Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Philippians 3: 8-10
3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,
3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
He teaches us to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. This knowledge is the highest science that any man can reach. It is the sum of all true science. “This is life eternal,” Christ declared, “that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.”—Manuscript 28, 1905, 8. (“The Result of Repentance,” March 5, 1905.) {7MR 292.3}
Paul’s Estimate of God’s Grace—
[Philippians 3:8, 9 quoted.] The righteousness that before he [Paul] had thought worth so much was now worthless in his sight. His own righteousness was unrighteousness. The deep longing of his soul was, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” {7BC 905.10}
He would know for himself the power of the Saviour’s grace. He trusted in His power to save even him, who had persecuted the church of Christ. In his estimation no treasure could equal the value of the gift of the knowledge of Christ (Manuscript 89, 1903). {7BC 905.11}
If there was a case presented that demonstrated the result of full repentance, it was the case of Saul becoming Paul after his encounter with Christ Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul had been a chief persecutor of Christians prior to his encounter with Jesus. After, Paul saw his unrighteousness, knowing sin because of the law. However, he knew that it was faith in Jesus, and only Jesus, who could save even him. Paul surrendered his life to Christ. He felt his own weakness but knew he could do all things by the strength of Christ. Everywhere he went he preached Christ, knowing Christ, and the power of His resurrection with pure joy. He repeatedly used the term “in Christ” throughout the epistle to the Philippians, and when combined with joy, it makes up the theme of the epistle which was written in Rome to the Philippians while Paul was imprisoned. He did not know if his trial would end in life or death but writes of being prepared for both, as holy life is blessed and holy death is blessed. He tells them of his peace and joy in Christ that holds him up in all his afflictions. Paul valued the gift of Christ more than any treasure in this world.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come before You in thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. We thank You for this honor and privilege of being in Your presence. We have all sinned and come short of Your glory. It is only by Your mercy that we are not consumed because Your compassion fails not. As Paul did, we see that our righteousness is worthless and is unrighteousness. We pray for Your righteousness, which is by faith in God. The law shows us our sinful ways, but only You are able to save. We are sorry, and humbly repent of all our sins. It is our prayer that You forgive us of all our sins, the known and the unknown, from the beginning until now, and wash us clean in the blood of Christ. We pray that You remove our filthy garments and clothe us in Your white robe of righteousness. We pray to receive Your likeness and character. You are the vine and we are the branches. We pray You feed us Your life and strength to do all things in Christ, which strengthens us. We pray to receive the highest science any man can ever teach that is the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. We pray to have life eternal that we might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. We pray to know You and have the power of Your resurrection. We pray, as Paul did, that You would save even us. We pray for the strength and courage to preach Christ with joy while being in Christ. We pray for Your peace and joy to hold us up in times of our afflictions. Help us to prepare for life or death, and as Paul was, prepared for both, as holy life is blessed and holy death is blessed. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
