Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I would say that Paul was speaking of "knowing" Jesus not in an intellectual or "fact-based" sense, but of wanting to have the same desire that Jesus possessed to carry out God's will, whatever the personal cost to him might be (which, in the case of Jesus, went to the point of undergoing intense suffering and death). 

As Paul noted in the next verse (Philippians 3:11), even if his own case would also involve temporal death for his faith in Christ, he could then share in the same powerful, ultimate triumph over death, and the attainment of eternal life, that Jesus achieved through His resurrection.

February 18 2021 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Grant Abbott Child of Father, Follower of Son, Student of Spirit

When the bible uses the word "know" it is referring to an intimate personal relationship. Jesus said "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). In order to know Christ we have to immerse ourselves in the teachings of the bible, why, because "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Then "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). 

In order to follow Christ, we need to know his feelings, attitudes, motivations, and ambitions. "Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words (1 Corinthians 2:13).

The power of Christ's resurrection is the Holy Spirit. "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[a] his Spirit who lives in you"(Romans 8:11). Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, who provided Jesus with the wisdom and power to carry out his ministry; the wisdom to preach the kingdom of God and amaze everyone because he taught with authority; the power to perform miracles, signs and wonders that demonstrated his authority over nature, human sickness and disease, and all forces of evil.

Jesus suffered because he came to fulfil the mission that his Father had prepared for him; to bring the kingdom of God to the earth and he faced opposition from all powers and authorities seeking to stop his work. Jesus suffered to fulfil God's plan of salvation, by taking the penalty for our sin (suffering God's wrath) so that everyone who believes in him would be saved.

When we choose to follow Jesus every day, we will know what God wants us to accomplish, it will be clear to us. We will Love God and Love People as the Holy Spirit guides and directs us with his wisdom. When supernatural power is required to accomplish the mission we have been given, the Holy Spirit will perform miracles, signs and wonders as part of the good works that Jesus has given us to do to expand his kingdom on the earth. But we will suffer too, because we will face opposition from everyone who is opposed to God's will for their lives. But in spite of the suffering we press on to achieve our goal.

That is to know Christ, the power of his resurrection, and participation in his sufferings.

February 26 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Chet Shaner Retired Computer programer and Business Continuity Planer

What is the power of the resurrection? Without the resurrection Jesus would be no more than a wandering preacher with "nice" ideas. For myself, when I discovered that "power" I discovered a new and deeper relationship with God. The power of the resurrection makes all the rest of scripture come alive and gives me certainty of so many more truths in the Bible. I continue to praise God for not sparing His own Son, but gave Him up for us all. The resurrection "seals the deal". With the resurrection, it shows God's stamp of approval on the finished work that Jesus did for us on Calvary.

May 28 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Singapore Moses Messenger of God, CEO in IT industry, Astronaut, Scientist

❖ Greek: summorphoo (G5750), is used to refer "to be formed or fashioned like" and is translated as "conformable" in Phil. 3:10. Paul wanted to know Christ and the power which was in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings, even to die as He died. Yes, Paul enjoyed the "Fullness of God" more than any man on earth in his lifetime/in his generation which includes Peter or John. This fullness with Christ or fellowship with Him is NOT only in His vicarious sufferings, but also in the offense of the cross and martyrdom for truth (Phil. 3:10; 2Cor. 1:5-7, Col. 1:24; 1Pet. 4:13). 

❖ Paul was once stoned to death in the city of Iconium. As Paul was dead lying motionless, the Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people to draw him out of the city supposing he had been dead (Acts 14:19). Bible recorded that he rose up as Greek: anistemi (G450), to stand up, rise again, and is used for resurrection. (2Cor. 11:25; Acts 14:19)

❖ 14 years later, Paul said to Corinth Church that hed had been to paradise as it is in the third heaven (2Cor. 12:2,4). Paul could NOT narrate his experience as he heard unspeakable words. This simply means that human lips and tongue could not express them. They were too sacred to repeat. Paul considered it is not lawful for a man to utter. Paul may have been forbidden to utter these words, like John was commanded to seal up and write not what the seven thunders uttered (Rev. 10:4). However when Paul wrote to Galatians, Paul expressed it was Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead (Gal. 1:1)

❖ A young man named Eutychus who sat on a window, being fallen into a deep sleep as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. (Acts 20:9). Paul resurrected him in the same way Elijah (1Ki. 17:17-24) and Elisha (2Ki. 4:33-35) brought back the dead. Having resurrected himself and raising Eutychus, Paul longed for the resurrection of the body which is First resurrection and is to gain the permanent, eternal, glorified bodies (Php. 3:11,21; 1Cor. 15; 2Cor. 5). 


❖ Paul penned down that there is only "One Thing I Do" and he added, "Three Parts to This One Thing":
➊ I forget the ground I have covered in the race (1Cor. 9:24-27). I cannot waste time over the past (Php. 3:13).
➋ I reach forth to that which is before me in the race. I strain every nerve and muscle and use every ounce of my strength to win. My future depends on it. I am running for my life (Php. 3:13).
➌ I press toward the mark (Php. 3:14), that is, I pursue the white line in the stadium upon which all runners must keep their eyes fixed, lest I be disqualified for the prize (Php. 3:14; 1Cor. 9:24).

The above ONE THING is what he considered a "Heavenly calling"; God calling him on high. (3:14)
Paul finally summarized the Power of resurrection as follows:

Greek: summorphos (G4832), conformed to. Used here in Phil. 3:21 and in Rom. 8:29. It has reference, not to exact outward features, but to substance of the body, which will be changed
❖ from mortality to immortality; 
❖ from a natural body to a spiritual body; 
❖ from corruption to incorruption; and 
❖ from weakness and humiliation to glory and power (1Cor. 15:35-58). That is "the power of resurrection".

It will be flesh and bone like Christ's body of glory (Lk. 24:39 Zech. 13:6). The resurrected saints will be visible to our wicked counterparts who are dead in the Hell but waiting for second reurrection. 

This is the "stage of Perfection" - that means growing from holiness to holiness, righteousness to righteousness, and victory to victory, by looking to Jesus (Rev 22:11b). When we finally meet Him, "we shall be like Him!" (1 Jn 3:2). The power that made the body and all things originally will be the power that will make the resurrection bodies in a moment (1Cor. 15:51) and subdue all things to God again (1Cor. 15:24-28 Heb. 2:9-18).

☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:☆

May 29 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report