The Resurrection Of The Dead
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 23rd August service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Php 3:9 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:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
The Resurrection Of The Dead
Paul is speaking about the personal application of gospel doctrine in a believer’s soul. This should be of intense interest to us all. To be in Jesus Christ is a divine act of grace whereby God has eternally chosen some of all mankind and set them apart in His Son. God deals with these individuals independently from all other men and women. The Father has united them to Christ whom He has appointed to be their Surety, Substitute, Saviour and Mediator.
‘Found in him’
Being then, ‘found in him’ is no mere nominal profession of faith in Christ but a real, transformative work and experience of grace. All who are really and truly ‘found in him’ are assured of the Father’s everlasting love, the benefits of the Son’s finished redemption and life-changing conversion by the Spirit’s call to faith. Though we are sinners by nature the souls of all those who are in Christ are cleansed from sin by the blood of their Saviour, effectually quickened to new life and revealed to be the family of God through the preaching of the gospel.
Perfect righteousness
Paul no longer trusted his own personal righteousness. He had learned that the very best of his works were but filthy rags in the sight of God. He knew that to be justified and blameless before God he needed a better righteousness than the law could give. Such righteousness is found in Jesus Christ alone. It is experienced and enjoyed by faith. Faith that apprehends God’s justifying righteousness is not a natural creation. It is God’s spiritual gift to all who are in Christ. Indeed, it is Christ’s own faith of which He is Author and Finisher, the beginning and end, the source and object. It is implanted in a sinner’s heart by the Spirit at conversion.
Progression in faith
Paul’s desire to be found in Christ and to know Him does not imply doubt or uncertainty as to the Apostle’s confidence and felt interest in His Saviour. Paul knew whom he had believed. He knew he could not be separated from the love of God. Paul knows he is in Christ and has been from eternity. He has known Christ for many years, having met Him on the road to Damascus. Paul is speaking here of spiritual progression in the Christian life, not progression in holiness, every justified sinner is holy in Christ. It is deepening experience of His Lord that Paul seeks.
Proving His Saviour
Paul previously had spoken to the Philippians of winning Christ. Here he speaks of being found in Him and of knowing Him. Yet this is not sufficient for the Apostle. He wishes also to know the power of Christ’s resurrection, to share in Christ’s sufferings, to be made conformable to Christ’s death and personally to attain to the resurrection of the dead. These are all expressions of longing to see and know Christ better. Speaking thus, the blessed Apostle has supplied a lexicon for prayer to every child of God who shares Paul’s heart-desire.
Sufficient grace
Our all-wise God does not give all of His grace to a believer all at once. Believers grow in grace. They mature by greater knowledge of the truth. Winning, discovering, knowing and attaining the resurrection of the dead in Jesus Christ is a life-long process during which God’s goodness is drawn upon in times of need, proved in battle and acknowledged, before culminating in glory. The means of attaining the resurrection of the dead includes ‘much tribulation’ through which we all must pass to enter the kingdom of God.
‘What great things he must suffer’
Remember, Paul was at this moment in prison awaiting sentence. He was regularly exposed to death for Christ’s sake and was ready to bear it when called to it. Paul did not despise the duties to which he had been appointed nor shirk the things he must suffer. Perhaps there have been few in the history of the church who have suffered more than this great apostle for the cause of God and truth. Yet, Paul was a grateful servant to the Most High God. He rejoiced in his sufferings for Christ, he was desirous of filling up the afflictions of Christ in his flesh, for His body’s sake, the church.
The hope laid up
The Apostle’s resolve was not bravado. He knew that whatever life held for him was in God’s purpose, for his good personally and for the good of the church. He knew that when all was said and done, to die was gain. These convictions were not unique to Paul. They reflect the settled assurance of all the Lord’s people who being found in Christ also know the ‘power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings’. With Paul, they, too, eagerly anticipate attaining unto ‘the resurrection of the dead’.
Amen
Hymn 562
Fellowship with Christ’s Suffering. Phil. 3. 10
W. Gadsby 7s
1
Jesus is the King of kings,
And in him are all my springs;
Jesus lived and died for me,
And from bondage sets me free.
2
That I might be saved from hell,
Vengeance on my Saviour fell;
Bathed in blood was Christ for me;
Loved me from eternity.
3
All the sorrows he endured,
Were by his own spouse procured;
Yet his tender, loving heart
Never will from her depart.
Hymn 771
Knowledge of Christ. Phil. 3. 7-10; John 17. 3
R. Burnham L.M.
1
To know my Jesus crucified,
By far excels all things beside;
All earthly good I count but loss,
And triumph in my Saviour’s cross.
2
Knowledge of all terrestrial things
Ne’er to my soul true pleasure brings;
No peace, but in the Son of God;
No joy, but through his pardoning blood.
3
O could I know and love him more,
And all his wondrous grace explore,
Ne’er would I covet man’s esteem,
But part with all, and follow him.
4
Lord, may I bear my every loss;
Be patient under every cross;
Never may I my Saviour blame,
Though I’m despised for his dear name.
5
Thus make me willing, glorious Lamb,
To suffer all things for thy name;
At last be where my Jesus is,
And rise to everlasting bliss.
The Apostle Paul is writing to the Philippian believers about Christ’s righteousness, Christ’s faith and the power of Christ’s resurrection. These three subjects encapsulate the gospel of God’s free grace to sinners and speak of our eternal security, our present blessedness and our future glory.