Paul has been saying to beware of the Jesus + something else paradigm…
True faith trusts wholly and solely in Jesus Christ. His life, death, resurrection and all He accomplishes and secures for you through faith in Him…we ride His coattails, not our efforts.
*God didn’t provide us a plan — he provided THE WAY (see John 14:6)

When Paul says he wants to KNOW him and the power of his resurrection...The word for know here is referring to personal, experiential knowledge. To know Christ is more than merely to know facts or doctrine about him. Paul wanted to know Christ better and better, for Christ had changed the very foundation of his life.

Paul also wanted to know the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. The Greek word for share is the word "koinonia,"from which we get the word fellowship. The text could literally be translated "to fellowship in his sufferings."

Through fellowship in suffering, Paul was becoming more like Christ…and as we navigate suffering well, it can bring growth and transformation in our philosophy of life, it can bring change within our character and it can bring transformation within our relationships.

*The goal of the Christian life is not our comfort - it’s our conformity to Jesus. The goal is to KNOW CHRIST and become more & more like Jesus!

QUOTE:
Christian maturity is not a matter of doing more for God; it is God doing more in and through us.
-EUGENE H. PETERSON

Paul saw the Christian life as a process. While believers are considered righteous (made right with God) when they accept/believe in Jesus (salvation), our entire lives are marked by growth toward Christlikeness = sanctification…we’re to embark on becoming more and more like Christ, maturing in our faith and connection with Jesus relationally, as God transforms us from inside/out.

With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians and growing in Christlikeness.

What is holding you back - from GROWING FORWARD… going forward in your faith and reliance upon Jesus; knowing him more deeply and relationally?

Quote:
The Christian walk is much like riding a bicycle; we are either moving forward or falling off. -Robert Tuttle

Forget what is behind — Press on to what’s ahead.
The word "forget" is an unusual word for Paul. He unashamedly has spent his life reminding us. "Remembering" is a key biblical word. "Forgetting" is not. The words "remind", "remember", and "memory" are used three to four times more than the word "forgetting."

Forget what is behind = "Be free."
Free yourself from the memory of what was done to you, of the bad that you have done, and of the good you have done, so you can start out afresh with a clean sheet, a new page with Christ…

Be free and be focused forward in faith to know Christ. Paul is using racing imagery here — and he does it elsewhere. (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 1 Tim. 4:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:7-8)

If you’re not dead, your not done!
We’re never done in this process of following Jesus and being shaped to mirror him more and more this side of heaven.

Live with the mindset:
“As long as I’m alive - I haven’t quite arrived.”
=There's always a Next Step in our faith journey of following Jesus…

We don’t arrive as a finished work until Christ comes back or we’re called home. Remember what Paul said in ch 1:6 “he who began a good work will be faithful to complete it – on the day of Christ”

Paul rarely uses the word Savior for Jesus Christ in his letters. This may have been because of the frequent secular use of the word to apply to the Caesars. Yet Paul probably used the term here in order to purposely set the Lord Jesus Christ up against the Caesars. (While on earth, believers are citizens of their country, yet our absolute loyalty as believers is to the one and only true Savior...Jesus.)

Paul used the word Savior - to describe Christ’s coming on behalf of those facing persecution and hardship. He would come as Savior, vindicating his people and delivering them from their oppressors and the hardships we face this side of heaven…

Our heavenly citizenship focus keeps us from seeking comfort in our here and now at all costs… we remember we’re just passing through; we long to be home with Jesus.

(see Hebrews 13:14 "For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven." -TLB)

Aren't you glad you came to church tonight?!

There's power when we gather together to worship in song and in the Word! We pray tonight has been a blessing to you as you start your week.

Join us next Sunday as we continue through the book of Philippians in our Joy Full series.

Check out the Elements up to stay up to date on upcoming events, including:
- 2nd Saturday Food Distribution Next Saturday: Sept 14th
- Girls Night Out on Sept 14th
- Dudes Day on Sept 28th
See you there!