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Gain or Loss?
Series: None of Self and All of TheeToday, we’re going to focus on Paul’s writing in Philippians 3.3-8. He had all the credentials. If anyone could have put confidence in the flesh — he would have had the ability to do so — far above the majority of Jews. In 3.4-7 he talks about what he lost. In 3.8-11 he talks about what he gained. In the middle is Christ. Today, we’re going to talk about 7 things he walked away from in order to gain Christ.
Philippians 3.4-11 - Understanding the Imagery
- In these verses, Paul pictures salvation as an exchange or transaction.
- 3.7a - gain means profit.
- 3.7c, 8 - loss refers to a business loss.
- 3.8 - count refers to “to deem or reckon to be; to account.”
- 3.8 - notice what he now regards the former things: as rubbish.
- Worthless. Unwanted. Trash. Manure. Filth.
- 3.5-6 - here’s what had been in the profit column.
Philippians 3.5-6 - What Paul Left Behind:
- Philippians 3.5 - Things he inherited:
- 3.5a - circumcised on the eighth day - salvation by ritual. an eighth-dayer…
- Salvation is not by rite, ceremony, sacrament, routine, or 5 point plan.
- 3.5b - of the people of Israel - salvation by race. Of the stock of Israel.
- No religious virtue is gained by brith.
- 3.5c - of the tribe of Benjamin - salvation by rank.
- Benjamin was one of the elite tribes. God wasn’t impressed.
- 3.5a - circumcised on the eighth day - salvation by ritual. an eighth-dayer…
- 3.5d-6 - Things he achieved:
- 3.5d - a Hebrew of Hebrews - salvation by tradition. See Acts 26.4-5.
- Loyalty to parents, family religion, traditional religion is of no profit.
- 3.5d - as to the law, a Pharisee - salvation by religious achievement.
- Paul took his religion to the highest level … and now it’s all rubbish.
- 3.6a - as to zeal, a persecutor of the church - salvation by sincerity.
- How zealous? See Acts 8.1, 3; 9.1-2. You can be zealous and still be lost.
- 3.6b - as to righteousness under the law, blameless - salvation by law.
- Paul says he was blameless. He was the model Jew. Now, it’s rubbish.
- 3.5d - a Hebrew of Hebrews - salvation by tradition. See Acts 26.4-5.
What Will You Count as Loss?
- 3.8-9 - What must you move out of the credit column so you may gain Christ?
- None of self. All of thee. The only thing in our credit column is Jesus!
CONCLUSION
- When you meet Jesus you either drop all you’ve been counting on for salvation and take Him alone…Or you hold on to all that stuff and drop Christ.
- What will you decide?