Experience the Power of Christ’s Resurrection to Participate in His Sufferings for the Body

I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body, which is the church. Col. 1:24

Paul's aspiration was to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings; we need to experience the power of Christ's resurrection to participate in His sufferings. If we put ourselves aside and remain under the … [Continue reading]

Having an Experiential Knowledge of Christ and Paying the Price to Gain Christ

To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. Phil. 3:10

For us to have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ is by revelation, but for us to know Christ is by experience - we need to have an experiential knowledge of Christ, that is, know and enjoy Christ in an experiential way. Like Paul, we need to … [Continue reading]

Being Found in Christ, having Christ as our Subjective Righteousness Lived out in us

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God: both righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 1 Cor. 1:30

As those who have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, we desire to be found in Christ, not having our own righteousness but the righteousness of God, taking Christ as our subjective righteousness. Our pattern in the Lord is the apostle Paul; … [Continue reading]

Like Paul, we have the Aspiration to Gain Christ and be Found in Christ by All Men

...that I may gain Christ and be found in Him... Phil. 3:9

Paul's desire was to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God and based on faith (Phil. 3:9). In the past, Paul was found by everyone in the law; he pursued … [Continue reading]

As we Suffer the Loss of all things on account of Christ, we Gain Christ and Enjoy Him

...I suffered the loss of all things...that I may gain Christ. Phil. 3:8

When we see the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, we drop all other things for Him; we gain Christ by suffering the loss of all things that were once a gain for us and by counting them as refuse. If we were to get into the depths of Paul's … [Continue reading]

A Higher Revelation of the Excellency of Christ leads to a Higher Experience of Him

Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if even I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Phil. 3:12

How can we know or have the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, even a higher revelation of Christ? This excellency comes only by revelation; without revelation from the Father concerning Christ, we cannot know Christ. Christ is all-inclusive and … [Continue reading]