Knowing

Philippians 3:8-11 - 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. 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.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 - This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

Ephesians 4:11-13 - It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Psalm 73:25 - Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

Conclusions:

• Knowing Christ Jesus is not only a knowledge of facts but a knowledge gained through experience that, in its surpassing greatness, transforms the entire person
• 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
• This knowledge is not merely factual; it includes the experience of the power of His resurrection, of fellowship in His sufferings and of being like Him in His death
• Believers already share positionally in Christ’s death and resurrection
• Paul speaks of the actual experience of Christ’s resurrection power and of suffering with and for Him, even to the point of death
• Let him who boasts boast in the Lord
• Ultimately, only God and our knowledge of and love for Him are worthwhile
• The Hebrew for kindness is translated devotion
• “Until” expresses not merely duration but also purpose
• In the faith refers to the Christians’ common conviction about Christ and the doctrines concerning Him
• Unity is not just a matter of a loving attitude or religious feeling, but of truth and a common understanding about God’s Son
• “Mature…fullness of Christ” is not the maturity of doctrinal conviction, nor a personal maturity that includes the ability to relate well to other people, but the maturity of the perfectly balanced character of Christ
• Though he has envied the prosperity of the wicked, David confesses that nothing in heaven or earth is more desirable than God

Application:

• Is your former way of life worthless and despicable compared to now?
• Do you share positionally in Christ's death and resurrection?
• Do you consider God and your knowledge of Him the only thing worthwhile?
• Do you have a conviction about Christ and the doctrines concerning Him?
• Do you desire anything in heaven or on earth more than God?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible