… that I may gain Christ and be found in him…
Summary: In this passage, Paul touches on the keystone of Christian living.
What does it mean to “gain Christ?”
Paul is going to tell us in great detail. He begins his explanation with the following words:
“ … 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 on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8c-11)
We will talk about these words in more detail, but for now, it is enough to focus on Paul’s strategy for being found in Christ.
1. Righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.
2. To know the power of his resurrection.
3. To participate in his sufferings.
4. To become like him in death.
As Paul writes these words, he is in full spiritual battle mode. Paul’s commission from God is to “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). He was specifically commissioned by Jesus to “proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15).
Is our commission from God any different?
Don’t we have to put our trust in Jesus if we want to share in his righteousness (Romans 3:22)?
What about the power of his resurrection?
Doesn’t Jesus send us God’s Holy Spirit as proof of his resurrection? Doesn’t our participation in the Word (John 1:1-4) and the Spirit (John 15:26) affirm the power of his resurrection?
And what about his sufferings? What were the sufferings of Christ?
In general terms, there are two kinds of suffering: The kind we deserve and the kind that we don’t deserve. Jesus did nothing to deserve suffering. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same. However, in addition to the suffering I often inflict on myself, I can participate in the undeserved suffering caused by people who act out of self-interest rather than a love for others. Such were the sufferings of Christ.
Finally, what does it mean to “become like him in death?”
Paul may be referring to the kind of death Jesus died, that is, being martyred for the truth. (I think that may have been his personal goal.) However, there is another aspect of Christ’s death that we can all attain to: Jesus trusted his life and his death to God. The result of his faith was the resurrection, the culmination of Christ’s righteousness found in the faithful who participate in his sufferings and become like him in death.
Application: Gain Christ and be found in him.
Food for Thought: Do we have to be like Paul to “gain Christ,” or is it possible to gain Christ in the day-to-day living of being an average Christian?
Do we have to be like Paul to “gain Christ,” or is it possible to gain Christ in the day-to-day living of being an average Christian?
Matthew 19:21, Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Mark 8:35, For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Mark 9:35, Sitting down, He called the twelve and *said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.
To Gain Christ is a day by day, moment by moment process of supernatural change by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. Paul was called to separate himself from all influence of the teachings of men, and go directly to the source of knowledge where he was privately tutored by God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
His teachings were on a full time schedule over a period of three years. This was for a man who had been raised, being taught the words of our Old Testament daily since childhood. God personally, correctly taught, revealed His truths to Paul and sent him out as His minister to the world.
The size of our individual ministries will vary but the source of Gods words to others comes from the same source. Study Gods Word and in His timing, get out of the way and allow Him to minister to others through us.
Galatians 1:11-12, I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Galatians 1:15-16, But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
Galatians 1:18-19, Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.
Thank you, Ron!
I like the way you phrased this: “…[a] process of supernatural change by the power of the Holy Spirit of God.”
Amen!
Good devotion and good answer R2T2.
Do we have to be like Paul to “gain Christ,” or is it possible to gain Christ in the day-to-day living of being an average Christian?
Paul is certainly a great example of one who gave up everything because of his desire to “gain Christ.” And he himself urged the Corinthian, Thessalonian, and Ephesian believers to imitate him, as he imitated Christ. But that doesn’t mean that the circumstances of Paul’s life were meant to be a “formula” for how to or a “litmus test” of “gaining Christ.” It was the day-to-day walk that Paul had with the Lord that made him close to Jesus, the self-sacrificial and loving mindset that made him an imitator of Christ. He forfeit his “life” in service to Christ and to proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
So, I would have to say “Yes” and “Yes”
We do need to be like Paul to “gain Christ;” be imitators of Christ, deny self, repent and turn from sin, give everything to Him, serve Him, and proclaim His Gospel.
In the day-to-day living of being an average Christian is where we personally live and give, as Paul did, in a personal relationship with Christ, becoming as He is,denying self, repenting and turning from sin, giving everything to Him, serving Him, and proclaiming His Gospel.
Chris,
You remind me of this verse:
“But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37 — CSB)