2/9/03 INI Phil. 3:7-11

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Who gave all of Himself in order that He might gain us for Himself,

The little boy liked to play with his cap-shooting rifle. The problem was that it had to be fixed often, usually with tape. In a few minutes the gun was ready to shoot, thanks to some good quality duct tape. Favorite toys can often be fixed rather easily. Those of you who hate to throw anything away, know and appreciate how the old and the broken may still be used. We can do that with things.

But there is one area of our lives where we can not fix-up what is used and broken in order to make it fit with the new. I am speaking of our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul says nothing of "fixing" his old life so that Christ could be added to it. Instead, he speaks of losing everything for Christ. Oh, but this is so hard! We are lead to ask the apostle: "Is it really so?

"Yes!" True, Paul does not say that we must lose everything we own in order to be Christians. But in v. 7 he speaks of "whatever things were gain" to him. What does he mean? Whatever things about himself that he once counted on to find acceptance with God; whatever his flesh boasted about as worthy in him. These things he counted as loss.

What were these things? Paul mentions them in the verses prior to our text. Do men take pride in their ancestry, their pedigree, their family name or tradition? So did Paul. He was born, Saul, of "the stock of Israel," of the proud tribe of "Benjamin." He was a "Hebrew of Hebrews." The "best of the best," we would say. Everyone looked up to him.

As far as the Law of Moses was concerned, Paul was a "pharisee." Today a person doesn't want to be called a "pharisee." But at that time, the pharisees were the most respected "holy men" among the Jews. These people prided themselves in keeping all the commandments contained in the Law. Paul thought of himself as everyone else did -- that he was "without blame" when it came to the righteousness demanded by the Law.

He had also been one of those highly respected Jews who persecuted the Christian Church with great zeal. If anyone was satisfied with his standing before God, it was Paul. What a fine person he thought he was; and how good he seemed to be in the eyes of all who knew him. He was satisfied with his own family background, his superior knowledge, his independence, his prayers and good deeds. At least he was better than most, that's for sure!

So today, there is a tendency in us all to feel that we are as good as most, and better than some.

What is it that causes a person to look at his neighbor's sins and weaknesses, and think: "I'm glad I'm not like that!" -- self righteousness!

Why does the holy Law of God so clearly reveal the sins of others to our eyes, while our own sins may seem so hazy, so gray rather than black? -- Self-righteousness!

Why do some think that they can go for months, even years without the benefit of the Lord's Supper? -- Self righteousness!

Who are they who count on church attendance to save them, even occasional attendance? Who are they who think, "I'm a decent person." . . . "I pay my bills." . . . "I'm honest." . . . "I'm faithful to my wife," . . . I'm active in the service of my community," . . . People like me, therefore I must be good." . . . and so on?

All this is the thinking of those who count their own family history, their works, their service, their kindness, their reputation, their honor, their success, as gain before God. This is proof that they show a profit margin with God, that they have more than made up for their sins!

If anyone suggests that we are not as gainful before God as we thought, not as pure as we imagined ourselves to be, then the fight begins! Many people would rather lie about their sins, and justify themselves rather than face the truth. Many would rather "save face" than save their souls when they fall into sin. Many would rather leave their family or their church, than to give up their pride, their sense of self-righteousness.

Do you see how impossible it is for anyone to confess from his heart that ALL his righteousness is no more than "filthy rags" before God? No wonder we must "suffer" the loss of all this "righteousness" we count as gain.

Paul did not give up all his Jewish excellences and righteousness because he wanted to. What Paul says in the original Greek of v. 8 is that he was "made to suffer the loss" of all these things. God alone finally struck Paul in his heart with the reality and the enormity of his sins and his condemnation. Only then did Paul see that "the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus" was his salvation, while all that he knew before about his own righteousness was nothing but "rubbish."

So may we also be made to heap dirt upon our own righteousness and consider all our own works as loss. For

To be "found in Christ" is to attain much more than we have lost!" To be found in Christ means first that we have a better righteousness, a perfect righteousness before God! Not that righteousness which is from the Law -- which can only condemn us as falling short of God's glory; but the righteousness which "is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith!" This is the right-standing before God which is freely given and counted to all who trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins. It comes not from any works, but as Paul says -- "from God by faith." No one can have both the righteousness which is from the Law AND the righteousness which is by faith in Christ! It's always one or the other with every human being. The end of all self-righteousness worked by Law is everlasting death! For "by the deeds of the Law no flesh shall be justified in His (God's) sight." (Rom. 3:20) But the end of that perfect righteousness received from God by faith in Christ is everlasting life!

Do you see how blessed you are whenever God causes you to suffer the loss of everything in which you may pride yourself before Him?

Paul tells of God's saving purpose when God snatched every fleshly confidence away from him. At that very instant God wanted to make Paul "gain Christ" and to be found in Him" as having the true righteousness which brings life eternal! Then and there, Paul "got to know Him (Christ) and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His (Christ's) death. (V. 10)

When Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), Paul "got to know Him and the power of His resurrection!" -- Not in a purely intellectual way, but in a personal and saving way as his Lord and Redeemer from sin!

"To know Christ" and be "found in Him" meant that Paul would also know "the fellowship" of Christ's "sufferings" even as far as death. So every true Christian knows and undergoes all kinds of trials and suffering and crucifying of the flesh for Christ's sake, and then dies in His saving name. But he dies with the certain hope of Paul, that no matter how or by what means death may come, he will "attain" to the resurrection from the dead." (v. 11)

Must we lose all in order to gain Christ? Yes, if we want to life with our God in heaven. Didn't our Lord Himself say that the kingdom of heaven is like a "merchant seeking fine pearls, who upon finding one pearl of great value went and sold all that he had in order to buy it"? That's exactly what the apostle Paul was led to do -- He lost all that he had previously counted as righteousness and gain before God, in order to be "found in Christ."

The time is surely coming when we all will be found somewhere. God grant that when each of us is found, it will not be with our own righteousness, but with the priceless Pearl of Christ's righteousness! Amen.