PAUL desired to know the power of Christ's resurrection as a present, practical
experience, "if somehow" he "should be attaining to the resurrection out
from among the dead" (Phil.3: 11). Immature believers, who have not been established
in grace, have taken this as a future physical resurrection from death. This changes our
glorious hope into a matter of attainment. Indeed, if Paul, when he wrote the epistle to
the Philippians, was not sure of his attaining to this, how dare any of us even hope to
reach it?
The Philippian epistle is concerned with conduct. No new revelations are found
there. We are called upon to imitate Christ and Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus. Paul had
had confidence in his flesh (Phil.3:4-6). But now he sees that all this is a hindrance. He
repudiates his own righteousness, he follows "in His steps" to the very death of
Christ. Christ in life was connected with the system of religion which he had forsaken. He
now desires to walk with Him in resurrection. In this way he wishes to "attain to the
resurrection out from among the dead." We should all emulate his example
Let us not confound this present daily experience with that glorious and gracious
expectation, which is founded on the death of Christ, not on our attainments. There is
only one expectation (Eph.4:4) in this administration of purest grace. Those who
claim superiority for themselves, such as belonging to the 144,000, while others are in
the great company class, divide the ecclesia into two bodies. There is only one
body (Eph.4:4). God give us grace to keep the unity of the spirit!
