The Power of CHRIST’s Resurrection.
PHILIPPIANS iii. 10.
_That I may know Him, and the Power of his Resurrection._
THE apostle, in the verses before the text, had been cautioning the _Philippians_ to “beware of the concision,” _Judaizing teachers_, who endeavoured to subvert them from the simplicity of the gospel, by telling them, they still ought to be subject to circumcision, and all the other ordinances of _Moses_. And that they might not think he spoke out of prejudice, and condemned their tenets, because he himself was a stranger to the _Jewish_ dispensation, he acquaints them, that if any other man thought he had whereof he might trust in the flesh, or seek to be justified by the outward privileges of the _Jews_, he had more: For he was “circumcised the eighth day; of the stock of _Israel_ (not a proselyte, but a native _Israelite_); of the tribe of _Benjamin_ (the tribe which adhered to _Judah_ when the others revolted); an _Hebrew_ of the _Hebrews_ (a _Jew_ both on the father’s and mother’s side); and as touching the law, a _Pharisee_,” the strictest sect amongst all _Israel_. To shew that he was no _Gallio_ in religion, through his great, though misguided zeal, he had persecuted the church of CHRIST; and “as touching the righteousness of the law (as far as the _Pharisees_ exposition of it went, he was) blameless,” and had kept it from his youth. But, when it pleased GOD, who separated him from his mother’s womb, to reveal his Son in him, “What things were gain to me,” (he says) those privileges I boasted myself in, and fought to be justified by, “I counted loss for CHRIST.” And that they might not think he repented that he had done so, he tells them, he was now more confirmed than ever in his judgment. For, says he, “yea doubtless (the expression in the original rises with a holy triumph) and I do count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS my LORD.” And that they might not object that he said, and did not, he acquaints them, he had given proofs of the sincerity of these professions, because for the sake of them, he had suffered the loss of all his worldly things, and still was willing to do more; for, “I count them but dung (no more than offals thrown out to dogs) so that I may win, (or have a saving interest in) CHRIST, and be found in him (as the manslayer in the city of refuge) not having my own righteousness which is of the law, (not depending on having _Abraham_ for my father, or on any works of righteousness which I have done, either to atone or serve as a balance for my evil deeds) but that which is through the faith of CHRIST, the righteousness which is of GOD by faith,” a righteousness of GOD’s appointing, and which will be imputed to me, if I believe in CHRIST, “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection;” that I may have an experimental knowledge of the efficacy of his resurrection, by feeling the influences of his blessed Spirit on my soul. In which words two things are implied.
_First_, That JESUS CHRIST did rise from the dead.
_Secondly_, That it highly concerns us to know the power of his rising again.
Accordingly, in the following discourse I shall endeavour to shew,
_First_, That CHRIST is risen indeed from the dead; and that it was necessary for him so to do; and,
_Secondly_, That it highly concerns us to know and experience the power of his resurrection.
_First_, CHRIST is indeed risen.
That JESUS should rise from the dead was absolutely necessary;
1. _First_, On his own account. He had often appealed to this as the last and most convincing proof he would give them that he was the true Messiah, “There shall no other sign be given you, than the sign of the prophet _Jonas_.” And again, “Destroy this temple of my body, and in three days I will build it up.” Which words his enemies remembered, and urged it as an argument, to induce _Pilate_ to grant them a watch, to prevent his being stolen out of the grave. “We know that deceiver said, whilst he was yet alive, after three days I will rise again.” So that had he not risen again, they might have justly said, we know that this man was an impostor.
2. _Secondly_, It was necessary on our account. (says the apostle) for our justification;” or that the debt we owed to GOD for our sins, might be fully satisfied and discharged.