Sermons on Philippians 3:7-9

Philippians 3:7-9 Interpretation:

Living Selflessly: Embracing Sacrifice for Christ's Mission (Limitless Church California) offers a vivid and unique interpretation of Philippians 3:7-9 by focusing on the Greek word "skubalon," which Paul uses for "garbage." The preacher recounts a Bible college professor who explained that "skubalon" is a vulgar term, akin to the English expletive for excrement, emphasizing the shocking force of Paul's language. This interpretation highlights that Paul is not merely saying his former gains are unimportant, but that they are utterly repulsive and worthless compared to knowing Christ. The sermon also draws a strong analogy between the pursuit of self (comfort, security, control) and the futility of clinging to "garbage," urging listeners to radically reorient their lives toward sacrificial love and mission. The preacher uses the metaphor of an hourglass to illustrate how most people view their lives as a finite set of days, but challenges the congregation to see their lives as part of an ongoing story that impacts eternity, thus echoing Paul's perspective of valuing only what lasts in Christ.

Radical Transformation: Encountering Christ at the Well (MLJTrust) interprets Philippians 3:7-9 by drawing a parallel between Paul's radical revaluation of his life and the transformation of the Samaritan woman in John 4. The preacher notes that, like Paul, the woman leaves behind her "waterpot"—a symbol of her old priorities—after encountering Christ. The sermon uniquely frames Paul's statement ("what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ") as a total revolution of values, not a mere adjustment. The preacher stresses that the Christian life is not an add-on or a set of duties, but a complete change in the center of one's existence, dominated by Christ. The analogy of being "Christ-intoxicated" or a "bondslave" is used to describe the depth of this transformation, emphasizing that all former achievements or identities are now seen as "dung" (echoing Paul's language) in light of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

True Righteousness: Heart Over Appearance in Faith (Pastor Chuck Smith) interprets Philippians 3:7-9 by contrasting self-righteousness (rooted in law-keeping and outward appearance) with the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. The sermon highlights Paul's autobiographical account in Philippians 3, where he lists his credentials and then declares them "loss" and "refuse" (another translation for "dung" or "garbage") for the sake of Christ. The preacher underscores that true righteousness is not achieved by human effort or adherence to rules, but is "imputed"—an accounting term—by God through faith in Jesus. This interpretation is distinguished by its focus on the futility of self-generated righteousness and the necessity of receiving Christ's righteousness as a gift, using the metaphor of accounting records being "blotted out" and replaced with Christ's righteousness.

Transformative Identity: Security and Dignity in Christ (Alistair Begg) interprets Philippians 3:7-9 as a radical reorientation of identity, security, and dignity, rooted not in personal achievement or religious pedigree but in union with Christ. Begg uses the analogy of citizenship and passports to illustrate how being "in Christ" confers all the rights and privileges of spiritual citizenship, independent of personal merit. He also draws on the metaphor of a legal transaction—like a purchase with a "no exchanges, no refunds" policy—to emphasize the finality and security of Christ's work. Notably, Begg highlights the concept of "active obedience" of Christ, referencing the theological distinction that Christ's perfect life (not just his death) is credited to believers, making them as righteous as Christ in God's sight. He also uses the metaphor of being clothed in a robe provided by the King, underscoring the inadequacy of self-made righteousness and the necessity of receiving Christ's righteousness as a gift.

Transformative Power of the Gospel in Our Lives (Pathway Church) offers a unique and vivid analogy for Philippians 3:7-9 by comparing attempts at self-improvement or religious effort to a caterpillar gluing fake butterfly wings onto itself. The sermon insists that true transformation is not behavioral modification but a complete change of nature—just as a caterpillar must dissolve and be remade as a butterfly, so too must a person be made new in Christ. The preacher also uses the metaphor of a GPS with the wrong address to illustrate how zeal and sincerity, apart from Christ, lead one astray, echoing Paul's own testimony of misplaced religious passion. The sermon further employs the image of a "ladder against the wrong wall" to depict the futility of pursuing righteousness or success apart from Christ, reinforcing Paul's declaration that all former gains are "garbage" compared to knowing Christ.

