The Surpassing Value of Christ

This message was preached at Redeemer Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa.

In verse 9, Paul now tells us of his new status in justification. He says - That I may be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. He concluded verse 8 by giving his first purpose for why he ditched everything of his previous attainment. He said that I may gain Christ. That's his first purpose clause in this section. The "and" that begins verse 9 here for us is exepegetical. Meaning, Paul is now going to explain what he means by gaining Christ. What do you mean by gaining Christ, Paul? Why did you throw it all away? Why did you throw it all away? And what is so surpassingly great about Christ? The answer - so I can be found in Him, united to Him and justified in Him. And at the end of the day, this is what we all must be and must have. We all must be and must have this.