1. Philippians 3:1-11 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:1-11

3. 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: Philippians 3:1-11

4. 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. Philippians 3:1-11

5. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. Philippians 3:1-11

6. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:1-11

7. 9 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 and is by faith. Philippians 3:1-11

8. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:1-11

9. Preeminently the Christian life is a person; experience of the Lord Jesus, and just in proportion as your life is lived in communion with Christ, to that extent are you living the Christian life, and no more. A.W. Pink Preeminently the Christian life is a person; experience of the Lord Jesus, and just in proportion as your life is lived in communion with Christ, to that extent are you living the Christian life, and no more. A.W. Pink

10. “The surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” Philippians 3:1-11

11. Philippians 3:8 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,…”

12. The Person Saying This is Paul “…with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers,

13. danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Cor. 11:23-28 danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Cor. 11:23-28

14. WHY??? He was not depressed, confused or conscience stricken and found religion to be the panacea for his ills. Paul was seized precisely when he expected nothing of the sort. He was overwhelmed; he was captured; he was a man possessed. Christ “laid hold of him,” but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Ph. 3:12 He was not depressed, confused or conscience stricken and found religion to be the panacea for his ills. Paul was seized precisely when he expected nothing of the sort. He was overwhelmed; he was captured; he was a man possessed. Christ “laid hold of him,” but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Ph. 3:12

15. Paul Restates A Long-Standing Desire of God for His People “ Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” Jeremiah 9:23-24 “ Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.’” Jeremiah 9:23-24

16. Paul’s Life Theme “For to me to live is Christ” Philippians 1:21 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 “For to me to live is Christ” Philippians 1:21 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

17. What knowing Christ Means Knowing Christ is the ultimate goal of being in right relationship with God. Knowing Christ is both "already" and "not yet." Knowing Christ is the ultimate goal of being in right relationship with God. Knowing Christ is both "already" and "not yet."

18. “so that I may know him” A - both the power of his resurrection B - and sharing in his sufferings B' - being conformed to his death A' - if somehow I might attain the resurrection from the dead A - both the power of his resurrection B - and sharing in his sufferings B' - being conformed to his death A' - if somehow I might attain the resurrection from the dead

19. To Know Christ Begins with the power of His resurrection Involves sharing in his sufferings Means being conformed to his death Is to attain to the resurrection of the dead Begins with the power of His resurrection Involves sharing in his sufferings Means being conformed to his death Is to attain to the resurrection of the dead

20. Christ Jesus my Lord Christ – Christos, Messiah, the Anointed One, Commissioned by God Jesus – Iesous, historical, man, humanity, savior My Lord – Master, Mara as in Maranathah Christ – Christos, Messiah, the Anointed One, Commissioned by God Jesus – Iesous, historical, man, humanity, savior My Lord – Master, Mara as in Maranathah

21. How Do You Know Him: “- er” or “-tion?” Your Savior Your Redeemer Your Liberator Your Sanctifier Your Justifier Your Savior Your Redeemer Your Liberator Your Sanctifier Your Justifier Your Salvation Your Redemption Your Liberation Your Sanctification Your Justification

22. Philippians 2:11 “…every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of God the Father.”