The Secret of Joy in the Lord: "Because of Christ" (Philippians 3:7-11)
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.
If a husband and wife love each other, they enjoy being together and seek true joy and satisfaction in each other. Likewise, if we truly love the Lord, we will desire to be with Him and seek true joy and satisfaction in Him.
But verse 2, on the contrary, warns us to "beware of dogs." “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of those who insist on circumcision” (Philippians 3:2). The circumcised Jews, who are called 'dogs' here, are those who boast in themselves instead of Christ and trust in the flesh rather than in Christ. They seek joy in their own abilities and achievements rather than in the Lord.
However, Paul was a man with the best qualifications that people envied at the time, and he was someone who could trust in his own abilities and achievements. "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; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the law, blameless" (Philippians 3:5–6). Before knowing Christ, Paul boasted about himself, trusted in his flesh, and was proud.
But after meeting Christ, Paul began to see as harmful the things he had previously held so dear. Circumcision on the eighth day was not harmful in itself. Being an Israelite, being from the tribe of Benjamin, being a Hebrew among Hebrews, being a Pharisee in the law, and being blameless in the righteousness of the law were not harmful in themselves. Clearly, even in Paul's time and today, these worldly qualifications that people boast about and take pleasure in are not harmful but beneficial in a worldly sense.
But in verse 7-8, Paul confesses: "Whatever was gain to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Moreover, I count all things as loss because of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish for Christ’s sake."
Then why did the apostle Paul confess that he considered the things he had previously regarded as beneficial to be harmful and refuse? And why did he say that he had actually lost them all? The answer is found in the latter part of verse 8 and verse 9: "That I may gain Christ and be found in Him. And not to have my own righteousness that is from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
Paul says, "so that I may be found in Christ." Before finding Christ, no matter how excellent my qualifications are, I am still a lost person who needs to be ‘found.’ The Lord said He came to this earth "to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). Before knowing Christ, we were abandoned in the universe. Whether we had outstanding qualifications or not, we were like lost sheep, each going our own way, not knowing where to go. True repentance and faith to be found by the Lord does not mean ‘adding’ Jesus to my qualifications, but rather, considering all that I have as harmful and rubbish, and laying down everything for Jesus’ sake.
Also, in the latter part of verse 9, Paul says: "Not my own righteousness which is from the law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ," meaning to obtain righteousness from God based on faith. Is keeping the law good or bad? Of course, it is good. But Paul warns: "You who are trying to be justified by the works of the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace" (Galatians 5:4). Keeping the law is not bad; it is good. Yet Paul goes to great lengths to say that trying to be justified by keeping the law would make Christ's death in vain and show contempt for His grace. "If righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing" (Galatians 2:21).
"By the works of the law no flesh will be justified" (Galatians 2:16). Like the circumcised Jews Paul called “dogs,” those who seek their own righteousness from the law boast in themselves instead of Christ and trust in the flesh rather than Christ. These people seek joy in their own abilities and achievements instead of the Lord. They are arrogant, underestimate God’s required righteousness, and overestimate themselves. Paul says this pursuit of self-righteousness is harmful and like rubbish.
But after meeting Christ, Paul’s values and judgments completely changed. For Paul, life was all about gaining Christ, being found in Him, and having the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. In a word, Paul confessed, “Christ is everything.” That is why he could always rejoice in the Lord in any situation.
We often think, “It was Paul who could make such a confession.” Of course, Paul had a special mission, and his faith was extraordinary. But is this confession only for Paul? Paul says clearly: "Follow my example, everyone" (Phil. 3:17). Paul considered all worldly qualifications as excrement and harm to gain Christ. We are commanded to do the same. We too can and should think like Paul because, like him, we can always live a joyful life in the Lord in any situation.
So what can we do to follow Paul’s example? Let me share two things.
First, I believe Paul lived a joyful life in the Lord because of the Lord’s promise of an abundant life, which he enjoyed. About three or four months before Jesus was crucified, He said, "I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus died for us so that we could have life and enjoy it abundantly. The benefit Jesus gave us by dying for us is life and the ability to live abundantly. Paul describes this abundant life as follows:
"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). "For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son" (Romans 5:10). Paul says receiving forgiveness of sins and being reconciled to God is life, and enjoying this is abundant life.
"Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live with Him" (1 Thessalonians 5:10). "He died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:15). Walking with the Lord and living with Him is new and abundant life.
"Jesus himself took on flesh and blood just as we do, so that through death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to slavery" (Hebrews 2:14-15). "Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that by means of death He might redeem people from transgressions committed under the first covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promised eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15). Living as one who has received the eternal inheritance without fear of death is new and abundant life.
This amazing privilege cannot be bought or enjoyed by any amount of money, power, position, or righteous deeds in the world. Therefore, because the Lord died for us, only we Christians can enjoy this privilege and abundant life.
Then, what is another reason Paul could live a joyful life in the Lord? In verse 8, Paul confesses, "I consider everything else loss because of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." So, even though Paul faced death, his greatest desire was to know Jesus Christ. His deepest wish was to know Him better. When we live valuing the knowledge of Jesus Christ as the most precious thing, we discover the secret to true joy in Christ in any circumstance.
Most Christians begin their faith journey with joy and excitement when they first receive Jesus. However, over time, that joy often fades. So the Lord commanded the church in Ephesus to restore their first love. Paul was able to live in constant joy and excitement because he continually got to know the Lord. If we stop growing in knowing the Lord, the joy He gives will gradually disappear. Lack of joy in the Lord often means we are not prioritizing knowing Christ.
The Lord said, "I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Jesus is the good shepherd who leads us to abundant life. He gave His life for us. But only the sheep who hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him can enjoy this abundant life. Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). However, worldly temptations, worries, pleasures, and responsibilities can distract us from hearing His voice. Because we still tend to go our own way, if we do not take time to hear the Lord’s voice and get to know Him, we drift away from Him. The world’s distractions may seem more delicious, precious, and fun, causing our spiritual lives to become desolate. Though the Holy Spirit lives within us, we may delay repentance and decisions, continuing to postpone change.
The abundant life and joy the Lord gives can only be enjoyed in the relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep. If you have not prioritized hearing the Lord’s voice and knowing Him, repent and return to enjoy abundant life and joy in the Lord.
Being saved by the Lord’s grace, having reconciliation with God, fellowship with the Lord, a clear purpose to live for Him, living without fear with assurance of salvation, enjoying peace with other believers, knowing and practicing God’s love—this is abundant life. May we all enjoy this wonderful privilege, prioritize fellowship with the Lord, and live abundant and joyful lives in the Lord, in Jesus’ name.
