“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” (Php 3:7) Here we see that Paul has had many things in life that were of value to him. These are nothing, he here says, compared to Christ.

The apostle began his line of thought back in 3:2 “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” These types are further warned against in Isaiah. “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” (Isa 56:10-12) Those he is warning against are those who would spoil the flock “through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col 2:8) They are those who “would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal 1:7) These are they who add works to the gospel of grace, make the keeping of the law a part of salvation, who change the gospel of Christ into lasciviousness (Gal 3:1-3, Gal 3:10-11, Jud 1:4). Peter calls them “natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed” and “spots…and blemishes.” “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbade the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest: to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” (2Pe 2:12-20) Better for them, proclaims the fisher of men, that they had never professed, than to have claimed the name of Christ and put it to open shame. (Compare with Heb 6:4-6)

Why is the church to be wary of the false professors? Why, for their errors concerning the gospel! As before seen they glory in the flesh and the outward show, prating about what they’ve done and who they’ve won. (Gal 6:13) They are drunken on the things of the flesh rather than the Spirit. (Eph 5:18) To these an outward sign on the flesh is greater than the inward work on the heart. (Gal 5:2-6, Gal 6:12-13) They add works to grace, for which Paul calls down anathema upon them (1Co 16:22, Gal 1:9) They preach a false Christ (2Co 11:3-4, 1Jn 2:22) and a false gospel (Gal 1:6-7). Truly, their damnation is just.

The thread continues in Philippians 3:3-6. The apostle shows that were the flesh and its works the place of glory, he would have a great deal in which to boast. He was circumcised (a covenant sign), a Jew of one of the original twelve tribes (no proselyte or half -breed family Paul’s), a Pharisee (the strictest and most conservative of the sects), zealous, and keeping the law to the letter. Yet all this he counts as loss, as nothing for Christ.

Paul knew that his physical circumcision, while it set him apart physically as a covenant child, was spiritually nothing. His heart must be circumcised. (Deu 10:16, 30:6, Jer 4:4, Rom 2:28-29, Php 3:3, Col 2:10-12) His race, though unto them were committed the oracles of God (Rom 3:1-2), was nothing spiritually. He must be made a Jew inwardly. (Rom 2:28-29, Rom 9:6-7) Though a Pharisee in religion, Jesus said “That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 5:20) Furthermore, Isaiah states that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isa 64:6) Pharisaical righteousness, though by man’s standards is unattainable unto, by God’s standards is nothing. His zeal, although zeal is oft a good thing, was not according to knowledge (Rom 1:2). His righteousness was according to the letter of the law, but not in the spirit. (Rom 7:5-6, Isaiah 64:6)

All of Paul’s accomplishments, he reckoned to be naught! All of the things that set him apart, that made him the man he was, those things that were gain, were loss for Christ.