Reverend Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church, Kenya Assemblies of God
Philippians 3:7
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Paul counted these things loss. It was not so much that they were a loss by their very character, as much as he chose to regard them as loss. They were counted loss not so much because they were harmful to Paul, but because these things were ways in which Paul sought to please God in the energies of the flesh. Before Paul became a Christian, he thought all these things made him a success in the effort to please God by works.
Paul’s Utter Confidence in a Living Relationship with Jesus Christ
Philippians 3:8
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.
Paul did not only count his religious pedigree as a loss; he counted all things loss—but he counted them as loss in view of the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. It was not so much that those things were worthless in themselves, but compared to the greatness of the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, they really were nothing.
Paul here put a personal relationship with Jesus Christ at the very center of the Christian’s life. He joyfully accepted the loss of all other things for the greatness of this personal relationship. In Philippians 3:7, Paul said that he counted; in this verse he said I also count. This first counting was at his conversion; the second—some thirty years later—was in his Roman prison. After all he had experienced, he still counted it worthy to give everything up for the sake of following Jesus.
“After years of experience Paul had an opportunity of revising his balance‑sheet, and looking again at his estimates, and seeing whether or not his counting was correct. What was the issue of his latest search? How do matters stand at his last stocktaking? He exclaims with very special emphasis, ‘Yea doubtless; and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.’” (Spurgeon)
For whom I have suffered the loss of all things: This counting loss was not merely an internal spiritual exercise. Paul had indeed suffered the loss of all things that he might gain Christ. This is demonstrated by the place and circumstances under which Paul wrote this letter—a Roman prison, where he truly could say that he had suffered the loss of all things.
Count them as rubbish: Paul here used strong language. Literally, Paul considered them as excrement—as dung; not only as worthless, but as offensive. The ancient Greek word for rubbish had one of two uses. It could describe excrement from the body or table scraps that were fit only to be thrown to the dogs. We may suppose that Paul would be comfortable with either meaning in this context. This word also means the vilest dross or refuse of anything; the worst excrement. This shows how utterly insignificant and unavailing, in point of salvation, the apostle esteemed everything but the gospel of Jesus.
The Spiritual Benefits of His Gain in Jesus Christ
Philippians 3:9
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.
Because Paul was in Him, he could renounce his own righteousness and live by the righteousness which is from God by faith. The foundation for his spiritual life was in what Jesus had done for him and not in what he had done, was doing, or would do for Jesus in the future. We often take pride in our work for Christ rather than His death for us.
Paul here exposed the great difference between the legal relationship stressed by his opponents and his personal connection with Jesus Christ. The difference is between living and trusting in your own righteousness and living and trusting in God’s righteousness given through faith in Christ.
“He disowns his own righteousness as eagerly as other men disown their sins, and he highly esteems the righteousness which Christ has wrought out for us, which becomes ours by faith.” (Spurgeon)
Paul’s Experience of a Personal Relationship with Jesus
Philippians 3:10-11
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.
That I may know Him: This was the simple plea of Paul’s heart. It was a plea unknown to the legalist, who must necessarily focus on his own performance and status to find some kind of peace with God. But Paul wanted Jesus, not self.
There is a difference between knowing someone and knowing about someone. To know Jesus is not the same as knowing His historical life; it is not the same as knowing correct doctrines regarding Jesus; it is not the same as knowing His moral example, and it is not the same as knowing His great work on our behalf.
We can say that we know someone because we recognize him: because we can distinguish what is different about him compared to other people.
We can say that we know someone because we are acquainted with what he does; we know the baker because we get our bread from him.
We can say that we know someone because we actually converse with him; we are on speaking terms with that person.
We can say that we know someone because we spend time in his house and with his family.
We can say that we know someone because we have committed our life to him and live with him every day, sharing every circumstance as in a marriage.
Yet beyond all this, there is a way of knowing Jesus Christ that includes all of these yet goes beyond them.
“They tell me he is a refiner, that he cleanses from spots; he has washed me in his precious blood, and to that extent I know him. They tell me that he clothes the naked; he hath covered me with a garment of righteousness, and to that extent I know him. They tell me that he is a breaker, and that he breaks fetters, he has set my soul at liberty, and therefore I know him. They tell me that he is a king and that he reigns over sin; he hath subdued my enemies beneath his feet, and I know him in that character. They tell me he is a shepherd: I know him for I am his sheep. They say he is a door: I have entered in through him, and I know him as a door. They say he is food: my spirit feeds on him as on the bread of heaven, and, therefore, I know him as such.” (Spurgeon)
And the power of His resurrection: Knowing Jesus means knowing this power, the new life that is imparted to us now, not when we die.
“He wants to know in an experiential way the power of Christ’s resurrection. That is, he wants to experience the same power that raised Christ from the dead surging through his own being, overcoming sin in his life and producing the Christian graces.” (Wuest)
“I do not think, however, that Paul is here thinking so much of the power displayed in the resurrection, as of the power which comes out of it, which may most properly be called, ‘the power of his resurrection.’ This the apostle desired to apprehend and to know.” (Spurgeon)
The power of His resurrection is an evidencing power. It is the evidence and seal that everything Jesus did and said was true.
The power of His resurrection is a justifying power. It is the receipt and proof that the sacrifice of the cross was accepted as payment in full.
The power of His resurrection is a life-giving power. It means that those who are connected with Jesus Christ receive the same resurrection life.
The power of His resurrection is a consoling and comforting power. It promises that our friends and loved ones who are dead in Christ live with Him.
And the fellowship of His sufferings: Knowing Jesus also means knowing this fellowship of His sufferings. It is all part of following Jesus and being in Christ. We can say that suffering is part of our heritage as the children of God; we get to be part of the family of suffering:
Romans 8:17
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.
Being conformed to His death: This reminds us that being in Christ also means being “in” His death. These words had particular relevance to Paul, who faced possible martyrdom.
If, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead: Paul was not morbidly focused on suffering and death in the Christian life. He saw that they were a necessary way to the goal of resurrection life right now and the ultimate resurrection from the dead. This was a goal that was worth any means to Paul. The suffering was worth it, considering the greatness of the goal of resurrection from the dead.
I may attain: Paul did not doubt that he was saved, but he did long mightily for the completion of his salvation through the resurrection of his body. It was something that he had not yet attained and longed for.
Remember that Paul wrote this having experienced more suffering than we will ever experience, and he wrote it from the custody of Roman soldiers. This was not merely theological theory and ideas, but a lived-out connection with God.
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