I Want to Know Christ

Scripture:

Phil. 3:7   Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Observation:

Paul speaks from his heart about his own experience with Christ. We must remember that the New Testament did not exist and these letters were shared among the community to provide a framework for discipleship. Paul often used his own life as an example for these new believers. Why not? There weren’t a lot of other examples around and so he would share from his personal experience. 

Early theologians were not just theoretical, but were those who were writing about their own experience within a theological perspective. In many ways that is what Paul is doing here and the impact is profound. The singular goal and purpose of Paul’s life is to know Christ. Everything else in his life does not even compare. His language is almost crass as he makes the point that all he has accomplished in this world means nothing, in light of gaining Christ. 

Gaining Christ is knowing Christ, they are one and the same for Paul. He wants his entire life to be found in Christ, and everything that he does to be defined by that relationship. He recognizes that by faith in Christ, he receives righteousness from God. Therefore, it all comes to this — Paul wants to know Christ intimately. This is not a type of human knowledge about Jesus, or a type of scientific study. The word here hints back to the Old Testament usage of the word “know” — which is related to intercourse. Adam “knew” his wife Eve and she bore him a son. The imagery here is of an invitation to participation in the Triune God, to “become a partaker of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). This participation in the nature of God results in a participation in divine power. At the same time, there is a realization that participation is entire, and this includes suffering. 

John Wesley sees this passage as relating to sanctification. In his notes he writes: 

To refer this to justification only, is miserably to pervert the whole scope of the words. They manifestly relate to sanctification also; yea, to that chiefly. For whom I have actually suffered the loss of all things—Which the world loves, esteems, or admires; of which I am so far from repenting, that I still account them but dung—The discourse rises. Loss is sustained with patience, but dung is cast away with abhorrence. The Greek word signifies any, the vilest refuse of things, the dross of metals, the dregs of liquors, the excrements of animals, the most worthless scraps of meat, the basest offals, fit only for dogs. That I may gain Christ—He that loses all things, not excepting himself, gains Christ, and is gained by Christ. And still there is more; which even St. Paul speaks of his having not yet gained. (John Wesley, Notes)

Application:

I’ve had conversations with people about this verse and the idea of Christ being the goal for our lives. I think it tends to make some people uncomfortable, and others may view it as an excuse to avoid engagement with the concerns of the world. The latter, I would argue, don’t really understanding the result of “knowing” Christ” because Paul is inviting us into such a deep relationship with Christ that we then become participants in Christ’s acts here on this earth. This is no excuse, but a motivation for engagement with the concerns of the world. 

Interestingly, Flemming warns against the temptation to focus solely on “the victory of Christ’s resurrection, while… at the same time avoid conforming to the cross in [our] own experience. Popular preaching and theology too often promise power without weakness, success without suffering, prosperity without sacrifice, salvation without discipleship, religion without righteousness” (NBBC, 240). Paul is calling us into a life where we discover that you cannot have the power of Christ, without participating in his mission.

Within our tradition we have language around entire sanctification. This is what Paul was talking about in this passage. His desire is to be whole-heartedly sold-out to Jesus. Everything else in life doesn’t even take 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place — it ends up in the garbage pail in comparison to knowing Christ. For far too many Christians, knowing Christ has somehow ended up holding equal status with job, family, wealth, success, and sports. Paul’s life becomes an invitation to join him in knowing Christ. This is to be the goal of all things — to know Jesus and participate in him and his mission. When this happens, everything else begins to melt away, the distractions disappear, and there before us is Jesus. 

Prayer:

Lord, as I make this journey of life, please help me to hand the distractions over to you. May nothing come between me and knowing you. Today I lay aside all the noise of the world that desires to drown you out, and I seek your face. Amen.