Clearing the Decks

Clearing the Decks

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Philippians 3:8

The great passion of Paul’s life was his relationship with Christ. To that end he sacrificed everything. We spoke yesterday of Paul’s clearing the area in order to build this relationship. We spoke also of all the human ‘merits’ upon which he might have depended to commend him to God. Paul categorically discounted all those things. In our text for today he totally ‘clears the decks.’  He declares, ‘Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.’ This statement provides some excellent value for us who desire a relationship with Christ. We want to be very clear about who and what we are by nature. We want to clearly understand that in order to have a vital relationship with Christ, we cannot approach Him with any idea that we have merit or ‘selling points’ to commend us to Him. Once we understand that, we, as helpless, hopeless breakers of God’s law, cast ourselves utterly upon the mercy of God. The foundation of our relationship with Christ will only ever exist after we have utterly abandoned all hope of redeeming ourselves. To this end, Paul clears the decks regarding his own merit. So also, must we, if we are going to have a relationship with Christ. This utterly abases our pride. It completely removes all our self-trust and self-righteousness. It is therefore, an excellent thing, because by that abasement we are prepared to start with Christ.

Our Great and Gracious God,
we praise You that the Righteousness of Christ is all we need.
We rejoice that we need not to depend upon any of our own merit,
but, that all righteousness comes from You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning