Before and After Pictures

"Before and after" pictures can be VERY convincing.  Whether someone's peddling a weight-loss wonder, the latest exercise equipment or hair rejuvenating product, these images can be stunning.  We see people almost magically transformed right before our eyes.  

That's what Paul wants the Galatians to see here.  He shows them a picture of where they were before they heard about Jesus.  He then shows them a picture of what they looked like after coming to Christ.  

He hopes that by displaying the "before and after" images that the Galatians will realize they've made a huge mistake in falling for the teaching of the Judaizers.

First, Paul pulls out the "before" picture.  "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods" (v8).  

There was a point in time when followers of Jesus "did not know God."  The Greek verb here is οιδα/oida, which means to be acquainted with, acknowledge, recognize or perceive.  

The apostle is talking about a specific period in history when the Galatians were unaware of God.  They didn't have the head knowledge of God as revealed in the radical Rabbi from Nazareth.  

They didn't know ABOUT Him.  He's not describing an intimate relationship.  Paul's simply stating they didn't know the basic facts of Jesus.

Back in the day, he says, "you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods" (v8).  This confirms what Luke describes of Paul's visit to Galatia in Acts 13:13-14:23.  

He made his appeal first to Jews in the synagogues before reaching out with the Gospel to non-Jews.  "A great number of both Jews and Greeks believed" (Acts 14:1).  

The apostle had used God's promise of the Messiah in the Old Testament as the means reach the Galatians.  

The Judaizers rolled into the region immediately after Paul left town and used that same OT to deceive them into buying a self-salvation program of works.

Paul shows us the "before" picture of our spiritual status.  Before we had any idea of who Jesus was, we worshiped things that weren't gods.  

We were slaves to things that actually had no power over us.  Why would we ever go back?!?  

We need to keep that "before" picture in our wallet or purse.  We need to constantly remind ourselves of just how wretched, idiotic and disgusting we were before Christ got ahold of us.

At this point, the apostle holds up the "after" picture.  "But now that you have come to know God, or rather be known by God..." (v9).  

He uses a different word for "know" than in the previous verse.  Here the original text has γινωσκω/ginosko.  

This verb speaks of a deep and intimate relationship that comes through experience.  It is MUCH more personal than simply knowing ABOUT Jesus.  Once we place our trust in the One who lived, died and rose for us, everything changes.  

There is a relationship with God that was completely unavailable before.  In his letter to Philippi, Paul says that everything else pales in comparison to this rich relationship with Jesus (Phil 3:8-10).  

But the apostle asks us to take a closer look at the "after" picture.  We might think that we're the ones who have come to know God, but it's really the other way around.  

It might look like we initiated the deeper relationship with God, but that's not quite the way it went down.  Instead, He came to us.  

It was only when Jesus opens our hearts that we are "known by God" (v9).  As slaves to sin we are complete knuckleheads when it comes to seeking the one true God.  He has to reveal Himself to us.  

Jesus said just that.  "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (Jn 6:44).  Oh, we come into a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus alright.  But that ONLY happens because made the first move.  Or as John puts it, "We love because He first loved us" (1Jn 4:19).

Paul gives us the reason that he wants us to see these "before and after" pictures.  Once we see how we were BC (before Christ) and after, how in the wide world of sports would we ever "turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more" (v9).  

He asks us to look more time at the "before" image.  We were enslaved.  We made things that weren't gods into gods.  

Once we came to know Jesus, we understood that these things were "weak and worthless."  The Greek can also be translated as "sick and pitiful."  They weren't God!  They weren't Jesus!  Stop!!  Don't go back!!!

That's what we see when Paul shows us our "before and after" pictures.

©2012

Jay Jennings

The Superpower of Gentleness

“Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 2:25).

Every hero has an enemy. Sherlock has Moriarity. Harry Potter has Voldemort. Seinfeld has Newman. Every superhero has an archenemy. Superman has Lex Luthor. Batman has the Joker. Captain America has the Red Skull.

In each and every case, the enemy MUST be defeated. A fight is inevitable. The only way to win is beat them in battle. And it’s going to take every bit of our hero’s amazing abilities or superpowers to come out on top.

According to Paul, someone who follows Jesus is going to run into enemies but must have a totally different method in mind. Instead of an all-out war against their rival, the Lord’s servant should be “correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (v25). Well that’s not exactly the kind of storyline you see in the Marvel Comic Universe! The apostle tells Timothy that every believer has a superpower and it’s kindness. When used correctly on the enemy, God may not only give them the gift of changing their mind but may also be giving you a teammate in the process.

Now don’t get the idea that Paul is some comic book fan boy living in his parents’ basement. Not even close. The apostle is doing hard time on Death Row in a Roman prison (2Tim 1:16; 2:9) and his execution date is right around the corner (2Tim 4:6-7). So he’s not writing to some random guy he met at Comic-Con but to the young pastor he sees as his spiritual son (1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2). In this epistle, Paul pleads for one last visit from Timothy (2Tim 4:9, 21) in order to pass the baton of spreading the message of Jesus (2Tim 2:1-4:5).

The apostle tells Tim that a mega-theme in ministry is dealing with folks outside the faith who may actually weasel their way into the church. He wrote to him about it in his first letter (1Tim 1:3-7, 20; 4:1-3; 6:2-10, 20-21). Three times here in chapter two of this epistle he tells his protege not to get sucked into a word war with these knuckleheads (2Tim 2:14, 16-17, 23-24). It’s time to grow up and put on your big boy pants and start chasing the things of God (2Tim 2:22).

A huge part of that chase is dealing with people who aren’t on Team Jesus. Paul calls them “opponents” and uses a word (Gr. αντιδιατιθημι/antidiatithemi) that literally describes a person intentionally setting themselves against something or someone. Picture a nose tackle digging his cleats in the turf right across the line from offense. It describes someone who is not only headed in the opposite direction but who’s openly hostile to what you’re trying to do. They’ll do anything necessary to stop you.

But here’s the deal. They may look like the enemy. They may act like the enemy. They may talk like the enemy. But they’re NOT who we’re really fighting. In a previous letter to his Ephesian friends, Paul provides a detailed scouting report on our foe. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). In other words, the REAL enemy is Satan and his unholy horde. Jesus wants us to realize that the person who appears to be our opponent may actually be a future teammate!

Once we understand who we’re really fighting, our strategy changes when dealing with human opposition. The idea isn’t to pound them into submission. Instead we should be “correcting his opponents with gentleness” (v25). We shouldn’t destroy but instruct. The goal isn’t to eradicate but educate. A servant of Jesus is to school an enemy but not embarrass them. You don’t beat them over the head with a ten-pound Bible. You don’t rub their nose in it. You don’t run up the score.

We do it with “gentleness” (v25). Paul drops a Greek word here (Gr. πραοτης/praotes) that can be translate as meekness and mildness. Now before you think we’re to wimp out and wave the white flag when challenged, that’s NOT what’s going on. This is the idea of strength that accommodates the weakness of another. It’s the opposite of acting harshly. We’re to be like Jesus. Instead dropping onto our planet on His first visit as the Lion of Judah (Gen 49:9-10; Rev 5:5) He came as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29). Don’t bulldoze someone weaker than you. Overpower them with strength under control. Defeat them with gentleness.

Did you know God gives all His followers the superpower of “gentleness” (v25)? Okay, the Bible doesn’t exactly call them superpowers per se. Paul describes this package of supernatural abilities as the “fruit of the Spirit”. One of the awesome things that happens when Jesus comes to our rescue is that the Spirit of God makes His home in us. When He does, things change in a BIG way from the inside out. We begin exhibiting “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness(Gr. πραοτης/praotes), self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). I’ll take that over gamma rays or a bite from a radioactive spider.

This supernatural strength under control comes in handy as a follower of Christ. Paul says anytime someone sins we should always try to “restore him in a spirit of gentleness(Gr. πραοτης/praotes)” (Gal 6:1). The apostle makes a point to Titus how those who trust in Jesus are “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy (Gr. πραοτης/praotes) to all people” (Titus 3:2). Paul’s buddy Peter writes that every believer should be ready to tell others about our Savior, “yet do it with gentleness (Gr. πραοτης/praotes) and respect” (1Pet 3:15). God gives us the ability to overpower our opponents with strength under control.

Just as this supernatural gentleness comes from God, so does any change in our opponent. If we approach them with love and humility, “God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (v25). What?!? Repentance is a gift? You got it. Not only does the Lord provide us with the ability to be gentle, He gives our opponents the ability to turn from their sin and rebellion.

This isn’t the only place we see this idea of repentance as a gift. When Peter describes to the guys at the home office in Jerusalem how God is doing His patented crazy saving thing among non-Jews too, church leaders realized, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance (Gr. μετανοια/metanoia) that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). In the same way God’s Spirit gives believers the power of gentleness, He also gives us the power of repentance. Think of it this way. We can’t turn from our mess and turn to God without His divine help.

