Useful Bible Studies > Philippians Commentary > chapter 3
The true desire of every Christian should be to know Christ. It is not enough to know about him, or to know certain facts and beliefs. When we truly love a person, it is our constant desire to know that person better, and more. The other person’s qualities, attitudes and character become part of our own experience, and help to form our own character.
We know Christ from the time when we first put our trust in him. That knowledge is not perfect; and it will not be complete until the future age, when Christ rules all things (1 Corinthians 13:9-12). So, through our whole lives as Christians that knowledge needs to grow and to increase.
In particular, we need to know the power that caused Christ to rise from death. That power, the power of the Holy Spirit, is present in the life of every Christian (Romans 8:11). However often – perhaps usually – we choose to live in our own weakness and not in the strength that Christ provides (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
We especially need that power to support us when we suffer (1 Peter 5:7). Too often, we lose hope when we must stand for God through our troubles. We need to remember that Christ is with us in those troubles (Romans 8:35-39; Colossians 1:24). If we suffer for Christ, Christ considers those troubles to be his own (Colossians 1:24). He will guide and help us; he will defend and support us (Psalm 23:1-3; Psalm 91).
Christians can accept the constant danger of death as they live for Christ (Mark 8:34; 2 Corinthians 4:7-11). In that situation, the power that fills them is very clearly not from themselves, but from God (2 Corinthians 4:7; Philippians 1:27-30).
Next part: The resurrection of God's people (Philippians 3:11)
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© 2020, Keith Simons.