Apr 29, 2016 Words of Grace – Your Whole Life at a Glance
If you like the big picture view of things, you will love Philippians 3. This chapter presents the whole life of a Christian, from beginning to end, in the space of a paragraph.
I must clarify: Philippians 3 will not give you the details of your life or the secret meaning to certain events of your life. You will not find a way to make decisions that will guarantee success and keep you from pain. This paragraph is not about seeing the future so you can predetermine the path of least resistance. Philippians 3 is not a crystal ball.
What we have here is a view of life that begins with Christ, continues with him, and ends with him.
Specifically, Philippians 3:7-16 says we were made right with God to know Christ and to share in his life of death and resurrection. But, in this life things are not perfect and this knowledge of Christ is not complete. We don’t need to be overly discouraged because the end of this life for the Christian is resurrection with Christ, which will bring renewal, transformation, fullness, and completion in the knowledge of him and the experience of his life.
What about now? Our lives in Christ now are a forward progression toward knowing Christ. We press on now for what we know will be ours in the future. This is the whole life of a Christian–to come to know Christ, to continue to know him, and to fully know him someday. “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
I look forward to being with you Sunday as we consider together the whole life of a Christian.
Read Philippians 3:7-16 with someone this weekend.
-Scott