THAT I MAY KNOW HIM
Philippians 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;
Knowing Christ in “the power of his resurrection” requires a death-life! The Apostle Paul said that it was necessary for him to die daily to his own desires, in order for Christ to be seen living for him. He said that he was always bearing about in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus, so that the life of Jesus might be manifest. (2Cor. 4:10-13).
John Calvin said, “But it is not enough to know Christ as crucified and raised up from the dead, unless you experience, also, the fruit of this, he speaks expressly of efficacy. Christ therefore is rightly known, when we feel how powerful his death and resurrection are, and how efficacious they are in us.”
“We must all therefore be prepared for this — that our whole life shall represent nothing else than the image of his death, until it produce death itself, as the life of Christ is nothing else than a prelude of death.” (Commentary on Philippians, Vol XXI.)
The life of the resurrection is a new life which is alive unto God. Rom. 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not conduct himself in the same way after his resurrection, and prior to his ascension as he had before his death and resurrection. He did not feed, nor heal the masses. He was not even seen by anyone except his own elect people! (John 14:19, 1Cor 15:3-9). Therefore neither will a true Christian act the same after being effectually mortified by the application of the cross of Christ within his own heart!
If our generation is to experience the effect of true, spiritual Christianity, we must see some sovereign resurrections! Calvinists must be made Christians! Head knowledge must be appropriated into the hearts, the hands, and feet by the power of the cross of Christ! If ever resurrection souls were needed, it most assuredly is now!
Pastor Gene Breed
