to look unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2; put Him in our forefront).
The Lord tells us to come out from among them, and not behave as the lost (2 Corinthians 6:17).
Paul compared all his accomplishments and reasons for boasting as a write off (valueless) in comparison to pursuing Christ in verse 8. He considered them as waste. The only thing that mattered to Paul was Christ. As a matter of fact, Paul counted all these things as excrement when compared to the excellency of the knowledge Christ.
Paul counted them as waste because he saw them as not being worth keeping him from Christ; meaning, for Paul there was no greater pursuit than Christ – not riches, not fame, not degrees, not houses, cars, cellphones, or anything else on this earth.
Sometimes as Christians, we forget that all these things will be burned up (2 Peter 3:11). In the end, the only person that will matter is not us or our accomplishments, or cause for boasting, but the Lord.
Notice verse 9, the only thing that mattered to Paul was to be found in Christ - not having his own righteousness (goodness, boasting, accomplishments, etc. – what the Judaizers were teaching).
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
To Paul, nothing else mattered than to be found in Christ, not just because the alternative was hell, but most especially because a relationship with God was far more blessed than any other thing that can be gotten in life.
Are you here boasting in something? Do you somehow have confidence in your flesh that you are worthy of salvation? Is there anything worth not being found in Him (Christ) that you put a higher priority on?
What do you have that is worth not gaining Christ? Or what are you pursing that is of greater importance than pursuing Him? Causes for boasting? Getting rich? A relationship with someone else? Other?
Cast down those wicked imaginations and bring them into the subjection of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Because in the end, the only thing that will matter is being found in Christ. For we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ:
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…
Saved or lost, we will all give an account to God. And the only people that God will accept are those wearing garments washed in the blood of Christ. The only works God will accept are those done in Christ – i.e. Christ has been allowed to do through you.
Why did Paul count all things loss, but dung, and want to be found in Christ? That he may know Him (Christ, v. 10).
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death…
Of course, we all want to go to heaven, but for Paul, that was only a bonus. Nothing was worth not being found in Christ, because he wanted to know Him more. The real prize for Spirit-filled Christians is knowing Christ more intimately (cf. John 17:3).
The power of his resurrection… The power of a new life in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in the Spirit and not fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. What a pleasure it ought to be for Christians to experience this on a daily basis!
And the fellowship of his sufferings… Suffering for the name of Christ, living your life before people as a Christian, being persecuted or despised for your faith in Christ, trials and tribulations. It is no fun, but Paul wanted to experience this to have a deeper fellowship with Christ. We as Christians in the West are not too familiar with this, but our brethren in other countries are all too familiar with it.
Being made conformable unto his death… Being conformed to His image, even to the death of self, and will even in our pursuits.
Paul wanted to experience these things so he could know Christ more through them. And brother / sister when we endure these things, we have the opportunity that other believers may not have to know Christ more:
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Everything else to Paul was secondary to life in Christ (v11):
Philippians 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
If by any means… In other words, there is nothing more important than being found in Christ, and pursuing a life in Christ: Nurturing it, cultivating it, growing it, and in the end, being with Christ. Nothing to Paul was worth losing sight of eternal life in Christ; nothing more interesting; nothing more worthwhile then finishing the race. And though God had made Paul an apostle to the Gentiles, he never presumed he had made it (v12):
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”
How about us here today/tonight?
Can any of us say we are perfect? How often we have some great spiritual victory and say, “I’m mature now,” but the truth is, we are so far from it. How often do we see a brother or sister struggling and think, “they’re so immature” or “I’m more mature than they are.” But we forget,
Philippians 2:3 in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Neither Paul, nor should we, rest on our accomplishments or failures (v13):
Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Forgetting those things which are behind, means accomplishments and or failures. Forgetting, meaning that they do not become stumbling blocks for us because of pride or discouragement. Be aware of the trap or reverse pride (constantly down on yourself for a failure). Whether boasting or down on yourself – both are forms of pride because you are focusing on yourself and your success or your failure – either way your focus is on you.
The only thing that matters is what is ahead of you? The future! The past has passed, it can’t be changed.
What matters is, are you saved today? What matters is, are you still sinning? “Go and sin no more”. What matters is not that school, position, job, house, car, riches, or any other thing, but what will become of you when you stand before God.
What are you pursuing today/tonight?
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
For Paul, it was nothing other than Jesus Christ. Anything less was second best, and eternally less.
Paul saw his relationship with the Lord as something to be prized. But how do we view our relationship with the Lord? Is it a prize? How often do we get distracted by the things of this world and lose sight of our Prize?
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
What are you pursuing tonight? Who? In the end, will it matter?
The Lord tells us to lay up treasures in heaven.
The Lord tells us to bear fruit.
The Lord tells us to follow after those things which edify.
The Lord tells us to love one another.
The Lord tells us to pursue eternal things.
May the Lord grant us the grace for right perspective of the things in our lives.
In the end, the only thing that matters is whether we are found in Christ not having our own righteousness or attempting to promote it. Is that our pursuit here today? Are we pursuing the promotion of our own righteousness? It would be a waste. Only Christ matters. Everything else will be but dung (useless, worthless) before God on that day.
Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Brethren, just because you are saved does not mean you were freed to pursue the things of this world then go to heaven – you were saved to be free to worship God in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24), to glorify Him, to grow and bear fruit. Anything less will be but dung before God on that day, and you will lose rewards.
