exposition of philippians the testimony of paul’s experiences – part ii phil 3:7-14

Exposition of PhilippiansExposition of Philippians

The Testimony of Paul’s The Testimony of Paul’s Experiences – Part IIExperiences – Part II

Phil 3:7-14Phil 3:7-14

Outline of PhilippiansOutline of Philippians Paul's Exhortation to the Philippians to Paul's Exhortation to the Philippians to

Walk Worthy of the Gospel (1:27 – 4:1)Walk Worthy of the Gospel (1:27 – 4:1) The Need to Contend as One (1:27-30)The Need to Contend as One (1:27-30) The Call to Unity (2:1-30)The Call to Unity (2:1-30)

Paul's Exhortation for Unity (2:1-4)Paul's Exhortation for Unity (2:1-4) The Example of Jesus Christ (2:5-11)The Example of Jesus Christ (2:5-11) Paul’s Exhortation to Harmony (2:12-18)Paul’s Exhortation to Harmony (2:12-18) Co-workers Whom Paul is Sending (2:19-30)Co-workers Whom Paul is Sending (2:19-30)

The Call to Steadfastness (3:1 – 4:1)The Call to Steadfastness (3:1 – 4:1) The Warning: Beware of Evil Workers (3:1-3)The Warning: Beware of Evil Workers (3:1-3) The Testimony of Paul's Experiences (3:4-14) The Testimony of Paul's Experiences (3:4-14)

The Testimony of Paul’s The Testimony of Paul’s Experiences (3:4-6)Experiences (3:4-6)

Paul’s Credentials by Birth (3:5a)Paul’s Credentials by Birth (3:5a) ““circumcised the eighth day”circumcised the eighth day” ““of the nation of Israel”of the nation of Israel” ““of the tribe of Benjamin”of the tribe of Benjamin” ““a Hebrew of Hebrews”a Hebrew of Hebrews”

Paul’s Credentials by Works (3:5b-6)Paul’s Credentials by Works (3:5b-6) ““concerning the law, a Pharisee”concerning the law, a Pharisee” ““concerning zeal, a persecutor of the concerning zeal, a persecutor of the

church”church” ““concerning righteousness which is in concerning righteousness which is in

law, found blameless”law, found blameless”


V.7 is the hinge verse between Paul’s V.7 is the hinge verse between Paul’s description of his credentials and how he description of his credentials and how he “reckoned” those credentials when he met “reckoned” those credentials when he met Christ:Christ: ““But whatever was to me gains [or advantages], But whatever was to me gains [or advantages],

these things I reckoned as loss for the sake of these things I reckoned as loss for the sake of Christ.”Christ.”

Paul is drawing a contrast between his Paul is drawing a contrast between his previous outlook on works of the law and his previous outlook on works of the law and his post-conversion outlook. His new view is that post-conversion outlook. His new view is that his previous works were not just ineffective in his previous works were not just ineffective in achieving righteousness, but were actually achieving righteousness, but were actually liabilities to that end...they had led Paul to liabilities to that end...they had led Paul to persecute Christ and His church!persecute Christ and His church!


V. 8 goes even further, with even stronger V. 8 goes even further, with even stronger language.language.

Not only the things Paul listed as his Not only the things Paul listed as his credentials, but he counts credentials, but he counts all thingsall things as loss as loss for the sake of the surpassing value of for the sake of the surpassing value of knowing Christ.knowing Christ. This moves the discussion beyond the realm of This moves the discussion beyond the realm of

Jewish privilege and grounds for confidence in Jewish privilege and grounds for confidence in the flesh to a broader consideration of the the flesh to a broader consideration of the whole sphere of human achievement and whole sphere of human achievement and claims of privilege for either Jew or Gentile.claims of privilege for either Jew or Gentile.

In what sense did Paul “suffer the loss of In what sense did Paul “suffer the loss of all things and count them but rubbish?”all things and count them but rubbish?”


