If by Any Means . . .

If by Any Means . . .

Paul describes his human greatness in the letter to the Philippians, in chapter 3:4-6. “Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Most people would probably be very happy with this resume; everything was in order, to the extent that he was blameless according to the law.

But in verses 7-10, we can see how Paul had come to a radically different outlook, which caused him to be driven by something completely different: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 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; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

He was so gripped by the knowledge of Jesus that everything else paled in comparison. This knowledge teaches us to reject the strength of man and every testimony we can receive here on earth, as long as the Holy Spirit does not bear witness with it. It teaches us to turn away from evil and to do good. It teaches us to bless, even if we are threatened. It teaches us that of ourselves we are nothing, nor can we ever become anything of value in the kingdom of God. It teaches us that we must enter the fellowship of suffering with our Savior, where we are unclothed and can only be raised up again by putting on His life. Col. 3:12-14. It leads us into a life of sanctification, where we become more and more like our Lord and Master. The fruits of such a life are so great an exaltation that anything we might boast of as human beings is mere rubbish and loss.

This knowledge will lead us to the same goal that Paul had: “If, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Phil. 3:11.