I want to know Christ—
Summary: Paul has been talking about his relationship with Jesus. In this passage, he looks forward to something most people fear.
These five words, “I want to know Christ —,“ are a stunning statement coming from a man who has actually MET the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 9). He was personally chosen by Jesus to be the Apostle to the Gentile world (Acts 9:15). Paul received his Gospel by direct revelation from Christ (Titus 1:3). Paul knows Christ rather well.
Just two verses earlier, the text tells us he already knows Christ:
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” (Philippians 3:8a)
If he already knows Christ Jesus, what does he mean that he wants to “know Christ?”
The answer to this question lies in the rest of his sentence. Paul knows what it means to “gain Christ,” and be “found in him.” (vs 8, 9) He understands the Gospel he has been given to share with the world. What he doesn’t know yet is what it is like to be resurrected with Christ.
There are some things you can’t know until you do them.
For example, you can’t know how “hot” the new hot sauce at the restaurant is until you taste it. If you are meeting someone for the first time, you can’t “know” what they are like until you have met them.
Remember when you were a child and you were told, “Don’t touch the stove, it’s hot!”? Who hasn’t touched the thing they were told not to touch because they didn’t “know” what “hot” was?
Another thing we can’t know is what love is like until we are loved, just as we can’t tell how good a dessert is until we have been given some to taste.
Death — physical death — comes to all of us. The Bible only records two people who did not have to die: Enoch (Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). The rest of humanity, including Jesus, have had to physically die.
As believers in Jesus, we look forward to continuing life in the spiritual realm (2 Corinthians 5:1-4). Our new bodies will be well-suited to our new lives (Matthew 22:30).
Paul understands that when we go through the doorway to new life with Christ, we leave the old body behind. To become like Jesus in death is to go through the same door that Christ did.
Application: Realize that we need to be dead serious about our faith in Jesus.
Food for Thought: What does it say about Paul’s faith in Jesus that he is actually looking forward to death?
Philippians 1: 21 – 23: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.
He understood that to be with Christ is better… by far. He knew this was true like I knew the sun was going to rise this morning.
Well said, Rich!
Christ is better, by far! 🙂
What does it say about Paul’s faith in Jesus that he is actually looking forward to death?
I agree with Rich, Paul knows that to be with Christ is better. I would add that Paul also knows that he has served Christ faithfully. He would go to be with Christ in full confidence that he has completed the work that Christ started in Him.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
Thank you, Chris.
I would only echo Paul’s final words in the passage you quoted:
“… but also to all who have loved his appearing.“
What does it say about Paul’s faith in Jesus that he is actually looking forward to death?
The book of Philippians is being written by Paul who is imprisoned in Rome, knowing he is scheduled to face the emperor and very possibly, most probably he will be sentenced to death by execution.
Paul provides a view into reality, as seen only by those of us who have come to know Jesus.
Philippians 1:21, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:4, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.
Thank you, Ron.
Yes, Paul’s view of reality is something for the rest of us who believe to aspire to!