The Book of Philippians: Do NOT Be Anxious! (Chapter 3: Verses 7-11)

 Hello Friends! 

During this week’s gathering we’ll continue to work our way through the powerful book written by the “Apostle Paul” to the Philippians as we consider the perfect PERSON and wonderful WORKS willed of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent Epistle…“Do NOT Be Anxious!”

The Book of Philippians: Do NOT Be Anxious! (Chapter 3: Verses 7-11)

⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead – Philippians 3:7-11

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Within this POWERFUL passage of torrid “things” embedded deeply in rank religious rites is the great PERSONAL testimony told by the “Apostle Paul” as fervently found in the New Testament narrative. Herein also lies one of the most SIGNIFICANT statements on the matter of “salvation” of the “soul” according to “Paul's” own amazing ACCOUNT as to the dramatic attitude that had overtly OCCURRED in his magnificent “mind” at the spiritual juncture where he personally had mindfully MET the eternal living “Jesus Christ” Himself. And these wonderful “words” will take “us” into the harkening HEART of the “sinner's” associated – Conversation in CONVERSION!

Counted as LOSS!

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The precious “Philippians” were being adamantly ASSAULTED by a group of religious rabble rightly “known” as the “Judaizers” juxtaposed. These were “Jewish” men of whom believed in the Justifier “Jesus Christ” to many varying degrees. However, they ALSO taught that in order to be “saved” from sordid “sin” one had to be “circumcised” of the flesh PHYSICALLY and keenly keep absolutely ALL the lamented – LAWS of Moses!

Therefore, the ardent “Apostle Paul” intently CHANGED his religious bookkeeping system of lamented “loss” and guarded “gain” when he was solemnly SAVED by the loving “Lord Jesus Christ” on that fateful “day” of his called CONVERSION unto eternal life received.

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ – Philippians 3:7

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Notice here that “Paul” sees this matter of SALVATION from the viewpoint of a legal exchange of sorts. In fact, he even uses ACCOUNTING terminology to diligently describe his constructed “counted” contention. WHY? Because an avid accountant would indicate this on his Profit and Loss statement as the term to describe something in the PROFIT column. The Greek word for "gain" used here is “Kerdos” of which means a profit received. Conversely, the Greek word for "loss" used here is “Zemia” of which describes a financial shortage as added to the LOSS column. Finally, the Greek word used for ”counted " used here is “Hegeomai” of which means to accurately ACCOUNT for something. Therefore, the “Apostle Paul” is referring to his personal SPIRITUAL portfolio purported – Profit & Loss!

Religious REFUSE!

It was “doubtless” that to “Paul” himself absolutely “all things” that were placed in his pious PROFIT column of which he then moved over to the LOSS column to contemptibly “count” absolutely ALL of theses “things” as doctrinal demonic “dung” when he personally ENCOUNTERED the received “righteousness which is of God by faith” fully through the real RESURRECTED righteous “Christ” at these spiritual crossroads:

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith – Philippians 3:8-9

This despicable “dung” depicted in the Greek is the word “Skubalon” referring to either human excrement or gross garbage to be thrown AWAY as something utterly USELESS concerning this rank RELIGIOUS rejected refuse. Such was the “loss of all things” and tantamount TRANSFORMATION of which had taken its horrible hold in the lethargic “life” of this pious prelate as derived from the looming “law” of the ornate – Old Testament!

HISTORICAL HINTS: In fact, our sweet “Savior” Himself had this to “say” concerning “all things” for the RELIGIOUS rabble to cautiously consider…

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul – Matthew 16:24-26

Likewise, “Paul” had surely spent his entire life artificially ACCUMULATING sordid spiritual “Kerdos” and filling up a hedged “Hegeomai” column “count” of guarded “gain” belligerently banking on his “own righteousness” in an avid attempt to EARN his very own sordid SATANIC salvation. Trading RELIGUOUS waning works of the fallen “flesh” for a robust RIGHTEOUS realized restitution of the “Spirit” sealed – The GREAT Exchange!

Fellowship of SUFFERING!

