The Resurrection of the Dead Philippians 3:11

Paul the apostle's desire was to know Jesus Christ so intimately that he would experience both “the power of his resurrection” and “the fellowship of his suffering” to do so. This intimate experience with Christ is not attainable through works of the flesh of which Paul was the champion of champions, but rather it is by the “faith of Christ”. In chapter three and verse eleven Paul adds more to the idea of resurrection where we read:

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The verse begins, “If by any means I might attain...” Upon first look at this phrase, we might conclude that Paul had great doubts as to whether he would “attain” which means “to come to, or arrive” to this great desire. The words “If by any means” is translated from the Greek word “ei pōs” and means “if indeed, since, if after all”. The idea is that “since” Paul was willing to know the power and suffering of Christ he would obtain his goal which is mentioned in the later part of this verse.

The verse goes on to say, “...unto the resurrection of the dead.”. Paul desired to be a part of the “resurrection” which means “a rising up, or a rising again” of those who die. The “dead” or “those who have breathed their last, lifeless, destitute of force or power, inactive, inoperative” do not have hope without the “resurrection of the dead”. Paul knew that his faith and trust in Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross would be sufficient to bring him to the “resurrection of the dead”. Paul's hope and desire was to be a part of this great and awesome event.

It is difficult to share about the “resurrection of the dead” without mentioning death itself. There can be no resurrection if there is no death in the first place. The Bible promises that everyone will experience death as it says in the book of Hebrews in chapter nine and verse twenty-seven:

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

The hope of the “resurrection of the dead” was obtainable to Paul by his trust in the faith of Christ, and the same hope is available to us. Just as certain as we shall all die one day, we may also know that we can attain the resurrection of the dead when we “believe” in which means “trust in, rely upon and cling to” what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. As we consider these great truths and apply them to our lives, one day we will know that though we are dead, yet will we live again.

Next time Paul talks about the status of his attaining, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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