I Want to Know Christ - 2

I Want to Know Christ – 2

And the Power of His Resurrection

Philippians 3:7–11 (NIV84)

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, kjv), for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

The power of his resurrection is God’s power, his life-giving power that he deployed in raising Christ from the dead, and the power that God uses to bring about and sustain the new life that the Christian receives from Christ and shares with him.

Romans 4:25 (NIV84)

25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins.

The punishment Jesus bore, by dying on the cross, took away our sins.

Jesus was raised to life for our justification.

Justification = δικαίωσις dikaiōsis = to cause someone to be in a proper or right relation with someone else: to put right with, to cause to be in a right relationship with.

Jesus was raised to life in order to put us right with God.

Hebrews 12:1–4 (NLT)

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

We all have a race to run. None of us know how long that race is, whether it’s a sprint or a marathon. Either way, we are all called to run our race with steadfast endurance, with the inward fortitude necessary to complete that race as a victor.

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV84)

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

God has marked out a race for us. He has laid out a course for our lives.

There are places we are to go, things we are to do, challenges we are to confront.

We do not know where this course winds on its way to heaven, nor is it important for us to know.

Our calling is to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Many Christians spend far too much effort trying to figure out what lies ahead, when our calling is to persevere in faith wherever God should lead us.

This is our calling, the challenging race of a life of faith. Notice what kind of race we run. It is not a short sprint, and we will not finish it with a reckless burst of energy. It is a long-distance race, and our great virtue is not speed but perseverance.

Many experience the flush of excitement at conversion, only to find that enthusiasm must be converted into endurance.

For the joy set before him. The joy is not in the cross. It was what was beyond the cross.

The joy before Christ is that of perfectly accomplishing the cleansing of sinners’ consciences and gaining their access to God. This joy is linked with Christ’s exaltation.

Trials put our eyes on the other side of the cross.

They are intended to give us an eternally minded mindset.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NIV84)

16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

As Jesus endured the cross, and the apostles endured much suffering, so we, too, are to endure the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings which are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 4:18 (AMP)

18Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

Philippians 3:10 (NIV84)

10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Some have misinterpreted this verse to mean that the power of his resurrection refers primarily to:

Miraculous healing powers – Suggesting believers can access the same power that raised Christ to perform physical healings.

Prosperity and victory – Teaching that resurrection power guarantees triumph over earthly problems.

Supernatural manifestations – Emphasizing dramatic spiritual experiences as evidence of resurrection power.

They conveniently leave out the latter part of the verse, which states and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.

How do we know the power of his resurrection?

Ephesians 2:4–7 (NIV84)

4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

The power of his resurrection is God’s life-giving power that he used to raise Christ from the dead. God uses this same power to bring about and sustain the new life given to every Christian.

Conversion is, in fact, described in the New Testament as a resurrection. Conversion is a resurrection effected by the creation power of God himself.

When we were made alive by Christ in the new birth, we were spiritually resurrected. There will be a future physical resurrection.

Romans 8:10–11 (AMP)

10But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].

11And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you.

Lexham Interpreter’s Translation: If the Messiah dwells in you, via the Spirit, then although your body is dead because of the wrongful things you’ve done, nonetheless the Spirit fills you with effervescent life because of God’s saving righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside you, the one who raised the Messiah from the realm of the dead will also bring your human body back to life as well, through the same Spirit who now lives in you.

Our spirits were made alive because of the righteousness that God imputed (credited) to us.

One day, our short-lived, perishable bodies will also be restored to life through the same Holy Spirit Who dwells is us.

The spiritual in the present time is a foretaste of the future age of resurrection.

Ralph Wardlaw, 1861: The spiritual life, which is begun here, is a life that shall suffer no interruption, no temporary suspension or cessation. Death, by separating the soul from the body, only raises it to its perfection, by setting the immortal spirit free from all remaining corruption and sin.

This is the on-going power of Christ’s resurrection.

It started when we were made alive.

It continues in His work through us to sanctify us.

It will manifest in the future when our physical bodies are raised from the dead changing our mortal bodies to immortal bodies!

Philippians 2:12–13 (AMP)

12Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

When we continually apply verses 12 and 13, we are experientially knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings by obeying the admonitions of verse 12 and trusting God to work in and through us (verse 13).

The work of sanctification (v.12) is that continual obedience that defines our disciplines, trials, and calamities.

