Sermon: Sharing Suffering, Receiving Resurrection

If you have a Bible or if you want to grab one from the Pew in front of you we are going to turn to Philippians. chapter 3 page 981 in the Pew Bibles As you turn there, I want you to consider a question. Is there something that you desire above all other things? You would do just about anything. Pay just about any cost. to possess this one thing might be something material maybe Financial Security or a certain type of lifestyle or maybe just

a material possession that you would really love to have. Maybe something social maybe a reputation or a relationship with somebody that you wish you you had an interaction with a reconciled relationship maybe with somebody that you wish. you had a relationship with Might be something internal. Peace just just to be able to have your mind and heart still and quieted or to know. the freedom of the darkness of depression and

just to know Joy

tonight we look at God's word. We're going to hear the Apostle Paul's answer to that question. his answer what he desires Above All Else what he would give anything for? to know Jesus Christ as we think through and read through what the Apostle Paul says about this. Want to challenge you to consider whether you agree with him or not? Whether this is the Cry of your heart that you want to know Jesus whether it is something else.

Drives you something else that you are giving your life maybe even giving your death for? Nothing else that you desire.

Before we turn to Philippians chapter 3. Let's pray and ask God's help.

Other in your word is life. You reveal yourself tonight? through your word you give us ears to hear and eyes to see hearts to receive that which you would have for us. That we might be. challenged by Your Word you might be encouraged by Your Word we might be convicted by your word and we might be shaped by Your Word into the image of your son Christ. Whose name we pray? amen

So we're gonna start in verse 7 of chapter 3, but before we do that just a little bit of what is going on Paul is writing to the church in Philippi and he's writing specifically addressing a group of people called the judaizers. He addresses this group in other letters. It was a group of Jewish people who were making the argument that in order to to be fully obedient to Jesus to be fully obedient to to what God had demanded of you.

You not only had to look to Jesus. But you also had to follow the Jewish law. He had to become circumcised you had to abide by all of the Old Testament law you had to essentially become a Jew in order to to be a Christian in order to follow Christ. So what Paul does is he warns against this in verses in verse 2? And then in verse 3 through 6, he begins to lay out. Is Own Story? He lays out recounting all of the things that he has going

for him in that vein that he was circumcised on the eighth day. That he is a Hebrew of Hebrews that he's from the right tribe that his Heritage is right and all of his performance has been right. He's been obedient. He's been zealous. He lays out all of the advantages that he has going for him in the eyes of these judaizers. And then we come to our Passage. This is what he says starting in verse 7 reading through verse

14.

But whatever gain I had. I counted as loss. the sake of Christ 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 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. That I may know him in the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings becoming like him in his death that by any means possible. I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or I'm already perfect. But I press on to make it my own because Grace Jesus has made me his own. 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 I press on toward the goal or the prize of the upward call of God. in Christ Jesus

we think about these verses tonight. I want to do so in three sections. I want us to think about the value of knowing Christ in verses 7 and 8. The nature of knowing Christ in verses 9 through 11 and the pursuit of knowing Christ. verses 12 through 14 value the nature and the pursuit of knowing Christ and we are going to start with the value of knowing Christ. As we jumped in in verse 7 Paul is starting a economics metaphor.

He uses these terms gain and lost to describe the transformation that has happened within his heart. He has two. Categories in his Ledger two sections that he's looking at is assets and he has deficits gain and loss and so far in verses 3 through 6. Everything has been in that gains column. Everything was to his advantage. All of the assets that he had listed all of the things that that were his by birth. and his through effort

He was was putting. and listing and putting confidence in as assets and then in verse 7 he switches. And he says all that he had viewed as gain. It's shifted over to the Lost column.

All that had seemed to be a source of Pride and confidence. He now sees very differently. He sees them as the prophet said as filthy rags. His assets are exposed as deficits. And yet as he's writing this the there's no forlorn regret. In in the tone of what we hear from Paul. There's no sense that everything that he has worked so hard for is now for not.

Now he has made this switch with joy. He says for the sake. of Christ Then he repeats himself. That this time instead of saying whatever was to my gain I count lost. He says I consider everything a loss. I'm putting everything. in the in the Lost column for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord

So you have your two columns? He has now put everything that exists in the world. in one column and there's just one item. in the game's column knowing Christ Jesus my Lord It's the only asset that Paul now claims Jesus. And for him, it's enough.

For all of his life Paul had been putting his faith in himself in his Heritage in his performance. He transfers all of his faith. He transfers the full weight of his confidence full weight of his Joy onto Jesus.

