The Power of the Resurrection

The one thing in life that Paul sought was the righteousness and perfection of Jesus Christ. He knew that no matter how good he could become, he could never become perfect. He still came short and he was still doomed to face death. Therefore, his only hope for living forever was the righteousness and perfection of Jesus Christ. He had to trust Christ; he had to focus his heart and life—all he was and had—upon Jesus Christ. He had to trust the righteousness and perfection of Jesus Christ to cover him. As clearly seen throughout this whole passage, Paul's great pursuit in life was to know Christ. These verses spell out exactly what he meant by knowing Christ. To know Christ is to know the power of His resurrection, to know the fellowship of His sufferings, to be made conformable to His death. Paul pressed on toward the goal, toward God's purpose in Christ Jesus. What is God's purpose for us in Christ Jesus? It is to be conformed to the image of Christ—to be perfect even as He is perfect.