Knowing Jesus Christ comes with blessings and sufferings. Having a relationship with the Lord means eternal salvation, having all sins forgiven completely, and living forever with God after this life is finished. It also means experiencing hardships, rejection, mockery, pain, and persecution because people who reject Jesus will hate those who follow Him.
Paul spent time in his letter to the Philippians making the connection between the righteousness of Christ, His death, and His resurrection, and what it means for those who believe in Him. In these verses, Paul is explaining there are powerful implications of Jesus’ resurrection, and to know the resurrected Christ and embrace Him will mean sharing in His sufferings.
This verse is the back half of a longer sentence that takes up several verses. Paul is writing to the Church in Philippi. It is a letter of encouragement, even though he was in chains. This letter has many exhortations and is optimistic in tone. In the section of the epistle that traditionally opens chapter 3, Paul is encouraging the church to pursue righteousness and to live in accordance with the example of Jesus Christ.
There are several signs outlined in the Bible that are outward indicators that someone is a true follower of Jesus, though the Bible is clear that only God knows the heart and who truly loves Him. These indicators include:
- The Fruit of the Spirit
- God using them for His purposes
- Public expressions of their love for and alignment with Jesus Christ
- An ability to forgive.
“ Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours” (John 15:20).
One of the greatest, most controversial, and most difficult concepts in the Bible for those who do not understand the power of God is that of bodily resurrection. Today, atheists point to the idea that Jesus walked out of the tomb alive after three days as proof of the falsity of the Bible. Some Christians try to compromise this idea by arguing it is a symbolic resurrection.
When God created Adam and Eve, they were intended to live in their bodies, so to fully redeem mankind, the body must be redeemed from death just as much as the soul must be redeemed from eternal punishment in hell for sin. Eternal resurrection from the dead will only be attained through faith in Jesus Christ.
This verse is one that believers should turn to in difficult times, especially if they are suffering due to external pressures put on them because they are believers. While it can be difficult, Jesus and Paul both encouraged Christians to rejoice when persecution comes, because it is the world - which hates God and all things that are godly - reacting to the Spirit of God living in the believer.
One of the few promises made to those who follow Jesus about their life on earth is that suffering will come, and to expect persecution. It will look different for different people, but when suffering comes, it is important to cling to Jesus. Christians are persecuted because those who love sin and the things of this world are trying to persecute the righteousness of Jesus they detect. Suffering because of Christ is temporary, but the life that will come with the resurrection from the dead is eternal, glorious, and beyond compare.
Bruce, F.F. Philippians Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1989.
Philippians The NIV Application Commmentary
The Bible Knowledge Commentary An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Old Testament and New Testament
Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible
Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer who uses her passion for God, reading, and writing to glorify God. She and her husband have lived all over the country serving their Lord and Savior in ministry. She has a blog on graceandgrowing.com.
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