I was doing some research on the various church councils down through the ages and I found the above image. I found it quite helpful.
If you are not aware of the church councils, they were called to address an issue of heresy that was pervading the church at the time.
The councils acted as an arbiter of correct doctrine and belief. They discussed the issues and made a concrete decision of what is true.
The Nicene Creed is a classic example. It grew out of the Council of Nicaea and addressed the issue of Jesus Christ being equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The thing I find interesting is that some follow the beliefs and teachings that the church made concrete decisions against. Some current day cults actually teach that Jesus was a created being.
If you have some time I would encourage you to have a look at the church councils and see how much we believe today is based on decisions they made many years ago.
Towards the end of the Nicene Creed there is a line that describes the church as a whole. It says, “We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church”
These four thoughts or words are echoed in the Book of Ephesians.
The Church is One
In Ephesians 4:4-6 it says, “For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”
These verses tell us that we have one unified faith in and under Christ.
The Church is Holy
Throughout the Bible God describes Himself as holy and he calls as Christ followers to be holy. Ephesians 5:27 tells us that, “He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”
When we strive for holiness in our daily lives, we not only obey God’s command, but we let our lights shine to the world around us which brings glory to our heavenly Father (Matthew 5:14-16).
The Church is Catholic
The word Catholic was first used by Saint Ignatius of Antioch in 107AD, it means universal or everywhere. As Christians we are Christ’s body. And even though we are spread all over the world and throughout time, we are one in Him.
Ephesians 2:19 says, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” We are members of God’s Catholic or universal church.
The Church is Apostolic
Ephesians 2:20 tells us the church is built on a solid foundation. “Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.”
Jesus hand picked His disciples, who He trained and equipped for service after He returned to heaven. These Apostles continued to build on the work of the Prophets in the Old Testament era. Now the church learns from their teaching in the Bible every Sunday in church.
I really love this description of the church as a whole – one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. Though we may have slightly different beliefs and practices in how we do church in our small settings, the reality is we are one in Christ because of our faith and trust in Him.
Today we are continuing in our series from Philippians and we are looking at chapter three. The title of my message is “The priceless value of knowing Christ”. So far, we have seen…
Paul was thankful for the Philippians and he prayed that they would grow in their faith.
Paul was thankful that Christ was being preached. Even though he was in prison.
Paul lived his life for Christ. To Paul to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Paul asked them to live as citizens of heaven. He wanted them to represent Christ well.
Have the attitude of Christ – be unified, be interested in others, be humble.
Shine brightly for Christ – continue to shine whether Paul is with them or not.
Paul commended Timothy – he cared for the Philippians, he cared for Christ’s work, he helped Paul greatly.
Paul commended Epaphroditus – a true brother, a co-worker, a fellow soldier, and a messenger in his need.
So already we have seen a lot. We have also got a big glimpse of Paul’s heart and his love for the church at Philippi. Today we will see three more main points.
My first point today is the “Priceless value of knowing Christ”. It is found in verses 3:1-11.
In the first part of chapter three Paul shares the idea that knowing Christ is everything. This is something he held dear and he taught to others. In verse 1 he says, “I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith”.
Why would he say he wants to safeguard their faith? In verses 2-4 Paul then talks about people wanting to get them to live under the old ways. Things like circumcision and following the Law in their own strength to make them right with God.
It seems in our reading of the New Testament that often when Paul went and planted churches, people would follow his path and try to pervert the truth. Often this meant turning people back to old Jewish customs and ways of living. Some Jewish converts could not just let go of the past. Some deep down wanted to work for their salvation. Some wanted to hold on to power.
Paul knew and understood this way of living. In verses 4-6 he lists his long list of achievements as a Jew and a Pharisee. Paul described himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews. This means both his mother and father all the way back was Jewish. There were no other nations mixed in his heritage. He also says he lived out the Law without fault, he persecuted the early church with a passion and he was a member of the tribe of Benjamin. The Tribe of Benjamin was the only tribe that stayed faithful to God when the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were divided. This tribe also gave the nation its first king, whom Paul/Saul was named after. So, in his own eyes he really thought he was serving God as good anyone could possibly do.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees were a strict religious sect that numbered about 6000 in total at the time of Christ. They were lay people who were middle class merchants that devoted themselves to the observance of the Law of Moses (first five books of Old Testament as we know it) and they also paid special attention to laws that were interpreted by the Rabbi’s to protect and apply the law to everyday life. There were laws 613 in total.
