[Note: This is Part 5 of a 6-part series looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians.]

In the previous post, we saw that the mind of Christ—self-emptying humility—shapes gospel living. Paul pointed to Jesus as the supreme example, then highlighted Timothy and Epaphroditus as real-life models of gospel humility. Now, in Phil. 3:1–4:1, Paul shifts his focus to warn against false gospels and to share his own testimony of finding supreme treasure in Christ.

Knowing Christ surpasses all other pursuits.

A Warning Against False Confidence (3:1-3)

Paul begins: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you” (3:1). The word “finally” doesn’t necessarily mean Paul is concluding—he still has more to say. Rather, it’s a transition marker. Paul has reminded them before about rejoicing in the Lord, and he’s doing so again. Repetition isn’t burdensome; it’s necessary for their protection.

Then comes the warning: “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh” (3:2-3). The threefold “look out” (blepete) carries urgency—beware, watch carefully, be on guard.

Who are these “dogs”? In Jewish culture, “dogs” was a derogatory term for Gentiles—unclean outsiders. Paul turns the insult around, using it for those who were promoting a false gospel. These “evildoers” were likely Judaizers—people teaching that Gentile converts must be circumcised and follow the Mosaic law to be truly saved. Paul calls their circumcision “mutilation”—a cutting of the flesh that has no spiritual value.

In contrast, Paul says “we are the circumcision”—the true people of God. And what marks the true people of God? Three things: they worship by the Spirit of God, they glory in Christ Jesus, and they put no confidence in the flesh. True Christianity is not about external rituals or human achievement; it’s about Spirit-empowered worship and Christ-centered boasting.

Paul’s Gains and Losses (3:4-11)

Paul then shares his own testimony to illustrate what it means to put no confidence in the flesh:

If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless (3:4-6).

Paul’s credentials were impeccable. If anyone could boast in human achievement, it was Paul:

• Circumcised on the eighth day (in full compliance with the law)
• Of the people of Israel (a true descendant of Abraham)
• Of the tribe of Benjamin (the tribe that produced Israel’s first king, Saul)
• A Hebrew of Hebrews (maintaining Jewish identity and language)
• A Pharisee (the most rigorous Jewish sect)
• Zealous for God (demonstrated by persecuting the church)
• Blameless regarding the law (externally perfect in his obedience)

This was an impressive resume. In the eyes of first-century Judaism, Paul had it all. But then he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, and everything changed:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith (3:7-9).

Notice the accounting language: gain, loss, counted. Paul is doing a cost-benefit analysis. Everything he once valued—his pedigree, his achievements, his status—he now considers “loss” and “rubbish” (skybala, which can mean garbage, dung, or refuse). Why? Because of “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

This is not merely head knowledge. Paul wants to “gain Christ and be found in him.” He wants a righteousness that doesn’t come from his own efforts (“from the law”) but from faith in Christ. This righteousness is “from God” and “depends on faith.” It’s a gift, not an achievement. Paul continues: “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (3:10-11).

Paul’s goal is to know Christ—not just know about Him, but to experience Him intimately. This knowledge includes:

• The power of His resurrection (experiencing resurrection life now)
• Sharing His sufferings (identifying with Christ in hardship)
• Becoming like Him in His death (dying to self)
• Attaining the resurrection from the dead (future glorification)

Paul is willing to lose everything—reputation, comfort, safety, life itself—to gain Christ. This is what it means to treasure Christ above all.

Pressing Toward the Prize (3:12-16)

Paul then clarifies: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own” (3:12).

Paul is honest: he hasn’t “arrived.” He’s not claiming perfection. But he is pressing on—striving forward, pursuing the goal. Why? Because Christ has already taken hold of him. Paul’s pursuit is a response to Christ’s pursuit. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We seek Him because He has already found us.

Paul continues: “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:13-14). The imagery here is athletic—a runner straining toward the finish line, leaving everything else behind. Paul is focused on one thing: pressing toward the goal. What is the goal? “The upward call of God in Christ Jesus”—the prize of knowing Christ fully, being with Christ eternally, being conformed completely to His image.

“Forgetting what lies behind” doesn’t mean Paul has amnesia about his past. It means he’s not dwelling on past achievements or failures. He’s not resting on past successes or being paralyzed by past sins. He’s moving forward.

