The church is Philippi is dealing with an issue. The church in Philippi had a mixture of Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. Some of the Jewish Christians are attempting to create barriers for the gentiles to be in relationship with Jesus by trying to convince them that the only way for them to be in a “real relationship’ with God is through circumcision which was a command for the Israelites prior to Jesus dying on the cross.

Paul says in verse 2 WATCH OUT for those dogs and calls them evil.  Dogs in the bible days were wild and this was how the Jewish Christians referred to gentiles.  In verse 3 he says “For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort…

To drive home his point about confidence in human effort Paul goes on in verses 4-6 to list his resume stating if anybody has a reason to be confident in what they have done. It is him!

Beginning at verse 7… Paul says he once held his cultural status, being circumcised and his lineage as prize possessions and he now considers them to be worthless because of what Christ has done.

Can you resonate with what Paul is saying here? I remember my life before confessing and believing Jesus as Lord.

•         I held my hood in high regard
•         I held my sexual promiscuity in high regard
•         My popularity
•         My ability to pick up woman
•         How much alcohol I could consume
•         Athleticism
•         My daily marijuana intake
•         My own ego being satisfied over empathy or sympathy for anyone else

Like Paul, I felt I had good reason to boast about the awesomeness of being Jason. In 1999, I learned what Paul is sharing here …it all becomes void in value when we encounter the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Paul says in verse 8-10 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him, I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law: rather I become righteous through faith in Christ. For Gods way of making us right with himself depends on faith.  I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead.

In verse 10 Paul says I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead

What does it mean to know Christ?

It means that we don’t just know of Christ but we are in a personal ever-growing relationship with Christ.

I think when Paul says that he wants to Know Christ, he is saying that:

•         He wants to know Christ personally
•         What makes him happy?
•         What’s important to him?
•         Christ behavior to influence his own
•         What were Christ habits
•         How did he handle different environments?
•         Where did he come from?
•         Why did he die for sinners?
•         How do I please his heart?

In versus 12-16 Paul acknowledges that he has not reached the place in Christ that he is striving for. He goes on to say that he is not focusing on what he has not attained but he has a focus on looking ahead towards the finish line. The finish for the believer is to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant” from God. Until then, we are to run our race towards exchanging who we were for who God has called us to be in Christ Jesus.

Lastly in verses 17-21 Paul admonishes the Christians in Philippi to simply follow his example.  He once again brings up those that are doing evil. What he is saying to them is, if you need an example to follow after. Follow me as I follow as I follow Christ

Applications:

1.     Take out trash- Pray and ask God to reveal anything in you that needs to be removed for him to be glorified
2.     Become one with Christ – Get to know Christ, bible reading, devotional, spirit
3.     Run the race. Don’t give up – Be encouraged if you’re in on hard place right now
4.     Follow the right examples that help you draw closer to God

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?