If there was ever anyone who knew and experienced the excellence of the knowledge of Christ…it was Paul.

In Philippians 3:1-11 Paul describes some of his credentials as a Jew. He could confidently say he was a credible source of information for that faith. He said he was…

• circumcised the eighth day
• of the stock of Israel
• of the tribe of Benjamin
• a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law
• a Pharisee; concerning zeal and persecuting the church

Yep, he had the goods when it came to knowing the Law. And he had high standing in the Jewish community. He also had dual citizenship in the cities of Tarsus and Rome and enjoyed the rights and privileges afforded him in both places.

Yet…Paul suffered the loss of all that once he chose to follow Christ and preach the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus. And he considered all his loss to be gain for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ.

He considered those things he lost as “rubbish”. Paul knew (and preached at his own peril) that to know Jesus and “the power of His resurrection” meant he’d partake of the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings. Still…Paul pressed on.

Paul also knew that to follow Jesus was to be “conformed to His death”. But he also had the full realization and expectation that it meant he would also “attain to the resurrection from the dead”. In other words, Paul would live beyond the grave…forever with the Lord. This knowledge fortified him, strengthened him throughout his trials and tribulations, and drove him to run the race to receive the prize. And Paul turned from persecuting the church to loving his neighbor.

If the excellence of the knowledge of Christ could do this for the “chief” of sinners, what do you suppose it can do for you?

In Christian Love”

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