Knowing the Power

Background to passage: Paul is encouraging the church not to fall prey to the teaching that the Jewish law has to be practiced, including circumcision. Paul explains here that if anyone has a reason to brag, be confident in things done religiously, he does. Probably the most important verse is eight where he compares all of life as nothing in relation to knowing Christ. He counts everything a loss so he may gain Christ (v. 8), be found in Christ (v. 9), and know Christ (v. 10). The text we will focus on today is the remainder of v. 10 which speaks of the key parts of knowing Christ. Explain knowing. 1) know the power of his resurrection and share in his sufferings. 2) become like him in his death. 3) attain the resurrection of the dead.

Philippians 3:4–11 ESV

4b 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.

Opening illustration: Either the recent flat tires, or starting the lawnmower

Main thought: This morning we will focus on the power of the resurrection of Christ that you can know and should strive to know in your pursuit of knowing Christ.

Main Goal: to know (experientially) Christ, to gain Christ, to be found in Christ, to know His resurrection power, sharing in His sufferings, be conformed to his death, attain the resurrection from the dead.

1) What is the Power of the Resurrection? (v. 10)

Philippians 3:10 ESV

10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

1) What is the Power of the Resurrection? (v. 10)

Explanation: The power of his resurrection is one of the three “sub-goals” of knowing Christ. “Paul desires to understand and experience the life-giving power of God, that power which he manifested in raising Christ from the dead, and which he now displays in the new life the Christian receives from the risen Christ.” Paul wanted to intimately know this power, intimately know/union with God. This was the power that God used to raised Jesus from the dead. Paul wants to know God’s resurrecting power. Also related to the final piece in this sentence, v.11.

However, the second one of sharing in his suffering is inextricably linked to it grammatically. This is a power that also manifests itself in believers as they persevere in trials with joy in (koinonia) sharing, participation, fellowship with Christ and his sufferings.

Colossians 2:12–13 ESV

12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:5 ESV

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.

Romans 6:6–11 ESV

6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Illustration: “Resurrection power has two phases. First, at conversion believers experience the power of a spiritual resurrection. They are given new life. A new spiritual energy characterizes the new life in Christ. Yet this powerful life only begins at conversion. Successively and progressively the moral life must be changed, the physical body ultimately transformed, and believers brought to the eternal resting place of resurrection, heaven itself.”

Application: Why does it matter? How does it apply?

Theologically, it is the beginning of the Christian life. “The power of his resurrection is the power, dynamis, of Christ liberated by his victory over death, and at work in the life of the believer, raising him from the death of sin into the newness of life in Christ.” “...when Paul in Philippians speaks about experiencing the power of Christ’s resurrection, he has in mind our spiritual transformation into the image of Christ—a transformation that takes place as we behold his glory (2 Cor. 3:18)”

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

It’s also your new identity: you were dead in sin, now God has made you alive. You have had your eyes opened to the beauty of the glory of the Lord, so that you are now being continually transformed from one degree of his likeness to another. If you have never been made alive by God, raised up, saved, born again, reach out to Him in repentance and belief. Put your trust wholly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for your salvation, your forgiveness, your relationship to God, and your satisfaction in this life and throughout eternity.

Practically, it is the sustenance for suffering. In the life of the believer, suffering will come, and it’s the only true power to sustain you through the worst evils, betrayals, sicknesses, pain, and atrocities. He is our rock. He is our HOPE.

Phil 1:29 The resurrecting power of God in you is greater than any suffering.

Philippians 1:29 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

Acts 14:22 ESV

22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

It aids in your conformation process into the likeness of Christ. The resurrection power of God in your life delivers you from the bondage of sin. You are alive to Christ. Christ lives through you. Sin doesn’t reign over you. It is a promise of God that he will conform you to the image of his son. Think about that. The power of God to give you life guarantees that!

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

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.

It will result in your own bodily resurrection. Not only it is the beginning of your Christian life resurrecting you from life to death, which is your identity forever; He will complete and fulfill the resurrection from the dead and the glorification of your new body when the frailty of this one fades. We are never intended to be complete as disembodied spirits. God will raise us up! Christ’s resurrection ensures it!

Romans 8:11 ESV

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Closing illustration: Andrew Macdonald - April 20, 2003 - Easter Sunday morning

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