10. That I may know him--experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness"
just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ"
(Php 3:8).
To know HIM is more than merely to know a
doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to
redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself.
the power of his resurrection--assuring believers of their
justification
(Ro 4:25;
1Co 15:17),
and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their
identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming
work for us
(Ro 6:4;
Col 2:12; 3:1).
The power of the Divine Spirit, which raised Him from literal death, is
the same which raises believers from spiritual death now
(Eph 1:19, 20),
and shall raise their bodies from literal death hereafter
(Ro 8:11).
the fellowship of his sufferings--by identification with Him in His
sufferings and death, by imputation; also, in actually bearing
the cross whatever is laid on us, after His example, and so "filling up
that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ"
(Col 1:24);
and in the will to bear aught for His sake
(Mt 10:38; 16:24;
2Ti 2:11).
As He bore all our sufferings
(Isa 53:4),
so we participate in His.
made conformable unto his death--"conformed to the likeness of His
death," namely, by continued sufferings for His sake, and mortifying of
the carnal self
(Ro 8:29;
1Co 15:31;
2Co 4:10-12;
Ga 2:20).
JFB.
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