Blake Jennings

Grace Bible Church Southwood

“To Know Christ is Life, The Rest is Just Details”

Philippians 3:2-16

Jesus Christ is everything to us. Our spiritual life begins when we receive the gift of righteousness through faith in Christ. It then grows and expands as we pursue Christ in an ever-deepening, personal relationship. As we come to know Jesus more fully we experience more of His blessings, learn to rest in His peace, become more like Him in every way, and earn reward when we finally see Him face-to-face. Knowing Jesus more is the great goal of life, but it requires us to set aside our distractions, our regret from the past, and our constant tendency to coast on our present progress. So let us encourage one another to press on to know Jesus more.

1. The Threat of Legalism (v2):

The Allure of Self-Righteousness

—Romans 10:3-4
For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

2. Justification comes through Christ (v3-7):

Receive the Gift of Righteousness

v3: Who’s “in” with God?

- Serve by the Spirit

- Put all confidence in Christ

vv4-6: Paul – “model” of self-righteousness

v7: But Christ’s righteousness was infinitely better

3. Growth comes through Christ (vv8-11):

Pursue the Giver of Righteousness

v8a: How I Grow – by knowing Christ more

—Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.

v8b: Result 1 – I gain more of His benefits

v9: Result 2 – I will be found at peace in Him

v10: Result 3 – I become more like Him

—John 15:10
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

—Romans 6:2-4
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

v11: Result 4 – I will be rewarded in the future

—Hebrews 11:35
Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection

—Acts 7:55-56
But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

4. Application (vv12-16):

Make your Relationship with Christ Priority #1

v12: Pursue Jesus above all else

v13-14: Focus on Him, not on your Past

v15-16: Don’t Try to do it Alone

▪ If I listed out my priorities, would “knowing and becoming like Jesus” be at the top? In the top 5?

▪ What other pursuits are distracting me from pursuing Christ more fully?

▪ What specific thing will I do this week to help me come to know Jesus better?