Young Adults' Group

The Pursuit Of Life

by Pastor Mark
September 27, 2018

The pursuit of life based on our faith

As we come to the third quarter mark of 2018, we want to ask ourselves, “What have we been pursuing in our life for this year?” Let us learn from the example of Paul and the pursuits in his life. For Paul, he sought to apply his faith in his pursuit of life. Through faith in Christ, he was able to obtain the righteousness of salvation. (Phil 3:8) Through faith, we are saved.

But Paul did not stop there. He wrote further of “the righteousness which is from God by faith;” (Phil 3:9) The word “by faith” in Greek is actually “epi te pistei”. It means “upon this faith…on the basis of this faith”. Through Christ, Paul received salvation. But there is the extension of salvation that Paul sought for…to be totally identified with Christ. It is on the basis of this faith…this salvation that he pursued further to know Christ.

The pursuit of being totally identified with Christ

1. “that I may know Him,” (Phil 3:10)

The word “know” in Greek is “ginosko” which means “to have a growing knowledge”. It is upon this faith that Paul sought to know Christ more deeply. What does it mean to know Him? It is to pursue knowledge…a body of knowledge concerning Christ. It is to pursue Christ Himself. By faith, Paul sought to grow his knowledge of Christ in spite of having so much knowledge of Him already. He sought to go on to a higher level of knowledge. At the first level, we are acquiring faith through the reading and the reasoning of the knowledge gained. At the second level, we make the knowledge real by applying our faith. Let us be challenged to know Christ and to identify with Him far more deeply by faith.

2. The power of His resurrection

“and the power of His resurrection,” (Phil 3:10)

Through knowing Christ, we would also seek to know His power. The word “power” is a reference to the dynamic power of Christ. Paul sought to know the power of His resurrection. This is the power that was used to raise Christ. By faith, we can be identified with Christ in His resurrection and to have this power too. Let us learn to apply this power in life and ministry.

3. The fellowship of His sufferings

“and the fellowship of His sufferings,” (Phil 3:10)

Paul sought to enter into the fellowship of the suffering of Christ. The Lord Jesus went through much suffering. On the basis of his faith, Paul sought to be identified with His suffering. He wrote about how suffering for Christ was part of our calling. (Phil 1:29) Through the power of God, let us learn to enter into the fellowship of the suffering of Christ.

4. Conforming to His death

“being conformed to His death,” (Phil 3:10)

The Greek word for conforming is “summorphoo” which is made up two words…“With” and “to morph”. As we stand with Christ, we are seeking to morph or to change into the same form as Him. For Paul, he sought to be identified with Christ’s death by faith. He was willing to go to the point of death for Christ’s sake. Let us be challenged to be willing to conform to the Lord to the fullest extent. Let us be challenged by faith to pursue and to know Christ for the rest of the year and beyond.

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