Deepening Our Relationship: The Journey of Knowing Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Knowing Christ

Knowing Christ is the ultimate goal of our faith, surpassing all other pursuits. It is not just about being right with God but about engaging in a deep, personal relationship with Jesus, which is the essence of eternal life. This knowing is transformative, changing us and drawing us closer to Him. [05:22]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel distant from Christ? How can you invite Him into that space today to experience His transformative power?

Day 2: Justification by Faith as Our Foundation

Justification by faith is the foundation of our relationship with God, where we are fully accepted through the righteousness of Christ. This acceptance is not based on our own merit but on what Jesus has done for us, allowing us to stand before God as righteous. [08:29]

Titus 3:5-7 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy before God. How does understanding justification by faith change your perspective on your relationship with Him?

Day 3: Our Future Hope in Glorification

Our future hope is in fully knowing Jesus and being satisfied in Him forever. This glorification involves living eternally in His presence, experiencing the fullness of life as God intended, and being transformed into His likeness. [17:38]

1 John 3:2 (ESV): "Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

Reflection: How does the promise of future glorification influence the way you live your life today? What steps can you take to align your daily actions with this eternal perspective?

Day 4: Experiencing Jesus in the Present

In the present, we are called to know Jesus deeply, experiencing His resurrection power and sharing in His sufferings. This involves a relational interaction with Him, where we engage in communication, self-revelation, and shared experiences. [23:55]

Colossians 1:10-11 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can deepen your relationship with Jesus today? Consider setting aside time for prayer, reading Scripture, or serving others in His name.

Day 5: Knowing Christ Through Suffering

Suffering is a significant means of knowing Christ more deeply. It is in the challenging and difficult times that we often experience His presence and grace most profoundly, drawing us closer to Him and deepening our relationship. [36:10]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Think of a current or past struggle in your life. How can you view this suffering as an opportunity to know Christ more deeply and experience His grace?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the journey of knowing Christ, I shared a personal story about my first favorite song as a child, which was deeply rooted in the gospel music of the mid-80s. This song, based on Philippians 3, resonated with me even as a young child, capturing my heart with its profound message of knowing Christ. This theme of knowing Christ is central to our lives as believers, as it is not just about being right with God but about truly knowing Jesus, which is the ultimate goal and what makes heaven truly heaven.

Philippians 3 emphasizes that knowing Christ is of surpassing worth, and this knowing is a deep, personal, and experiential relationship. The passage outlines three aspects of this relationship: past, present, and future. In the past, we are fully accepted by God through justification by faith, not by our own merit but through the righteousness of Christ. In the future, we will fully know Jesus and be satisfied in Him forever, experiencing eternal life in His presence. In the present, we are called to know Jesus deeply, experiencing His resurrection power and sharing in His sufferings.

Knowing Jesus is not merely about acquiring information but about engaging in a relational interaction with Him. This involves communication, self-revelation, and shared experiences, much like how we come to know other people. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this relationship, dwelling within us and enabling us to hear from Jesus and speak to Him. This knowing is transformative, as it changes us and deepens our relationship with Him.

Suffering is highlighted as a significant means of knowing Christ more deeply. It is in the challenging and difficult times that we often experience His presence and grace most profoundly. This journey of knowing Christ is a lifelong process, involving both bright and stormy days, where we learn to trust Him and grow in our relationship with Him. The Lord's Table, or communion, is a vital practice in this journey, where we encounter Christ and experience His grace in a tangible way.

Key Takeaways

1. revelation, and shared experiences. [23:55]
5. Suffering is a significant means of knowing Christ more deeply. It is in the challenging and difficult times that we often experience His presence and grace most profoundly, drawing us closer to Him and deepening our relationship.

** [23:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Childhood Memories and Favorite Songs
[01:13] - The Influence of Gospel Music
[02:27] - The Song That Captured My Heart
[03:41] - The Ultimate Goal: Knowing Christ
[05:22] - Surpassing Worth of Knowing Jesus
[07:04] - Justification by Faith
[09:07] - Righteousness Through Faith
[12:23] - Relational Language of Faith
[15:23] - Joy in Justification
[17:38] - Future Hope: Glorification
[20:14] - Eternal Life Defined
[23:55] - Knowing Jesus Now
[30:56] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[36:10] - Knowing Christ Through Suffering
[40:22] - Communion: Encountering Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 3:9-11
- John 17:3
- 2 Corinthians 4:6

Observation Questions:

