What does "Winning Christ" in Philippians 3: 8 mean?

[mbkjpreacher]

Is it about salvation or about winning God's approval? 

[SureWord]

21 hours ago, mbkjpreacher said:

Is it about salvation or about winning God's approval? 

It's about finishing the Christian race so we can receive the prize at the end (vs 14). We don't win salvation. That would make it no longer a gift.  I do think at the judgement seat Jesus will be disappointed with many of us. 

[Pastor Scott Markle]

The apostle answers the question through the Holy Spirit inspired context, as follows:

Philippians 3:8-14 -- "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, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

In this context, "winning Christ" means (1) growing more and more in the knowledge/fellowship of Christ so as to be (2) transformed more and more unto the perfectly righteous character of Christ.  Will such a process "win God's approval?"  Certainly it will; however, "winning God's approval" is not precisely the point of the context.  Rather, "winning" a growing fellowship with Christ and a growing transformation unto Christ-likeness is precisely the point of the context.