A Great Exchange: Paul counts all his former A Great Exchange: Paul counts all his former credentials as loss, in order that he might:credentials as loss, in order that he might: gain Christgain Christ (v. 8). Verb form of same word for (v. 8). Verb form of same word for

“gains” in v. 7.“gains” in v. 7. be found in Christbe found in Christ with the righteousness by with the righteousness by

faith (not by works) that God requires (v. 9). faith (not by works) that God requires (v. 9). This is what many Jews could not do!This is what many Jews could not do!

know Christknow Christ, even the power of His resurrection , even the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings (v.10).and the fellowship of His sufferings (v.10).

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is the The same power that raised Christ from the dead is the one that sanctifies and enables the believer (Rom 6:3-one that sanctifies and enables the believer (Rom 6:3-4).4).

Paul suffered at the hands of his fellow countrymen in Paul suffered at the hands of his fellow countrymen in the same way that Christ did.the same way that Christ did.


V. 11 is literally translated: “If somehow V. 11 is literally translated: “If somehow I might attain to the resurrection of the I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.”dead.” Paul is not questioning that he will be part Paul is not questioning that he will be part

of the resurrection at the end of the age, of the resurrection at the end of the age, but admitting his lack of foreknowledge but admitting his lack of foreknowledge concerning the way he will take to get concerning the way he will take to get there.there.

The uncertainties of life require that we The uncertainties of life require that we trust God as we walk through them, but we trust God as we walk through them, but we can still be certain of resurrection in the can still be certain of resurrection in the end. end.


In vv. 12-14 Paul deals with the continual In vv. 12-14 Paul deals with the continual pursuit that is the Christian life:pursuit that is the Christian life: Paul acknowledges that he has not reached Paul acknowledges that he has not reached

ultimate spiritual maturity, and that God is the ultimate spiritual maturity, and that God is the one who “perfects” (passive voice).one who “perfects” (passive voice).

But for his part, Paul continues to unceasingly But for his part, Paul continues to unceasingly pursue Christlikeness...the very thing that pursue Christlikeness...the very thing that caused Christ to lay hold of Paul.caused Christ to lay hold of Paul.

In v. 13 he repeats the thought that he has not In v. 13 he repeats the thought that he has not yet laid hold of the final prize, but he is yet laid hold of the final prize, but he is singular in his pursuit:singular in his pursuit:

forgetting what lies behind;forgetting what lies behind; straining forward to what lies ahead.straining forward to what lies ahead.


In vv. 12-14 Paul deals with the continual In vv. 12-14 Paul deals with the continual pursuit that is the Christian life:pursuit that is the Christian life: The imagery is one of a runner running a race, The imagery is one of a runner running a race,

not looking back but straining forward for the not looking back but straining forward for the prize at the end.prize at the end.

““Goal” and “prize” look at the same thing from Goal” and “prize” look at the same thing from two different perspectives. The first is to finish two different perspectives. The first is to finish the race, the second is the reward that comes as the race, the second is the reward that comes as a result.a result.

The “prize” for believers is being made like The “prize” for believers is being made like Christ through glorification.Christ through glorification.

Both the goal and prize are part of the initial call by Both the goal and prize are part of the initial call by God to salvation.God to salvation.

Implications from our StudyImplications from our Study

Justification by grace through faith in Justification by grace through faith in Christ is the only way to be reconciled to Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life.God and receive eternal life.

Since it is the only way, whatever one has Since it is the only way, whatever one has to give up to receive it pales by to give up to receive it pales by comparison.comparison.

We must never be satisfied with our We must never be satisfied with our spiritual progress and stop pursuing spiritual progress and stop pursuing sanctification. While God works in us, ours sanctification. While God works in us, ours is an ongoing pursuit until we are made is an ongoing pursuit until we are made completely like Christ.completely like Christ.

Next Time: Next Time: Paul's Paul's Exhortation to the Exhortation to the

Philippians to Walk Worthy Philippians to Walk Worthy of the Gospel of the Gospel (1:27 – 4:1) (1:27 – 4:1)

The Call to the PhilippiansThe Call to the Philippians

Phil 3:15 – 4:1Phil 3:15 – 4:1

exposition of philippians the testimony of paul’s experiences – part ii phil 3:7-14

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