3:7-11 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
3:7-11 What do we learn from what Paul says here?
The clear teaching here is that Christians must be prepared to give up everything to follow Christ (cp Mt 10:37-39; Mk 8:34-38). Paul counted everything else as worthless compared to the surpassing worth of becoming more deeply and better acquainted with Christ (cp Php 3:7-9 with 1Cor 2:2; Ga 2:20; 6:14).
Paul did not want mere intellectual knowledge of Christ, but to be one with Him - to experience His resurrection power, to share in His sufferings, and to die, even as He died.(cp Php 3:10-11 with Ro 8:14-18; 2 Cor 4:8-12; 2Ti 1:8; 1Pe 2:20-21).
Paul had experienced the resurrection power of Christ in his ministry; he had entered into a joint - participation with Christ in his suffering for righteousness sake; he had also exhibited the selflessness and self-abnegation of Christ to some degree, but he had not laid hold upon these in the fullest measure.
Paul wanted to experience the fullness of the divine life of Christ motivating his being. His desire to attain to the resurrection of the dead in Php 3:11 does not refer, as a great many Christians believe, to the future resurrection of the physical body when Christ returns - that is assured to all believers (cp Dan 12:1-2; Jn 5:28-29; 14:1-3; 1Cor 15:51-58; 1Th 4:13-18).
The resurrection to which Paul attains in Php 3:11 is spiritual: the resurrection of repentant sinners out from a state of being dead in their trespasses and sin.
Paul is referring to his desire for a present experience of resurrection life now as he seeks more of Jesus. He is striving for Christlikeness, but has not yet attained it (cp Php 3:12-14). Paul saw Christlikeness as a prize to be won, and pursued it with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle to win (cp 1Cor 9:24-27; 1Ti 6:12; He 12:1).
Attaining to Christlikeness should be the goal of every Christian (cp Php 3:15-17). Paul's directive here to the Philippians to pursue Christlikeness is for our admonition also.