May 7 – Philippians 3:10-11
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
The Greek word used for ‘to know’ in this verse means to know by experience. Paul already knew Jesus Christ. He had met him on a road one day long ago. But, that wasn’t enough for Paul. It’s not enough for me!
He wanted to know Jesus, to experience all that he could with Jesus. Every moment of every day, to know Jesus more … that was Paul’s desire.
He wanted to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Power here means the ability to overcome resistance. All believers have been ‘raised in Christ’ (Col. 3:1), so we know about this power and have access to it. Paul wants this to be continually flowing in his life.
The fellowship of sharing in Jesus’ sufferings. Not the suffering on the cross – Paul knew that there was no way he could possibly share in that - it was something that only the Son of God could do. But Paul knew there was more was coming in his life … and in the lives of those who worked towards righteousness.
Paul wanted to become like Jesus. The Greek word here means “being conformed inwardly in one’s experience to something.” Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we must die to our sins.
He wanted to attain the resurrection from the dead. Paul looked forward to the final resurrection, the moment when he would finally see Jesus face to face and in that moment when eternity began for him, he would be like Jesus.
Everything that Paul was on earth was not enough. He wanted to know Christ with his every breath – he wanted to experience Christ was ever fiber of his being – so that when he breathed his last, he would be able to know that he had strived to be like Christ.
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
The Greek word used for ‘to know’ in this verse means to know by experience. Paul already knew Jesus Christ. He had met him on a road one day long ago. But, that wasn’t enough for Paul. It’s not enough for me!
He wanted to know Jesus, to experience all that he could with Jesus. Every moment of every day, to know Jesus more … that was Paul’s desire.
He wanted to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Power here means the ability to overcome resistance. All believers have been ‘raised in Christ’ (Col. 3:1), so we know about this power and have access to it. Paul wants this to be continually flowing in his life.
The fellowship of sharing in Jesus’ sufferings. Not the suffering on the cross – Paul knew that there was no way he could possibly share in that - it was something that only the Son of God could do. But Paul knew there was more was coming in his life … and in the lives of those who worked towards righteousness.
Paul wanted to become like Jesus. The Greek word here means “being conformed inwardly in one’s experience to something.” Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we must die to our sins.
He wanted to attain the resurrection from the dead. Paul looked forward to the final resurrection, the moment when he would finally see Jesus face to face and in that moment when eternity began for him, he would be like Jesus.
Everything that Paul was on earth was not enough. He wanted to know Christ with his every breath – he wanted to experience Christ was ever fiber of his being – so that when he breathed his last, he would be able to know that he had strived to be like Christ.
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