3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
KNOWING CHRIST BRINGS…
I. A POWER TO
(Philippians 3:10a) “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection…”
(Ephesians 1:19-20) “…and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great strength (or power) that he worked in Christ when he raised him from he dead…”
II. A JOY
(Philippians 3:1) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. (Philippians 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (Romans 5:3) Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…
(Colossians 1:24) Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake…
III. AN INTIMACY
(Philippians 3:9)“…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” (Philippians 3:12b) “…because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
Ways to know Christ this year:
- Be consistent in weekend worship
- Read through a Bible reading plan
Download YouVersion Bible app (https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/)
NT in a year: Search Plans — “5x5x5” (1 chap/day for 5 days/week)
OT+NT in a year: Search Plans — “The Bible Recap”
Watch Bible Project videos of each book as you read (in app) - Join a Bible study, book study, or Life Group (Sign ups next week during kickoff)
- Read “The God You Can Know” by Dan Dehaan or “Gentle and Lowly” by Dane Ortland
