Ultimate reckoning

Paul says in Philippians 3: [8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Having eternal life as a permanent eternal possession is the first way we know the Lord Jesus, but Paul's not talking about knowing Him that way. He already knows that, explains Alex Kurz.

He knows the Lord Jesus Christ; he's meeting with Him on a regular basis! The Lord Jesus is communicating and revealing something. In fact, Paul got to travel up into the third heaven. He was stoned to death and wakes up in paradise.

The Lord says, "Paul, I'm sorry I'm going to have to do this to you, but you're going to have to go back." Paul has to go back even though his heart yearned to be with Christ. Philippians 1:23: [23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

You know, Paul lived a life yearning to go back. He desired to be there. So what does Paul mean in Philippians 3:10?

There is a certain connotation that Paul has when he says "I want to know Him." What Paul's talking about is the surpassing, superior understanding of that LIFE.

Look at verse 8. You see this excelling knowledge? Paul wants to know Jesus Christ in a far more passionate, personal way. Paul's desire is to have a passionate encounter; to truly experience the very full rich, dynamic LIFE that he can have in his life.

Not knowing Him at a distance as the one who loved me and gave himself for me. Not knowing Him as the head of the church the Body of Christ. Not knowing . . . but knowing His life. Knowing something about the surpassing person that Jesus Christ is.

In the context of verse 8, Paul talks about his past history. Foolishly by the way (Paul was sort of pressed into doing this), he starts to rehearse who he was. One who actually depended on his personal performance.

You know, verses 5-6: [5] Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

[6] Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

The law is this external performance system that's always putting the onus on you. What are you doing, how are you working, how are you behaving, how are you performing.

Paul says, "I count all things but loss for"--something better. Verse 7: [

7] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

In verse 8, Paul uses that word "count" two more times. "I'm going to count my past loss, whether it's 'my own personal involvement in religious do-goodism, or whether it's my past identity in Adam." Paul says I COUNT it loss, dung.

Is Paul saying to tabulate, compute? This is going to be the key to understanding how Paul wants to know the Lord Jesus Christ.

Look at what Paul says in Romans 6:11: [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You see the word reckon? The word means you're calculating, you're computing, you're tabulating. If you're a diligent math student, what do you do with an algebraic equation? The idea is you solve it; you start to reckon it.

When Paul says "I count," He's using the same language as reckon. "Reckon yourselves to be something." That is, in the framework of our minds, we need to process this information and start to do some tabulating. We need to start realizing that our past is over. Paul says, "Forgetting those things which are behind."

How do you forget those things which are behind? Put off the old man and put on the new man by the renewing of your mind. That's reckoning! That's counting!

Romans 12:2: [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What does an athlete do? He doesn't look back at his past performances--his failures and successes. He doesn't even look back when he's running the race. What's the athlete doing? He is completely consumed with his objective.

God says, "Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed . . . " You've got to start tabulating this truth as your truth and this reality as your reality.