APRIL 21, 2025 – GAIN OR LOSS

READ: Phil. 3:7-9:  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith …

Paul has just demonstrated how he could also boast in matters of the flesh: he was circumcised, a Jew, even a Pharisee, a persecutor of the non-Jewish church, and blameless in keeping the law.

In the eyes of the Jews, he would have been a great man. But if he had continued placing his trust in those things, he would have suffered a great loss now that he has come to know Christ. Compared to the fellowship with Christ, all of this is rubbish.

Paul once thought it was gain—that he was a superior Jew and that he made a good impression before God. But now that he knows Christ as Lord, as his Master, he sees everything in his life before his conversion as loss, as worthless garbage.

All those past accomplishments no longer fit within his fellowship with Christ. Knowing Christ is not just intellectual knowledge; it is loving Him with heart, soul, and strength and living in true communion with Him by faith.

Paul adds: He is my Lord, meaning He now has authority over me. I now live with and for Him.

From now on, Paul’s goal is to embrace Christ as his Savior, receiving righteousness and justification before God through Him and His atonement. This righteousness is given by God, not earned through good works or the law.

Paul receives it through faith in Christ. In this way, he knows himself to be found in Christ, safe and secure (v.9; Col. 3:3).

Are there things in your life that you should discard as rubbish?

Sing: Ps. 32:3,5