The Treasure of Knowing Christ Part 2Philippians 3:8-11 - July 5, 2020

Philippians Main Idea

Paul writes to the church encouraging them in key areas of Gospel advancement and warning them in key areas of Gospel opposition.

Passage Main Idea

Genuine salvation comes from treasuring Christ and not from confidence in the flesh.

Explanation & Discussion

Rejoice in the Lord - 3:1-7 With all that Paul has been encouraging the church to pursue (humility, considering others as more significant, and unity), he begins chapter 3 with the encouragement to rejoice in the Lord. Selflessness and humility are not easy or enjoyable disciplines, but if Christ is our life treasure, then we can rejoice in the Lord as we pursue those disciplines. Believers must beware of the many false treasures that creep in to Christianity (traditionalism, legalism, works, and others).

1. Giving Up False Treasures - 3:7-8 Paul warns the church to watch out for the false teachings that have been distracting believers from focusing on Christ. It is Satan’s lie that we must add something to Christ in order to be saved. It is the desire of our flesh to try to work to repay or earn a right standing with God. Paul uses himself to prove that religious works and good living does not result in salvation. In order to accept Christ, we must surrender all that we thought we had to offer (our false treasures), so that we can humbly accept what Christ offers (salvation through treasuring Him). Paul counts all of his past as a loss in comparison to truly knowing Christ’s greatness, because you cannot hold on to past pursuits and cling to the value of Christ at the same time.

• What other verses have we studied in Philippians that show Paul’s focus on Christ? Why does Paul continue to go back to Christ as the center of his life and salvation?

• What things do you consider great accomplishments in your life that should be considered as righteousness when God looks at your life?

• Why is it so important to teach the next generation how to rely on Christ and not their ‘self-righteousness”?

• Why can believers not cling to their self-righteousness and Christ’s righteousness at the same time?

2. Gaining Christ as Your Treasure - 3:9-11 When someone lays down their self-righteous pursuits in order to cling to Christ’s gift of His righteousness, then and only then, can anyone be “found in Christ” (8-9). Paul describes “being found in Christ” as being clothed with Christ’s righteousness rather than our own (justification). This righteousness from God defends our faith in Christ and not on our own fleshly achievements (3:9). Knowing Christ (depending on Christ’s righteousness) leads to living a life that continually progresses into His likeness (sanctification)(3:10). As one grows in the likeness of godliness, they can be more and more confident in the promise of the resurrection from the dead (glorification)(3:11). This process of salvation will be evident in the life of a believer, and also prove the life of the non-believer.

• Why is the righteousness of Christ so important for entering into the presence of God or having a relationship with God?

• What role does faith play in the process of justification? (3:9) Why is it so essential? • Do you think that anyone can ever get to a point in life where they cannot know more of

Christ? Where they cannot know more of His power? Where they cannot know more of His sufferings? Where they cannot become more like Him? Why or why not?

• How does knowing more of Christ help us to become more like Christ? • How does living in the character of God bring glory to God? • Why does “the resurrection from the dead” seem to be Paul’s focus in all that he has just

discussed? Is focusing on eternity with Christ a bad thing? Why or why not? • What are some wrong ways to focus on eternity with Christ? • What are ways that you can better pursue knowing Christ in your life? • What are some ways that you can help your circle of influence and the next generation pursue

knowing Christ better?

The Doctrine of Salvation (Explained in messages July 5, 12, 19)

1. Justification is the act by which God declares those who believe to be righteous in Jesus Christ.

2. Sanctification is the process by which God conforms those who believe to the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

3. Glorification is the act by which God grants the full and final bodily redemption for those who believe in Jesus Christ.

More References

Luke 14:33 - “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Romans 10:28-29 - “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”

Romans 10:1-9 - “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

John 17:3 - “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Romans 4:1-8 -  “What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”

Ephesians 1:18 - 23 - “having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fi lls all in all.”

2 Peter 1:2-3 - “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

F.F. Bruce - Those who have been justified are now being sanctified; those who have no experience of present sanctification have no reason to suppose they have been justified.

John Calvin - It is entirely by the intervention of Christ's righteousness that we obtain justification before God. This is equivalent to saying that man is not just in himself, but that the righteousness of Christ is communicated to him by imputation, while he is strictly deserving of punishment.

J.I. Packer - The truth is that, though we were justified by faith alone, the faith that justifies is never alone (it always produces fruit, "good works,"...a transformed life).

Matthew Henry - None can know their election but by their conformity to Christ; for all who are chosen are chosen to sanctification.

Charles Spurgeon - “Some Christians overlook the blessing of sanctification, and yet to a thoroughly renewed heart this is one of the sweetest gifts of the covenant. If we could be saved from wrath, and yet remain unregenerate, impenitent sinners, we should not be saved as we desire, for we mainly and chiefly pant to be saved from sin and led in the way of holiness.”

Tim Keller - “I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace? She replied something like this: If I was saved by my good works -- then there would be a limit to what God could ask of me or put me through. I would be like a taxpayer with rights. I would have done my duty and now I would deserve a certain quality of life. But if it is really true that I am a sinner saved by sheer grace -- at God's infinite cost -- then there's nothing he cannot ask of me.”

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