Who if you remember up until this he had been persecuting? One of the things that was in his gain column was the Zeal that he had in persecuting the Church of Jesus Christ.

but now worships this man and he follows him. as Lord

encountering the crucified and risen Jesus changes a person. Not just in certain areas not just in subtle ways Faith transforms everything.

the testimony of Paul Frankly, it's the testimony of every Christian who has ever lived. I have time to recount all of that. But I was struck as I was thinking about this this week and in our College bible study on campus on Tuesday night. We've been going through Hebrews 11. We've been looking at all of these different characters. What happens when these Old Testament men and women? counter God or changed see the world differently.

Their priorities are reoriented.

I'm reading through one thing I love to do is read Christian biography. And every Christian biography I've read countering Jesus changes a person right now. I'm reading John Payton. Encounter With Jesus radically changes him

the testimony many many of you in this room encounter Jesus and everything changes

whenever you meet Jesus, whatever you thought you possessed. Whatever you were putting your confidence in whatever you used to value.

all of a sudden pales in comparison

with all that he is. As I was flipping through earlier today looking for that responsive reading. I I started a little too far and I flipped to the Nicene Creed and I Just listen to how Jesus is described. Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God begotten of his father before all worlds. God of God light of light very God a very God begotten not made being of one substance with the father by whom all things were made who for us and for our Salvation came

down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the scriptures and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father and he shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead his kingdom shall have no and

this is the Jesus that Paul encountered that Paul desires to know. The one who is eternal from before the world's began. The one through whom all things were made and in whom all things hold together.

The reason that you have breath right now is because of this Jesus. The reason that your head is still attached to your body. It's because he is holding all things together. And he was born. As a man he lived. as a man died sacrificial death Was raised Victorious he is seated at the right hand of God. He will come again. And as he was eternal past he will be Eternal forever his kingdom will never end.

One commentator that I read this week said Christ is the all-surpassing gift. Who cannot be supplanted and with whom nothing? can compete

we'll talk in a minute about some of the benefits that come from knowing Christ Jesus. But he is the prize.

Everything else simply accompanies and is attached to him. to know This Jesus. Is what Paul counts everything else? as rubbish compared to

Christian is this your singular desire. Is this your only confidence? Do you know? the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus your lord

as if he is. Who we just said he is.

nothing in compare to knowing him. That being in a right relationship with him.

There is nothing that can challenge that. in the asset column for Paul the reality is if we see that rightly if we see him rightly if we see what it means. And know him. I think the same will be true for you and I

Let's turn now and consider. The nature of knowing Christ Jesus. What does it mean? What comes with knowing Christ Jesus?

Listen to how Paul describes this. That I may gain Christ. That may be found in him. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection. Gaining Christ being found in Christ knowing the power of Christ what Paul is talking about is no mirror head knowledge.

Not simply talking about knowing of God. Having heard somewhat distantly that this God exists. Not talking about knowing about him. He's not talking about Simply Having met him at a conference and shook his hand or being an acquaintance.

talking about knowing Jesus

in a personal and intimate and connected way. And this is an important distinction. Now this this can and will make all the difference in the world and frankly. It will make all the difference in the world to come.

Paul knows Jesus not simply a reputation not simply Because he has heard of him, but in such a way that he is intimately connected with Jesus so that what is associated with Jesus? comes associated with Paul What is true of Jesus? Comes true of Paul that is how close this knowledge is.

And this is the relationship that the Christian has with the savior. You are united to him in such a way that your life as Paul says in another one of his letters is hidden with Christ. You're very identity and life are now filtered through the lens and viewed in relation to who Jesus is and what he has done.

I'm not good with examples. I was trying all day. How can we what is something that we can think about that that will paint a little picture of this? All I could think of was. a marriage When Rachel and I got married she took my last name she became associated with Kevin McKelvey. Everywhere she went. She started her student teaching a couple months after she after we got married. And the name that that she gave to her students was not oh,

you know, I used to be this and now I'm this I'm kind of in between. No she was Mrs. McKelvey. Almost from day one anybody that she met from there on out. She was associated with my family.

It was welcomed. at family events She was welcomed in other places where I was welcomed.

To small shadow of what it means to know. Christ But in a similar way we become when we turn to him in faith, we become associated with him. As we take on his name, we are hidden with him. We're tied to him. And there are countless implications. Of what this means? I just want us to consider three which Paul mentions here in verses 9 through 11. You know Christ. You have his righteousness. You share his resurrection. You share in his sufferings and death.

You have his righteousness.

Sometimes I think this this gets overlooked we all know Jesus was perfect. And rightfully so we spend a lot of time focused on. crucifixion and focused on Easter and the resurrection

But his life mattered, he lived a sinless life. If he was not a righteous, man.

