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I. IN THE SACRIFICES THE APOSTLE MADE TO SECURE IT.

II. IN THE BENEFITS IT SECURES.

1. Righteousness.

2. Resurrection power.

3. A glorious hope.

III. IN THE DISPOSITION IT CREATES.

1. A correct estimate of ourselves.

2. Earnest purpose.

3. Persevering effort.

4. Love and unity.

(J. Lyth, D. D.)

I. THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST IS SO EXCELLENT, THAT A GRACIOUS HEART COUNTETH ALL THINGS DUNG AND DROSS RATHER THAN MISS IT.

1. The knowledge here spoken of. Knowledge is two fold.

(1) A bare speculative knowledge. Even this is a great privilege (1 Peter 1:12; Ephesians 3:10); but if we are content with it we shall perish. It was not those who saw the ark, but those who entered it who were saved.

(2) A saving knowledge such as is accompanied by

(a)  Faith, i.e., a certain persuasion of the truth of our redemption by Christ upon evidence so as we may venture our souls and all our interest in His hands (John 6:69; Acts 2:36; John 17:8).

(b)  Love.

(c)  Obedience (1 John 2:4).

2. Why is this knowledge so prized?

(1) It is valuable in itself; better than all other.

(a) From the Author (Matthew 16:16; John 6:45; 1 John 2:20).

(b) The matter to be known, Christ the Saviour of the world. This is comfortable knowledge if we consider our deep necessity (Colossians 1:21; Job 14:4; 2 Timothy 2:26; 1 Thessalonians 1:10), and His sufficiency to do us good (Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:20, 27).

(c) The effect. It is a renewing and transforming knowledge (Colossians 3:10; 1 John 2:2).

(2) The subjects who thus esteem Christ.

(a)  Their minds are changed (Jeremiah 31:34). By this they have a spirit of discerning.

(b)  Their hearts (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

3. Uses.

(1) Of reproof.

(a) To those who study all things but Christ. If God hath laid out the riches of His grace and wisdom to do us good, surely it deserveth our best thoughts.

(b) To those who content themselves with the form of knowledge (Romans 2:20). Christianity is not only to be believed, but felt (1 Peter 2:3). Experience is the best seal and confirmation (2 Peter 1:8).

(2) Of exhortation. Consider —

(a)  The necessity. You must know Christ before you can believe and love Him (2 Timothy 1:12).

(b)  The pleasantness.

(c)  The profit (John 17:3).

(3) Bless God that He hath given thee this knowledge, and do not murmur if He hath denied thee other things. Remember

(a)  how it excelleth all other gifts.

(b)  How a true value and esteem of Christ lesseneth all other things.

II. JESUS CHRIST MUST BE KNOWN AS LORD.

1. What this Lordship of Christ is — the new light of propriety and government over all men which Christ now hath as being the Sovereign of the world.

(1) It is superadded to the former sovereignty and dominion which the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost had as Creator (Revelation 5:12).

2. It is derivative, and cannot be supreme, but subordinate (Matthew 28:18; John 17:2; Philippians 2:11).

(3) It is beneficial to us. Its end is to effect man's recovery to peace with and loyalty to God.

2. How this right accrueth to Christ.

(1)  By purchase (Romans 14:9).

(2)  By grant (Acts 2:26).

3. How we come to be concerned in it.

(1)  By our passive subjection, and

(2)  voluntary submission (2 Corinthians 8:5).

4. What our concern is.

(1) Our privileges and immunities.

(a)  Freedom from the curse and rigour of the law (Galatians 5:18);

(b)  from the guilt of sin (Colossians 1:13-14);

(c)  the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10); and deliverance to grace and glory.

(2) Our duties (Hebrews 5:9). Privilege and duty must not be separated (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21).

5. Use, to persuade us to own Christ as a Lord.

(1) Let us enter into the state of servants and vassals to Him by renouncing the devil, the world, and the flesh, who were once our lords, but were, indeed, our enemies (Isaiah 26:13).

(2) Be not subjects in name add by profession only (Colossians 1:10).

III. THERE SHOULD BE SOME APPLICATION WHEN WE CONSIDER CHRIST AND ADDRESS OURSELVES TO KNOW HIM.

1. What is this application?

(1) Some distinctions.

(a) The application of comfort is when I respect Christ under such a term as implies some privilege to me, that He is my Saviour, etc. (Galatians 2:20); ,but the application that respects duty is when I apprehend Him under a term which inferreth my obligation to obedience — "my Lord."(b) The application of faith is a particular application of Christ and the promise to ourselves, so as to excite us to look after the benefits for which Christ is appointed: the application of assurance is when I actually determine that my own sins are pardoned and I adopted into God's family (1 John 3:19).

(c) The application may be implicit, dark, and reserved, when we have not so full a persuasion of our good estate, but comfortable encouragement to wait upon God in the way of duty; it may also be explicit, clear, and open (Ephesians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 5:1: 2 Timothy 5:8).

(2) Some observations.

(a)  The application of faith may be without the application of assurance; sometimes they go together.

(b)  The one is necessary, the other comfortable.

(c)  It is a support to have the darker way of applying Christ and His benefits, when we have not the full certainty that they belong to us.

2. Why there should be such an application of Christ.

(1) Because things that nearly concern us do most affect us. The love of God in general doth not so affect me as when I know "He loved me and gave Himself for me."(2) Without some application there can be no interest and benefit to us. General grace must be made particular. Christ's blood will not avail unless it be sprinkled.

(3) The Scripture insisteth much on a personal entering into covenant with God (2 Chronicles 30:8).

(4) Our personal interest in Christ is the ground of our comfort and confidence (Habakkuk 3:18; Luke 1:17). Application:

1. Resolve to give yourself up to Him to serve Him. A believer cannot always say, "Christ is mine"; but he can say "I am His" (Psalm 119:94).

2. In applying Christ seek necessary grace rather than comfort.

3. When God draweth — run (Song of Solomon 1:4). When He knocketh, open (Revelation 3:10).

(T. Manton, D. D.)

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KJV: 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,

WEB: Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