That I May Know Him

Philippians 3:7–14

There is a difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing them. That difference becomes even more important when we talk about Jesus Christ. We can know Bible stories, understand Christian beliefs, and be familiar with the language of the church, yet it is possible to know a great deal about Jesus without personally knowing Him.

The Apostle Paul certainly knew Christ. His encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road had completely changed his life. He had preached Christ, suffered for Christ, and watched God work through his ministry. Yet Paul still expressed the desire of his heart in Philippians 3:10: “That I may know him.”

Paul had discovered that coming to know Christ isn’t just the beginning of the Christian life; knowing Christ is the pursuit of the Christian life.

Knowing Christ changes what we value. Paul looked back at everything in which he had once placed his confidence—his heritage, religious accomplishments, knowledge, and zeal—and said, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” Christ had become the standard by which everything else was measured. If something stands between us and Christ, it costs too much.

Most importantly, Paul surrendered confidence in his own righteousness. None of his religious accomplishments could save him. He wanted to “be found in him,” possessing the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. We cannot make ourselves good enough for God. Jesus gave Himself at Calvary for our sins and rose again so that through repentance and faith we can be forgiven, changed, and brought into a right relationship with God.

Knowing Christ also changes us. Paul wanted to know “the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” He didn't simply want more information about Jesus; he wanted the life of Christ increasingly reflected in his own.

That should be happening in us. His holiness should affect the way we live. His compassion should affect the way we treat people. His humility should affect the way we see ourselves. His obedience should challenge our obedience. The more closely we know Christ, the more our lives should resemble His.

Finally, knowing Christ creates a holy pursuit. Paul said, “I follow after.” He was “reaching forth,” and he declared, “I press toward the mark.” He refused to allow yesterday’s progress to become today’s stopping place.

Our past victories can encourage us, but they cannot take the place of knowing Christ today. We should never become content for our best experiences with God to always be something we have to look backward to find.

A hunter who is pursuing a deer studies, watches, looks for signs, gets up early, endures discomfort, and sometimes comes home without ever drawing the bow. Then he goes back—because he is pursuing something.

Have we retained that kind of pursuit in our walk with God?

For those who have never come to Christ, the first question is simple: Do you know Him? You can know Him today through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

For those who already know Him, there is another question: Are you still pursuing Him?

May we never become satisfied simply talking about how well we once knew God. May we keep reaching, keep pressing, and keep pursuing, with the same desire that burned in the heart of Paul:

“That I may know him.”