FOUND IN HIM!!!

I am desiring and hoping to write some short articles based off my reading each morning. I won't be writing every morning which was and maybe one day will be my lofty goal; however, intend on writing once or twice a week. My goal, because I enjoy writing, is to share a few thoughts about a particular passage that sticks out in my mind from God's Word that morning. These articles will by no means be exhaustive.

Philippians 3:7-9,

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 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:"

This passage has become dear to my heart for several reasons. I quickly want to point out that Philippians is one of Paul's later epistles, written after the Acts period. He writes this epistle form prison. Paul is older and more mature in the faith. Here are some things I enjoy in the passage.

1) Notice verse 7 & 8 are similar and he almost repeats himself.

v. 7, "but what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
v. 8a, "yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:"

Paul said he counted all the things that were gain to him (see verses 4-6) as loss, but notice that HE STILL counts them loss. What does he count them loss for? For Christ, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.

2) His all things that he counts as loss are counted as dung. No explanation needed.

3) My favorite verse out of this passage is verse 9. After many years in ministry and through many years of suffering Paul desire STILL is to be FOUND IN HIM (CHRIST). Paul's life was one of faith and he desired whether the rapture happened or at his death he would be found in Him. Paul although had his position eternally secure in Christ, practically he wanted to be found in that position in Christ. What does it mean to be found in Him?

4) NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS OF THE LAW. This is a natural bent within mankind. We want to work. We want to work in order to prove something. In Exodus at the giving of the law, before Israel received the commandments they yelled, "all that the Lord commands we will do". Yea right. Are human pride wants to work to show God we can do something or prove something. Paul's attitude was not one of, "now I am saved so I will keep the law", but rather, "I am saved by faith alone in Christ alone I want to continue and be found in that faith". Paul wanted to be found not in his own righteousness which is of the law, but the righteousness that is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Paul walked by faith and continued to walk by faith not in His own righteousness, but in Christ's.

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:"
-Colossians 2:6

May you rest in Christ's righteousness today by faith. I hope you desire to be found in Him and not in yourself. Christ is the issue. Count it all but dung for Christ!!!

Look Up,
Josh Strelecki