Philippians 3:7-16

Philippians 3:7

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

The descriptions of Paul’s life above were certainly gains from the world’s point of view. Paul also viewed them as such until he came to know Christ. He now considers those same privileges a loss for the sake of Christ. He will explain why in the preceding verses.

Philippians 3:8-9

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.

Paul considers those privileges a loss because now he knows Christ and recognizes how valuable that is. He now has faith in Christ which means he is now considered righteous. He tried so hard to be righteous according to the law in his former ways but could never attain it. No one can attain their own righteousness because true righteousness can only be grasped by faith in Christ which comes from God. God declares us righteous, we cannot do it ourselves. Paul thought he was doing this because of all he had but he now realizes none of that was working to attain righteousness.

Philippians 3:10-11

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.

To really “know Christ” means more than just knowing about Christ. It means we know the power of the resurrection and participate in his sufferings. What does this mean? It means if we really know Christ then we also suffer for his name’s sake because the world still traits followers of Jesus the same as they did then. If we are enduring suffering, it means we have walked the same way and thus will also participate in the resurrection just as he did.

Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Paul refutes any belief that our resurrection or Jesus’ return has happened yet. We have not been raised from the dead and neither had Paul while he was still living. We will not be resurrected until Christ comes again. Paul had not resurrected nor had he attained salvation through the resurrection. He had gone through sufferings for the sake of Christ but that is just the start. While we are waiting for his return and our resurrection, we continue to work hard and suffer for Jesus because of what he did for us.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. 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 for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Paul again says he has not taken hold of the resurrected body or eternal life. But what are we to do currently while we wait? Forget our past life of sin and to strive to live our new life for Jesus. We are looking forward to it, but yet we are still pressing on even through persecution and suffering.

Philippians 3:15-16

All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Paul says we should start to think about life in this eternal-focused way. If we are mature in Christ, then we understand the purpose of suffering and the hope it brings. Some people might have a different view about the resurrection and when it will happen or how it will happen. But Paul says God will make the truth clear to them. When Paul says “let us live up to what we have already attained”, he means that we should live in light of the way we currently understand. Misunderstanding does not leave an excuse to live a sinful life. With prayer and the Holy Spirit, we will in time understand, but our lives should remain focused on Him.