Knowing Christ Means Series

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you deeply know CHRIST?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To know CHRIST deeper

IV. TEXT:

Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Bible)

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

V. THESIS:

Know CHRIST deeper in 3 aspects: (1) His Resurrection, (2) His Sufferings, (3) Become like Him in His death.

VI. TITLE:

Knowing CHRIST means

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 60 - 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: 3-fold purposes:

1. To express Paul's affection for the Philippian believers

2. To thank them for their gift

3. To encourage them to a lifestyle of unity, holiness and joy

D. To whom written: Philippian believers

E. Main theme: JESUS CHRIST

VIII. MAIN BODY:

To "know" means:

1. allow

2. be aware

3. perceive

4. be resolved

5. be sure

6. understand

7. "I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly"

A. Power of His Resurrection

"[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers],"

John 10:18 (Amplified Bible)

No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.

Revelation 1:18 (Amplified Bible)

And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

Romans 8:10 (Amplified Bible)

But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].

The same power we use in our body to accomplish things for His Glory.

B. Fellowship of sharing in His sufferings

"and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even]"

Fellowship (Gk: koinonia) means communion, partnership, participation, distribution, intercourse

Galatians 2:20 (Amplified Bible)

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1. Everytime we do the Holy Communion, we partake or share in His sufferings by remembering it or reminding ourselves of what happened during that night.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (Amplified Bible)

For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread,

And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.

Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord’s death until He comes [again].

1 Peter 4:13-14 (Amplified Bible)

But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].

If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you—happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.