THE PRICELESS VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST
There are an estimated 4000 religions in the world. The most prominent world religions are Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism. According to the Pew Research Center, more than eight in ten people, or about 85% of the world’s population, identify with a religious group. About 95% of those people adhere to one of the prominent religions (or one of its subgroups).
Imagine devoting your whole life and giving your entire heart to a way of life that ultimately fails to achieve or deliver the goal of your devotion? Imagine devoting your whole life to a religion that ended up leading to nowhere? This is what happened to the Apostle Paul, but in His story, he willingly threw away all he ever knew and achieved, but why? Because Paul encountered THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.
MAIN SCRIPTURE: Philippians 3:1-21 & 4:1
V. 1-3
Although there was no evidence that the church in Philippi had strayed from the faith, Paul's missionary experience told him that it would only be a matter of time before the believers there would encounter a challenge from the enemies of the gospel. FLBC, p 1109
There was the constant threat of false teachers coming from two extremes: (a) those who claim that, in addition to faith in Christ, people must follow certain legal requirements in order to gain spiritual salvation, also known as a Judaizer and (b) those who believe that since salvation comes by God's grace through faith, we can ignore God's moral laws (ch. 3). In theological terms (i.e.. the study of religion and God, particularly relating to the Christian faith), people in the first category of false teaching are often called legalists, while people in the second group are antinomians ("against the law") or libertines (Le., people who are unrestrained morally). -Unknown
Circumcision had been instituted by God as a sign of Israel's participation in the covenant (Gen. 17:9ff.) It became meaningless as the Israelites, though circumcised, persisted in breaking that very covenant. In light of their spiritual condition, the prophets looked for a day when Israel would carry within their beings the sign of the covenant, a condition described as being circumcised in their hearts (Jer. 4:4; Ezek. 44:7). -FLBC, p 1110
V. 4-11
Paul appeals to his own real-life experience and testimony. If anyone knows the futile thinking and worthless value of human effort, it was he.
Paul was a faithful and zealous jew who practiced Judaism to a “t.” Paul had the platinum membership card. He followed the law without a fault, and was a member of the Pharisees (Teachers of Judaism) who demanded the strictest obedience.
Paul was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin, by tradition, was the only one of Jacob's sons born in the Promised Land. This tribe occupied the territory that included Jerusalem and the temple (which represented the presence of Yahweh in the midst of his people). Benjamin was the tribe from which Israel's first king, Saul, came (for whom Paul was named). At the time of Ezra, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin formed the nucleus of the restored nation of Israel, and the tribe of Benjamin carried a favored social status. FLBC, p 1111
What were the different law classifications, and in total, how many laws existed?
Ceremonial regulations (pertaining to the worship of God and the sacrificial system), the civil laws (focusing on helping Israelites live as God's people in harmony with one another and their neighbors), and the moral law (e.g., the 10 Commandments, on which other laws were built). An entire tradition of oral law, designed to prevent the pious Israelite from breaking the Mosaic Law, had developed and was codified. This oral code added countless regulations. It has been Paul's goal as a Pharisee to follow all those laws as a result of keeping them, he hoped to be deemed righteous. -FLBC p 1113
The Pharisees observed 613 Laws in the Torah, which consisted of 248 commands to action and 365 prohibitions. To ensure they did not accidentally break any of these laws, they created “hedges” or traditions around the Laws. The idea was to establish enough traditions that a person would have to break a tradition before potentially breaking an explicit provision of the Law. A well-known example of these traditions was the thirty-nine acts prohibited on the Sabbath. However, serious problems arose when the Pharisees began determining a person’s orthodoxy by their respect for these fences, and they established new laws to fill what they perceived as gaps in Scripture’s guidance. -Ron Moseley, Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church (Baltimore, MD: Messianic Jewish Publishers, 1996), 90–91.
V. 7-9
Paul has forsaken his entire previous religious beliefs and life, counting it all worthless in comparison to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. He once counted on and put his faith in his own righteousness or works, which never made him truly righteous, but now he knows that he became righteous through his faith in Christ. “For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”
"Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" is not a written or formalized body of knowledge. The term gnosis points to the act of knowing rather than the content of knowledge. Paul's relationship with Christ did not come as he studied about him (as it did in regard to the law), but occurred in a face-to-face confrontation with Christ on the road to Damascus. On the basis of that experience with Christ, Paul lost all the things he once valued as the means of achieving favor with God. FLBC, p 1112
V. 10-11
Now all Paul wants is to know and experience more of Jesus. Paul wants to experience the power of Jesus and is even willing to suffer with him to the point of death, so that one way or the other, he would be able to experience the resurrection of the dead!
The motivation for adherence to the law (both written and oral) was their hope of being raised from the dead. Which is interesting because Paul discovers this is only found through faith in Christ.
