Know Christ

Philippians 3:8-11 - 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, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 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 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.

Ephesians 1:18-21 - I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

2 Corinthians 4:7 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Romans 6:11 - In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:1 - Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Conclusions:

• What Paul now has as a Christian is not merely preferable or a better alternative; in contrast, his former way of life was worthless and despicable
• Paul emphasizes that the extraordinary divine force by which Jesus Christ was raised is the same power at work in and through believers
• The absolute insufficiency of man reveals the total sufficiency of God
• Human weakness provides the ideal opportunity for the display of divine power
• Counting yourself dead to sin is the first step toward victory over sin in the believer’s life
• True believers are in Christ because they have died with Christ and have been raised to new life in Him
• The believer’s position in Christ: He is dead; he has been raised with Christ; he is with Christ in heaven; he has taken off the old self; and he has put on the new self
• What the believer is to do as a result: He is to set his heart on things above; he is to put to death practices that belong to his earthly nature; and he is to rid himself of practices that characterized his unregenerated self
• The believers is called upon to become in daily experience what he is positionally in Christ

Application:

• Do you share positionally in Christ's death and resurrection?
• Is your former way of life worthless and despicable?
• Is the power of Christ at work in and through you?
• Does your insufficiency reveal God's sufficiency?
• Is divine power revealed through your weaknesses?
• Have you died to Christ and been raised to new life with Him?
• Does your daily experience reveal what you are positionally in Christ?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible