Counting All as Loss in Order to Gain Christ

Philippians 3

FALSE TEACHERS

FINALLY, my Brethren, rejoice in the Lord (as long as they keep their eyes on Christ and the Cross, they can keep rejoicing). To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (This presents the Apostle now turning his attention to the Judaizers, who might at any time turn their attention toward Philippi.)
2 Beware of dogs (the Apostle is addressing the Judaizers, who were Jews from Jerusalem that claimed Christ, but insisted on Believers keeping the Law as well; all of this was diametrically opposed to Paul’s Gospel of Grace, in which the Law of Moses had no part; as well, by the use of the word “dogs,” the Apostle was using the worst slur), beware of evil workers (they denigrated the Cross), beware of the concision. (This presents a Greek word Paul uses as a play upon the Greek word “Circumcision,” which was at the heart of the Law Gospel of the Judaizers.)
3 For we are the Circumcision (refers to the true Circumcision, which is that of the heart), which worship God in the Spirit (would have been better translated, “which worship by the Spirit of God”), and rejoice in Christ Jesus (refers not only to Who Christ is, but what He has done for us at the Cross), and have no confidence in the flesh (in things other than the Cross, which alone is the guarantee of Salvation and Victory).
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh (refers to human attainments). If any other man thinks that he has whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more (the Apostle knows what he’s talking about regarding Judaism):

PAUL

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel (he was a pure-blooded Jew), of the Tribe of Benjamin (Benjamin was the only Tribe that stayed with Judah at the time of the division of the nation), an Hebrew of the Hebrews (goes all the way back to Abraham); as touching the Law, a Pharisee (in fact, Paul had been the hope of the Pharisees, touted to take the place of Gamaliel);
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the Church (he thought he was doing God a service); touching the Righteousness which is in the Law, blameless. (He thought he was earning merit with God by persecuting the Church.)
7 But what things were gain to me (Paul was speaking of his privileges as a Jew), those I counted loss for Christ. (All must be given up for Christ, and Christ is worth all we give up, and a thousand times more.)
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (the knowledge of the Lord Jesus which Paul gained through the experience of intimate companionship and communion with Him): for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things (“For Whose sake I have been caused to forfeit”), and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (next to Christ, everything else is nothing),
9 And be found in Him (to be united with Christ by a living Faith, which has as its Object the Cross of Christ), not having my own Righteousness (“not having any Righteousness which can be called my own”), which is of the Law (pertains to Law-keeping; he was done with that), but that which is through the Faith of Christ (what He did at the Cross), the Righteousness which is of God by Faith (a spotless Righteousness made possible by the Cross, and imputed by God to all who exhibit Faith in Christ and the Cross):
10 That I may know Him (referring to what Christ did at the Cross), and the power of His Resurrection (refers to being raised with Him in “Newness of Life” [Rom. 6:3–5]), and the fellowship of His sufferings (regarding our Trust and Faith placed in what He did for us at the Cross), being made conformable unto His death (to conform to what He did for us at the Cross, understanding that this is the only means of Salvation and Sanctification);
11 If by any means I might attain unto the Resurrection of the dead. (This does not refer to the coming Resurrection, but rather the Believing sinner being baptized into the death of Christ [refers to the Crucifixion], and raised in “Newness of Life,” which gives victory over all sin [Rom. 6:3–5, 11, 14].)

Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 2076). Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.