An empty ancient stone stadium track at sunrise, with a carved stone starting line in the foreground.

The Book of

Philippians 3

Paul had a spotless religious record. He wrote it all off as loss, and started running toward Someone better.

21 verses≈ 4 min1 personBSB

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In this chapter

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

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Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh!

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself could have such confidence.

Paul

Paul’s ledger

Whiteboard

Paul writes his old life out like an account book. Everything in the gain column moves across to loss. Next to knowing Christ, even the best of his record is “rubbish,” and the righteousness he needs comes as a gift from God.

But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.

the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord

Philippians 3:8

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

First light falling into the open doorway of an empty rock-cut tomb, the round stone rolled aside.

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

0:11

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Reflect

Your gain column

Paul once trusted his record: his family, his religion, his zeal. Then he wrote, “whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.” What do you sometimes lean on to feel right with God? What would it mean to let it go and simply “gain Christ”?

Pressing on toward the Goal

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.

Question

Quick question

Paul admits he has not arrived yet. But there is one thing he does.

What is the “one thing” Paul says he does?

Citizenship in Heaven

Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.

From PaulTo the saints in Philippi

For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

Philippians 3:18–19

The empty paved forum of a Roman colony town at dawn, with columns and hills beyond in the first light.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body

Philippians 3:21

Pray

Citizens of heaven

Paul says “our citizenship is in heaven,” and we “eagerly await a Savior from there.” Thank God that you belong to Him. Ask Him to set your mind on Christ rather than “earthly things,” and to keep you pressing on until He comes.

You’ve experienced

Philippians 3

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A verse to carry with you

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13–14

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