Goal of the Knowledge of Christ

Phil. 3:11 Philippians

Pastor Martin expounds Philippians 3:7-11, focusing on Paul's ultimate goal: attaining the 'out-resurrection from among the dead.' He argues that this passage embodies two fundamental principles of true Christian faith: the dominance of an eternal perspective and the regulative pattern of Christ's suffering and glory in the believer's life. Martin applies these principles as an urgent exhortation for believers to maintain a heavenly focus, a hearty consolation for those suffering, and a sober call to self-examination for all, especially those hesitant to embrace the costly path of discipleship.

3 illustrations in this sermon

Understanding the Context of Philippians 3:11

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Rewinding a Tape Deck

In this part of the sermon: Using an analogy of a tape player, Martin explains that verse 11, 'If by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead,' cannot be understood in isolation but must be…

Martin uses the analogy of listening to a tape mid-sentence and needing to rewind to understand the full thought. This illustrates the necessity of understanding Philippians 3:11 in the context of the preceding verses (8-10) to grasp Paul's complete argument.

Amen. In a counseling session this past week, I was reminded of the fact that there are probably not a few of you in this congregation who, in order to increase the profit received from the ministries of the Lord's Day, purchased the tapes of the previous Lord's Day and listened to them sometime throughout the week. Now, for those of you who engage in that practice, suppose you put on one of the tapes in your car tape deck on Monday or Tuesday or on your home cassette deck or on your little home cassette player, and the first words which came out of the speaker were these, If by Sunday... If b...

2:50 - 3:45 Read in full sermon

Principle 1: The Dominance of the World to Come

palette metaphor

Pie in the Sky

In this part of the sermon: He elaborates on the first principle, arguing that true Christians are primarily focused on the eternal world, not just present social or earthly concerns, even while…

He references the common mockery of Christians as people whose religion promises 'pie in the sky, by and by.' Martin reclaims this, stating that intelligent Christians glory in this mockery because it affirms their heavenly hope.

Now Christians have always been lampooned and mocked out as the people whose religion promises them pie, in the sky, by and by.

26:34 - 26:46 Read in full sermon

lightbulb example

Christian Militant Takeover

Driving home: And if your treasure is even the noble vision of seeing a Christian society on earth your treasure is on earth and not in the heavens where Christ says it belongs. I didn't write those words my friends. Those are the wor…

Martin critiques the contemporary teaching of a 'Christian militant takeover of society' as a misinterpretation of Jesus' words, contrasting it with Jesus' emphasis on heavenly reward for the persecuted.

Why? Because through the organized efforts of intention, intelligent Christians, you will ultimately take the ascendancy in the economic, political, and social realm and when you get in power, you can really give it to the humanists.

29:14 - 29:28 Read in full sermon

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