What does Philippians 3:9-11 reveal about the past, present, and future aspects of knowing Christ? How does this passage describe our relationship with Jesus? [06:11]
According to the sermon, what role does the Holy Spirit play in our relationship with Jesus? How does this relate to Philippians 3:10? [30:56]
How does the sermon describe the significance of suffering in knowing Christ more deeply? What does Philippians 3:10 say about sharing in Christ's sufferings? [36:10]
In John 17:3, how does Jesus define eternal life, and how does this relate to the theme of knowing God and Jesus Christ? [21:11]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of justification by faith, as explained in Philippians 3:9, impact a believer's understanding of their relationship with God? [08:29]
What does it mean to "know Christ" in the present, according to Philippians 3:10 and the sermon? How does this differ from simply knowing about Him? [23:55]
How does the sermon suggest that suffering can lead to a deeper relationship with Christ? What might this look like in a believer's life? [36:10]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that knowing Jesus is transformative? How does this transformation manifest in a believer's life? [34:03]

Application Questions:

Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. How can you deepen this relationship in the present, as described in Philippians 3:10? What practical steps can you take this week? [23:55]
Consider a recent time of suffering or challenge in your life. How did it affect your relationship with Christ? How can you use future challenges to draw closer to Him? [36:10]
The sermon emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in knowing Jesus. How can you be more attentive to the Holy Spirit's guidance in your daily life? [30:56]
How does understanding justification by faith change the way you view your standing before God? How can this understanding bring you peace and joy in your spiritual journey? [08:29]
The sermon mentions the importance of shared experiences in knowing Christ. How can you engage with your church community to grow in your relationship with Jesus? [29:06]
Reflect on the idea of eternal life as knowing God and Jesus Christ (John 17:3). How does this perspective influence your daily priorities and decisions? [21:11]
Identify one specific area in your life where you desire transformation through knowing Christ. What steps can you take to invite His resurrection power into this area? [34:03]

Sermon Clips

Philippians 3 wants us to know Jesus. Knowing Christ is the final goal, the ultimate goal. It's what makes heaven to be Heaven. Jesus is not just the means to get you what you want, but Jesus also becomes what you want. Jesus is means and end. To know Jesus is of surpassing worth. [00:04:49]

Justification by faith is answering. Justification is God's declaration over Sinners Like Us: you are righteous in my sight, even though you're not righteous in yourself. You are righteous. I declare you to be righteous in full acceptance with me. [00:08:17]

We are fully accepted by God in Christ. We are united to him by faith. His righteousness is ours, and his father's full acceptance of him is ours through faith in him. Brothers and sisters, to know, to really know the grace of justification by faith alone will make you want to stand on your head for joy. [00:15:09]

One day we will fully know Jesus and be satisfied in him forever. That is, we will live forever together, those who are in Christ, in ever-increasing bliss in the unobstructed presence of and in ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. Our big word for this is glorification. [00:17:38]

This is eternal life that they know you, Father, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Two striking moves there: the first is at the very center of eternal life, he puts knowing God. That's at the heart, that's the center of eternal life, knowing God. [00:21:14]

We know Jesus even now and want to know more of him. We know him even now, and we want to know more of him. That's Paul's cry, his soaring cry in verse 10. So we've seen the penultimate, we've seen the ultimate, and so finally we come to what Jonathan called deep personal knowing. [00:23:55]

What does it mean to know Jesus, not just know about him, know him right now, know the living Christ who is seated on the throne of the universe right now? Do you know him? What does it mean to say you know him? What does it mean to know Jesus? [00:24:42]

Interaction, communication, self-revelation, exchanging words is typically the main channel through which persons come to know each other. Our words reveal the unseen inner person, and so words heard and words responded to in kind enable us to dialogue, to interact, and so we know each other through the exchange of our invisible selves through words. [00:27:49]

Vital to our knowing him and coming to know him more is something utterly unique to every other relationship of knowing persons. Those who Jesus knows, he puts in them his own spirit. It's very important. The Holy Spirit is an often unconsidered, unarticulated aspect of what it means to know Jesus. [00:31:04]

Knowing Jesus has major life entailments. Knowing Jesus will change you. In fact, knowing Jesus is the engine for true Christian change. You got to get this straight. We don't change in order to know him. We come to know him and his resurrection power and so begin to change. [00:33:50]

Suffering, that's when he draws especially near. That's when he becomes especially helpful. That's when we know what it's like to hold to faith in the midst of challenges and frustration and obstacles. I think what Paul has in mind here is what he has just shown of the pattern of Christ's life. [00:36:10]

In the bright, sunny, happy season, we establish the steps of our lives. We learn to walk with him. We get to know him as we walk through life with him. We cultivate habits for hearing his voice in his word and speaking to him in prayer and in the fellowship of others who know him. [00:39:02]

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Deepening Our Relationship: The Journey of Knowing Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Transformative Power of Knowing Christ

Day 2: Justification by Faith as Our Foundation

Day 3: Our Future Hope in Glorification

Day 4: Experiencing Jesus in the Present

Day 5: Knowing Christ Through Suffering

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Deepening Our Relationship: The Journey of Knowing Christ

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