being alive through Gods word

Phil 3: 7-8 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 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, 9 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:

The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 3:6–9). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Romans 8:13-18 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Romans 12: 1-3 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2. The Future Lies with the Present—Knowing Christ (3:7–11)

Paul sets out to explain the “how so” of the renunciation

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2. The Future Lies with the Present—Knowing Christ (3:7–11)

I consider all things to be loss

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2. The Future Lies with the Present—Knowing Christ (3:7–11)

but all things, “because of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord

phil 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

phil 2:21 “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2. The Future Lies with the Present—Knowing Christ (3:7–11)

Everything that others might consider to have value in the present age—religious advantages, status, material benefits, honor, comforts—these appear to him as nothing at all, as total “loss,” in comparison with Christ

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 2. The Future Lies with the Present—Knowing Christ (3:7–11)

But in this case, it is not simply “because of Christ” that he considers all things as loss, but “because of the surpassing greatness19 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” This piling up of genitives has as its ultimate goal “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,” which so far surpasses all other things in value that their net worth is zero; they are a total loss.

We need to know him personally

How do we get there?

Ps. 119:2 “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart.”

1 Thess 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Gal 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

Do not get hung up in your own feelings

remember your flesh is dead

Romans 8:6 “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

Heb 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”