Embracing Christ: The Treasure of True Faith (Desiring God) interprets Philippians 3:7-9 as a call to receive Christ not merely as a means to an end or as a doctrinal truth, but as the supreme treasure of the believer’s life. The sermon uniquely emphasizes that saving faith is not indifferent or merely intellectual; rather, it is a “treasuring receiving” and a “treasuring resting.” The preacher draws a vivid analogy between faith and the act of treasuring, arguing that justifying faith always receives Christ as precious, not as a matter of boredom or expediency. This interpretation is reinforced by connecting the Greek word for “rubbish” (skubalon) to the idea of counting all things as refuse compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, thus highlighting the radical revaluation of all things in light of Christ’s value. The sermon also links this treasuring to the act of justification, stating that we are put right with God not by works, but by welcoming Christ as our treasured Savior.

Journeying into the Fullness of God (SermonIndex.net) offers a distinctive interpretation by focusing on the paradox that Paul, who already possessed Christ, still speaks of “gaining” or “winning” Christ in Philippians 3:7-9. The preacher explores the idea that there is a deeper “fullness” in Christ available to believers, beyond initial salvation. The analogy is made to a journey or process of being strengthened in the inner man by the Spirit, so that believers can experience the “immeasurable” riches and fullness of Christ. The sermon thus interprets “gaining Christ” as an ongoing, Spirit-empowered experience of Christ’s love and presence, not a one-time event.

Unity of the Gospel: Jesus and Paul's Message (SermonIndex.net) provides a detailed and novel interpretation by connecting Philippians 3:7-9 to Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18. The preacher argues that both Jesus and Paul teach justification by faith on the basis of an imputed righteousness, not an inherent or even God-wrought righteousness within the believer. The sermon uses the analogy of “letting go” of all personal and even Spirit-enabled righteousness (as the rich young ruler is told to let go of his possessions) in order to “gain Christ.” The preacher also highlights the linguistic and theological parallel between Paul’s “counting as loss” and Jesus’ teaching that even perfect obedience leaves one an “unworthy servant,” thus making the case that the “one thing” needed is Christ himself, not any form of righteousness in the believer.

Philippians 3:7-9 Theological Themes:

Living Selflessly: Embracing Sacrifice for Christ's Mission (Limitless Church California) introduces the theme of the "false self" versus the "true self," drawing from Dr. Robert Mulholland's concept that spiritual formation is not just about personal piety but about being shaped into the image of Christ for the sake of others. The sermon applies Philippians 3:7-9 to the process of dying to the false self (centered on personal desires and control) and awakening to the true self (formed by Christ and oriented toward loving others). This theme is further developed by connecting the loss of all things (as "garbage") to the discovery of abundant life through self-giving love, rather than self-preservation.

Radical Transformation: Encountering Christ at the Well (MLJTrust) presents the theme of radical, holistic transformation as the essence of the Christian life. The sermon argues that Philippians 3:7-9 is not about incremental improvement or adding religious duties, but about a complete re-centering of one's mind, interests, will, and affections around Christ. The preacher insists that the Christian's entire outlook, priorities, and passions are revolutionized, so that Christ becomes the dominant reality, and all else is relativized as loss or "dung."

True Righteousness: Heart Over Appearance in Faith (Pastor Chuck Smith) adds the theme of "imputed righteousness" as a distinct theological angle. The sermon explains that the righteousness Paul seeks is not his own, but is credited to him by God through faith in Christ. This is contrasted with the self-righteousness of the Pharisees, which is outward and self-generated. The preacher emphasizes that only the righteousness of Christ, received by faith, grants entrance into God's kingdom, and that this is a gift rather than an achievement.

Transformative Identity: Security and Dignity in Christ (Alistair Begg) introduces the theme of "active obedience"—the idea that Christ's perfect fulfillment of the law is imputed to believers, not just his atoning death. This goes beyond the common focus on forgiveness, emphasizing that believers are counted as having fulfilled the law in Christ, which provides not only pardon but positive righteousness. Begg also explores the theme of inviolable security in Christ, arguing that the believer's standing is as unchangeable as a completed legal transaction, immune to reversal or return, which grounds assurance and combats spiritual insecurity.

Transformative Power of the Gospel in Our Lives (Pathway Church) presents the theme that religious effort or tradition cannot effect true transformation; only union with Christ can. The sermon develops the idea that the gospel is not about making bad people good but about bringing dead people to life, shifting the focus from moral improvement to spiritual resurrection. It also explores the transformation of purpose, not just identity, asserting that believers are not only saved from sin but saved for God's mission, with a new "why" that reorients all of life.

Embracing Christ: The Treasure of True Faith (Desiring God) introduces the theme that saving faith is essentially a treasuring of Christ above all else, not merely an assent to facts or a passive reception. The sermon adds the nuanced idea that justification is not just about receiving Christ’s benefits, but about valuing Christ himself as the supreme good, which shapes the entire orientation of the believer’s heart and affections.

