Reflections:

• What do we mean when we say we believe in Jesus? Do you truly know Jesus?

• What kind of attitude should one have towards life after believing in Jesus?

• Some say: I have too many problems in my past, it's really hard to change, so I'll just stay this way. What do you think of this idea?

• How do you handle the conflict between work and serving God?

What is the Righteousness that Comes Through Faith in God?

Philippians Chapter 3 is actually an extension of Chapter 2, where Paul reiterates whether the gospel is based on faith or works. Paul's point is clear, in verse 9: It is the righteousness through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Paul is explaining what the righteousness that comes through faith in God is.

So what does Paul really mean by the righteousness that comes through faith in God? There are three points: found in the following verses 10 and 11. First: that I may know Christ; second: and the power of his resurrection; third: sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. These three points constitute the entire gospel of Jesus Christ.

What Does it Mean to Know Christ?

Some people believe in Jesus but do not know Jesus Christ, and do not know what they believe in. If you ask them what it means to believe in Jesus, they may be stunned and unable to answer. What kind of belief is this? Such belief becomes superstition, similar to worshipping false gods.

Believing in Jesus must begin with knowing Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus Christ is knowing God. To know Jesus Christ is to know that all things will be united in Jesus Christ, and to know that Jesus Christ is the purpose of our lives. Knowing Jesus Christ is knowing that we have eternal life in Him. Moreover, we must know the power of His resurrection!

This power of resurrection is the power that enables us to overcome death. Not after we leave this world, but while living in this world, this power of resurrection will be demonstrated in our lives. Because of this hope, this power, we know to suffer with Him for the sake of the gospel, imitate His death, and obtain resurrection! This is knowing Christ.

Do you truly know Christ? If we talk about knowing Christ, it actually means many, many things. To know Christ is to emulate Christ, not only in ability but also in obedience. As mentioned in the previous chapter, Jesus Christ was obedient to death, even death on a cross. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This speaks of Christ's characteristic of obedience. It is through believing in the Lord that we come to know Christ, and through believing in Jesus that we come to know the power of His resurrection. Many people believe in Jesus but do not have the power of resurrection. They do not know His power of resurrection, nor do they know that suffering a little for the Lord Jesus, or suffering a little grievance, may enable them to rise from the dead with Him. If we truly know Christ and know that we have this hope of eternal life, then suffering a little for the sake of the Lord Jesus in this world is not worth mentioning!

The Manner of Life After Knowing Christ: Pressing Onward to the Goal

Knowing Christ, one will not think that they have already obtained it, but will strive forward, pressing on toward God's goal. This applies not only to those who are imperfect but also to those who are perfect! Paul, from a physical perspective, was a perfect person, wasn't he? Judging from his lifelong experience in this chapter, he was definitely a law-abiding person, more so than most people. He also kept the observance of circumcision, because he was once a Pharisee. From the perspective of worshipping God and worshipping Jesus, his level of faith was definitely first-class.

But he changed his tone and said: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal. (Philippians 3:12) This sentence corresponds to the phrase in Chapter 2, work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). You must know that you cannot think that you have already obtained it. If you think you have already obtained it, then you have not obtained it. This is crucial.

So what did Paul think? He said: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on, hoping to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12). Then he emphasized again: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul's words point out a simple fact: a Christian who knows Christ will not think that they have already been saved, and will not stop dealing with their sins because they think they are already saved.

What kind of state will knowing Christ bring a Christian's life into? It is striving to reach perfection. Not only that, but also striving to press on toward the goal. That is to say, the standard that God has set for us is far beyond what we can imagine. The standard that Jesus Christ has given us is a very, very high standard. We must strive. Even someone like Paul has not reached the standard, so can we not strive to run? But because he strived to run, God was gracious to him. So he said, All of you who are mature should take such a view of things—that is, the mindset of striving towards the goal!

Paul continued: And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained (Philippians 3:16). Everyone should not misunderstand the meaning of this passage. The perfect need to strive directly, and the imperfect also need to. Here Paul divides people into several types. One type is the perfect, those in whom there is really nothing to find fault with. For example, Timothy and Epaphroditus, there is really nothing to criticize. What kind of heart should this type of perfect person have? That is, the heart of forgetting what is behind and striving forward.

Then what if you are not such a person? That is, live up to what you have already attained. If you are not yet a perfect person, then I tell you, you must strive to reach perfection and know Christ! How to do it? I suggest you desperately read the Word of the Lord, practice the Word of the Lord, and experience the power of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ in faith, and personally experience this wonderful grace. This is what is important. Then we will gradually progress to perfection, and after reaching perfection, we still need to do this.

Another type of people, although claiming to be Christians, do not know Christ at all, which is what Paul calls people whose god is their stomach. There are such people in the church. Taking any worldly thing as the master and valuing it too much is making your stomach your god. If you make work your priority, then you are also making your stomach your god, understand? Such people are very pitiful and very sad! Because the purpose of their lives is for their stomach. Every day they open their eyes and think: I have to work hard, and after work, I will eat and drink, wandering aimlessly every day, and not knowing what the purpose of life is.

Paul tells those whose god is their stomach with tears that their end is destruction. If you are such a person, you need to think carefully. Because acting in this way is hostile to the cross of Jesus Christ!

What is the Glorious Grace of the Gospel?

If we are to know Jesus, we must understand what this glorious grace of the gospel truly is. It is to transform our bodies into a form similar to the glorious body of the Lord Jesus himself. That is to say, we must have a hope for the future, a hope of glory. In the future, we will not simply die and vanish into ashes in this world, but our bodies will be transformed into glorious bodies. This is a crucial step in the gospel that Paul preached.

We shall not only receive heavenly rewards, but also witness the resurrection of our bodies on earth, becoming glorious bodies. The problem solved by the cross of Jesus Christ is to enable us to strive for complete perfection, then depart from this world and obtain eternal rewards and glory. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ!