100127 That I May Know Him
Tim Franklin
Phil. 3:7-11
1. All is Lost
A. Gains are lost. Vs 7 Kerdee—gain or advantage. Paul is referring to his life prior to meeting Christ. Paul had reason to boast because of the name and recognition he earned for himself. Paul counts all that he has gained on his own merit as loss.
i. Philippians 3:4-6 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. NKJV
ii. Acts 22:3 "I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. NKJV
iii. How much of our lives is spent earning a name and recognition for ourselves. IL. “It’s all about mean!”
iv. Paul says, I count all that earned as loss.
a. Count—to lead, think, believe. I consider my accomplishments, where I have led myself to be… loss!
b. The point in Phil 3:7-8 is not objective loss but subjective loss of value. For Paul, all value now lies in Christ, and therefore things that were once highly estimated (his zeal and legal righteousness) are now regarded as worthless. The idea is not that they are harmful to his new Christian life, and there is certainly no thought of punishment.(from Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, abridged edition, Copyright © 1985 by William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. All rights reserved.)
B. Nothing has value
i. All things—means all things. All value of things.
ii. Not merely have I "counted" them "loss," but "have" actually 'lost them.'
iii. The same word for loss appears again. It literally means that all things, all thoughts, all beliefs are considered nothing of no value in comparison with Christ.
C. Without Jesus all things are rubbish!
2. What I Gain
A. The Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
i. Excellency=huperecho—to rise above, to be superior in rank, authority, power.
ii. Christ—anointed one.
iii. Jesus—Jeshua—the Lord is salvation.
iv. Lord—master/slave owner.
B. Without Jesus all things are considered dung to Paul. Dung, [skubala, from kusi balein] - 'refuse (excrements, dregs) cast to the dogs,' as the derivation expresses. A "loss" is of something having value; but 'refuse' is thrown away as a nuisance. (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
C. Gain Christ, found in Him, with his righteousness.
3. Highest Desires
A. That I May Know Him
i. Not know about Him but know Him as He is.
ii. To know not just the works of Christ but to know the person of Christ.
B. Be conformed to His death.
i. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. NKJV
ii. Luke 9:23-25 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? NKJV
C. Attain the resurrection of the dead.
i. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. NKJV
ii. 1 Corinthians 6:14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. NKJV
4. Course of Action:
A. Know that you have not attained—no matter how good you think you are. 3:12
i. There is more to know of Him every day!
B. Press 3:12, 14. Diookoo-to run swiftly after in order to catch, to seek after eagerly. Two times Paul says this.
C. Forgetting what is behind.
i. You have to forget the failures.
ii. You have to forget the successes.
D. Reach forward to those things which are ahead.
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