Journeying into the Fullness of God (SermonIndex.net) presents the fresh theological theme that “gaining Christ” is not a static event but an invitation into ever-increasing fullness. The sermon uniquely applies Philippians 3:7-9 to the ongoing work of the Spirit in enlarging the believer’s capacity to experience Christ’s love and presence, emphasizing that fullness is not achieved by human effort but by humble dependence on the Spirit’s empowerment.

Unity of the Gospel: Jesus and Paul's Message (SermonIndex.net) develops the distinct theme that even God-wrought righteousness within the believer is not the ground of justification; only the imputed righteousness of Christ received by faith is. The sermon further explores the danger of making moral transformation the root rather than the fruit of justification, warning that this confuses the gospel and undermines both assurance and true holiness. It also introduces the idea that the global relevance of the gospel is rooted in the universal need for an “alien righteousness,” not one’s own or even Spirit-enabled works.

Philippians 3:7-9 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Living Selflessly: Embracing Sacrifice for Christ's Mission (Limitless Church California) provides a brief linguistic and cultural insight by explaining the shock value of the Greek word "skubalon" in Philippians 3:8. The preacher notes that Paul deliberately uses a vulgar term to convey the utter worthlessness of his former achievements, which would have been especially jarring to his original audience steeped in honor and status.

Radical Transformation: Encountering Christ at the Well (MLJTrust) offers historical context by describing the social status and daily life of the Samaritan woman, highlighting the drudgery and shame associated with her task of drawing water at noon. The preacher uses this to illustrate the magnitude of her transformation after encountering Christ, paralleling Paul's own radical shift in values and identity.

True Righteousness: Heart Over Appearance in Faith (Pastor Chuck Smith) provides context on the Pharisees' role as professional law-keepers in first-century Judaism, explaining their meticulous attention to the law and their social status as paragons of righteousness. The sermon also references the oral traditions (Mishnah) that surrounded the law, situating Paul's background and his renunciation of it within the broader religious culture of his time.

Transformative Power of the Gospel in Our Lives (Pathway Church) provides historical context by explaining the significance of Paul's Jewish credentials—his birth into the tribe of Benjamin, his zealous observance of the law, and his status among his peers. The sermon notes that in Paul's time, being from the tribe of Benjamin was prestigious, and that the law was not called the "Old Testament" but simply "the law" or "the testament." It also highlights the cultural shock of Paul's transformation from persecutor to preacher, likening it to a fan switching allegiances in a deeply divided sports rivalry, to help modern listeners grasp the radical nature of Paul's conversion and the social dynamics of early Christianity.

Unity of the Gospel: Jesus and Paul's Message (SermonIndex.net) provides significant historical and contextual insight by explaining the cultural and religious context of first-century Judaism, particularly the Pharisaic emphasis on moral and ceremonial righteousness. The sermon clarifies that the Pharisee in Luke 18 is not a classic legalist but someone who credits God for his righteousness, yet still trusts in what is inherent or imparted to him. This distinction is used to illuminate the radical nature of Paul’s statement in Philippians 3:7-9, where even the most devout, law-abiding, and God-dependent forms of righteousness are counted as loss compared to Christ. The preacher also situates Paul’s language within the broader context of Second Temple Judaism’s debates about law, righteousness, and covenant membership, showing how Paul’s “counting as loss” would have been shocking and countercultural.

Philippians 3:7-9 Cross-References in the Bible:

Living Selflessly: Embracing Sacrifice for Christ's Mission (Limitless Church California) references Matthew 16:24-27 ("If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..."), using it to reinforce the call to lose one's life for Christ's sake, which is then connected to Paul's declaration in Philippians 3:7-9. The sermon also cites Ecclesiastes 3:11 ("He has set eternity in the human heart") to support the idea that our actions have eternal significance, and Hebrews 11 (the "great cloud of witnesses") to encourage living with an eternal perspective. Additionally, the story of Jim Elliot is linked to the biblical principle of losing one's life to gain it, echoing both Jesus' teaching and Paul's testimony.

Radical Transformation: Encountering Christ at the Well (MLJTrust) cross-references John 4 (the story of the Samaritan woman), Galatians 2:20 ("I have been crucified with Christ..."), Romans 12:1-2 ("be transformed by the renewing of your mind"), Romans 8:5-6 (contrast between flesh and Spirit), 1 Corinthians 2:16 ("we have the mind of Christ"), and Acts 2 (the transformation of the early church). Each reference is used to illustrate the total transformation and reorientation of life that Paul describes in Philippians 3:7-9.

