That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

Do we really know him (Christ) and the power of his resurrection? How can we experience the power of Christ’s resurrection? The apostle Paul is pressing into Christ, being made more like Christ. Most Christians have just made it past the point of being saved by faith in Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. Many have not pressed in further to really know Christ and the power of his resurrection. The Bible speaks of continued growth for those who are saved, and this growth involves the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, and being made conformable unto His death. At least this is what the Apostle Paul is stating in the letter to the Philippians in Rome while he was in prison. “To live is Christ, to die is gain,” stated Paul in Philippians 1:21. The Apostle Paul wants to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection. The Hebrew word  [tequmah], meaning resurrection, is restoration, standing, or rising before our enemies. It is the power to stand strong.

Our standing is in Christ, and our rising up from the dead is in Christ also. Jesus said that He is “the resurrection and the life,” [see John 11:25]. Our own life is made possible through the power of Christ’s resurrection. This resurrection power gave the victory over the power of death. It was the devil that had the power over death [see Hebrews 2:14] until Christ’s death and resurrection gave all those who believe a new standing over the power of death. The resurrection is also a part of our inheritance as Christians for that future date, when Christ returns. Now we have the down payment of our inheritance through the promised Holy Spirit, who helps us in our walk and conformity to Christ. The apostle Paul counted all things as loss to know Christ more. Paul did not look at his personal possessions; his focus was on Christ and pressing on towards that high calling in Christ. Paul was reaching forward to his future as a citizen in heaven [see Philippians 3:14-20].

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. Philippians 3:12

The apostle Paul is following after Christ to know and understand Him as Christ has known us. We should have the mind of Christ. We should press forward in the calling of God in Christ Jesus and forget those things that have bound us in sin. Our citizenship is in heaven, and our body will be fashioned after His glorious body [see Philippians 3:21]. We are to be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let our request be known to God [see Philippians 4:6]. This is how we receive the peace of God. Our prayers and supplications, which pass all understanding, will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Our minds are to think on what is good, whatever things are honest and pure. This is realizing spiritual growth towards perfection in Christ.

The Apostle Paul’s journey in life is to know Christ, to fellowship in Christ’s resurrection power, and to be conformed to His death. Have we as Christians really thought about the fellowship we have with Christ and being made conformable to His death?  For many, this is not what they had in mind, nor even conceived.   Any talk about being made conformable to Christ or his suffering is far from what they think a Christian is.  Some just want the easy life, but this is not the reality of Christ.  Today, there are a great number of humans who are suffering from all kinds of pain. What can we gain in life when the outcome is death?  Can we have the mind of Christ? The answer is, Yes. But we must press toward the mark with the Apostle Paul for Christ. We must ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. We need the Holy Spirit’s help in becoming more like Christ, in love, patience, and holiness. We need to continue our walk towards spiritual maturity and understand our standing in Christ. We have forgiveness for our sins, and the Holy Spirit of promise to continue our walk as followers of Christ. Not that we have attained righteousness on our own, for it is through Christ that our position is in righteousness, and this is through faith in Christ only.

Charles Spurgeon expressed it this way: “that the less you value your own righteousness, the more will you seek after true holiness; the less you think of your own beauty, the more ardently will you long to become like the Lord Jesus.” The way to the mind of Christ is to know Him in a more personal way. Christ emptied himself of his status and took on the form of a servant [see Philippians 2:7]. The mind of Christ is to have love for one another, tender mercy, and compassion. As Christians, we are not to create strife by arguing, quarreling, or seeking self-glorification. We are to esteem others better than ourselves [see Philippians 2:3-5]. Our future is assured through Christ. Jesus said that if you believe in him, you have everlasting life, and He will raise us up at the last day [see John 6:40]. This is the power of his resurrection to gain victory over the evil one and be brought out of darkness and into His wonderful light. We barely know Him and the power of His Resurrection. Let us press in to know Him more. If you want to read more about this subject, click on the link below to read Charles Spurgeon’s take on the power of his resurrection, written in 1889.