The Joy Filled Life Part II.

A Four Part Look at the Book of Philippians.

There is Joy in Knowing Jesus Christ and the Power of His Resurrection

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: form whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dong, that I may win Christ. And be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:8-10

Paul had just recounted all the privileges he had in being a Jew – seven of them. But, to him, once he knew who Jesus Christ was and what it meant to believe and to follow Him, Paul realized that all of that he counted as worthwhile was worthless when it came to eternity and salvation.

Paul valued knowing Jesus. In fact he realized that there is ‘surpassing value in knowing Jesus’. When we fully understand and know Jesus as our Savior fully – there’s such a joy in that knowledge that surpasses all other things in life.

To be found in Christ means that we have identified Christ as our sole means of Salvation – there’s nothing, nothing we can do to earn salvation through our own efforts. Christ paid it all – for us. That kind of love, the love demonstrated by God and by Jesus transcends everything else.

The life now lived by one who has realized and found Christ for themselves as their Savior is changed from the previous life before. Those things we do, say and think now have a different light. We realize that the life now lived is a life of faith in Jesus Christ. We belong to Him and we now have a mission to share to others this wonderful love.

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. The one thing the knowledge of faith in Christ is that he rose again. That sets believing in Christ apart and above all other beliefs. This is the true religion – the true faith. Resurrection is a force and a power that only belongs to God. Jesus’ resurrection was more, so much more than an historical event – it was a demonstration of the love of and of the power of God.

Paul realized that through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ he was saved and that believing on this there was an exchange. The cross of Christ now became more to him. He took on the cross by laying down all he felt was worthwhile to him; all that he felt was important. Paul took on the cross so that he could have Christ as all in all in his life and so that he could ‘win’ others to Christ. That is the most important thing in life. And in this – the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection, Paul found extreme joy so that no matter what happened to him in his life – he knew that ‘all things do work together for good.’ Christ, knowing Christ in our lives is utmost. It is the highest thing we can know. Each day we wake with the realization – I  am His and He is mine – each day is a new page for us to live for Christ – to have joy in knowing Him…to experience the power of His resurrection.