Gaining by Losing

We live in a world where wealth and power are priorities for many people. The pursuit of wealth, things, and power can rob people of joy and peace.

Paul deals with that danger in Philippians.

In Philippians 3:1-11 Paul teaches us how to look at life from a Jesus’ perspective. He shows us how give up the things in our lives that will not lead us to Jesus and to seek the things that will.

The key phrase in this passage is “I count”.

The characteristic that allows us to experience the joy and peace of God is righteousness.

Philippians 3:1

Finally, my brother, 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.

Paul tells the Philippian believers to rejoice.

He says that he is writing this to safeguard these new believers. He wants them to know that joy is found in Jesus not in things no matter how good those things are.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is finding our joy in Jesus.

Paul then gives the Philippian believers a warning and identifies who the real followers of Jesus are.

Philippians 3:2-3

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 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.

Paul says to watch out for those who have come and tried to make salvation a matter of faith and works.

He calls these men dogs. Jews called Gentiles dogs because they were not obeying God. Paul used this term to show that these men were not obeying God.

He says that they are mutilators of the flesh. What they wanted the Philippian believers to do was not honoring to God. It was only mutilating their bodies.

He says there are two things that are true of real followers of Jesus:

They are truly circumcised.

They worship God led by the Spirit of God.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing we are saved by grace through faith and allowing God’s Spirit to lead us.

Paul then uses himself as an example of someone who pursued righteousness by works.

Philippians 3:4-6

…though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

Paul says he was of the nation of Israel and a Hebrew of Hebrews.

Paul says he was blameless when it came to the law of Moses.

Paul says he defended his orthodox faith by persecuting the followers of Jesus.

None of these things brought peace or assurance to Paul.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is acknowledging that righteousness is a gift from God and cannot be earned.

Paul then outlines a righteousness that comes from grace through faith. He does that by outlining what he gave up and what he gained.

The Losses

Philippians 3:7

But what was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

He gave up his reputation as a Jewish religious leader.

He gave up his religious achievements.

He gave up position and power.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is being willing to give up anything to experience the reality of Jesus in your life.

The Gains

Philippians 3:8-11

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 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. 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, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul says he has gained:

Knowledge of Jesus

Righteousness in Jesus

Fellowship with Jesus

Paul has four great desires:

To Know Jesus (to experience Jesus in everyday living)

To Experience the Power of Jesus’ Resurrection (to have the power of Jesus in everyday living)

To Fellowship with Jesus in His Sufferings (to be broken over sin)

To Be Like Jesus in His Death (to be completely obedient to the Father)

Paul was not looking at the short term; he was looking beyond his earthly life and looking to eternal life.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is desiring Jesus over anything and everything.

Jim Elliot gave his life trying to take the Gospel of Jesus to the Huaorani people of Ecuador. He says, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

All of our human-based achievements can gain us what we really want and need – Salvation. The grace of Jesus through faith will bring us that salvation.

Depending Only on Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                             Joe