The Strength of His Death

Philippians 3:10 (NASB)
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Paul is telling us there are three things he’d like to know, and one thing he’d like to be. Paul sees into the mystery of Christ, which is Christ in him. Knowing and seeing into this mystery, Paul sees that the “being conformed to His death” is the root that makes it possible for him to grow into knowing the first three. For Paul sees to the degree he can “be” is to the degree he can “know”. Being conformed to His death, makes it possible for Paul to know Christ in the here and now. Also being conformed to His death makes it possible for him to know the power of His resurrection, and likewise to know the fellowship of His suffering. All these three things that Paul wants to know, are something that Paul wants to know in this life. It is in this life that Paul wants to know the fellowship of Christ sufferings. For there are no sufferings in the next life, all suffering is to be done in this life. And again, it is in this life that Paul wants to know Christ really, truly, and personally, for in the next life there will be no wanting to know Christ, for that will be answered for we will all know Him. Also likewise it is in this life that Paul wants to know the power of Christ resurrection. Meaning that in this life Paul wants to walk in newness of life that only the power of Christ resurrection can bring to pass. Paul wants to know the power of Christ resurrection so that he can overcome, in this present age. He wants the resurrection life, the set free from sin life. He wants to know by experience the power of Christ being formed in him, so he can walk in newness of life. Paul sees that this all comes from being conformed to His death. It is being conformed to Christ death, that Paul puts forth as the opener up of the things he wants to experience of Christ. Paul sees that all these three desires of his heart can only grow from the root which is him being conformed to Christ death. This being conformed to Christ’s death is the opener up of the newness of life for all believers.

But what does it mean to be conformed to His death?

Christ came to do the Father’s will. Likewise it means to be willing to do the same, give up your will for the Father’s will in all things. To give up all of your/self to God, your very life in this world. To not demand your own way. To always and only look for God’s will in all things, which is righteousness in any and all circumstances. For this is God’s will in this world, that righteousness would be manifested in all things. This is the fellowship of His sufferings that all believers can enter into. For dying to your own life of this world is painful. But dying to the life of this world is the only way to bring forth the fruit of Christ being formed in us.

All good things that come from being conformed to Christ’s death, come from the strength of Christ life which was poured out for us. Christ having taken us with Him to death. Which nothing in all of fallen creation is not to benefit from. For all fallen nature is made new with and in the strength of His death.

Blessings

Much love in Christ, Not me

His77 said:

Wonderful post. But please help me understand this paragraph that I have been wrestling with.
I think I follow everything until I get here.
Thanks.

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No worries, a honest question from a seeking heart.

“All good things that come from being conformed to Christ’s death, come from the strength of Christ life which was poured out for us. Christ having taken us with Him to death. Which nothing in all of fallen creation is not to benefit from. For all fallen nature is made new with and in the strength of His death.”

This was meant as a encouragement to help understand “why” being conformed to Christ death has such unfailing power. When we reckon ourselfs dead, we don’t reckon ourself dead in the strength of our deaths. It is in the strength of His death that we reckon ourselfs dead. By virtue of the strength that is His in life, (meaning all strength) that “all strength” now is poured out for those that join themselves to Him in His death. This is why regardless all the power of the world, the flesh, and the devil, becomes like water that rolls off the back of the believer that reckon themselves dead, for they are reckoning themselves dead in the strength of His death which absolutely nothing can stand against.

To show the magnitude of the power of Christ death, I added that all creation will benifit from His death. For His death has lifted the curse on all creation.

Hope this helps.

Blessings,

Much love in Christ, Not me