05/04/2023
TEACHER: FAROJOYE PAUL
TOPIC: THAT I MAY KNOW HIM
TEXTS: PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11, DANIEL 11:32, MATTHEW 16:17
LESSON: KNOWING CHRIST AND BEING LIKE HIM (PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11
Someone has wisely pointed out, “One of the most dangerous forms of human error is forgetting what one is trying to achieve". That is especially true in the Christian life. It’s easy to get sidetracked. We need to be clear and focused at all times on what it is we’re after.
What is the goal of the Christian life? If we forget it, we’re not likely to achieve it. It can be stated in several forms, but in our text, the apostle Paul nicely sums up what we’re supposed to be aiming at:
THE GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO BE LIKE HIM.
That’s it, isn’t it! Christianity is definitely not a religion of rules and rituals that we must work at keeping in order to climb the ladder to heaven. Rather, it is a personal, growing relationship with the risen, living Lord Jesus Christ that results in our growing conformity to Him. Our goal is to know Him and to become like Him.
1. The goal of the Christian life is to know Christ.
Jesus said the same thing when He prayed, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Christianity is primarily a growing relationship with the infinite God who has revealed Himself through the Lord Jesus Christ.
As with all relationships, it begins with an initial meeting or introduction. In Paul’s case, it was not a planned or polite introduction, at least from his point of view! He wasn’t seeking after Christ, inquiring as to how he could become a Christian. Far from it! “Breathing threats and murder,” he was on his way to Damascus to arrest men and women who were followers of Jesus, when suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” He answered, “Who are You, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus
