Ian & Jocelyn Barker

We have seen that Paul is concerned about certain men in Philippi who have been advocating a “false circumcision”. These were most likely Jewish men who believed that it was required that Christians be circumcised according to the Jewish law and live under the law in order to be in the church. Paul considered this to be putting confidence in the flesh, and Paul knew from experience that no work of the flesh can earn salvation.

Verses 7-14 are dynamic and some of Paul’s richest journal of godly devotion. Paul is looking back at his former life as a Pharisee, one who studied the Law and taught it, and he sees that all of his good works were nothing compared to life in Christ. Everything he thought was good, he now knows is nothing and worthless. This is our testimony as Christians. The things of the world are empty and worthless compared to our life in Christ now.

But the remarkable thing about this passage is that Paul keeps looking forward as if he still hasn’t found what he’s looking for. He presently counts all things as worthless “in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v. 8). He is still reaching forward to know Christ and still takes account of the worthless things that he rejects. Verse 9 is outstanding because it is a classic verse that indicates that we are saved by the faith, but Paul is still seeking to be found in Christ’s righteousness. He is still pressing on for the justification that comes through faith. I believe that this is a critical verse to show that salvation is a process and it is not binding. However, I don’t believe that we are in the loose grip of God and we can lose it at any time. I just think that it shows that Paul had a high view of salvation and, more importantly, the resurrection.