True Righteousness: Heart Over Appearance in Faith (Pastor Chuck Smith) references Matthew 5:20 (righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees), Matthew 23 (Jesus' critique of Pharisaic righteousness), Isaiah 64:6 ("all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags"), Romans 10:1-4 (Paul's longing for Israel's salvation and the futility of self-righteousness), Romans 3:20-22 (justification by faith apart from the law), Romans 4 (Abraham justified by faith), and Acts 3:19 (sins "blotted out"). These passages are used to support the argument that true righteousness is not self-generated but is received by faith in Christ, as Paul describes in Philippians 3:7-9.

Transformative Identity: Security and Dignity in Christ (Alistair Begg) references Romans 8 ("there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus") to reinforce the security of believers' standing in Christ, and 1 Corinthians 15 to discuss Christ as the "last Adam" who undoes Adam's failure. He also alludes to Romans 7 to describe the ongoing struggle with sin and the need to look to Christ's righteousness rather than one's own performance.

Transformative Power of the Gospel in Our Lives (Pathway Church) cross-references Galatians 1:11-12 to emphasize that the gospel is a divine revelation, not a human invention, and 2 Corinthians 5:17 ("if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come") to support the theme of total transformation. Ephesians 1:4-5 is cited to discuss predestination and adoption, clarifying that God's plan is for all to be in relationship with him. Acts 9:3-6 is used to recount Paul's conversion, illustrating the dramatic nature of his transformation. Matthew 16:26 ("What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?") is referenced to highlight the futility of worldly success apart from Christ.

Embracing Christ: The Treasure of True Faith (Desiring God) cross-references 2 Corinthians 4:4-7 to illustrate the concept of Christ as a “treasure” and to reinforce the idea that faith receives Christ as precious. The sermon also references Galatians (various passages) to enumerate the blessings received in Christ, such as justification, deliverance, and adoption, all of which are to be treasured. These cross-references are used to support the interpretation that faith is a treasuring reception of Christ and his benefits.

Journeying into the Fullness of God (SermonIndex.net) cross-references Ephesians 3, particularly Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians to be “strengthened with might in the inner man” so that “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,” and to “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” The sermon uses this to argue that “gaining Christ” in Philippians 3:7-9 is about entering into a greater fullness of Christ’s presence and love, paralleling Paul’s prayers for the churches.

Unity of the Gospel: Jesus and Paul's Message (SermonIndex.net) makes extensive use of cross-references: Luke 18:9-14 (the Pharisee and the tax collector) is used as a narrative parallel to Philippians 3:7-9, illustrating the difference between inherent and imputed righteousness. Luke 17:10 is referenced to show that even perfect obedience leaves one an “unworthy servant.” The sermon also references the story of the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-23; Matthew 19:21) to illustrate the necessity of letting go of all for Christ. Isaiah 53:11-12 is cited to connect Jesus’ atoning work to the doctrine of justification. 2 Corinthians 5:21 is used to explain the imputation of Christ’s righteousness. Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 are referenced to show the universality of the need for Christ’s righteousness. These cross-references are woven together to demonstrate the unity of Jesus’ and Paul’s teaching on justification and the surpassing value of knowing Christ.

Philippians 3:7-9 Christian References outside the Bible:

Living Selflessly: Embracing Sacrifice for Christ's Mission (Limitless Church California) explicitly references Dr. Robert Mulholland, quoting his definition of spiritual formation as "being shaped into the image of Christ for the sake of others," and discussing his concept of the "false self" and "true self." The sermon also mentions Henrietta Mears, citing her statement, "The more you love, the more love you are given to love with," and recounts her influence on Christian leaders like Billy Graham, Bill Bright, Richard Halverson, and Jim Rayburn. Additionally, the story and famous quote of missionary Jim Elliot ("He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose") are used to illustrate the principle of sacrificial loss for eternal gain.

Radical Transformation: Encountering Christ at the Well (MLJTrust) references Count Zinzendorf, quoting his statement, "I have one passion: it is He and He alone," to encapsulate the single-minded devotion to Christ that Paul expresses in Philippians 3:7-9. The preacher also uses the phrase "Christ-intoxicated," attributed to an unnamed source, to describe Paul's radical transformation.