His death at Calvary would not have been effectual in any manner. He was not a righteous, man. Death would have had a claim over him and he would not have been raised.

But he was a righteous man. Not just the death and the resurrection that we find ourselves in if we find ourselves in Christ, it is the life. Death and Resurrection his perfect life his sinless obedience.

Paul says the law. Is what Paul and these judaisers had been putting their confidence in? And not ever provide righteousness. No amount of effort. No amount of pedigree. Will ever be able to achieve righteousness for you?

The only confidence for right standing before God is nothing but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. What the holy God demands in his in his law he has provided. Through his son. You who know Jesus through faith you who are found in him. God looks upon you and sees you. And sees in you the perfect righteousness of his son. This is why Paul can say everything helps that I've been working with everything else. I've been working for I

consider loss. Now that I know Jesus because in him, I have a righteousness that I could never have had. on my own

in addition to righteousness those found in Christ. receive Resurrection see in verses 10 and 11 Again, it's clear here. Paul is not simply talking about knowing facts knowing dates and times and what happened. He doesn't want to just know about Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus. He desires to know Jesus. And the power of his resurrection. He wants to know and be involved in this resurrection and he feels so strongly about

it that he says he will use any means possible. to attain this Resurrection

we celebrated this morning as we remember every Sunday God has demonstrated to you. He has the power. to give life He has power over death and Paul saying I want. By any means possible. I want to partake in that. Well, I want to partake in him. Who was raised from the dead?

I think we can can understand. this this driving desire for life. To escape the power of death. We see it all over. Other in the church or outside the church. constant battle in our society to reverse the effects of Aging to find some way to prolong our life. Talk to the right people find the right way to tie ourselves to some sort of technology that allows us to live forever.

See this within religion religious fervor of one sort or another.

It's all seeking. Is somehow Escape? This reality. of aging and death

Jesus said that he came that you may have life and you may have it in abundance. He also said that this is eternal life. That you may know God and Jesus Christ. Whom he has sent. This is what Paul wants he wants this eternal life to know God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent. Do you want to share in that?

Like Paul, would you do anything to attain this eternal life?

to yours He know Jesus through faith. If you know him. You know the power of his resurrection you who were dead in your sins and trespasses have been made alive in Christ. That is your present reality. Is your future hope? At the last day you will be raised with him to Glory forever more.

To know Christ is to share in his righteousness to know Christ. Is Sharon his resurrection to know Christ. also to share in his sufferings and death

this one this one may come across as a little bit more strange. When we think of becoming like Jesus, generally what we're referring to is something along the lines of growing impatience. wisdom Love for people around us.

Paul here says That he is becoming like him in his death. Art of what it means to be conformed more and more into the image of Jesus part of what it means to know him in such a way that you are identified with him with his righteousness. And with his resurrection is that you are also identified with him in his sufferings. and even in his death

and on the one hand

part of what Paul is saying is I will accept that for these other things and and maybe pursue knowing Christ in spite of that. Even if it costs that I'm still willing to do that for the joy set before me as as Jesus did

I think in another sense.

This is a real positive. Gift for the Christian that this is a positive benefit that comes with knowing Jesus.

Think with me in just two two of the implications of what it means to become like Jesus in his death to share in his sufferings. One Jesus died for the Forgiveness of sins. We don't become like him in that same way and that we can die so that someone else can be forgiven. His death was sufficient that work is complete. But in his death the scriptures are clear we die to sin. We die to the world. To our own efforts at righteousness to our

sinful desires and passions these things no longer have Mastery over us. They no longer have control over us.

So to become like Jesus to share in his sufferings and to become like him in his death the Christian means freedom. the tyranny of sin

in addition Jesus died for the sake of others. Again our sharing and his death does not accomplish salvation in another but it can point them toward their savior. Part of what it means for someone to share in the sufferings of Christ. And to become like in his death is to have the privilege of being a part. Of the work that he is doing. Just a few verses Paul is going to turn his attention to those who don't know Jesus and he's

going to say as I have told you before and now tell you even with tears and he walk as enemies of the Cross of Christ. Their end is destruction that God is their belly and their Glory. Is in their shame the mind is set on Earthly things.

How are people who are lost going to hear the good news of the hope of knowing Jesus? Well tells us in Romans that it's it's when people are sent and go and tell of him.

Explicitly says this in second Corinthians 4. makes this connection between

dying as a believer. And life in others. He says we are always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies for we who live are always being given over to death for jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus Also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in US. but life in you

this is how John Piper summarizes that argument God intends for the afflictions of Christ to be presented to the world through the afflictions of his people. God really means for the body of Christ the church to experience some of the suffering he experienced so that when we proclaim the cross as the way to life people will see the marks of the cross in us and feel the love of the cross from us. Are calling is to make the afflictions of Christ real for

people by the afflictions. We experience in bringing them the message of salvation.

