The Surpassing Greatness of Knowing Christ

Sermon. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. Shad Baker.

Philippians 3:7-11

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

1. From Profit to Loss
- Paul's resume (v4-6)
-- reason to be proud according to human standards
- v7
-- actually held him back; tried achieving salvation by his own means
-- where's my identity and is it valuable? or is it an anchor that keeps me from pursuing Christ?
---anchors are anything that I hope in besides Christ

2. Comparison - v8
- scale: knowing Christ vs everything else
- knowing Christ surpasses the worth of all else
- look at myself and what I hope in with the proper perspective
-- does it last? is it perfect, grace-filled, loving?
- "knowing" = relational term

3. Garbage to Gold - v8
- "rubbish" = vulgar word, not used anywhere else in Bible
-- dung, sewage, shit (his religious identity, money, friends, etc)
-- throws it all out in order to know Christ
-- knowing Christ is so significant and life changing that it isn't truly a sacrifice
--- sacrifice is giving up something valuable but when set next to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, it doesn't seem so valuable
-- means Christ isn't simply an accessory to our life, he is life
--- can't follow Christ and money/pleasure/etc at the same time
---all of life for Christ and we worship that because nothing else is worthy

4. How do I know I am living all of life for Christ?
- worship
-- basing the whole of my life on him
- willing to give up everything in order to keep Christ
-- we might be sad to lose it but not devastated

Post-Resurrection

[See previous lesson in series]

Campaigner Lesson. June 9 2008

John 12:1-11

12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

what do you see? what stuck out to you?

scale of faith for mary, martha, lazarus (prev 6, 8, dead)

what caused the change?

nard = 300 denarii, almost 1 year's pay

what was lazarus doing? Philippians 2:1-11

are you doing this?

what prevents us from doing this? Look at Paul's example - Phillippians 3:1-11

write down our dead clothes & burn it

this is symbolic. life isn't. jesus removes. pray be steadfast. it will be hard. it will be painful, like fire, but it is us being purified/transfigured into jesus

PRAY!

Living by Grace

Providence Church. Sermon. John Moe.

Philippians 3:2-11
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

biggest struggle for many Christians = works-based living
-makes church judgmental/hurtful/condemning

power of works-based living
- v2 beware of "Jesus + something = salvation" mentality; this is works-based living
--Christ alone is sufficient; anything else robs the cross of its power
-Lev 21:5 "They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body."
--mutilators of flesh = pagan priests in OT

Why is this a problem?
- leads to pride/comparisons/hurt not grace/service/humility/healing
- pride's destructive aspects
--guilt/shame: embarrassment that we can do/give/be better on our own power
---this will destroy/break us down (despairing/despising God)
---opposite of pride is humility not shame
----the gospel humbles us by showing our proper position (we're merely beggars showing others where to get bread/life)
--superiority: think we deserve/earn our salvation
---if we're based on works then our pride will destroy our relationships with others (murder in our thoughts)

How is this broken?
- v7 "rubbish" = profanity
- "knowing Christ" in Hebrew refers to experiential knowledge
- be found "in Christ"
--identity - where's mine? in works or Christ?
- must know that Christ's life and death was for us
--be found in Christ's work
- v10 becoming like him in his death
--only by HS, must surrender unconditionally
- life comes from joy not duty