Philippians 3:8-11

April 16, 2017

Resurrection Sunday Worship

Sean Higgins

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The sermon starts at 17:25 in the audio file.

Or, To Be Dying Is Gain

Easter—and I’m not fussy about calling it that—is one of my favorite holy days. It is still one of the least commercialized holidays, and it features what is of first importance: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

The resurrection of Christ—the historical fact of it and the biblical doctrine coming from it—is the most important truth in Christianity. Without the bodily resurrection of Jesus our faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, those who have died have truly perished, and we are to be pitied for our false enthusiasm and peace. We are even found to be misrepresenting God. Since it’s true, nothing should be so valuable to us by comparison. Death and resurrection is also integrated into everything; it is one of God’s favorite tales to tell. Winter to spring, seed to fruit, and daily dying by disciples to bring life to others.

Christ’s resurrection and life is our resurrection and life. Can we say that? Are we able to see that nothing we are or have accomplished comes close to the value of life in Christ? Are we willing to put everything from the “pro” column into the “con” column for Christ’s sake? If we can answer the comparative test, do we see Christ’s dying and resurrection integrated into our decisions and evaluations? Are we oriented around a cross and an empty tomb?

These are questions for Christians. Paul wrote about these resurrection categories to the church of believers in Philippi. At the start of chapter 3 he told them that he was going to remind them. The reminders were about the comparative nothingness of religious assets next to the gift of acceptance with God, and he used his own testimony to make the point. The reminders were about the power of resurrection and how we know Christ as we share in suffering. These reminders are summarized in verse 7. “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” The rest of the paragraph, verses 8-11, are one sentence in Greek, and give a reinforced explanation of verse 7. Even the way verse 8 starts should be more than “Indeed” (ESV), but something more like “But even more so also…I count all things to be loss.” Then Paul describes four parts of counting on the resurrection.

The resurrection changes what we value. There is nothing more excellent that can be known than to know Christ Jesus.

Paul does the math and nothing ever adds up to more than Jesus. I count all things to be loss for the sake of the surpassing worth, the “raised-up-above-and-beyonding, highest-over-all-excellingness” of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (verse 8). The surpassing worth is a verb made into a noun; this is the all-other-things-that-could-be-known-eclipsing knowledge. This is much more than mental awareness knowing, this is relational intimate knowing. This is Old Testament type knowing and being known. The relationship is with Christ Jesus my Lord, a specific and personal phrase used only here in the New Testament.

This is Christ Jesus, the one who was/is God, who took on flesh, who became a servant, who humbled Himself to humiliating death on a cross, to whom the Father gave the name above every other name (2:6-11). Paul knew Him. We know Him. And Paul said, for his sake I have suffered the loss of all things. Calvin comments: “It is a similitude taken from [sailors], who, when urged on by danger of shipwreck, throw everything overboard, that, the ship being lightened, they may reach the harbour in safety.” Nothing matters if we can get to Him.

Even the things we might want to have honored are “feces” compared to Jesus, and count them as rubbish. Rubbish (ESV, NAS) is not coarse enough, neither is “garbage” (NIV). Skubalon is the equiva[...]