Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Treasure Christ - Philippians 3:1-7

Bryan Schneider · December 8, 2018

Philippians 3:1-7

sharonrpc.org/sermons/treasure-christ

Summary

Christians possess the greatest treasure in the universe, so they boast in Jesus rather than in money, status, ancestry, or personal achievement.
Paul's circumcision, Israelite descent, Benjaminite lineage, and Hebrew identity gave him unmatched religious pedigree, yet none could justify him before God.
Paul's strict Pharisaic practice, zeal against the church, and outward blamelessness likewise offered no safe ground of confidence.
Church history and family heritage are gifts to receive gratefully, but they become dangerous when people rest eternal hope upon them rather than Christ.
Prayer, Bible reading, mercy, separation from sin, and other Christian works must never displace the finished work of Jesus as the believer's boast.
Paul counts every supposed gain as loss because Christ himself—God's Son, Redeemer, and perfect righteousness—is worth more than everything else.

What do I instinctively mention when explaining why I believe I am right with God?
Do I boast in Christ, or in money, competence, family, morality, or church involvement?
How can a rich family or denominational heritage become a substitute for personal faith in Jesus?
Which of my good works is most likely to become a source of pride or comparison?
Why can sincere zeal still oppose Christ, as Paul's persecution of the church did?
What does it mean to count every former gain as loss for Christ?
Am I eager to meet Jesus himself, or only interested in benefits associated with him?
How can I cultivate daily gratitude and affection for Christ as my chief treasure?

Boast in Christ: To place confidence, glory, joy, and hope in Jesus and his finished work rather than in oneself.
Confidence in the flesh: Reliance on inherited status, religious signs, outward works, zeal, or moral reputation as grounds for acceptance with God.
Heritage: The family, church, ethnic, and historical legacy a person receives, valuable as a gift but powerless to save.
Pharisee: A member of a strict Jewish movement known for separation and detailed law observance, a status Paul once treated as spiritual gain.
Zeal: Energetic commitment that may be sincere yet dangerously opposed to God when not governed by the truth of Christ.
Self-righteousness: Trust in one's own obedience or religious record as sufficient to establish a right standing before God.
Treasure: That which a person prizes, clings to, and treats as the source of security, worth, and lasting hope.