V. 12-16
Paul sees his relationship with Christ like a race, a marathon. He knows there is more growth and, most importantly, the prize of the race, which is the fullness of Christ.
So he forgets what’s behind and presses on towards what is ahead. Paul doesn’t let his past hinder him; he keeps his focus on pursuing Jesus and progressing in spiritual maturity, but also experiencing more of Christ.
Paul was no longer following a list of laws with boxes to check off and then feel good about himself. Paul was following Jesus, which came with new experiences, new growth, and new purposeful work to do every day. There was no arriving on this side of heaven.
Just as He said in Philippians 1:21, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
V. 17-21;4:1
Paul is warning the church and us to be careful whose example we follow. Follow the example of the apostles and those the apostles have discipled.
Look out for those who are enemies of the cross. They either teach faith in their works or deny any moral law. They live for their own appetites or selfish ambition, brag about shameful things, and focus more on building their lives on earth.
Paul points them back to recognize their Citizenship of heaven and eternity. We are just temporary residents in this world. Remember, we live in this world, but we are not of it. If I may, we have one foot in Christ here on earth and one foot in eternity. Our hearts are not tied to the things of the world; instead, our time, our talents, and our treasures are eagerly waiting and investing in what is eternal.
Application
Trust in Christ, Not Yourself
There's no hope in religious works for salvation and eternal life, so don't place your faith in them.
A woman was arguing with her pastor about this matter of faith and works. “I think that getting to heaven is like rowing a boat,” she said. “One oar is faith, and the other is works. If you use both, you get there. If you use only one, you go around in circles.” “There is only one thing wrong with your illustration,” replied the pastor. “Nobody is going to heaven in a rowboat!” There is only one “good work that takes the sinner to heaven: the finished work of Christ on the cross (John 17:1-4; 19:30; Hebrews 10:11-14).
If you’re trying to attain God’s love, grace, or eternal life through a list of duties or laws, you’re wasting your time. He gives all of this when we place our faith in Christ, believing that Jesus has already paid for our sin so we can be forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life.
Our standing with God isn’t built on our works, our rules, or our religious devotion; it is built on Jesus Christ. Placing your hope and faith in Christ and building your life on Christ is not in vain.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is rest for the weary soul.
A true relationship with God begins not by keeping physical rites but through a Spiritual work of the heart.
Paul put his faith in a spiritual circumcision done by Jesus, a cutting away of the sinful nature by the Holy Spirit. Colossians 2:11-14, When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
Forget the Past
To forget in the Bible means “no longer to be influenced by or affected by.” When God promises, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more (Heb. 10:17), He is not suggesting that He will conveniently have a bad memory! This is impossible with God. What God is saying is, “I will no longer hold their sins against them. Their sins can no longer affect their standing with Me or influence My attitude toward them.” “Forgetting those things which are behind” simply means that we break the power of the past by living for the future. We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past. There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back (1 Tim. 1:12-17), but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. -Warren Wiersbe
Paul gave up a whole life of devout Judaism and tireless devotion in a moment when he met Jesus. Everything Paul was looking for was found in Jesus. Paul considered everything garbage in comparison to the infinite value of knowing Christ.
It's easier to let go of the past and this world once Christ is present.
This is one of the joys of knowing Christ.
Matthew 13:44-46 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. 45 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Certainly don’t go back into your old ways, and if works of the flesh were your focus, leave that behind for good!
Press On
Salvation was not the finish line, and there is no “arriving” until Christ returns. Paul wasn’t satisfied with salvation; he wanted to experience the life of Christ in every way possible. Paul’s journey of following Jesus led him to be the author of 13 books in the New Testament and successfully bring the gospel to the Gentiles in Asia Minor, which has multiplied around the world.
The mature Christian honestly evaluates themselves and strives to do better. Aren't we always immature and need to grow until we come into eternity?
Philippians 3:12 NIV Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Have you progressed in your following of Jesus to discover that which Christ Jesus has taken hold of you? Or perhaps, you have grown complacent. Perhaps, you have not pressed on in seeking, following, and imitating the life of Christ? There is a greater measure of joy, love, peace, purpose, impact, and fulfillment as you press on. There’s more to the life of Christ to experience and share.
Look Up
Philippians 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Discussion
What is one thing from the message that resonated with you?
What’s the difference between knowing about Jesus and personally knowing Jesus?
Pastor Ryan said, “There’s no hope in religious works for salvation.” How would you explain that truth to someone who believes their good deeds will get them to heaven?
What does it really mean to “forget” in the biblical sense, especially when memories or regrets still come up?
How can remembering God’s grace help us release the weight of our past failures?
How can we encourage one another to keep growing and not become complacent in our walk with God?
Philippians 3:17-19 warns us about enemies of the cross. What are some characteristics of people who are “enemies of the cross”?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
What can we pray for regarding the sermon? Do you have any prayer needs?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!