Pressing On

Philippians 3:10-14

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:10-14

I want to know Christ…

To know (γινώσκω ginṓskō) = be like, as if to become

I want to just Jesus.

How Paul wants to become like (to know) Jesus…

• …the power of his resurrection…
• • Hebrew (Jewish ) thought = die and go to /
  • But God has to raise the dead.
  • Paul wants to that power.

He (Paul) wants to experience the same power that raised Christ from the dead surging through his own being, overcoming sin in his life and producing the Christian graces. Kenneth Wuest

• …participation in his suffering…

• • Paul is referring to Jesus’ suffering on the CROSS for the sake of God’s MISSION.

And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Matthew 27:28-29

• …becoming like him in his death…
• Paul desires to DIE to the things that he thought brought him LIFE.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

How Paul will obtain this…

• …I press on… v.12
• …forget what’s behind… v.13

• …I press on for God’s call… v.14

TAKE AWAY

Paul’s advice for knowing Jesus…

…Remain FAITHFUL