Philippians 3:7-9 Superiority of Christ

Philippians 3:7-9  “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”, (NASB)

I haven’t gotten deep with you theologically in a while now but today this passage just sort of grabbed me.  I couldn’t shake it so we’re just going to dive in and see where we go.

This passage comes from Paul’s letter to the Philippians and in Chapter 3 he gets to this bit of comparison in which he recaps all of his life.  He puts all of his accomplishments on the line.  Now we should remember that Paul is no derelict back alley bottle in a brown paper bag drunk living day to day begging his way through life contributing nothing.  No, this is Paul, the well educated Roman citizen and high ranking Pharisee scholar of scholars among the elite of the Jewish community who was called by Jesus himself to become His own disciple and accomplish incredible work for Christ among the gentiles.  Those high points don’t begin to describe the stellar life of service and accomplishment we can attribute to Paul yet he writes something much different here.

Paul says, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ”.  What?  And he says something parallel in verse 8, “…and count them but rubbish…”.  Well, I’m not being fair giving you only a taste and picking and choosing here but the point being made by Paul is that all the things he’s accomplished in his life are trash.  Okay – let’s also remind ourselves that above all the things I started my list with, Paul wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit, most of the New Testament!  Hardly Trash I’d say.  You’d also say that Paul would agree, the New Testament, The Word of God isn’t trash.  So, what then is he talking about?  He is simply stating that in comparison to Christ in his life, all his deeds are rubbish.

Let’s put this in numerical terms, which by the way will illustrate the point effectively but will still not adequately reflect the true scale.  If Paul’s good works were equivalent to my personal net worth it would compare as being in Christ does to the national debt.  There is no comparison – they can’t be compared on the same scale.  That’s Paul’s point – in comparison to Christ, you might as well count all his good works and everything he’s done of value as loss.  There’s that much of a superiority to be found in Christ.

Now don’t miss the final and most important thought.  For all of Paul’s good works which we have discussed, significant good works we must agree, in spite of him characterizing them as rubbish they were indeed good works.  They earned him nothing towards his position in Christ.  His position in Christ as he points out came by faith; “Not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”

That’s how it is for us.  We are called into a relationship with Christ to which nothing can compare.  It is superior to anything we can own or accomplish and it is nothing that we can earn.  The relationship we are called to in Christ is by grace through faith alone.  It’s value is without comparison.  AMEN!

John 20:3-6 Useful As You Are

John 20:3-6  “So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.  The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.  And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there”, (NASB)

I’ve told you before that I identify with Peter most often of the direct disciples of Christ.  Today’s passage will begin to give insight as to why.

The scene today follows the crucifixion.  The followers of Christ were gathered and mourning the loss of their beloved teacher and friend.  Although several had confessed that He was the Messiah, they always managed to forget stuff like that when it was most needed.  So they gathered and mourned and didn’t really know what to do.  Several of the women went to the grave early Sunday morning and when they found the stone rolled away they ran back to tell the disciples.

John and Peter took off running to the tomb.  It isn’t clear from Scripture how far away they were gathered.  Scripture does tell us that the two ran there however.  Now I picture Peter as a strong and loud fisherman; a guy that was let’s just say, rough around the edges.  Big guys aren't usually the quickest fellows even if they are in shape.  John, was perhaps the more athletic of the two as Scripture records that John out ran Peter.  “The other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first”.

John also had a little more self control.  Although John got there first he stopped and took in the situation.  He records that although he arrived ahead of Peter that he stopped at the entrance.  He was, “stooping and looking in” and in doing so, “he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in”.  Having seen and observed all this before Peter’s arrival he was clearly a good ways ahead.

Now here’s where I identify with Peter.  When Peter finally catches up to John at the tomb he doesn’t just saunter up beside John with hands on his knees to catch his breath.  No, he just blasts right past John into the tomb to take a better look.  I'm sure, once inside, hands on his hips huffing an puffing he took it all in.  That’s Peter.

Why share this with you.  Several reasons come to mind.  First, it is important to me and I hope to you to see that even among two of Christ’s inner circle there was great diversity.  John was more measured in his approach and Peter was way out there sometimes.  Remember, Jesus had to rebuke him a time or two.  This is important to know because when it comes to serving Jesus he’s not looking for cookie cutter servants.  He wants us to serve Him as we are while growing up into Christ likeness.

Second, it helps me knowing that Christ used a guy like Peter in such a powerful way.  Peter just days earlier had denied Christ not once but three times just as Jesus had said he would.  When he did and realized what had happened Peter broke down and wept bitterly at the reality of his weakness.  But God had big plans for Peter, weak and impetuous as he was.  Peter is widely recognized as the leader of the early Church.  It gives me great hope that I can be useful to the Lord when I see a guy like Peter used in such a powerful way.  Again, Christ wants you to serve Him just as you are now while you are still in growth mode. 

Why?  Because our spiritual growth never ends during this life time.  If we wait for perfect maturity to begin serving no one will be serving at all.  Take a deep breath, look at some of the wacky things Peter did and then look at some of the great things the Lord did through him.  If he can use Peter, he can use you and he can use me.  AMEN!

Psalm 37:28 It's not about YOU!

Psalm 37:28  “For the LORD loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off”. (NASB)

I’m reading a book called, “Today’s Gospel” by Walter J. Chantry first published in 1970 and while I’m not yet done a theme is emerging.  The first assertion is that evangelism today tends to focus too soon on God’s love without first explaining God Himself and His holiness.  The other assertion is that the gospel being presented today makes man rather than God the center of the equation.  In short the title could have been a Dr. Phil quote, “It’s not about YOU”!  Oops!  Let’s take a look at these two ideas.

First, God does call us into relationship with Him but we need to back up the truck and see why that is even necessary.  God is holy and His creation was too along with everything in it.  Even Adam and Eve were holy and enjoyed a direct relationship with God in the garden.  All was good as God Himself proclaimed.  Then along came the snake, Satan who tempted Eve and when she and Adam followed through on that temptation the first of man’s sins took place and broke fellowship with God.  God proclaimed judgment and creation was cursed.

Well, even that seems to be a man centered explanation.  The real point is that God is holy and anything in His presence must be holy too.  Everything else; everything less than holy is subject to His wrath.  That, my friends, is the position in which we find ourselves in this world; sinners, unholy, alienated from God and ready for the fiery furnace.  The prophet Isaiah had an encounter with holy God and recorded it this way, “Then I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’  Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs.  He touched my mouth with it and said, ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.’" Isaiah 6:5-7  Only that cleansing fire made his remaining in God’s presence possible.  God is holy!

The proper perspective we need to have is a thorough understanding and appreciation of God’s holiness.  That is, we need as thorough an understanding as our feeble minds are capable of having.  It is Chantry’s assertion that the foundation of who God is must be adequately laid during the presentation of the gospel.  In other words, how will a new believer appreciate the gift of salvation without an understanding of God’s holiness?  God’s holiness then becomes the standard by which sinful man is judged.

What does this mean for us?  We are called to make disciples first at home and then all over the world.  That’s the great commission, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20  So evangelism, the making of disciples, is the right thing to do but we need to start and end with God.  Disciples need to know first that God is God and we are puny sinful creatures deserving death because we fall so short of God’s holy standard.  

Only from that foundation can a proper perspective of the power and richness of God’s mercy and grace through the work of Christ come into view.  It’s not about YOU!  It’s about Jesus!  AMEN!