But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead (7-11).
The context makes it clear that Paul is warning Philippians about falling back into the legalism of Judaism, and following the law as their source of salvation. Salvation is by faith not by law; attaining Christ, not living up to some human made law is the Gospel way. Paul’s deepest desire is to know Christ…
This strikes a chord in me… to know Christ. Knowing Christ personally and intimately is the foundation of faith. Paul says a similar thing in Romans 12:2, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. The transforming of our minds –what we know and think about and how we see and process the world around us is what transforms us. So it is that Paul seeks to know Christ… an example for all of us.
Knowing Christ leads to living and doing for Christ! This is the faithful ‘order’. To reverse these… to put the doing before knowing is a wide open door to legalism, which Paul warns against in Colossians and Galatians.
So back to me and my life… am I putting my heart and soul into knowing Jesus Christ? Ingesting His Word and distinguishing His heartbeat, so that I can be listening for His voice and follow His lead?
Oh, Father, send Your Spirit that I might know Your Son, I pray through His name. Amen.
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