Philippians 3:10c-11 – The Unthinkable

Photograph of Auguste Rodin's statue called "The Thinker."
(Pixabay)

… becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Summary: Paul’s words about “attaining to the resurrection from the dead” lead us to consider how we get to the point where we can actually understand what he is talking about.   

For some reason, people don’t like to think about death. 

People have different reactions to the topic. Some of us obsess about death, some ignore it or make jokes about it. Human psychology has a variety of ways to deal with the unthinkable. 

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Philippians 3:10a – Life & Death

a picture of a wilderness scene at sunset. In the center of the image stands a doorframe by itself. The door is open and a bright white light beams out through the doorframe into the twilight. (Grok)

 I want to know Christ—

Summary: Paul has been talking about his relationship with Jesus. In this passage, he looks forward to something most people fear.   

These five words, “I want to know Christ —,“ are a stunning statement coming from a man who has actually MET the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 9). He was personally chosen by Jesus to be the Apostle to the Gentile world (Acts 9:15). Paul received his Gospel by direct revelation from Christ (Titus 1:3). Paul knows Christ rather well. 

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Philippians 3:9b – Going Home

Picture of a compass showing "Right" for North and "Wrong" for South (Grok)

… not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law…

Summary: Righteousness can mean a lot of different things depending on whose righteousness you are talking about.   

What happens if we have a righteousness of our own?

Many years ago, I worked for a man who claimed there was “no right or wrong—only shades of gray.” It was frustrating because this meant he was always “right” and I was always “wrong.”

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Philippians 3:8b – All Things

Picture of a shipwreck (Grok) - Acts 27

… for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage…

Summary: Paul’s assessment of the things in his life gives us a reason to pause and consider what it is that we value, too.   

Sometimes people say things and they don’t really mean it. 

For example, if I said, “If I don’t get to go on vacation soon, I’m just going to die!,” you would understand that I am exaggerating. Some call it hyperbole. Everyone “get’s it.” 

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Philippians 3:8 – Just Jesus

Picture of Jesus holding a lamb (AI- Pixabay)

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…

Summary: When Paul compares the things of this world to knowing Christ Jesus, he makes us think about what we value in life.   

Paul has just walked us through all the things he considered his “gains” in life (Philippians 3:7). What were his “gains?” They were the material things that put him ahead of others. 

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