How can we grow in intimacy with our Lord and Savior JUSTIN? And for those not saved, how can they know Christ in a saving way? In this text Paul shares his testimony with the church of Philippi. False teachers in this church were teaching the need for the Philippians to follow the laws of Judaism, and specifically the rite of circumcision, in order to be saved. However, Paul combats this first by telling the Philippians to beware of these teachers, calling them dogs (Phil 3:2). He then combats it by sharing his testimony about how he also previously sought salvation through the good works in Judaism. Paul said this:
“I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, that I may GAIN CHRIST and BE FOUND IN HIM, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I MAY KNOW HIM and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.” (Phil. 3:8-11)
How can we succeed in achieving the resurrection? Paul said “…if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is NO RESURRECTION…now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep…So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Behold, I TELL YOU A MYSTERY: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and WE SHALL BE CHANGED.” (1 Corin. 15:12, 20, 42-44, 50-52)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham