Philippians 3:8
Prior to his conversion to Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul was on the “fast track”, a “rising star,” in the religion of Judaism - Ga 1:13-14 “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.”; Ph 3:4-6 “though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless.” But once he came to know who Jesus Christ really was, all the power, all the prestige, all the position of influence that he once had, meant nothing - Ph 3:7-8 “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”. What mattered now was for him to “know Jesus Christ”:
“...I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...” (Ph 3:8)
What is there about the knowledge of Jesus Christ that makes it so desirable for people like Paul and countless others? And should we desire this “knowledge”, how do we gain it? To answer these questions, let’s first make some observations about the knowledge of Jesus Christ that is “excellent”. Note that it must be a “personal” knowledge. We cannot come to know Jesus solely through another person’s acquaintance with Him. While we may initially learn about Jesus from others, especially the authors of the New Testament, we must come to know Him for ourselves. Like Paul, we must speak in the first person: “that I may know Him” (Ph 3:10). The “faith of our fathers” must become our faith, for God does not have any “grandchildren”.
It must be an “intelligent” knowledge. Jesus does not expect us to commit “intellectual suicide” to know Him, He desires us to use our minds as well - Mt 22:37 “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Thus we should desire to know all the Word reveals about Him; His natures, both divine and human; His offices, both as king and priest, savior and shepherd; His works, both then and now; His past shame and suffering, his present and future glory and exaltation’.
It must be an “affectionate” knowledge. If I know Him at all, I must love Him. Indeed, I am accursed if I do not! - 1 Co 16:22 “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!” As with our minds, so we must love the Lord with all our hearts - Mt 22:37 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…”
It will be a “satisfying” knowledge. It will satisfy where other things do not – as in Paul’s willingness to forego the advantages he had in Judaism. It will be “bread” that fills our hunger, and “water” that quenches our thirst - Jn 6:35 “Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
It must be an “exciting” knowledge. The more we know of the “Beloved”, the more we will want to know. We will come to realize that in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” - Co 2:3. We will realize that “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” - Co 2:9. And that we are “complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” - Co 2:10
It will be a “happy” knowledge. For in Him is the key to joy despite all our circumstances - Ph 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” We may have tribulation, but in Christ we can have joy! - Jn 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."’
Such is the “excellence” of this knowledge of Jesus Christ! Is it not worth having? More than anything in the world, (see Ph 3:8)! But how do we get it...? We get it by “growing” in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. To grow the word of God is essential. The only accurate source for learning about Jesus is the Word of God.... Movies, books, magazines, etc., written by men can be entertaining and sometimes instructive; but such are often filled with erroneous concepts. The only reliable source is the inspired Word that we call the “Bible”. And we should not limit our search for knowledge about Jesus to the four gospels.... The Old Testament contain Messianic prophecies that reveal much about the nature of Christ – for example, Isa 9:6-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”; Mic 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.”
The book of Acts describes the only history we have of the beginning and early years of
His church. The epistles reveal much about His present work as our King and High Priest - note, He 2:17-18 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”; 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”; 1 Pe 3:22 “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”; Re 1:5-6 “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
So if you wish to truly learn of Jesus, commit yourself to a study of the Word of God!
But also obedience is required to grow. It is not enough to just have “head knowledge” concerning Jesus Christ. For the “true knowledge” of Jesus comes only as we obey Him - 1 Jn 2:1-6 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Especially as we develop the qualities of character He displayed, which is the goal of all His commandments - 2 Pe 1:5-8 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Note that it is only when these Christ-like qualities are “yours and abound” can it be said we are “neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is what it really means to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” - 2 Pe 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Have you come to “know” Jesus Christ our Lord? Have you begun to experience what Paul called “the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord”? If not, why not start today? The Savior’s tender invitation is still open to all who heed it:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light”
- Mt 11:28-30
You can come to Jesus by heeding the gospel message He wanted the whole world to hear (Mk 16:15-16), and then continue to learn from Him as you heed all the things He commanded His apostles (Mt 28:19-20)!
