Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Lesson Focus: It’s not about who you were or what you’ve done; it’s about who you are!
Salvation (vv.1-11) The Christian’s Past: Paul’s religious past could not and did not save him.
who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus – Genuine worship is in the Spirit, not ritual; the object of genuine worship is Jesus Christ, not religious leaders.
How do you respond to the question: What do you do?I counted as loss for the sake of Christ – Here Paul assessed his worldly assets in order to discard them for the greater riches in Christ. Compare this to 1 Cor. 4:3-4, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.”
Sanctification (vv.12-16) The Christian’s Present: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after conversion.
I press on to make it my own - Of course, Paul is not suggesting that we run to get to heaven! The Olympic runners in ancient Greece had to be citizens of the nation they represented. They also had to be free men, not slaves. The unsaved sinner is a slave, but the Christian is a citizen of heaven and has been set free by Christ. (Warren Weirsbe)
forgetting what lies behind and straining forward - Too many Christians live divided lives. One part enjoys the things of the world and the other part tries to live for the Lord. They get ambitious for “things” and start minding earthly ambitions. Our calling is a “high calling” and a “heavenly calling”; and if we live for this world, we lose the prize that goes with our high calling. (Warren Weirsbe)
We must follow Paul’s example and return to the authentic righteousness. Righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith requires a change of heart. Those things that we once perceived as gain; our jobs, home, cars, and degrees must now be embraced as loss. Those times spent listening to a co-worker lament about the lifeless house in which he and his family are hopelessly bound, is now welcomed as the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. When this transformation takes place there is rejoicing in the Lord at all times.
Impression: The mind of Christ has so consumed Paul’s being that anything accomplished outside his relationship with Christ was stripped of value entirely.
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