Titus 2:11–12 (NIV84)

11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

12It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

To know the power of His resurrection is to be continuously aware and thankful that God is all the while effectually at work in us, energizing and creating in us the power and desire both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure, satisfaction, and delight.

It is knowing that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is the enabling agent who sanctifies us through and through, so that we can increasingly deny worldly lusts and worldly passions.

What did Christ’s

Resurrection Accomplish?

John 10:14–18 (NIV84)

14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.

18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Jesus clearly declared that He would lay his life down and take it up again, predicting both His death and His resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (NIV84)

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

V. 3, according to the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the Old Testament Scriptures prophesying about Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Romans 4:25 (NIV84)

25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Lexham Interpreter’s Translation: 25As we say: Jesus was handed over to death to save us from our sins, and he was brought back to life so that we could be declared righteous.

Jesus’ death took away our sins by paying the penalty for our sins, thus freeing us from the wrath of God.

Jesus’ resurrection secured our atonement, which resulted in our being declared righteous (justification) before a Holy God.

Had Jesus died and not been raised from the dead, that would have indicated that his sacrifice for our sins was not acceptable to God.

The fact that God raised him demonstrates to the world that God is satisfied with the perfect work of his Son.

The resurrection of Jesus is the verdict of the Judge of heaven and earth, that the atonement has been made and all who trust in Christ will participate in the benefits of the righteousness of Christ.

Psalm 146:3–4 (NIV84)

3Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

4When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

A mortal man will die. He can make many plans in the form of proclamations and boastings, but they come to nothing when he dies.

Jesus is not a mere mortal man. He is immortal. When He makes a statement or proclamation, His plans will never come to nothing, because He died and rose again and lives forever more interceding on behalf of us.

Hebrews 7:23–25 (NIV84)

23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;

24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Hebrews 9:23–28 (NIV84)

23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

26Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

On the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies twice, each time with a different purpose:

First entry: The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of his household. He would do this by bringing a bull as a sin offering, burning incense, and sprinkling the blood of the bull on the Mercy Seat (Leviticus 16:11-14).

Second entry: After making atonement for himself and his household, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies a second time to make atonement for the sins of the people. He would bring the blood of the sacrificial goat (the "Lord's goat") and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat, just as he had done with the bull's blood (Leviticus 16:15-16).

This two-part process emphasizes the importance of the High Priest's role as a mediator between God and the people. He first had to ensure his own cleanliness and worthiness before he could intercede on behalf of the nation of Israel.

After completing these rituals, the High Priest would exit the Holy of Holies and proceed with the rest of the Day of Atonement ceremonies, which included confessing the sins of the Israelites over the second goat (the "scapegoat") and sending it into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:20-22).

The people would wait anxiously outside for his reappearance, as it would signify that the sacrifices had been accepted by God and that atonement had been granted to the nation of Israel.

If the High Priest did not perform the rituals correctly or was found unworthy, it was believed that he would die in the presence of God in the Holy of Holies. Therefore, his second appearance before the people, coming out alive from the Holy of Holies, was a sign that the sacrifices had been accepted, and the sins of the people had been atoned for (Leviticus 16:17, 24).

Jesus’ resurrection showed that His sacrifice was accepted and the sins of all who believe have been atoned for once for all, for all of eternity!

Hebrews 9:28 (NASB)

28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

When Jesus, the great High Priest, appears the second time to those who expect him, it will not be to deal with sin once more. Sin was dealt with decisively at his first appearing. All the blessings which he won for his people at his first appearing will be theirs to enjoy in perpetual fulness at his second appearing. Therefore, let them not grow faint and weary but persevere in patience and faith.

The second coming of Jesus will not be for the purpose of having to atone for sin but rather will be for the purpose of bringing final salvation.

Jesus’ death on the cross was the payment in full for our sins.

Jesus’ resurrection showed that His High Priestly offering was accepted by God the Father.

This offering (the sacrifice of Jesus Christ; the blood He shed; the life He gave) fully appeased God’s wrath that was to be released upon man.

God’s wrath was not abated, but was fully exercised upon Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Substitute.

1 Corinthians 15:17–20 (NIV84)

17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 (NLT)

50What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

51But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!

52It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

53For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.

55O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

56For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

57But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Selah.

Revelation 22:12, 17 (NIV84)

12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.

17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.