2003-10-11 - Philippians

Part 25

If it were possible to depend on things, then Paul notes that he, above many, would certainly be able to do so. He then goes on to list those things that would validate his worth. First, of course, he was circumcised. He was born in the house of Benjamin, one of the tribes of Israel. He was a Pharisee, greatly committed to the keeping of the Law. So much so that he required this same zealousness of others, even to the point he persecuted the followers of Jesus. Hedid so out of a commitment to the Law, as he understood it. All he did, he did because he believed itwas right and that he was made righteous by his deeds.

But ..." ... Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. Hewent to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from Heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, `Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'

`Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked.`I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. `Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'" (Acts 9:1-6).

Verses 4b-6:

⁴ Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee. ⁶ As for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Suddenly Paul's entire perspective changed. All that had been the basis of his confidence was taken away. His faith, demonstrated most clearly through his persecution of the heretics following The Way, turned to ashes when he realized he was actually persecutingthe very God he claimed to follow.

Verses 7-11:

⁷ But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. ¹¹ And so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul was more than willing to give up all that seemed to have value. He realized there was nothing worth keeping, if it kept him from Jesus Christ. And really the issue wasn't so much what he was giving up, as how much he hadto gain from following God,how much the Lord would give him to replace that which was lost. As Jim Elliot put it, "He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain, what he cannot lose."

Listen again to how Paul expresses it. "What is more, I consider everything a loss comparedto the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ"(Philippians 3:8). The point is that Paul has absolutely nothing, not one thing, that can earn him God's acceptance.It is God Himself who supplies the righteousnessnecessary to make Paul one with Him. Paul makes it clear it isn't the righteousness of the Law which saves. Now this is saying that some can do an outstanding work of keeping the Law. He did. But this is empty, because no one can keep the Law perfectly. The only true righteousness comes through the acceptance of thework of Christ on the cross.

Questions or comments?

Geoff

pastorgeoff@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org