Philippians 3:7-9

Paul Gave Up All For Christ

Because of the above list, Paul had once counted himself a spiritual millionaire. At the time he wrote this letter, he saw himself as bankrupt before he found Christ (Matthew 5:3; Mark 8:34-38; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). To become a Christian, Paul had set aside the pride of the self-made man (1 Peter 3:7).

Paul forfeited, or suffered the loss, of all he once held dear and counted it a good swap for the knowledge of Christ (Matthew 13:44-46). Jesus says we can either deny self or forfeit self, or be cast away (Luke 9:23-25; the words "cast away" and suffered the loss" come from the same Greek word.) Shepherd says "knowledge" is much more than intellectual. It "includes faith, service, sacrifice, and is analogous to the phrase 'to be in Christ' -- the spiitual knowledge by which the indiviidual becomes one with Christ, so that his whole life is lived in Chrsit and he has no consciousness of being apart from Christ." This kind of knowledge would, of course, grow as one grew in service of the master. Paul said he counted all that was once important to him as refuse to win Christ (1 Peter 3:8).

To be found in Christ, one must be baptized into him (Romans 6:3-4). Once Paul was in Christ, he ceased relying on personal accomplishments to save him. Instead, he was obedient, which is generally the meaning of faith in the New Testament (Romans 1:5; Romans 16:26). As Coffman says, "The contrast is between trusting in the ceremonies of the Law of Moses for salvation as contrasted with believing and obeying the gospel of Christ."

The only faith which God will count for righteousness is that which comes by an obedient hearing of God's word (Romans 10:17). The "faith of Christ" would refer to the Savior's faithfulness, or fidelity, in carrying out God's plan for saving man. Note that he had to obey God to be truly faithful in carrying out God's will (1 Peter 2:8; John 4:24; John 6:38; Matthew 26:39). Our righteousness comes by Christ's faith in that we are cleansed by his blood (1 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 1:7).