To Know Christ, To Be Like Him, To Be With Him – Philippians 3:7-21
What would you give up to gain something of infinite value? Paul, reflecting on his life, shares a transformation that turned everything upside down—and invites us into the same journey.
Once, he boasted in his heritage—circumcised, a Hebrew Pharisee, blameless under the law (vv. 5-6). Yet he calls it all “loss because of Christ” (v. 7). Why this shift?
Paul’s heart pours out:
Philippians 3:8 (CSB) “More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.”
This isn’t dry knowledge—it’s an intimate bond, a relationship that outshines every achievement. It’s the very heartbeat of the Christian life. Paul let go of status, reputation, and earthly gain to embrace Christ’s presence, counting everything as “dung” in comparison to the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.” What might we surrender—pride, comfort, success—to know Him more deeply, to enter into this profound intimacy? Consider what truly holds your attention, your ambition, your security. Is it something that will fade, or something that contributes to this eternal pursuit?
Knowing Christ reshapes us:
Philippians 3:10 (CSB) “My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death.”
Paul yearned to reflect Christ’s character, experiencing both the triumph of resurrection power and the refining fire of sharing His sufferings. This shaping isn’t instant—it’s a daily pursuit, like a runner pressing toward the finish (vv. 12-14). The transformation Paul speaks of isn’t a one-time event, but a continuous yielding to God’s refining work in us. It means embracing both the joy of His power and the challenges that mold us, knowing that through it all, we are being shaped into His image. Are we open to this transformative process, allowing His Spirit to powerfully conform us to the image of His Son?
His hope reaches beyond this life:
Philippians 3:20-21 (CSB) “Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.”
As heaven’s citizens, we await complete transformation with Christ. This truth reorients our lives, shifting focus from earthly gain to eternal glory. As we fix our gaze on our heavenly citizenship, our daily steps here on earth take on new meaning. We live not for fleeting accolades, but with the joyful anticipation of His return, when He will complete the transformation He began in us.
Paul’s pursuit challenges us to rethink our priorities. Are we willing to count all as loss to know Christ intimately, to let His power and sufferings mold us, to live as heaven’s citizens eagerly awaiting Him? May our lives echo Paul’s fervent desire, finding our deepest fulfillment in Christ alone.
Father, help us embrace the surpassing value of knowing Jesus above all else. By Your Spirit, empower us to surrender whatever hinders true intimacy with Him. Shape us daily through both His resurrection power and the fellowship of His sufferings, and keep our hearts fixed on our heavenly home as we eagerly await the day we will be completely with Him.
