Phil 3:4b-11 (NIV) If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Note: There can be no doubt that the discussion of confidence in the flesh is based on the heresy of the Judaizers. But it is not just an issue of salvation, it is a way of life. It is a discussion of how to please God. It is not just positional, it is "becoming," it is "attaining." Paul has considered all aspects of that way of life as loss and as rubbish. Knowing Christ Jesus is a far greater thing; as the song, "knowing You Jesus," says. I'm not sure I completely understand verse 10, but I do agree with Paul, I want to know Jesus even more.
No comments:
Post a Comment