13. ATTAINING THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (PHIL 3:8-11)

13. ATTAINING THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (PHIL 3:8-11):

Paul strongly proclaims to the Philippians that surely he counts everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord. Every privilege that a person has in this world is for being good stewards of God and for partaking in building the kingdom of Christ to glorify God. Most of the time, we hold to some privileges and try to boast about those things even above God, forgetting our ultimate purpose and God’s commandments. Here, Paul decisively assures that he considers that there is nothing more valuable than knowing Christ Jesus personally as Lord, as it surpasses all the knowledge and understanding, and brings peace and happiness in the heart forever, which nothing can give, though man always searches for happiness in something that is temporary.

Paul continues to writes that for Christ’s sake he has suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, so that he may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that he may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible He may attain the resurrection from the dead. Paul not just counted everything as loss for Christ but even lived in a way that he lost all things by considering them as worthless for glorifying Christ alone, and acknowledged Him in all the walks of life. Paul expresses that he no longer wants to fulfil what pleases his emotions, his people, and his intellect, but wants to follow and do what is through the words and actions of Christ because of his faith in Him, which is also what is right in the sight of God. Paul wants to obey God and please Him by knowing Christ and how He could transform the lives of people around with the effect of His resurrection. As Christ suffered without any cause and glorified God through His death, Paul also wants to partake in the sufferings because of following Christ and what is right, to grow in the likeness of Christ. Paul firmly believes that at the time of judgment, God will deal with everyone according to their deeds, and he wishes to be raised from the dead by any means by living a life worthy of God.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.      Why does Paul count everything as loss?

2.      What did Paul suffer for Christ’s sake? Why?

3.      How shall we count everything as loss and gain Christ?

4.      What kind of righteousness does Paul want to have?

5.      What kind of righteousness do we have?

6.      Why does Paul want to have the righteousness from God that depends on faith in Christ?

7.      What does Paul mean by saying ‘Power of Christ’s resurrection’?

8.      How shall we share in Christ’s sufferings?

9.      What does Paul mean by saying that he may attain the resurrection from the dead?

10.  How shall we attain the resurrection from the dead?

How shall we become like Christ?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

16. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PEOPLE (PHIL 4:1-3)

16. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PEOPLE (PHIL 4:1-3): After teaching about the valuable principles for the practical Christian living by following the higher values and Lord Jesus Christ, Paul encourages the Philippians by writing that therefore, his brothers, whom he loves and longs for, his joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, his beloved. Paul affirms how close he is with them in his heart, though he is far away from them, by calling them brothers, by expressing how much he loves them and yearns for them, by considering them to be his happiness and reward because of his work towards them, and overall by calling them beloved. There were some deviations and false perceptions that were spreading in the church, and Paul had already instructed to press on toward their Goal, which is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and he once again emphasizes being well established in the ways of the Lord by following His words. Paul then entreats Euodia, and he entreats Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Euodia a...
Read more

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS : AUTHOR, DATE, and TIME: Apostle Paul (Phil 1:1) is considered to be the author based on the Internal and External evidence. Most probably, Paul would have written the book of Philippians while he was first imprisoned (Phil 1:13, 14) by the Romans in 61 A.D (Some others state that Paul may have written Philippians while he was imprisoned in Ephesus by 53-55 A.D., and also Paul may have written it while he was imprisoned in Caesarea during 57-59 A.D.) RECIPIENTS:   - People of the City of Philippi. The City is named after King Philip II of Macedonia, the Father of Alexander the Great. The City is Prosperous and resembles the Roman colonies, so the citizens take pride in it. Paul writes to the believers of the city that their citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:21). Many believers in Philip are retired military men who were given land in the military regimen. There weren’t enough Jews to construct a Synagogue, and there wasn’t any t...
Read more

7. LOOKING INTO OTHERS’ INTERESTS (PHIL 2:1-4)

7. LOOKING INTO OTHERS’ INTERESTS (PHIL 2:1-4): After writing about the importance of living for God, Paul emphasizes that if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, they shall complete his joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Paul reminds the believers about some of the good characteristics that they have had and wishes that they should continue having them through the genuine fellowship with one another, for making his joy full. Paul wishes that they should have their life’s direction and purpose that is built based on Christ, an attitude of supporting one another with true love, working together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in them, and having a sense of belonging with one another by understanding each other. Paul then instructs to do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than themselves....
Read more