Memory – Philippians 3.10 – 11 … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead
When you are reading for comprehension it often helps to find the theme sentence or a summary thought that encapsulates what is central to the author’s thinking or purpose in writing. As I read Philippians within the larger context of the thirteen Pauline epistles I was struck by the five words in the middle of his exposition describing his calling and relationship with Jesus – that I may know him – this desire is at the heart of everything that Paul writes about being Christian (cf. Galatians 2.20 & 4.19; or Colossians 2.6-7; or Ephesians 2.10 & 6.10; or Romans 12.1-2). Remember what we spoke of in preparing for your baptism. You are putting off the old self and put on the new self, namely, Christ (Colossians 3.9-10). This is precisely what Paul is expressing in his statement about knowing Christ. Moreover, it aligns with what the Lord told Ananias about Paul’s calling to serve him: But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9.15-16).
Pay careful attention to the immediate context of this expression of Paul’s heart to know Christ. Prior to his conversion to faith in Jesus as his Savior (cf. Acts 9.1-19) he was held in very high esteem among his scholarly Jewish peers. If anyone had bragging rights, he was the man; circumcised on the eighth day [according to the law], from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; regarding the law [of Moses] he considered himself blameless, as a Pharisee he violently persecuted the early Christians; even participating in the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the church (Acts 7.54-60). Paul considered none of these accolades or positions of authority of any value compared to knowing Christ. Indeed, he describes the loss of all those things as rubbish or excrement (lit. in Greek skybalon). Paul’s desire was to be righteous in the sight of God and this he came to recognize as an impossibility by any means of his own effort. But there was a righteousness that came through faith in Christ.
In the gospels Jesus makes it clear what this entails. In Luke’s Gospel we read “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke 9.23-24). And later in that same chapter Jesus speaks of the cost of following him, Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9.57-62). Luke expands on this theme in several places; it may be worth your time to consider what takes place between Jesus and the rich ruler in 18.18-30. Jesus must have preeminence in the believer’s life. This is consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament’s greatest commandment in Deuteronomy 6.4-5; “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In the Gospel of Mark 12.29 Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is; he answered from this passage in Deuteronomy. Paul’s heart is to know and please God, and this can only be accomplished in knowing and pleasing Jesus (cf. John 6.40; 14.6-7).
Pay careful attention to the immediate context of this expression of Paul’s heart to know Christ. Prior to his conversion to faith in Jesus as his Savior (cf. Acts 9.1-19) he was held in very high esteem among his scholarly Jewish peers. If anyone had bragging rights, he was the man; circumcised on the eighth day [according to the law], from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; regarding the law [of Moses] he considered himself blameless, as a Pharisee he violently persecuted the early Christians; even participating in the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr of the church (Acts 7.54-60). Paul considered none of these accolades or positions of authority of any value compared to knowing Christ. Indeed, he describes the loss of all those things as rubbish or excrement (lit. in Greek skybalon). Paul’s desire was to be righteous in the sight of God and this he came to recognize as an impossibility by any means of his own effort. But there was a righteousness that came through faith in Christ.
In the gospels Jesus makes it clear what this entails. In Luke’s Gospel we read “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke 9.23-24). And later in that same chapter Jesus speaks of the cost of following him, Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9.57-62). Luke expands on this theme in several places; it may be worth your time to consider what takes place between Jesus and the rich ruler in 18.18-30. Jesus must have preeminence in the believer’s life. This is consistent with the teaching of the Old Testament’s greatest commandment in Deuteronomy 6.4-5; “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” In the Gospel of Mark 12.29 Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is; he answered from this passage in Deuteronomy. Paul’s heart is to know and please God, and this can only be accomplished in knowing and pleasing Jesus (cf. John 6.40; 14.6-7).
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