Another writer. I read this week said Christ died for propitiation. Our death is for propagation. Jesus died to save people. We get to share in his sufferings we get to share even in his dying. to be instruments of that message to those who need to hear

We've been talking about what it looks like to know Jesus but to know Jesus. Is in part to desire to make him known to others. Even when that means the same thing that it meant for him. Suffering and death for the sake of making the way of Salvation known. Might mean a loss of reputation it might mean a financial loss. It might mean physical danger and loss but it is a privilege. Share in the sufferings and in the death of Jesus in this way.

I want to be clear. Christian doesn't seek out suffering for the sake of suffering. We don't Delight just to be miserable.

pursue christlikeness not misery The reality is that Christ likeness will mean becoming like him in his death.

And the Christian does not shy away from this. because of the surpassing worth God's glory surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus the surpassing worth of making him known and attaining the resurrection from the dead. all of this just starts to scratch the surface. Of what stems from knowing Christ Jesus your lord? to know him means to share his

Righteousness it means to share his resurrection means to share in his death.

What do we do turn now to verses 12 through 14? With all of this in mind Christian you who know Jesus his righteousness is yours. His resurrection power is yours his death is yours? It's already yours. It belongs to you. You have gained it. It's in your asset column. and yet none of us experience the full reality. Paul acknowledges this and says, it's not that I've already obtained all this or have already been made perfect.

What does he do presses on? You strains forward Not Looking Back. He says one thing I do.

I press. Towards the goal for the prize of the upward call.

And just a few verses ago. Paul was was taking all of his effort all of his works and he was putting it in the deficit column. And now here is once again. laboring intensely

helps us to see there is a place for effort. But it might must be rightly placed. What God has done must always come before what we do? Paul is pressing to take hold of the righteousness and the resurrection of Jesus not being deterred by the suffering and even the death but he's doing so because as he says Jesus has already taken hold of him.

Here we see this delicate dance between God's work and our work. Your work must always be led by God's work.

You get the order wrong? Your efforts are rubbish. But what was trash? before God's work

what's counted as loss?

Becomes the fruit of faith when it is done in response. That God's work.

So even though Paul says everything that I that I thought was gain all this effort that I'd done I now count lost. Here just a couple verses later. He says and yet I'm going to continue to work diligently to strive and to press and to strain towards this goal of knowing Jesus.

He says it. In an interesting way. He says one thing I do if you read Paul's letters there's a lot of things he does. He's trying to pray continually. Is he's making it his his passion to share the name of Christ where it has not been heard. In one instance, he he says that he feels free to leave a region because everything that he can do there has been done. So he's doing a lot of things but I think what he's saying is.

everything I'm doing falls under this umbrella everything I'm doing is driven by this desire. That I might know Christ. I might share in his sufferings that I might know his righteousness that I might somehow share also in his resurrection. What would it look like for everything you do to be oriented in this direction?

What would you need to count as loss? What would you want to add?

Paul uses some really strong language in these in these verses He says everything is a loss compared to Christ.

Everything is trash. Is by any means possible I want to I'll do anything. to share in this Resurrection Life

and he says one thing I do. We go back even to verse 2. We see this the strength of this language when he's referring to the judaizers and he calls them dogs. Who mutilate the flesh she's even stronger against them in Galatians? Saying I wish they would go and emasculate themselves.

Uses really strong language, I think because this is really important. You were here this morning. And you heard Pastor Jason preach. I wrote this before. I heard him, but I want to leave with the same question. He asked. Do you know this Jesus?

You know his righteousness as your own. Do you know what it is to share in his sufferings and death. Do you know the power of his resurrection?

if you don't you are pursuing something other than knowing Jesus with all of your life. Something other than obtaining his righteousness and sharing his death and attaining to the resurrection of the Dead with him. Reality is you're simply piling things up in your loss column?

But if you do know him.

And his righteousness is your righteousness. His life is your life his death is your death. And as we conclude a week of especially focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus, I want to encourage you. To strain and strive and pursue and press on to take hold of what is yours? You're the righteous life. the sacrificial Good Friday death and Easter resurrection of Jesus Christ not deterred by suffering knowing that one day.

You will see him face to face and you will know him perfectly.

Pray with me toward that end.

Father would you help us to know you?

Would you grow in us a desire to know you? You help us to see rightly the world around us to see rightly. What is loss and gain to see and to know? rejoice in and to rest in surpassing worth of being found in you You're knowing Jesus Christ Our Lord. your son And whose name we pray? amen