Sadly, being “saved by Grace through faith” may grossly GIVE the impeding impression that there is NO mindful motivation for godly conduct and associated “works” willed. However, the purposed “Paul” will diligently dissipate that foolish FALSE fallacious notion:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death – Philippians 3:10

Here the apt “Apostle” exhibits an enormous EFFORT and engaging ENERGY of which is Divinely derived from the “Holy Spirit” Himself that is far GREATER than any legal effort. Under the “Law” system, “Paul” would go to “Damascus” in an avid attempt to utterly DESTROY the faithful “followers” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” in full. Conversely, under this New Covenant of granted “Grace” garnered by our great “God” Himself, “Paul” will now personally “press toward the mark” for the promised PRIZE of the Holy “high calling of God” in order to go FISHING for more fresh “followers of Christ” commissioned…

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace – Ephesians 1:7

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus – Philippians 3:13-14 

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day – 2 Timothy 1:12 

At the encroaching END of his languished “life” lamented, “Paul’s” aiming AMBITION is still to intimately “know Christ” through His “power” and righteous “resurrection” for the faithful “fellowship of His sufferings” Sovereignly surmised. Similarly, the aged “Apostle John” in kind had ALSO aptly asserted…

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life – 1 John 5:18-20

Therefore, to keenly “know” our loving “Lord” and “His” wonderful “Work” of readied REDEMPTION will eagerly engage our apt attention – For ALL Eternity!

Righteous RESURRECTION!

Finally, “Paul” himself does NOT at all “by any means” eagerly expect to aptly “attain” pious personal PERFECTION anytime in this lamented “life” lived:

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead – Philippians 3:11

Incidentally, it does NOT appear that “Paul” was expressing a distressed doubt about his own PARTICIPATION in the resident “resurrection” received:

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

A great righteous REVOLUTION that took place in “Paul’s” own lustrous “life” and was as IF the entire spiritual economy of the nation “Israel” had completely CHANGED to the extent where credits became DEBITS and debits became CREDITS in turn! And NO doubt this would uniquely UPSET the spiritual economy of the waning “world” in kind. Therefore, the ardent “Apostle” was turned upside DOWN and right-side UP on the rigorous “road” to dawning “Damascus” where he had PERSOANLLY met “our” loving – LORD Jesus Christ!

In closing:

Among the PAGAN proponents in the “days” of the New Testament era, they referred to their “knowledge” as the grand “Gnosis” or a sordid secret esoteric, elevated, cultic and MYSTICAL apprehension of corrupt communion with a DEMONIC deity. And during their wicked “worship” wonderland “they” would have a “drunken” bemoaned bacchanalian feast of which “Paul” rightly refers to in his “letter” to the “Ephesian” brethren concerning THEIR own demonic “drunken” debauchery…

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit – Ephesians 5:15-18

And “they” belligerently “believed” that in their inebriation they would ASCEND into a height by which they perceived their DEMONIC deities in intimacy. In fact, that is what the PAGANS have done for centuries and millennia in kind. Thus, perverted PAGANISM treacherously “teaches” there is an ascended kind of granted “Gnosis” and trite transcendent type of “knowledge” for those select FEW of whom eagerly ENTER into by which “they” have apprehended through their – DASTARDLY Dictates!

In early first-century “Christianity” the ardent “Apostle Paul” warned young “Timothy” of the grotesque “Gnostics” of whom claimed to keenly “know” the so-said “science” (developed from the same word “Gnosis”) of the true “God” through an ascended and transcendent type of elusive ELEVATION to which they alone had eagerly EXPERIENCED in full…

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen – 1 Timothy 6:20-21

Conversely, “they” held that everyone else was on the LOW plain of piety. WHY? Because “they” had alone found “God” was accessible ONLY to them but “not after Christ” captured. Rather, it was occultly obtained overtly from their SUPPOSED satanic “philosophy and vain deceit” dictated directly through gross godless “Gnosis“ granted…

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words… Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ… Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind – Colossians 2:2-4, 8 & 18

In the 1960’s an American psychologist named Timothy Leary had tragically taught throughout college campuses that if the students consumed the drug LSD they would aptly ascend to a wholly HIGHER plain and crassly commune with a so-called “God” granted. And in the SAME decade of debauchery dictated, the British rock group known as The Beatles broke into global stardom among the ignorant and impressionable youth with the mantra-modeling Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in tow with their own BRAND of evil esoteric banter keenly touted throughout the waning “world” as torrid Transcendental Meditation meandered. Beloved, this godless “Gnostic” non-sense is definitely – NOTHING New! 

This is still true TODAY in the prognosticating PAGAN rank religions rubbish. This is what a Guru caustically claims. This is what a Buddhist claims. This is what the strange Cultic and Occultic religionists of the wicked “world” wantonly claim as they bemoan their BIZARRE ritualistic religious ruse piously prescribe in order that “they” too might aptly ASCEND into the depraved demonic realm unto “their” own piously PERCEIVED so-called grand “gods” garnered. That is the “Gnosis” of a deeply MYSTICAL transcendent torrid “knowledge” provided by preposterous – PAGAN Piety!

 

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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