Paul concludes this section: “Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained” (3:15-16). Spiritual maturity means sharing Paul’s perspective: pressing forward, treasuring Christ above all, not being content with where we are.

Following Faithful Examples (3:17-21)

Paul now calls the Philippians to imitate him and others who walk according to the gospel pattern:

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things (3:17-19).

Paul is not arrogant in calling them to imitate him. He’s simply saying, “Follow me as I follow Christ” (see 1 Cor. 11:1). Look at those whose lives display gospel priorities—those who treasure Christ, who press forward, who count earthly things as loss.

Then comes a sobering warning about “enemies of the cross of Christ.” These are not necessarily hostile outsiders; they may be those who claim to follow Christ but whose lives contradict the gospel. Paul identifies them:

• Their end is destruction (they’re headed toward judgment)
• Their god is their belly (they’re driven by appetites and desires)
• They glory in their shame (they boast in things they should be ashamed of)
• Their minds are set on earthly things (they’re focused on temporal rather than eternal)

In contrast, Paul reminds the Philippians: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (3:20-21).

This is a crucial reminder, especially for the Philippians who were proud of their Roman citizenship. Their true citizenship is in heaven. They are aliens and exiles on earth (1 Pet. 2:11). They await a Savior—not Caesar, but Jesus. And this Savior will transform their bodies to be like His glorified body.

Paul concludes: “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved” (4:1). In light of this heavenly citizenship and future transformation, stand firm. Don’t be swayed by false gospels. Don’t live as enemies of the cross. Treasure Christ above all.

Application: Making Christ Our Supreme Treasure

What does this passage teach us about gospel living? Three key lessons:

1. What We Treasure Reveals What We Worship

Paul’s testimony is a searching challenge: What do we consider gain? What are we unwilling to lose? Our answers reveal what we truly treasure.

If we’re honest, many of us treasure things besides Christ: comfort, security, reputation, relationships, achievements, possessions. These aren’t necessarily bad things, but when they become our ultimate treasure—when we’re unwilling to lose them for Christ—they’ve become idols.

Paul counted everything as loss compared to knowing Christ. Can we say the same? Would we be willing to lose our reputation for Christ? Our comfort? Our plans? Our possessions? What we treasure determines how we live.

2. The Christian Life Is a Forward Press, Not a Backward Gaze

Paul doesn’t dwell on past achievements or failures. He’s not paralyzed by regret or puffed up by success. He’s pressing forward toward the goal.

Many Christians get stuck looking backward. Some constantly rehearse their failures, unable to receive God’s forgiveness and move forward. Others rest on past spiritual experiences, not pursuing deeper knowledge of Christ. Both are forms of spiritual stagnation.

The gospel calls us to press forward—to pursue knowing Christ more deeply, to grow in holiness, to run the race with endurance. Maturity is not reaching a plateau; it’s maintaining forward momentum toward the goal.

3. We Need Examples to Follow—And We Must Be Examples to Others

Paul calls the Philippians to imitate him and to watch those who walk according to the gospel pattern. Why? Because we learn by example. We need to see what gospel living looks like in real people.

Who are you imitating? Who are the spiritual examples in your life—people who treasure Christ above all, who press forward in their faith, who live as citizens of heaven? If you don’t have such examples, seek them out. And if you do, thank God for them and learn from them.

But here’s the other side: Are you living in such a way that others can imitate you? Paul was confident in saying, “Join in imitating me.” Can you say the same? Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re genuinely pursuing Christ, counting earthly things as loss, pressing toward the goal.

The gospel reorients our values. What the world considers gain—status, achievement, comfort, security—the gospel reveals as loss compared to knowing Christ. And what the world considers loss—suffering, sacrifice, self-denial—the gospel reveals as gain when it brings us closer to Jesus.

Paul’s testimony challenges us: Is Christ our supreme treasure? Are we pressing forward in our pursuit of Him? Are we living as citizens of heaven, awaiting our Savior? These are not optional questions. They get to the heart of what it means to live out the gospel. In the final post of this series, we’ll explore Phil. 4:2-23, where Paul addresses conflict, contentment, and the peace that surpasses understanding.