Resurrection life in Christ includes sufferings
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
In Philippians 3:10-11 here above, there’s an inclusio.
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection
And the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
If, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead
Paul addresses the life of the believer raised in Christ; it’s the abundant life of the living hope (cf. 1 Peter 1:2-3).
Verse 10 speaks to the power of His resurrection, that is, to know Him in saving union with Christ as the risen One. It’s new power (cf. Ephesians 1:19-20).
But does the believer’s life in the risen Christ mean no discipline aimed at conformity to Christ?
Paul goes on with verse 10b: [and to know Christ] in the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.
Therefore, according to Paul, the church in her position of being raised in Christ includes the life of God-shaping discipline.
Resurrection life includes the fellowship of His sufferings, which in turn, leads to the life of glory—attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
G. Mark Sumpter
No comments:
Post a Comment