Paul's Greatest Asset
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Paul's list of his old assets have become like rubbish to him when compared to the joy of knowing Christ.
Text: Phil. 3:4-8
Date: 08/04/2024, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 20
Description:
As part of his warning to the church of Philippi concerning the false teachers within their midst, Paul cuts to the heart of the matter by using accounting terms to describe the "surpassing value" of knowing Christ compared to anything else he might have considered to be an asset. He speaks of a balance sheet of sorts to list and add up assets and liabilities. The issue is whether it is possible for righteousness to be gained through means of the flesh, (any attempt at self-justification). If the righteousness of the flesh is to be counted, Paul argues that his impressive list of assets would surpass anything the false teachers had to boast about. But once the assets are all listed, Paul reveals that compared to the surpassing value of knowing and being known by Christ-- his old assets have no more value than "rubbish". We will make our way through his list of assets and then celebrate the preeminence of Christ as Paul's only and greatest asset.
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Phil. 3:4-8.
A. Context
B. Paul's pedigree.
1. No confidence in the flesh, vs. 4.
a. Setting the tone.
b. A challenge to the false teachers, Eph. 3:12.
2. Paul's impressive list of assets, vs. 5-6.
a. Inherited assets.
i. Circumcised into the covenant.
ii. Of the nation of Israel, Deut. 7:7-8; Rom. 3:1-2.
iii. Of the tribe of Benjamin.
iv. A Hebrew of Hebrews.
b. Earned assets.
i. a Pharisee, Matt. 23:2-4; Acts 26:4-5.
ii. A Zealot, Acts 8:3, 7:58, 9:1-2; 1Cor. 15:9; 2Cor. 12:9.
iii. Self-justification, Mark 10:19-20.
2. Switching the columns, vs. 7.
3. The reason for the change, vs. 8.
a. Looking at the words.
i. Counting everything.
ii. The surpassing value.
iii. Prophet, Priest and King.
iv. Fully known and fully loved, John 10:14.
b. The value of worldly assets.
III. Conclusion
