What do you depend on to know God and to know Him better? God is not impressed with our family history, church attendance record, giving receipts, or personal accomplishments. We will each be judged according to what we have done with Jesus Christ and how He has been Lord of our lives. Salvation is not only about deliverance from eternal judgment, but is also about a dynamic relationship with Christ on a deeper level that changes our entire lives. Do you know Christ as Savior and Lord? Has your relationship with Him changed your manner of living?
In 2007, LifeWay Research surveyed 2500 American adults who attended a Protestant church once a month or more. Only 36% of respondents agreed strongly with this statement: "With reference to my values and priorities, I can honestly say that I try to put God first in my life." Knowing Christ better should be every Christian's goal, and this passion should be reflected in our values, priorities, and our way of thinking.
In Philippians 3 the Apostle Paul talks about what he used to rely on to know God vs. what he then relied upon to know God. He had cast away his former resume' and pedigree and instead embraced Christ alone. He had to change his mind about what was important. When he did, his manner of thinking regarding knowing God and spiritual growth changed. This chapter in Philippians was penned primarily to refute the false doctrine of a group known as the Judaizers. These were a group of Jews who denied the grace of God and the work of Christ in salvation, adding or substituting human effort to obtain it. Their dogma was 'Christ plus works'.
Paul admitted that he knew well the religion of works to impress God; he had lived it to the farthest degree himself. He had long relied upon his lineage, pedigree, and resume' of accomplishments as a means to get ahead with God and with others. But once he discovered the spiritual circumcision of the heart that even the Law of Moses demands (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6), he stopped boasting in all he had accomplished and began trusting and glorying in what Christ has accomplished. In fact, the language he chooses to describe his former accomplishments is quite graphic. He considers them all to be filth; the Greek word here is literally manure. To him, everything paled in significance to knowing Christ.
This is the mind-set of maturity, to seek to know Christ in a dynamic, ever-deepening relationship. Paul's expression of this desire is one of the best-known passages of the New Testament (3:10-14). Review these verses carefully. Do they express your desire to know Christ? Is He more valuable than all you have and all you are? If not, you need to Change Your Mind!
BSFL Sunday School Commentary for the week of February 14, 2010
Change Your Mind Philippians 3
What do you depend on to know God and to know Him better? God is not impressed with our family history, church attendance record, giving receipts, or personal accomplishments. We will each be judged according to what we have done with Jesus Christ and how He has been Lord of our lives. Salvation is not only about deliverance from eternal judgment, but is also about a dynamic relationship with Christ on a deeper level that changes our entire lives. Do you know Christ as Savior and Lord? Has your relationship with Him changed your manner of living?
In 2007, LifeWay Research surveyed 2500 American adults who attended a Protestant church once a month or more. Only 36% of respondents agreed strongly with this statement: "With reference to my values and priorities, I can honestly say that I try to put God first in my life." Knowing Christ better should be every Christian's goal, and this passion should be reflected in our values, priorities, and our way of thinking.
In Philippians 3 the Apostle Paul talks about what he used to rely on to know God vs. what he then relied upon to know God. He had cast away his former resume' and pedigree and instead embraced Christ alone. He had to change his mind about what was important. When he did, his manner of thinking regarding knowing God and spiritual growth changed. This chapter in Philippians was penned primarily to refute the false doctrine of a group known as the Judaizers. These were a group of Jews who denied the grace of God and the work of Christ in salvation, adding or substituting human effort to obtain it. Their dogma was 'Christ plus works'.
Paul admitted that he knew well the religion of works to impress God; he had lived it to the farthest degree himself. He had long relied upon his lineage, pedigree, and resume' of accomplishments as a means to get ahead with God and with others. But once he discovered the spiritual circumcision of the heart that even the Law of Moses demands (Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6), he stopped boasting in all he had accomplished and began trusting and glorying in what Christ has accomplished. In fact, the language he chooses to describe his former accomplishments is quite graphic. He considers them all to be filth; the Greek word here is literally manure. To him, everything paled in significance to knowing Christ.
This is the mind-set of maturity, to seek to know Christ in a dynamic, ever-deepening relationship. Paul's expression of this desire is one of the best-known passages of the New Testament (3:10-14). Review these verses carefully. Do they express your desire to know Christ? Is He more valuable than all you have and all you are? If not, you need to Change Your Mind!