Paul's Great Ambition (Phil. 3,10~11)
Good morning everyone. Today, I want to talk to you about a topic that is close to all of our hearts: our hopes, dreams, and ambitions. We all have things that we hope to achieve in life, whether it's a comfortable home, a happy family, or a healthy body. And in today's Bible passage, we get to see the hopes, dreams, and ambitions of a remarkable man named Paul. Through this sermon, I hope we can reflect on our own goals and aspirations by comparing them to Paul's. So let's dive in and see what we can learn from Paul's great ambition
In today's passage, Paul says, 'I want to know Christ' (Philippians 3:10). When Paul speaks of wanting to know Christ, he's not talking about just acquiring general knowledge or information. Paul had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and from that moment on, he walked with Jesus. This experience changed the way he viewed the Bible. Instead of interpreting it through the lens of traditional Jewish teachings, he began to read the Bible with the heart of Jesus. And as he did, he realized that everything he used to take pride in was worthless in comparison (Philippians 3:8). This newfound perspective transformed the way he saw the world and the people around him, and he became passionate about sharing the gospel. Paul's desire was to have a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus, one that went beyond just intellectual knowledge and was based on encounter and fellowship. And the question for us today is: Do you want to know Jesus the way Paul did?
The Bible tells us what specifically Paul wanted to know about Jesus. In Philippians 3:10, it says that Paul wanted to know the power of Jesus' resurrection. What is this power? After Jesus died on the cross, he rose again three days later, bringing new life. There are times in our lives when we lose our spirit and our strength, and feel like giving up. When we face difficult problems or broken relationships, it's easy to fall into depression and despair. But as Christians, we must understand the power of the resurrection, the power of new life. In any hopeless situation, we must remember the Lord who gives us life and saves us. I pray that the resurrected Lord, who has overcome the power of death, will give you strength so that you can rise up again.
The second thing that Paul wanted to know about Jesus was his participation in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:10). It might seem strange to talk about suffering after talking about the power of resurrection, but it actually makes perfect sense. Many people in this world seek out easy roads, good roads, and wide roads. They choose safety over risk and complacency over challenge. They live according to their own instincts rather than the Word of God and prioritize their own selfish desires over helping others. But Paul had experienced the power of the resurrection and knew that there was another way to live, even if it meant suffering. That's why he was willing to follow a different path from the world. As Paul said to Timothy, 'All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution' (2 Timothy 3:12). Being a Christian means walking the narrow path and the way of the cross, and Paul wanted to know more deeply what that entailed. Only those who have experienced the power of resurrection can walk this path. So, I ask you, will you courageously enter the scene of suffering with Christ? The power of resurrection is what gives us the strength to do so.
Finally, the third thing that Paul wanted to know was to be conformed to the death of Christ (Philippians 3:10). In today's text, Paul says, 'I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and my participation in his sufferings, so that, being conformed to his death, I might somehow attain to the resurrection from the dead' (Philippians 3:10-11). Paul was willing to give up his own life in order to reach the death of Christ. This shows just how much he loved Jesus. Think about how you feel when your children or grandchildren are in pain - you would do anything to take their place, wouldn't you? That's the kind of love Paul had for Jesus. He was completely devoted, as he said, 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain' (Philippians 1:21). And in Galatians 2:20, he says, 'I have been crucified with Christ; therefore, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.' Paul's heart was not special - anyone who truly loves Jesus can have the same heart. I hope that you and I will strive to have this same mind and love for Jesus.
In conclusion, let me say one more thing: following Christ is a narrow path and a difficult road, but it is the way of the cross. However, we must not forget that there is glory at the end of the journey. That's why Paul says in Philippians 3:11 that he wants to know Christ in this way, so that he might attain to the resurrection from the dead and receive a glorious body like Christ's. There is indeed glory at the end of the road, and as Paul approached the end of his life, he declared, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing' (2 Timothy 4:7-8). I believe this too - there is glory waiting for us at the end of the road if we follow Christ.
(In the above text, I changed Korean to English using chatgpt.)
In today's passage, Paul says, 'I want to know Christ' (Philippians 3:10). When Paul speaks of wanting to know Christ, he's not talking about just acquiring general knowledge or information. Paul had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and from that moment on, he walked with Jesus. This experience changed the way he viewed the Bible. Instead of interpreting it through the lens of traditional Jewish teachings, he began to read the Bible with the heart of Jesus. And as he did, he realized that everything he used to take pride in was worthless in comparison (Philippians 3:8). This newfound perspective transformed the way he saw the world and the people around him, and he became passionate about sharing the gospel. Paul's desire was to have a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus, one that went beyond just intellectual knowledge and was based on encounter and fellowship. And the question for us today is: Do you want to know Jesus the way Paul did?
The Bible tells us what specifically Paul wanted to know about Jesus. In Philippians 3:10, it says that Paul wanted to know the power of Jesus' resurrection. What is this power? After Jesus died on the cross, he rose again three days later, bringing new life. There are times in our lives when we lose our spirit and our strength, and feel like giving up. When we face difficult problems or broken relationships, it's easy to fall into depression and despair. But as Christians, we must understand the power of the resurrection, the power of new life. In any hopeless situation, we must remember the Lord who gives us life and saves us. I pray that the resurrected Lord, who has overcome the power of death, will give you strength so that you can rise up again.
The second thing that Paul wanted to know about Jesus was his participation in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:10). It might seem strange to talk about suffering after talking about the power of resurrection, but it actually makes perfect sense. Many people in this world seek out easy roads, good roads, and wide roads. They choose safety over risk and complacency over challenge. They live according to their own instincts rather than the Word of God and prioritize their own selfish desires over helping others. But Paul had experienced the power of the resurrection and knew that there was another way to live, even if it meant suffering. That's why he was willing to follow a different path from the world. As Paul said to Timothy, 'All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution' (2 Timothy 3:12). Being a Christian means walking the narrow path and the way of the cross, and Paul wanted to know more deeply what that entailed. Only those who have experienced the power of resurrection can walk this path. So, I ask you, will you courageously enter the scene of suffering with Christ? The power of resurrection is what gives us the strength to do so.
Finally, the third thing that Paul wanted to know was to be conformed to the death of Christ (Philippians 3:10). In today's text, Paul says, 'I want to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and my participation in his sufferings, so that, being conformed to his death, I might somehow attain to the resurrection from the dead' (Philippians 3:10-11). Paul was willing to give up his own life in order to reach the death of Christ. This shows just how much he loved Jesus. Think about how you feel when your children or grandchildren are in pain - you would do anything to take their place, wouldn't you? That's the kind of love Paul had for Jesus. He was completely devoted, as he said, 'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain' (Philippians 1:21). And in Galatians 2:20, he says, 'I have been crucified with Christ; therefore, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.' Paul's heart was not special - anyone who truly loves Jesus can have the same heart. I hope that you and I will strive to have this same mind and love for Jesus.
In conclusion, let me say one more thing: following Christ is a narrow path and a difficult road, but it is the way of the cross. However, we must not forget that there is glory at the end of the journey. That's why Paul says in Philippians 3:11 that he wants to know Christ in this way, so that he might attain to the resurrection from the dead and receive a glorious body like Christ's. There is indeed glory at the end of the road, and as Paul approached the end of his life, he declared, 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing' (2 Timothy 4:7-8). I believe this too - there is glory waiting for us at the end of the road if we follow Christ.
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