Notes 27 september 2023

midweek meeting
‘to know him’

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

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 verses leading up to the words “that I may know him” help us understand something of the meaning of knowing him. In particular the mention of the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ speaks of the all surpassing excellency of Jesus Christ. There is much to know.

to know him savingly

The starting point of knowing Christ is to know him as the Saviour. This full dependence on him is very much the meaning of the passage. 

to know him santifyingly

With the mention of knowing the power of his resurrection, there is a connection with his power to sanctify the heart. His resurrection life is our life. There is a sense of this power with the “much fruit” spoken of in the gospel of John when Christ abides in the heart. 

to know him experiencially

The main thought which comes to mind is this heart knowing of Christ. We also see this language of knowing him in chapters fourteen and fifteen of John. When Christ abides in the heart he comes and manifests himself.

The thought of knowing the surpassing excellency of Christ comes to mind.

to know him sacrificially

There is a fellowship of suffering between Christ and those who suffer for him. Christ draws near with a presence of sympathy and of comfort.

Paul speaks of his desire to so identify with Christ that he will have the honour to suffer for him and to suffer with the same grace he showed on the cross. There is a special bond between the apostle and his Saviour.

to know him everlastingly

The ultimate is know Christ in glory, where we shall be like him and shall see him as he is. We shall know him with such perfect and blissful knowing.

Can we say the words with the apostle “that I may know him”?Indeed, to what degree do we know him?