In many ways the Pharisees saw themselves as religious purists who were enthusiastically committed to preserving and obeying the law and they were keen to encourage others to do so. To ensure they kept ritually pure the Pharisees had a number of strict rules in regard to washing, eating, tithing, the Sabbath, divorce, oaths and clothing.
Why did the Pharisees think keeping the law was so important? For the Pharisee their religion was not just a profession it was more of a way of life. The strived hard to follow the law and keep ritually pure to be “right” with God. The Pharisees wanted Israel to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. They also believe that once Israel had remained pure for a time then the Messiah would come.
So back to Paul. In light of what a Pharisees is and Paul’s list of “achievements”, if anyone had the right to be proud of his efforts it would be Paul. But as we see in verses 7-8 he had a change of heart and life…
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ”.
Paul realised that knowing Christ and being known by Christ was all that was needed to find salvation. As he says in verse 9, “I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith”.
All the things that Paul thought very priceless and valuable, became like garbage to him. His family line of being a Hebrew of Hebrews – garbage. His belonging to the Tribe of Benjamin – garbage. His standing as a Pharisee – garbage. He discarded them all.
For us as Christians today there is a priceless value in knowing Christ too. We can’t save ourselves. We can’t work for our salvation. It is all accomplished in what Jesus did for us on the cross. He made a way, where there was no other way.
Not only is our salvation priceless, but our lives now are priceless too. We live this life now knowing that we are valuable to God and we are a key part of His continued mission in this world. We have a job to do. We have a part to play. We serve God with our gifts, we love and encourage one another, we reach people with the love and saving message of Christ. We make disciples.
So today let us hold firmly to Christ and put all our faith and hope in Him. He alone makes us righteous and right with the Father. Christ is all we need and there is priceless value in knowing Him.
2. Pressing towards the goal
Me second point comes from verses 12-21 and is “Pressing toward the goal”.
In verses 12-14 Paul says, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.
As I was reflecting on this I read the notes in the Life Application Study Bible for verses 12-14. It is interesting and explains this section well…
“3:12-14 Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him. This goal took all of Paul’s energies. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?”
I think the first line says it all – to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him”.
This idea is much deeper than coming to Christ for our salvation and knowing we will go to heaven when we die. It is all about knowing Christ, growing to be like Christ and being disciplined like an athlete to be all you can be for Christ.
In the same way, Paul tells us to be disciplined like an athlete. We need to put time and energy into our relationship with God and our growth in our faith. Spending time alone with God in prayer, reading our Bibles and fellowship are things that Pastors, Elders and guest speakers talk about often. This is because they work. They help us to press on towards the goal of knowing Christ and becoming like Him.
3. We ARE citizens of heaven
This is the second time in this short book Paul has talked about being citizens of heaven. In Philippians 1:27 he said…
“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News”.
In verse 20 of today’s text her says, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Saviour.”
In chapter one verse 27 he calls us to live a life worthy of being a citizen of heaven. In this verse he reiterates that we are citizens of heaven.
Again, as I was researching I found the notes in the NLT LASB had some good thoughts. It said this on verse 20…
“Citizens of a Roman colony were expected to promote the interests of Rome and maintain the dignity of the city. In the same way, citizens of heaven ought to promote heaven’s interests on earth and lead lives worthy of heavenly citizenship. Too many Christians have failed to transfer their citizenship to heaven. They still seek earthly pleasures and treasures instead of heavenly ones. Paul told the Philippians to remember that they are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Have you transferred your citizenship? How are you promoting heaven’s interests?”
Not only should we live lives worthy of our new citizenship, but we need to remember we ARE citizens of heaven. As I have said before, our passports are not stamped with just an entry visa, our passports are brand new heavenly ones issued from the throne room of God.
