The Power of His Resurrection
Notes
Transcript
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Introduction
Paul came to Philippi as part of his second missionary journey. He had not planned to do so but the Holy Spirit made it clear that he should go. Amazing things happened, Lydia and her household believed and were baptised. Also the Philippian jailer and his household. A church was founded in about AD 50-51. He wrote this letter when imprisoned in Rome about AD 60.
He does so to encourage them in the Lord and to continue in faithful service.
Slide
1. Spiritual Bankruptcy v7-8
1. Spiritual Bankruptcy v7-8
Slide
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
Slide
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Slide
a. Confidence in the Flesh v4
a. Confidence in the Flesh v4
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
Circumcised on the eighth day
Of the people of Israel
Of the tribe of Benjamin (Jacob’s beloved son with Rachel. Think also of Mordecai, Esther’s uncle
A Pharisee, Persecutor, Law keeper
Slide
b. For the Sake of Christ v7
b. For the Sake of Christ v7
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Nevertheless, whatever category of virtues used to be my assets, these very things I have learned to consider a loss for the sake of Christ. Let me be clearer: I continue to consider everything [achieved in the flesh] to be a loss for the sake of the incomparable value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It is for his sake that I have willingly sustained the loss of all things—indeed I consider them no better than dung so that I may gain Christ.
Slide
Paul tells us that he now regards his previous “assets” (κέρδη, kerdē) not merely as without worth but as positively damaging, as spiritual “liabilities.” “In the process of reevaluation [Paul] perceived with horror that the things he had hitherto viewed as benefiting him had in reality been working to destroy him because they were blinding him to his need for the real righteousness which God required” Silva, M. (2005). Philippians (2nd ed., p. 157). Baker Academic.
Slide
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Slide
2. Spiritual Worth v9-11
2. Spiritual Worth v9-11
Slide
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
A striking feature of this passage is the way it reflects a distinction among the three basic categories present in the application of salvation: justification (righteousness through faith, v. 9), sanctification (experiencing the power of Christ’s resurrection as well as participating in his sufferings, v. 10), and glorification (bodily resurrection, v. 11) - Silva, M. (2005). Philippians (2nd ed., p. 159). Baker Academic.
Slide
a. Justification v9
a. Justification v9
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
i. Found in Him
i. Found in Him
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
ii. Faith in Christ
ii. Faith in Christ
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Slide
b. Sanctification v10
b. Sanctification v10
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Slide
c. Glorification v11
c. Glorification v11
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
If only I may attain,” he is not expressing distrust in the power or love of God nor doubt as to his own salvation. Paul often rejoices in assurance of salvation (Rom. 6:5, 8; 7:25; 8:16, 17, 35–39. In this assurance he was strengthened as the years went by (1 Tim. 1:15–17; 2 Tim. 1:12; 4:7, 8). But he wrote it in the spirit of deep humility and commendable distrust in self. Hendriksen, W.,
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conclusion
Slide
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
