Bible study, Philippians 3.9ff

How do we access the power of God, or more specifically, the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? We are exhorted to be people of power, to be all we can be in Jesus Christ. But what about wanting that power? What does God reveal to us in our quest for power?

The following is brief, but revealing, and I think can encourage our hearts and challenge us not only concerning the seeking of the power of God but also challenge us toward a deepening awareness of the greatness of God's word.

He always says it better than we do!

Phil 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

This "that" is key to the passage, and we need to examine its reason for being there. If we investigate, we see that the Christian needs something when he or she comes to verse ten if he or she expects to know "the power of the resurrection."

"that I may know. . ."

What is "that"? What window opens up for us as we investigate?

We backtrack to verse nine.

Phil 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from {the} Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which {comes} from God on the basis of faith,

What is prerequisite to 3.10's "that I may know. . ."? To be found "in Him," not with my righteousness, but the righteousness from God.

Before I can be positioned to know what God speaks of in verse ten, I need to ask myself, "Am I found in Him, Jesus Christ?"

And having the "right" righteousness.

This identifies a struggle common to the Church, not only in the first century, but a very real struggle today, i.e. Whose righteousness are we in possession of? Are we are found in our own righteousness which by default is "derived from the Law"? Or as we approach God to know about his power are we found in Christ, having the righteousness of God?

Question: If it is our own righteousness, then isn't it self-righteousness? And if it is our own righteousness, then isn't it filthy rags?

But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6 NKJV)

The text speaks for itself. Before we truly know the power of the resurrection we must be found in the righteousness which comes from God.

So this is a very big question that we need to bring before the Holy Spirit. Whose righteousness am I found in possession of? My own or God's?

Going back further into the passage, we examine how we can come to be found in Him (Christ), not having righteousness of our own. The things that profited me – loss. More than that – count all things loss in view of knowing Christ.

We backtrack to verses seven and eight.

Phil 3:7 ¶ But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Phil 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

What does it say? Whatever things were gain to me – count as loss for the sake of Christ.
more than that – count all things loss in view of surpassing value of knowing Christ.

What does this mean exactly? We need to examine what Paul speaks of "whatever things were gain." And how do I count them as loss?

Back to verse ten we will see how misdirected we are when we are only focused on accessing or know the power of God.

We are directed by the text to more in verse ten than just knowing the power.

Phil 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; Phil 3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead

That I may know Him. . .that I may know the power of His resurrection. . .that I may know the fellowship of His sufferings

Three things, isn't it? First, that I may know him, Jesus Christ. Second, that I may know the power of his resurrection. Third, that I may know the fellowship of his sufferings.

Isn't it fair to question after even this brief study whether or not we have any right to pursue knowing the power of God apart from the other two?

It seems to be a good thing to ask ourselves, Do I truly want to know Christ or do I just want something from him, as in his power to make my life better?

And can I seek God's power apart from a desire to "know the fellowship of his sufferings?"

What is the process? Do we want to know the process? Do we accept the process?

The process it seems   – "being conformed to His death"

Even now as I follow these thoughts, I am humbled. How I must bow before God to understand my path and how I must bow before God to accept it and follow him. Wow!

The result it seems   – "in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead"

Running out of steam. . .10:00 pm Indiana time

What does verse eleven mean? I'm not sure, but I think the New Century Version gives us a hint.

I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. Then I have hope that I myself will be raised from the dead.       (Philippians 3:10-11 NCV)

Here is a thought. Paul is speaking of true, shining hope. No empty words here, no cliches, no trite theology. Hope that shines within and through the pilgrim on the path, following Jesus in life through death. Wow again!

It seems if we join Paul on this path then we don't have to talk ourselves into being different people but we are different people, changed along the way of following Jesus Christ – through death, to resurrection.