“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I might win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3:7-9).
As we step into the New Year of 2013, I want to remind you of three new things Paul gained because of his relationship with Jesus Christ.
1. Paul gained a new perspective – vv. 7-8
At one time Paul had been proud of his religious heritage of being a Pharisee and having been educated at the feet of Gamaliel, a learned president of the Sanhedrin (Acts 22:3). He had also been an ardent persecutor of the church, zealous for the traditions of his fathers. But after His encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), Paul gained a new perspective. No longer did he put his trust in religion to save him. He now realized that every asset he had was “damaged goods” compared to Christ and that the knowledge of Christ as Savior and Lord was higher than all the religious knowledge Paul had learned in his training as a Pharisee. So strong was this new perspective, in fact, that Paul viewed everything he had previously trusted in as “dung” (refuse or waste) compared to Christ. This was a new perspective, indeed!
2. Paul gained a new position – v. 9a
Paul now found himself “in Him” (Christ). Every blessing, including salvation itself, is because of our being found “in Christ.” II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Before salvation, we find ourselves “in Adam.” What is needed is a change in families, from the family of man to the family of God! This is accomplished at the new birth which Jesus talked about in John chapter 3. If you have been born again, you are now “in Christ.” What a glorious new position!
3. Paul gained a new possession – v. 9b
Paul described that new possession as “the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Paul no longer gloried in his own righteousness, for he now understood the truth of Isaiah 64:6, which tells us that all of our righteousness is nothing more than “filthy rags” in the sight of God. II Corinthians 5:21 tells us, “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” We will never get into heaven by any righteousness of our own; only the perfect righteousness of Christ will do!
Three new things: a new perspective, a new position, and a new possession. Are they yours as well?