At Loss For Christ

Whatever things were to me gain I consider them loss because of Christ.1

Because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, the things that were gain Paul considered loss. Knowing Christ was of more worth than anything else he had valued. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. What things did Paul consider lost? being circumcised, a descendant of Israel, a Hebrew, a Pharisee, a zealot, and a righteous person under the law.2 What had been gain for Paul, he had to count at loss.

Paul counted fleshly circumcision a loss, For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. In the old, God had established a covenant in the flesh, if anyone broke this covenant they would be thrown out from the people.3 In the new, God has established an everlasting covenant in the Spirit, our hearts are circumcised through the spirit. During the days of Paul Messianic Christians felt that Gentiles should become Jews through circumcision before being able to experience Christ's saving work.4 But this was not required for the new covenant. Still today some Christians focus on this elemental principle, but the focus of the new covenant is a circumcision of the heart,5 as was prophesied.6 Many of the old covenant people like the Pharisees were righteous in following the law but their hearts were far from God, full of all kinds of uncleanliness.7 God wants our heart. 

In the new covenant there is no longer a distinction between Jew and Gentile. A Jew is one inward, and circumcision is of the heart in the spirit, not in letter of the law, of whom praise is not of men but of God.7 The fulfillment of God's covenant is continuing through the Jew and the Jew is no longer circumcised of the flesh, but of the spirit. A Jew is a child of God inwardly, one who believes in Jesus, God chose Jesus to redeem mankind. We are grafted into the Father, by this branch of righteousness Jesus Christ.8 Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches, the holy one, the true one, who has the keys of David, he has set open the door.9 This door to the Father is Jesus Christ and if one knocks the door will be opened.10 In Jesus is redemption, The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, Says the Lord.10 Paul had to count at loss being a Jew of the flesh. 

Paul had to count at loss being a Pharisee, as their righteousness was in the law and their confidence was in the flesh. Paul writes that if anyone could put confidence in the flesh it would be him; circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.12 He had learned to be a blameless law abiding person in the flesh, now he struggled with the law of the spirit and the law of sin.13 Though in his inner being he delighted in the laws of God, he found that sin still existed in his member, the battle was in putting to death the reign of sin in the flesh and learning to walk in the spirit. Pride or whatever the reason he was given a thorn in the side, messengers of Satan sent to torment him, through this he learned to trust in the Grace of God, as this was sufficient.14  And he learned to be strengthened in his inner man by the spirit.15 And to present his body a living sacrifice, to be transformed by renewing his mind.16

Paul had to renew his zeal. His confidence was now in Christ, through his weakness Christ became stronger. He had to learn to die to himself, to his fleshly desires, to his own confidence in his wisdom and knowledge of the old covenant scriptures, and to his strength and position within the religious community. This weakness in Christ confounded many Christians as it was hard to believe that Paul was on their side. Paul like Jesus became focused on discipleship, it was a focus on quality, not quantity. These quality believers lived a life that was an example, as they became imitators of Christ, and as such others would imitate them, which is true influence and leadership. This was not a superficial check the box discipleship, it was as Paul writes, we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.17 They worked hard to not be a burden to anyone, so they could proclaim the Gospel devoutly, uprightly, and blamelessly.18 Persecuted churches produce quality believers, it is the word of their testimony and that they cared not for their lives. 

In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.17 But when the time came, God sent forth his son born of the flesh, born under the Law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.18 Like orphaned children, we need the redemptive love of family. So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Sin no longer defines us, And here is the distinction as a son, as a believer, At that time not knowing God, you were enslaved to your inner nature. This is the freedom, you are a son of God, now you have a new nature, God sent forth his spirit in us, crying Abba Father!

Paul had to count at loss the righteousness of the law, of the old covenant. As an adopted child of God the most important thing I can do is to build a strong foundation, to grow my roots deep in the love of Christ. My identity in Christ is in his righteousness. My faith is perfected by abiding in his word and believing what my Father says about me. I am as Paul said working out my salvation. This critical stage of a believer, a babe eating spiritual milk, is often overlooked. We as believers often want new ones to meet us at our level. Paul could only talk to the church at Corinth as if they were babes in Christ, whereas to the Thessalonians, he was affectionately drawn to their deep spiritual growth. To achieve spiritual growth from child, young person, to elder in Christ we must put emphasis on true discipleship and teaching at levels of maturity. This fellowship of believers is suppose to be like a family whose parents build up their children to be imitators of them. This takes counting at loss those things the world, religion, and men find as gain, it is to die to self so that Christ lives through us. Jesus said, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. 

Holy Spirit, you are welcome here.