Knowing Christ

Philippians 3:8–10 KJV 1900

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

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

Jesus and Moses are playing golf....Who does that guy think he is? Jesus Christ? Moses just shakes his head, “No he thinks he’s Tiger Woods.”

Introduction

Happy Easter! Easter also called Pascha (in Aramaic, Greek and Latin) or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. described in the New Testament as having occurred on the 3rd day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD.

Easter celebrates Jesus supernatural resurrection from the dead, which is one of the chief tenets of the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul writes these word in 1 Corinthians 15 regarding the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:13–19 KJV 1900

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

We have preached here at Colonial Hills Baptist Church for over 10 years on the veracity of Jesus resurrection. Today I don’t want to reexamine the evidence for the resurrection, but rather look at the effect of the resurrection. What does Easter mean to you and I today? How does it make a difference in your life and in mine.

I.In Philippians, the Apostle Paul writes to the Christians in Philippi from a Roman Jail. He warns them to avoid the lies and heresy's of false teachers and Judaizers who wanted believers to place their trust in works and self rather than in Jesus. In Chapter 3 He identifies the characteristics of knowing Christ. In verse 8 he describes the importance of this:

Philippians 3:8 KJV 1900

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,

Easter Sunday is more exciting than a football game. A touchdown may win a game. But knowing Christ will win Heaven.

Let’s examine the Characteristics of knowing Jesus outlined in verse 10.

I. You may know Christ through the Power of His Resurrection

Think of how powerful the resurrection is. Think for a minute about your car’s battery. Have you ever had a dead battery. When the battery is dead. Your car is dead. It takes an incredible amount of power to make it run again. In much the same way a human body needs power to get it going again when it stops. I have seen them shock people whose hearts have stopped. Think about the power it takes to revive someone who heart has stopped.

Romans 8:11 KJV 1900

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Corinthians 6:14 KJV 1900

And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

II. You may know Christ through the Fellowship of His Suffering

Everyone wants to know the Power of His resurrection, but no one wants to know him in the Fellowship of his suffering.

Matthew 20:20–23 KJV 1900

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

Romans 8:16–18 KJV 1900

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.

III. We may know Christ through being conformed to His Death

Romans 6:3–8 KJV 1900

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

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.

John 12:20–26 KJV 1900

And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Conclusion

Easter or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. described in the New Testament as having occurred on the 3rd day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary in 30 AD.

If Easter is to make an sense to us, we must know Him. Truly knowing Jesus involves

I. Knowing Him through the Power of His Resurrection.

2. Knowing Him through the Fellowship of His Suffering

3. Knowing Him through being conformed to His Death.

Do You really know Jesus?

Kale Dively raised in the the church, made a decision at 9 years old. But Kale began to take seriously his relationship with Jesus, as he sat under the preaching of the word he better understood Jesus and he wanted to make sure he was saved.

Valerie attended our tent revival meetings this past summer and decided that she wanted to make sure. She wanted to take care of any doubts and know that she knows she is saved.

Maybe you have been in church all your life, but realize that there are some doubts in you heart. Take care of them today.