Closing summary
So, in summary today I just want to summarize Paul’s heart from chapter three.
The priceless value in knowing Christ – knowing Christ is far more important and valuable than anything else in this world.
Pressing on towards the goal – we need to press in to Christ and our relationship with Him with the discipline and determination of an athlete.
We ARE citizens of heaven – we need to live a life worthy of our new home and status.
I really enjoyed this devotion based on the Parable of the Sower…
When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” Luke 8:4–8
God always takes the initiative in our lives. We do not need to persuade Him to care for us or to extend His grace—He already does. Our relationship with Him is one of response: He sows, and we are called to receive. We say “Yes” to Him, allowing His will to take root in our lives. At the heart of His divine will is the call to hear and embrace His Word.
Today’s Gospel presents one of Jesus’ most familiar parables, rich in meaning and imagery for prayer. God is the Divine Sower, and the seed is His Word. That Word is not merely a message or set of teachings—it is the Person of Christ Himself, the Incarnate Word of God. This is one of the great mysteries of our faith. Christ is sown into the hearts of the faithful. We are not invited to solve this mystery but to receive it, enter it, ponder it, and allow it to transform us.
To enter more deeply into this mystery, imagine God the Father sowing the seed of His Son into the soil of your soul. Once we understand that Christ Himself is the Divine Seed, it becomes clear that Christianity is not merely about following a moral code or ethical system. Rather, it is about being interiorly transformed by Christ’s living presence. He is planted in us by grace, takes root in our souls, and grows, bearing spiritual fruit.
This parable also challenges us to examine the condition of our hearts. Are we hardened like the path, distracted like the rocky ground, or choked by worldly concerns like the soil filled with thorns? Or are we striving to be rich, tilled soil—open, receptive, and ready to nurture the life of Christ within?
If we extend the parable further and consider the entire field, it is consoling and inspiring to recognize the countless other souls with rich soil who also receive the living Word of God and in whom He grows and bears fruit. As members of the Body of Christ, we are not alone. We are part of a vast field, tilled and watered by divine grace.
And yet, there remains so much more to be done. Many hearts have not yet received Christ. Many remain hardened, distracted, or choked by the anxieties and pleasures of life. By receiving the Word of God and bearing fruit ourselves, we also produce seeds—seeds of the Incarnate Word meant to be sown into the lives of others. The Divine Sower desires to extend His mission through us until the end of the age.
Though this parable primarily focuses on the condition of our own hearts, we can also discern in it the urgency of the Gospel mission. The Divine Sower seeks laborers who will help sow the Word far and wide, expanding the field of the Church and multiplying its fruit.
Reflect today on the high ideals set forth in the Parable of the Sower. Move from concept to reality. This parable is not only meant to inspire, it is meant to prompt action. First, open your heart to Christ the Word through daily prayer, participation in the Sacraments, and works of charity. Then, become a co-worker with Christ. In what ways can you assist the Divine Sower? To whom can you be an instrument of the Word of God? Be receptive to His grace and resolute in your mission, that the Field of God’s Kingdom may continue to grow and flourish.
My Divine Sower and Eternal Word, You urgently desire that all people come to know You by forming hearts of fertile soil, receptive to Your saving Word. Please till the soil of my heart. Remove every weed of sin, every rock of resistance, and every thorn of worldly care. Enrich me with the grace I need so that Your Word may take deep root and bear abundant fruit. Make me also an instrument of Your divine work, sowing the seeds of Your Word in the hearts of others. Through me, may the mission of the Church flourish and Your Kingdom be extended to the ends of the earth. Jesus, I trust in You.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. I thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to the world to save and to set me free. I trust in Your power and grace that sustain and restore me.
Loving Father, touch me now with Your healing hands, for I believe that Your will is for me to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit. Cover me with the Most Precious Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.
Cast out anything that should not be in me. Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the power of Jesus’ Precious Blood.
Let the fire of Your healing love pass through my entire body to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function.
Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest recesses of my heart. Saturate my entire being with Your presence, love, joy, and peace and draw me ever closer to You every moment of my life.
And Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to do Your works so that my life will bring glory and honor to Your Holy Name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
