Scripture Reading: Phil. 3:4-10
Ⅰ
The "all things" in Philippians 3:8 refer mainly to things of religion, philosophy, and culture:
A
Paul was not speaking of superficial, outward, or material things.
B
Satan uses religion, philosophy, and culture to hook people and to keep them from Christ—Gal. 1:4; 6:14; 5:4; Col. 2:18-19.
C
National philosophy and domestic logic are hidden substitutes for Christ and subtle enemies of the experience of Christ—Phil. 3:4-7:
１
In every part of the world, the national philosophy and the domestic logic are so strong that there is little ground in the believers for Christ.
２
National characteristics are like tumors which grow in a person's psychological stomach, and which take over nearly all the room which should be reserved for Christ.
３
We need the most skillful Surgeon to remove the tumor hidden within us—Col. 2:11.
Ⅱ
Pursuing after the enjoyment and experience of Christ is the governing principle of our Christian life—Phil. 3:12-14, 16:
A
This principle will preserve us in the proper oneness—Col. 2:19.
B
This is what Paul describes as "this mind," and is the unique path, the particular lane, for our Christian walk—Phil 3:16.
C
"Not to forget but to linger in our past experiences, however genuine they were, frustrates our further pursuing of Christ"—3:13 note 2.
D
Let us all pursue Christ to such an extent that we are willing to count as loss even our national philosophy and characteristics on account of Him.
Ⅲ
In order to gain Christ in a full way, we need to put our natural life to death by being conformed to the death of Christ through the power of His resurrection—3:10:
A
To be conformed to His death means that we put to death not only the negative elements of the human life but the good aspects as well.
１
Christ continually put to death His sinless human life so that His divine life could flow out—Matt. 3:15; John 5:19.
２
Those of every nationality treasure their own national characteristics and philosophy:
ａ
Such elements become a huge rock hindering the release of the power of Christ's resurrection from within us.
ｂ
In order to make spiritual progress, we have to count these as refuse that we may gain Christ—Phil. 3:8.