2. How to not live a Meaningless Life Philippians 3:7-8

5. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

6. Philippians 3:7-8 1. Knowing Jesus Christ intimately is more valuable than anything else. 2. Knowing Jesus Christ is equivalent to having Him. 3. Having Christ only comes by losing everything else

7. Philippians 3:7-8 1. Knowing Jesus Christ intimately is more valuable than anything else. 2. Knowing Jesus Christ is equivalent to having Him. 3. And Having Christ only comes by losing everything else … any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

8. Philippians 3:7-8

9. What does it mean to “consider everything a loss” for the sake of Christ?

10. Philippians 3:7-8 What does it mean to “consider everything a loss” for the sake of Christ? Finding your value, and the value of everything else, in Christ alone, and nothing else

11. Counting all as Loss… 1. …doesn’t end at conversion

12. Counting all as Loss… 1. …doesn’t end at conversion But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss … Indeed I count everything as loss I …count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

13. Counting all as Loss… 1. …doesn’t end at conversion

14. Counting all as Loss… 1. …doesn’t end at conversion 2. Jesus Christ makes it loss, not you

15. Counting all as Loss… 1. …doesn’t end at conversion 2. Jesus Christ makes it loss, not you Philippians 3:8 For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things [ESV]

16. Counting all as Loss… 2. Jesus Christ makes it loss, not you …on whose account I have suffered the loss of all things

17. 2 Corinthians 4:6 [God], who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

18. Counting all as loss Without Christ, we believe things are significant in themselves – that there is some inherent value in them. Without Christ, the value of life is determined by the qualities we possess.

19. Colossians 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

20. Colossians 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

21. Counting all as loss Philippians 3:7-8 But whatever was gain to me, this I have considered on account of Christ loss. Moreover also I consider all to be lost on account of the surpassing of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I suffered loss of all, and consider them to be rubbish in order that I may gain Christ… [Lit]

22. Counting all as loss Philippians 3:7-8 But whatever was gain to me, this I have considered on account of Christ loss. Moreover also I consider all to be lost on account of the surpassing of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I suffered loss of all, and consider them to be rubbish in order that I may gain Christ … [Lit]

23. Counting all as loss

24. The only things of value in your life are those which serve the Value-Giver

25. Counting all as loss Why Paul is counting loss the knowledge of Christ gaining Christ

26. Counting all as loss Why Paul is counting loss the knowledge of Christ gaining Christ = Eternal Life John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

27. Counting all as loss Why Paul is counting loss the knowledge of Christ gaining Christ = Eternal Life 1 John 5:12,20 He who has the Son has life …we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

28. Counting all as loss Counting all as loss means taking possession of Eternal Life

29. Counting all as loss Counting all as loss means taking possession of Eternal Life Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.