Read Philippians 3:7–11
Questions from the Scripture text: What has the apostle counted as loss (Philippians 3:7)? For Whom? What else does He count as loss (Philippians 3:8)? For what? Who is Christ Jesus to Him? What has the apostle suffered for his Lord? As what does he count them? In order to gain what (Whom)? What else does the apostle want to do with Christ (Philippians 3:9a)? Of what does the apostle have none of his own? What is the only righteousness that he can have? From Whom is this righteousness? By what is this righteousness? What three things does the apostle come to know/have through the knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:10)? Of what is the knowledge of Christ the only means to the attaining (Philippians 3:11)?
Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from Philippians 3:7–11, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ.
Christ is the prince of glory! We sinners have nothing of our own that is worthy or praiseworthy, and now God has given Himself to us in His Son of infinite worthiness and praiseworthiness.
Christ is all of our righteousness. By what other righteousness could we be right with God? “And count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” Christ is all of the righteousness that we have before God!
Christ is all of our treasure. What other treasure could we desire? “I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Christ is all of our treasure!
Christ is all of our power. By what other power could we defeat death? How I should be willing to suffer, if it is part of having fellowship with Him in His sufferings! How I should be willing to die, if it is part of being conformed to His death! To know Him is also to know the power of His resurrection—Christ’s resurrection is the only means by which any of us may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Christ is all of our power!
O, may God grant to us to renounce our own righteousness, to renounce any treasure apart from Christ, and to renounce all other power. Christ is all our righteousness; Christ is all our treasure; Christ is all our power!
What are we tempted to have make us feel more right with God? What are we tempted to treasure for its own sake? What are we tempted to think will make us strong Christians?
Suggested songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am with You” or TPH459 “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
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