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The Apostle Paul: A Man in Christ – Part2

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:8-14

Why study the Apostle Paul? Three Reasons

a. Discover or rediscover the life of a true Christian

1 John 1:1-4; Ephesians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:8; 1 Thess. 1:2-10; John 10:10, John 15:11; John 14:21; Eph. 3:8; Phil. 4:4

b. Observe the Apostle Paul as the model Christian

1. The Consuming Passion of the Apostle Paul

Philippians 3:7-14

2. The Spiritual Prayer Life of the Apostle Paul

Ephesians 1:15-20, 3:14-19

3. The Controlling Power of the Apostle Paul

2 Corinthians 5:11-19

c. Evaluate ourselves by scripture

2 Corinthians 13:5

A. The CONSUMING PASSION of the Apostle Paul

Philippians 3:7-14

1. The surpassing worth of knowing Christ; Philippians 3:8

– Knowledge alone of Christ does not produce passion for Him. 1 Corinthians 13:2

– Facts of the history of Christ do not produce passion for Him. Luke 24:25-27, 32

– Knowing Christ produces transformation by Christ: John 3:3; 2 Corinthians 5:17

– Knowing Christ leads to love for Christ: 1 Peter 1:3-9

2. The surpassing worth of knowing Christ experienced

Philippians 3:8; Matthew 13:44

– Surpassing worth in Christ’s love: John 13:1; Gal. 2:20

– Surpassing worth in Christ’s mercy: 1 Tim. 1:15-16; Eph. 2:4-5

– Surpassing worth in Christ’s righteousness: Romans 3:21-26

– Surpassing worth in Christ’s presence: Psalm 16:11, 17:15; John 17:24