Love goes both ways Pt 23: Press on towards Christ

Ephesians 3:4b-14                 …If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.  7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  10I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.  12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Gains and losses

If anyone had reason to brag about religious pedigree, Paul certainly did.  In Philippians 3:4–6, he lays out a spiritual résumé that would have been impressive in any first-century Jewish context.  He was, in his own words, "circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews" (v. 5).  That’s not just heritage; that’s elite status.  Paul had all the right credentials—ethnically, culturally, and religiously.  He wasn’t just devout; he was a Pharisee, part of a group known for meticulous adherence to the Law.  He even says that in terms of zeal, he persecuted the church—thinking at the time that this was what faithfulness looked like.

But here’s where things turn.  In verse 7, Paul throws a theological curveball: “Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”  That word “gains” is an accounting term in Greek—it refers to profits.  Paul is essentially saying, “All the assets I used to count in my favor, I’ve now moved into the liability column.”1

Everything else is garbage

Paul doesn’t stop with a polite “those things are less important now.” No, he gets vivid.  In verse 8, he writes: “I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”  He uses a crude term that could mean trash, manure, or even excrement.  It's earthy and intentional.2  Paul is not trying to be delicate; he wants his readers to feel the full weight of the comparison.  Next to Christ, everything else is just refuse.  Why so strong?  Because this is about union with Christ.  Paul’s goal isn’t just moral improvement or theological insight; it’s knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (v. 8).  The word “knowing” doesn’t refer to abstract knowledge, like memorizing facts.  It’s relational and experiential.  It’s the same kind of knowing you find in intimate, personal relationships.  Paul is talking about being united with Christ in such a way that Jesus becomes the center of everything.

In fact, Paul says that gaining Christ means participating in His sufferings and becoming like Him in His death (v. 10).  That’s not the most marketable gospel message, is it?  But Paul isn’t ashamed to say that suffering with Jesus is part of knowing Him deeply.  He’s echoing Jesus’ own words in Luke 9:23: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

The takeaway is simple but radical:  Anything that competes with Christ for your heart, your identity, or your trust—it’s garbage.  Not in its own right, perhaps, but in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus.

Righteousness through faith

At the core of this passage lies Paul’s understanding of righteousness.  In verse 9, he describes a righteousness “not of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.”  This is a monumental shift, not only for Paul but for the entire theology of the New Testament.

Before encountering Christ, Paul’s life revolved around attaining righteousness by works of the law.  But now, he sees that kind of righteousness as counterfeit.  True righteousness, he says, comes from God and is received by faith.  It’s not earned; it’s granted.  This is what theologians call justification—being declared right before God not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Christ has done on our behalf.3

Notice the contrast: one kind of righteousness is self-made; the other is Christ-given.  One depends on our ability to measure up; the other depends on Jesus’ perfect obedience and sacrificial death.  This is the heart of the gospel.

For Paul, this wasn’t just doctrine—it was deeply personal.  He didn’t want to just talk about faith; he wanted to live by it.  He wanted to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and to share in His sufferings (v. 10).  Again, this shows us how closely Paul links righteousness and relationship.  For him, being declared right with God wasn’t a ticket to complacency—it was an invitation to deeper fellowship with Christ.

This part of the passage also pushes back on every impulse we have toward self-righteousness.  Whether we’re tempted to trust in our religious activity, our moral performance, or even our theological correctness, Paul’s words confront us: none of that counts.  Only faith in Christ.

I press on for the goal

Paul rounds out this powerful passage with athletic imagery.  In verses 12–14, he likens his life to a race.  “Not that I have already obtained all this,” he admits, “but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”  The Greek word for “press on” suggests pursuit, like a runner giving everything he’s got to reach the finish line.4

And that’s what Paul is doing—he’s pressing forward.  Even though he’s already been saved, he’s not content to coast.  He wants to “take hold” of the full reality of what Christ has done in him and for him.

Verse 13 is particularly rich.  Paul says, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal.” There’s intentionality here.  He’s not stuck reliving past victories or failures.  He’s moving forward, eyes fixed on the prize.  That prize, he says, is “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (v. 14).  In other words, the ultimate reward is not a crown or a title—it’s Christ Himself.  Knowing Him fully. Being with Him completely.  Becoming like Him eternally.

This doesn’t mean that Paul had some kind of works-based salvation in mind.  He’s clear that salvation is a gift.  But he also knows that the Christian life requires perseverance, effort, and focus.  We don’t run to earn God’s love—we run because we already have it.  For us, this is a call to holy ambition.  To not settle for a stagnant or nominal Christianity.  To press on.  To grow.  To be transformed.  Paul’s words remind us that the Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon—a long obedience in the same direction.5

What about me?

The reversal of Paul’s focus shows us something critical:  The gospel redefines what we value.  Paul once found his identity in his achievements and status, but meeting Christ shattered all that.  It wasn’t that his Jewish background or zealous discipline were inherently wrong; they just weren’t ultimate.  And in light of Jesus, they no longer held the weight they once did.  So what does this say to us?  Many of us build our identity around what we’ve accomplished—our degrees, our job titles, our moral track record, or even our religious involvement.  But Paul’s story reminds us that knowing Christ isn’t one value among many—it’s the lens through which all other values are evaluated.

If the Gospel redefines what we value, how does that change how we live?  One thing I thought of while considering this passage is just how strong the influence of our peer’s opinions are during our teenage years.  During that age of our lives, we are often ‘controlled’ by other’s opinions.  This should not be so.  We should live our lives as contrary as possible to the values of the world.  We now adhere to higher values and precepts.

Philippians 3:4–14 is one of the most personal and passionate reflections in all of Paul’s letters.  It invites us to rethink our values, reassess our righteousness, and recommit to pursuing Christ above everything else.

·        What once seemed like gain is now loss.

·        What once looked impressive is now garbage.

·        What once relied on human effort is now replaced by faith.

·        And what once lacked purpose is now driven by the goal of knowing Jesus.

Paul’s life was radically reoriented by the gospel, and he invites us into that same transformation.  Because once you've encountered the risen Christ, nothing else compares.