“7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” (Phil 3:7-16)

Exposition

1. Paul’s perspective is focussed on the resurrection, “that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (v. 11)

2. The expression “resurrection from the dead”, is used elsewhere of believers (Luke 20:35; Acts 4:2).

3. This is not to be equated with the general resurrection of all persons; it is a resurrection from amongst the dead. A distinction is maintained between a resurrection of the just/righteous and the unjust/unrighteous (Luke 14:14; Acts 24:15 cf. John 5:29)

4. The key to grasping the significance of this distinction is that the preaching of the gospel is the proclamation that “Jesus has been raised from the dead” (Rom 1:4; 1 Cor 15:12; 1 Pet 1:3).

5.  To share in Jesus exalted risen existence is the life goal of the apostle. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (v.14) i.e. v.11 = v.14

6. This explains his attitude to the past. “7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord….. 13 forgetting what lies behind”

7. Paul considers this complete attitudinal framework with respect to past and future to be “mature” thinking, “Let those of us who are mature think this way” (v.15). (Something obviously not shared by all Christians.)

8. Paul’s mature outlook is centred on “the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (v.9).

9. Such righteousness (with its many attendant fruit in Paul’s letters, e.g. peace (Rom 5:1); freedom from guilt (Rom 8:1); purity (Phil 1:11)) is not an abstract concept but consists in conformity to Jesus’ death and life.

10. “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (vv.10). The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is the righteousness of God in human form, Paul wants to be like Christ (Rom 8:29; 1 Cor 11:1).

Application

1. All Christian ministries, including that of PA, must be aimed at bringing believers to the maturity of which Paul speaks concerning his own life.

2.  It cannot be taken for granted that the shape of a mature life expounded by Paul as death to self-attainment and resurrection with Christ is the majority attitude in the church today.

3. We cannot assume that believers have died to the past and are consistently focussed on the hope of resurrection life as participation if Christ’s great righteousness. Rather, the dominant disposition of Western Christianity is enjoying a better life now.

4. Whatever means a ministry uses to bring people to the maturity of Christ likeness (Eph 4:13; Col 1:28; Heb 5:14), at its centre must be “revelation”, “if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.” (v.15 cf. Gal 1:16; Eph 1:17).

5. Ultimately, this correlates with the goal to which Paul’s life points, the Second Coming, “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 1:7, 13), the time at which God’s righteousness, forever doubted by man (Mal 2:17; Rom 3:25-26) will be finally made known (Rom 2:5; Rev 15:4) and all things shall be brought into God’s kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17).

6. Only by seeking from God through prayer for others (and ourselves) a share in what will be revealed at the End in the present can we present people “mature in Christ” (Col 1:28).

7. In practice, as Paul outlines, knowing in the present the reality of the future depends on death to the past.