Philippians 3:8-9a
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 and be found in Him.
Everything is loss compared to knowing Jesus. Everything that Paul thought was good (see previous section) he now realises is rubbish compared to Jesus. And those things weren't necessarily things that would be traditionally be thought of as sins. There's nothing wrong with circumcision, nationality, or trying to keep God's law. But if that's what we are relying on, then it isn't helping us get to God, it is hindering us. That is religion, not the gospel. Religion is rubbish, trash, dung, excrement! It's knowing Jesus that counts! That's why in Jesus' parable, the man sells EVERYTHING he has in order to buy the field with the treasure. Or sells EVERY pearl he has in order to get the best one. We come to Jesus with nothing in our hands. If we do come with some sense of our own acheivements... we are bringing him a pile of crap.
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