Philippians 3:4-11 Count All Things Loss

...though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 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; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. [Philippians 3:4-11 NKJV]

In Philippians 3:3, Paul has just stated that we should "have no confidence in the flesh." Continuing that thought, he describes his own credentials in the flesh: a circumcised Jew, a zealous Pharisee, blameless in the law (according to men's standards). But all of these things are meaningless in the kingdom of God. 

Compared to the knowledge of Christ Jesus, all of these things are rubbish. Not the nice rubbish that you might pick up by the side of the road, but the refuse that you flush down the toilet.

For all of Paul's credentials, none of it produced knowledge of Jesus, and none of it produce the righteousness of God.

Of much more value is the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. Through faith we know Him; we know the power of His resurrection; and we know his suffering.

Throughout my life, I have heard many talk of earthly credentials as an important part of Christian life and ministry. A doctor of theology is thought to have more knowledge and wisdom than a faithful believer who spends time every day studying the Word of God. We speak of "credentialed" or "ordained" ministers, as if the fact of ordination makes them more capable of representing the kingdom of God to the world than the gifted "layman".

Whatever things we count as gain in this life - education, skills, credentials, position, money, properties, or whatever else - we should be willing to lose them without remorse. If we consider it a great loss to lose anything in life, then it is of great importance to us. But we should consider all things other than Christ as refuse, to be thrown away.

Paul suffered the loss of all things. He was a Hebrew of Hebrews, but the Jews came to hate him. He was a Pharisee, but set aside the Law to live by faith. He was righteous in the flesh, according to the Law, but he claims no righteousness in himself anymore, only the righteousness which is through faith in Jesus.

Through faith, we know Jesus; we know the power of His resurrection; and we know the fellowship of His suffering. Paul also said,

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. [Romans 8:16-17 NKJV]

Almost every Christian will say that they want to know Jesus better. But very few will say that they want to suffer in order to know Him better. But suffering, trials and tribulation are promised to Christians. Jesus said;

"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, “who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life." [Mark 10:29-30 NKJV]

Did you notice how "persecutions" is thrown in with all of these promised blessings? They are to be embraced, not avoided. James said;

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. [James 1:2-3 NKJV]

Kingdom thinking is contrary to the flesh. What the flesh considers gain, we count as loss. What the flesh would avoid, we consider a joy.

Through it all, we must keep our eyes on our overriding goal; the resurrection from the dead, when we will finally see Jesus face to face in all of His glory.

Father, please reveal my heart and show me the things that I count as gain. Lord, I willingly give them up for you. I know that they are rubbish, and my only true gain in this life is You. Please give me the grace to keep my eyes on the goal; the resurrection from the dead, when I stand before You clothed in Your righteousness.