March 19, 2025 -- Philippians 3:1-7 -- Jesus is the Prize

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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
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.
Philippians 3:1-7 ESV
 
Look at the contrast presented here in our passage today. False teachers are trying to talk Christians back into the observations of Old Testament Jewish people. Mutilating the flesh referred to circumcision. Paul, the author of Philippians is putting a stop to all such nonsense. He shows why if anyone could boast in his accomplishments, it’d be him. He had all the necessary credentials of a Jewish man. What does that gain him? Nothing.
 
He counted all these things, his Jewish heritage, his fleshly circumcision, his high standing as a Pharisee etc., as loss. They were less than nothing. Why? Because no man, no matter how good he is, no matter how much he does, can ever gain favour with God through his own merits. Anything that we do is worthless when placed next to the perfections of Jesus. Today there are mega-rich people who seek worldly recognition because they give away billions or undertake noble causes. They aren’t gaining anything from God by doing these things.
 
In the parables, Jesus is the pearl of greatest price (Matthew 13:45-46). Belonging to Jesus is greater than all the riches of the world. Belonging to Jesus is better than status or fame or possessions. If you don’t believe it, you have not really understood your own brokenness, wretched sinfulness and helplessness before God. If, however, you are beginning to grasp the greatness of Jesus’s extravagant love for you, then you will cling to Him. Knowing Him means you are prepared to renounce any treasure, any prize, or any thing that would interfere with devoting yourself more fully to Him. Why?
 

  • The sinner is not even aware of how blind he is. The saint sees the beauty of Jesus.

  • The sinner is not even aware how foolish his thoughts are. The saint knows God’s thoughts are higher than his thoughts and by the Spirit such thoughts are wise unto Jesus.

  • The sinner is not even aware how utterly poverty-stricken his worldview is. The saint knows enduring the loss of all earthly things to have Christ is treasure beyond measure.

  • The sinner is not even aware how fickle the approval of others is. The saint is aware of the depths of God’s unreserved love that lifts him from damnation and keeps being showered on him until life’s end and then is shown to be perfect through-out eternity.

 
Father in heaven like a child who holds a broken toy close as if it is precious while refusing the proffered gift of priceless diamonds, so we cling to worthless things. By the powerful presence of Your Spirit help us to understand the breath-taking gift of Jesus and so exchange all in order to belong to Him, follow Him, and find in Him our all in all. Spirit of God, peel our fingers off of the worthless things we’re clutching so that instead we will take hold of Jesus with all we have and all we are. Amen.
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