Transformative Identity: Security and Dignity in Christ (Alistair Begg) explicitly references Augustus Toplady, quoting his hymn "A Debtor to Mercy Alone" to illustrate the assurance and joy of being clothed in Christ's righteousness. Begg also cites Gresham Machen, quoting his dying words about the "active obedience of Christ" and summarizing Machen's teaching that believers are in a more secure position than Adam before the fall, because Christ's obedience has secured their standing beyond the possibility of becoming unrighteous. He further mentions Dick Lucas to humorously underscore the reality of ongoing sin and the need for grace.

Transformative Power of the Gospel in Our Lives (Pathway Church) references Dr. John C. Maxwell, quoting, "When you find your why you will find your way," to illustrate the transformation of purpose that comes with knowing Christ. The sermon also quotes Thomas Merton's analogy of the "ladder of success" leaning against the wrong wall, applying it to Paul's pre-Christian life and the futility of pursuing righteousness apart from Christ.

Unity of the Gospel: Jesus and Paul's Message (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references R.C. Sproul, quoting him: “If you don’t have imputation you don’t have sola fide, and if you don’t have sola fide you don’t have the gospel,” to underscore the centrality of imputed righteousness in the gospel. The sermon also references William Wilberforce, summarizing his argument from “A Practical View of Christianity” that the root of England’s moral compromise was a failure to understand justification by faith and the relationship between root and fruit in Christian living. Wilberforce is quoted as saying that Christianity is “a scheme for justifying the ungodly by Christ dying for them when yet sinners… for making the fruits of holiness the effects not the cause of our being justified and reconciled.” These references are used to illustrate the practical and societal implications of a correct understanding of justification.

Philippians 3:7-9 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Living Selflessly: Embracing Sacrifice for Christ's Mission (Limitless Church California) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate Philippians 3:7-9. The preacher describes an hourglass as a metaphor for how people typically view their lives as a finite set of days, referencing the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" and its catchphrase, "Like sand through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives." This is contrasted with the idea of a watch that keeps ticking after one's hour is up, symbolizing the ongoing impact of a life lived for Christ. The sermon also recounts a youth ministry illustration involving goldfish: a youth pastor throws live goldfish out of a bowl during a talk about the urgency of saving the lost, provoking different reactions from the students—some laugh, some are shocked, and some act to save the fish. This is used as a metaphor for Christian responses to the needs of the world, challenging listeners to move from apathy or paralysis to action. The preacher also references the American Dream and the pursuit of happiness, critiquing the cultural narrative of self-fulfillment in light of Paul's willingness to count all things as loss for Christ.

Radical Transformation: Encountering Christ at the Well (MLJTrust) does not use secular illustrations in its discussion of Philippians 3:7-9.

True Righteousness: Heart Over Appearance in Faith (Pastor Chuck Smith) does not use secular illustrations in its discussion of Philippians 3:7-9.

Transformative Power of the Gospel in Our Lives (Pathway Church) uses several vivid secular analogies: the GPS story, where entering the wrong address leads to the wrong destination, illustrates the futility of zeal without truth, paralleling Paul's former religious life; the caterpillar and butterfly analogy, where attempts to glue fake wings represent self-effort and religious works, while true transformation is likened to metamorphosis, underscores the necessity of new birth in Christ; the letterman jacket story, where receiving the jacket changes one's identity, is used to illustrate being "called" to bear Christ's name; and the sports rivalry analogy (Clemson vs. South Carolina, Auburn vs. Alabama) is employed to communicate the radical nature of Paul's shift from persecutor to preacher. The "ladder against the wrong wall" metaphor, attributed to Thomas Merton, is used to depict the futility of pursuing success or righteousness apart from Christ. The sermon also humorously describes the smell of middle school boys after a sleepover, likening it to the futility of outward religious "cleanliness" without inward transformation.

Unity of the Gospel: Jesus and Paul's Message (SermonIndex.net) provides a detailed historical illustration by discussing William Wilberforce’s campaign against the slave trade in England. The preacher explains that Wilberforce’s lifelong battle to abolish the slave trade and slavery was driven by his doctrinal conviction about justification by faith. The sermon details how Wilberforce’s understanding of the relationship between justification and moral transformation shaped his political activism, arguing that the failure of “nominal Christian England” to end the slave trade was rooted in a theological error about justification. This real-world example is used to show how the doctrine of justification by faith alone can have profound effects on social justice and public morality, making the theological point concrete and historically grounded.