The Surpassing Value Of The Knowledge Of Christ

THE SURPASSING VALUE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST

"But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him" Philippians 3:7-9a. (NASB)

The value of all else pales when compared with the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, "whom to know aright is life everlasting."

I. THE KNOWLEDGE SPECIFIED

His eternal glory and power: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible…all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Colossians 1:15-17.

His redemptive work: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made abundant toward us" Ephesians 1:7-8a.

His ultimate victory: "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11.

II. THE SURPASSING VALUE OF THIS KNOWLEDGE

All knowledge is valuable but the knowledge of Christ surpasses all. Intellectual knowledge serves us well in this life but the knowledge of Christ enriches us for eternity!

When Paul compared the two, he viewed earthly knowledge and the earthly gains it engenders as "loss" and as "rubbish". He saw the know-ledge of Christ as "the pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:46) for which a man would divest himself of all earthly things in order to gain.

III. THE ESTEEM IN WHICH IT WAS HELD BY THE APOSTLE

1. Personal: "I count all things to be loss…"

2. Intellectual: "I COUNT all things to be loss…"

3. Pre-eminent: "I count all things to be loss in view of THE SURPASSING VALUE of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…"

IV. HOW WE ARE TO HANDLE THIS KNOWLEDGE

First, confirm that we possess this surpassing knowledge. “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded….” II Timothy 1:12

Second, cultivate it. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Peter 3:18.

Third, share it with others.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)