Knowing Christ: A Journey Beyond Confidence in the Flesh Philippians 3:4–11
No Confidence Flesh
Rejoice Always – Part 14: No Confidence in the Flesh
Part One: Confidence in the Flesh
Paul opens this section of his letter by warning us about placing confidence in the flesh. And to make his point, he lists all the reasons he could boast if anyone could:
"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning righteousness which is in the law, blameless." (vv.5–6)
Translated into modern terms, this might look like:
Elite Education: Top-ranked universities, law or medical degrees
Career Success: CEO, entrepreneur, millionaire status
Online Fame: Millions of followers and monetized influence
Social Status: Popularity, designer brands, cultural relevance
Family or Ministry Achievement: Great spouse, great kids, growing church
But Paul warns: these things can easily become trophies of the flesh — sources of identity, pride, or self-righteousness.
And when that happens, our relationship with Christ suffers.
Part Two: All Things Loss for the Excellence of Christ
Paul doesn’t reject success or blessing. He challenges the value of them in comparison to Christ:
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ... I count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (vv.7–8)
The word "counted" (Greek: logizomai) means to calculate, assess, or evaluate.
Coming to Christ should change what we value.
Just like a child might treasure a toy, but as they grow, they no longer value it the same way — we too must mature in what we consider important.
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings..." (v.10)
Christian Values According to Paul:
Knowing Christ personally
Sharing in Christ’s resurrection
Living sacrificially
Trusting in faith, not flesh
Participating in suffering for eternal gain
The Contrast: When Christ is last:
Comfort, pleasure, and control become primary.
Sacrifice feels unfair.
Identity remains rooted in status and success.
When Christ is first:
Suffering has purpose.
Loss becomes a gateway to gain.
Eternal values guide everyday decisions.
Part Three: What Are You Counting as Rubbish?
Paul says he counts his worldly gains as rubbish (Greek: skubalon), which literally means human waste.
Imagine someone sobbing in a toilet stall saying, "It’s all gone... it got flushed away!" That’s how absurd it is to mourn the loss of worldly trophies when you’ve gained Christ.
You can be trying to live for Christ but still struggling—because you haven’t seen His excellence yet.
Imagine someone giving you half a million pounds. Life-changing? Maybe. But not to someone like Elon Musk—because he values something far greater.
Paul is saying: Christ is of far greater value.
That’s why he says:
"...for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." (v.8)
You won’t sacrifice your "house" until you know the value of the "armchair."
Just like Eileen Gray’s "Dragons" armchair sold for $31.3 million in 2009 (and is worth ~$46.5 million in 2025), you would only give up your home for that chair if you understood its worth.
When we get a revelation of Christ, sacrifice no longer feels like loss.
Isaiah didn’t say "Here I am, send me" until he saw the Lord high and lifted up (Isaiah 6).
Part Four: How to Know Him More Deeply
This isn’t automatic. You must want to know Him.
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
Here are four steps to deepen your knowledge of Christ:
Desire
Start by wanting to know Him above all else (Jeremiah 29:13).Pray for Revelation
"...that He may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him." (Ephesians 1:17)
Immerse Yourself in the Word
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)
Walk in Obedience
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you... purify your hearts." (James 4:8)
When we know Him like this, we can:
Rejoice in every circumstance
Let go of temporary trophies
Embrace sacrifice as gain
Because the excellence of Christ outweighs everything else.