Today at 12:57 PM hobart schmedly said this in Post #36
Thanks for your comments BH, I looked again at Phil 3 and the passage is saying nothing about being rich, poor, sick, or well.
the main reason why I cited phil. 3 was because that is where Paul said that compared to knowing Christ everything else is dung.
Phil 3:8
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
(NAU)
What paul was saying when he said rubbish was that it was dung. I like to use dung because it shows how much those other things are lesser than knowing Christ. It sounds nicer though to say rubbish.
However there is verse 10.
Phil 3:10
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
(NAU)
Paul is saying that he wants to not only be like Christ in his power but also like him in his sufferings. Christ suffered while on earth and so will we if we are little Christs. WE are to take up our cross daily and follow him.
Paul is talking about all the religious things that would cause him to gain and be well accepted by the religioius people (in this case, the Jews) of his day:
(Phi 3:3) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
(Phi 3:4) Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
(Phi 3:5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
(Phi 3:6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
(Phi 3:7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(Phi 3:8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,
Paul turned his back on his jewish heritage and zeal. These are the things he counted as dung.... not the blessings of healing, health, and prosperity.
Again my citing was to show that knowing Christ is the greatest thing one can know. That any other blessing is not as great as knowing him. I was not saying anything more than that by citing Phil. 3 although verse 10 does show that there is a thing called the "fellowship of his sufferings.
Philippians 3:10
[The fellowship of his sufferings]-- by identification with Him in His sufferings and death, by imputation; also, in actually bearing the cross laid on us, after His example, so `filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ' <Col. 1:24>; and in the will to bear anything for His sake <Matt. 10:38; 16:24; 2 Tim. 2:11; 1 Pet. 4:13>. As He bore all our sufferings <Isa. 53:4>, so we participate in His.
(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary)
Philippians 3:10 PP3
[And the fellowship of his sufferings] That I may participate in the same kind of sufferings that he endured; that is, that I may in all things be identified with him. Paul wished to be just like his Saviour. He felt that it was an honor to live as he did; to evince the spirit that he did, and to suffer in the same manner. All that Christ did and suffered was glorious in his view, and he wished in all things to resemble him. He did not desire merely to share his honors and triumphs in heaven, but, regarding his whole work as glorious, he wished to be wholly conformed to that, and, as far as possible, to be just like Christ. Many are willing to reign with Christ, out they would not be willing to suffer with him; many would be willing to wear a crown of glory like him, but not the crown of thorns; many would be willing to put on the robes of splendor which will be worn in heaven, but not the scarlet robe of contempt and mockery.
They would desire to share the glories and triumphs of redemption, but not its poverty, contempt, and persecution. This was not the feeling of Paul. He wished in all things to be just like Christ, and hence he counted it an honor to be permitted to suffer as he did. So Peter says, "Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;" <1 Pet. 4:13>. So Paul says <Col. 1:24> that he rejoiced in his sufferings in behalf of his brethren, and desired "to fill up that which was behind, of the afflictions of Christ," or that in which he had hitherto come short of the afflictions which Christ endured. The idea is, that it is an honor to suffer as Christ suffered; and that the true Christian will esteem it a privilege to be made just like him, not only in glory, but in trial. To do this, is one evidence of piety; and we may ask ourselves, therefore, whether these are the feelings of our hearts. Are we seeking merely the honors of heaven, or should we esteem it a privilege to be reproached and reviled as Christ was-- to have our names cast out as his was-- to be made the object of sport and derision as he was-- and to be held up to the contempt of a world as he was? If so, it is an evidence that we love him; if not so, and we are merely seeking the crown of glory, we should doubt whether we have ever known anything of the nature of true religion.
(from Barnes' Notes)
Col 1:24
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
(NAU)
Matt 10:38
38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
(NAU)
Matt 16:24
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
(NAU)
1 Pet 4:12-14
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
(NAU)