Paul who was once spiritually blind now he can see. Now he sees that all his works were useless for salvation. When God converted Paul he wanted nothing else but Christ.
Paul’s own righteousness apart from Christ was damning condemnation. He was not about to back to trusting in human works. Paul boasts in Christ now. V7 – But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. V8 – 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.
He counted all of his works loss. V8 – ” Yet indeed” – emphatic. But rather beyond all of that I have said. Knowing Christ was far more valuable than any of his works. That” I may gain Christ ” – the knowledge of Christ is the most valuable thing. To gain Christ he gained everything. To know Christ is everything. To know Christ is life itself and it is the meaning of life.
There are so many people that go to church and so many people that profess Christ that know about Him but don’t know Him intimately.. My Lord – “Christ Jesus my Lord” – knowledge Jesus is more than intellectual, theological, or even confessional truth. I remind you demons know God and the tremble. You must have a saving knowledge. In John 10 Jesus says I know my own and my own know me. Jesus in His – this is eternal life that they may know you and the only true God – Revelation – depart from me I never knew you.
Final point – V8 – “for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ” – what did he lose? His family, friends, status, likely excommunicated, legal and political power, his lively hood, literally the skin off his back, his home, library even the clothes of his back. He had nothing. But from Pauls perspective he had Christ which was everything. He considered all other things rubbish. Mark 8:36 (NKJV) “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Is Christ everything to you? Do you pursue Him and the knowledge of Him like Paul did? Do you count all things as loss? Is knowing Him and following Him your ultimate pursuit?
Philippians 3:1-21 (NKJV) 1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you [is] not tedious, but for you [it is] safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 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 9 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; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do,] forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to [the degree] that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end [is] destruction, whose god [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.