Sunday School Lesson for 1/20/2013. Unit II. Exalting Christ. Gain and Loss. Philippians 3:7-11.

Philippians 3:7-11 .... Paul: past and present (Warning Digression)

Philippians 3:7 - Man Redeemed; Justification; Faith the Instrumental Cause

Have you ever purposely accepted a short-term loss to achieve a long-term gain? Now if you/we/me have, compare those losses and gains with the Christian life.

The things that the apostle Paul had counted as a .... gain .... he now counted as a .... loss.

Paul left an amazing record for us; Christ was more valuable than anything he had or would ever "earn" in his self-righteous spiritual life.

Philippians 3:8-9 ... Man Redeemed; Justification; Faith the Instrumental Cause

Justification (the past) - Philippians 3:7-9
Sanctification (the present) - Philippians 3:10-14
Glorification (the future) - Philippians 3:15-16

The Law was not able to save mankind (Galatians 2:21)

The apostle Paul in the past had been a sinner, but was made justified (Romans 4:3) with God (Romans 10:3) by faith (Romans 3:22; 10:8-10) in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9; II Corinthians 5:21)

On the Cross at Calvary, God exchanged our sinfulness with Christ's righteousness (II Corinthians 5:21). No one can be saved on someone else's experience of Salvation. This is a personal matter, with continual faith in Christ.

Philippians 3:10-11

Verse 10 - Jesus Christ; The Burial & Resurrection of Christ; Explanation, By New Testament Writers

Verse 11 - Eschatology(Last Things); The Resurrection of The Body; The Believer's Longing

The apostle Paul was growing more like Christ through Christ's power (I Corinthians 6:11).

The only way to personally know and experience Christ was through experiential learning .... The apostle Paul wanted the Philippian Church to know that the study of God's Word would give them .... "book" .... knowledge of Christ (John 5:39; II Peter 3:18).

At the second coming of Christ we will experience resurrection/transformation (Philippians 3:21; I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Self-worth of many people resides in accolades/honors/awards/material possessions they have and or their accomplishments in life...... Think on the true value of your(my) life when we are stripped of our achievements .... The apostle Paul believed that no achievement in the earthly life is worth anything when compared to the value of knowing Christ Jesus .... Value resides in everything, from the .... smallest ... and the ... last, ... this was stressed by Jesus in "The Parable of the Lost Sheep."

The Christian life requires growing in maturity to correctly evaluate the importance of secular and spiritual things. Growing and maturing in Christ requires constant commitment and re-commitment.

The Saints of God must have complete trust in Christ.

Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible & Zondervan Bible Commentary