Treasuring Christ

Excerpt from Treasuring Christ Together Because He Is More Valuable Than All Else by John Piper

... The passage begins (Philippians 3:1), “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” Paul is writing from prison. And we know from 2 Corinthians 8 that the Philippian church is not wealthy and that there has been affliction. So we know this joy is not based on good circumstances. It is, as Paul says, “in the Lord.” In Jesus Christ, the Lord. In other words, he is telling us: Consider Christ so precious, so valuable, such a great treasure, that whether in prison or in affliction or in poverty, knowing him and belonging to him and being with him forever gives you joy. This is what we mean by treasuring Christ. And in the church we do it together. We help each other do it.

Then in verse 2, he warns them about those who make circumcision the basis of their acceptance with God. ... So this time Paul says we are to glory in Christ Jesus. Literally, “exult in Christ,” or “boast in Christ.” In other words, some people take great joy in their moral achievements. They exult in them like the Pharisee who thanks God that he was not like other men because he fasts twice a week and gives tithes of all he has (Luke 18:12). This is his boast. But Paul says, “No, Christ is our boast.” If you have tasted the pleasure of accomplishing something you could boast in, transfer all that pleasure onto Christ. We glory in Christ Jesus. We treasure him, not our achievements. That’s what we mean by treasuring Christ together. We help each other do this.

Then in verses 4-6, Paul lists the religious and ethnic distinctives that he could boast in if he wanted to: ... He had plenty of moral and legal achievements.

But they meant nothing to him compared to Christ. Less than nothing. They were garbage—dung—compared to Christ. Verses 7-8: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

Notice the three ways he expresses the supreme importance of treasuring Christ. Verse 7: Paul counts everything as loss for the sake of Christ. He is worthy more than everything else in Paul’s life. Verse 8a: “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” To know Christ is more to be desired than anything else. Verse 8b: “I count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Gaining Christ—having him as your treasure in the final fullness of perfection—is better than gaining the world and everything in it. This is what we mean by treasuring Christ together. We help each other know Christ like this.