June 19 2026

Friday June 19

The Greatest Knowledge in the World

Philippians 3:8

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we continue our study in Philippians 3:8. We've been looking at Paul's remarkable statement: "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Yesterday, we focused on the phrase, "I count all things loss." Paul told us that after meeting Christ, everything else in life was placed in its proper perspective. Today, I want us to focus on the next phrase: "for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." This is the reason Paul gladly counted everything else as loss.

Now notice carefully. Paul does not say, "for the excellence of religion." He does not say, "for the excellence of theology." He does not say, "for the excellence of church membership." He says, "for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." Christianity is not primarily about a system. It is about a Person. It is about Jesus. Paul had already experienced religion. He had studied theology. He had memorized Scripture. He had become a Pharisee. He knew the traditions of Judaism better than most people of his day. Yet none of those things satisfied his soul. My friend, something happened one day. He met Jesus Christ.

The word "knowledge" here means much more than intellectual information. Paul is not talking about knowing facts about Jesus. He is speaking about knowing Jesus intimately and personally. There is a great difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing that person. You can read a biography about a famous person and know where that person was born, where they lived, what they did, and so forth. But that does not mean you know that person. You see, many people today know about Jesus. They know that He was born in Bethlehem. They know that He died on the cross. They know that He rose from the dead. They know Bible stories and verses. Yet they do not truly know Him.

Paul is speaking about a living relationship with a living Christ. Remember what Jesus said in John 17:3. This is a key verse in the New Testament: "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Notice that eternal life is not merely a place where we go when we die. It is a relationship that we enter into when we trust Christ. The Christian life begins by knowing Christ, and it continues by knowing Christ better.

The most wonderful thing about Jesus is that we never reach the end of knowing Him. After decades of serving Christ, Paul still yearned to know Him even more. In fact, later in this chapter, in verse 10, Paul says, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." Think about it. This is not a new believer talking. This is a man who had walked with Christ for nearly thirty years. Yet his desire was still the same: "that I may know Him." The more Paul learned about Jesus Christ and walked with Him, the more he wanted to know Him. The more he experienced Christ's faithfulness, the more he loved Christ. The more he understood Christ's grace, the more he worshiped Christ. This is a mark of genuine spiritual growth.

Christianity is not simply about learning more Bible facts. It is about growing in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We know Him through His Word. We know Him through prayer. We know Him through obedience. We know Him through fellowship with His people. We know Him through the trials that teach us to depend upon Him. We know Him through daily communion with Him.

Notice Paul's personal language when he says, "Christ Jesus my Lord." It was not merely Jesus the Lord. It was Jesus my Lord. That is why we can say with Psalm 23: "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." Can you say that? Not merely that Jesus is a Savior. Not merely that Jesus is the Savior. But that Jesus is your Savior and your Lord. Oh, there is a difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing that person. The greatest treasure in all the world is not wealth. It is not success. It is not fame. It is not even religious achievement. The greatest treasure in life is knowing Jesus Christ personally.

That is why Paul could count everything as loss, because he found something infinitely better. He found a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus personally? If you know Him, are you growing in that relationship? Is your love for Jesus Christ increasing daily? Is it your desire to know Him in a deeper way? Oh, my friend, may we be able to say with the Apostle Paul: "for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."

Let's pray. Father, thank You that Christianity is not merely a religion, but a relationship with You. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Jesus Christ. Help us not to be satisfied with simply knowing facts about Jesus. Give us a deeper desire to know Him personally and intimately, to walk with Him daily, and to grow in our love for Him. May Christ become more precious to us with every passing year. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!