So what exactly is repentance, anyhoo? For most of us who grew up in traditional or fundamental churches, it conjures up images of red-faced preachers trying to scare us into heaven with sermons of hell’s fire and brimstone. “Turn or burn!” While purchasing eternal fire insurance certainly should be at the top of our spiritual to-do list, that’s not exactly a true understanding of the idea.

A closer look at the word “repentance” in the original language reveals the compound word μετανοια (metanoia). It literally means “after (μετα-/meta-) thinking (-νοια/-noia).” Repentance is a change of mind. It’s thinking again about something and coming to a new conclusion. Once God opens my eyes to His truth and my sin, I come to a new conclusion. I now see me as He does. I desperately need help. I desperately need a Savior. The result is a 180. I spin from my own hot mess to the holy Son of God. And it’s all a gift from God.

Jesus doesn’t bully anybody into belief. Sure, He does have a habit of blindsiding folks. Just ask Paul (more on that in a moment). But instead using threats and intimidation, He loves to overwhelm us with His overflowing goodness. It’s “God’s kindness that is meant to lead you to repentance(Gr. μετανοια/metanoia)” (Rom 2:4). In other words, Jesus is so incredibly wonderful to us that we have a massive change of heart and mind. It’s what inspired John Newton to write the famous line in his hit tune Amazing Grace: “Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.” God’s grace is SO amazing that we turn from the counterfeits we’ve been chasing and make a beeline to our Savior!

The apostle knows this is the reality of repentance because it is HIS reality! Before he was missionary Paul, he was known as murderer Saul. The man from Tarsus absolutely hated the followers of Jesus and made it his life’s purpose to wipe them off the face of the planet. He hunted them down. He tortured them. He dragged many to prison (Acts 8:3). He murdered others. The dude was so ruthless toward what was known as the Way that he happily ran the coatcheck table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58; 8:1). Paul openly admits every bit of it (1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13; Phil 3:6; 1Tim 1:13).

But before Saul could execute his next black ops search-and-destroy mission in Damascus, the resurrected Jesus blinded the young Pharisee in order to open his eyes (Acts 9:1-6). In an incredible act of divine kindness, our Savior gave him the gift of repentance. He graciously allowed the man devoted to terrorizing the church the chance to think again about what he was doing from God’s perspective. The result led to his “knowledge of the truth” (v25) about who Jesus is and what He has done. In this case, Jesus’ gentleness transformed an assassin into an apostle!

Back in Paul’s letter to Timothy, the apostle tells the young pastor how God’s gift of gentleness to us combined with His gift of repentance to our opponents may eventually be “leading to a knowledge of the truth” (v25). When the apostle uses this phrase, he’s talking about understanding truth with capital T. He’s talking about a relationship with Jesus, the embodiment of the ultimate truth (Jn 14:6). “Knowledge of the truth” is one of Paul’s ways of describing a relationship with Jesus.

The apostle’s talking about salvation. In his previous letter, he describes how God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Tim 2:4). Later Paul uses a very similar idea when talking about how false teachers love to target certain women in fragile situations who are “never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2Tim 3:7). In other words, they find easy marks and distract them from true salvation in Jesus with all sorts of religious mumbo jumbo.

The Lord certainly calls us to take on our opponents but not in the way you would expect. We’re to use the supernatural superpower of gentleness He’s given us. What we don’t see is what He may be giving them as well: the superpower of repentance. Instead of a very predictable knock down, drag out battle between good and evil, the enemy may well have a change of heart and mind. They may come to their senses and come to Christ. If that happens, our opponent may suddenly become our teammate. 

But that only happens when we unleash our superpower of gentleness.

Great Teams Have Great Fans

“Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved” (Philippians 4:1).

Great teams have great fans. Some cheering sections even have their own nicknames. The Cleveland Browns have the Dog Pound. At Texas A&M football games, there’s the tradition of the 12th Man. The Cameron Crazies are a big reason Duke is almost impossible to beat at home. These great fans know there are crucial times in each game. They get even louder in order to inspire their team at just the right moment. A crucial basket. A goal line stand. How about having the Apostle Paul as your number one fan?!?! He may be behind bars in Rome, but he knows it’s crunch time in Philippi. He cheers his friends on to stay rock solid in the trust of Jesus. Now is not the time to waver. You see, great teams have great fans. 

In the previous chapter, Paul confesses the horrible mistake he made of devoting his life to building up his own religious resume in order to impress God (Phil 3:4-6). But once Jesus literally knocked him off his high horse outside of Damascus (Acts 9:1-9), the man from Tarsus realized everything he had worked so hard to obtain was nothing more than a big steaming pile compared to a relationship with the resurrected Christ (Phil 3:7-8). By the way, if you turn your nose up at the comparison of good works with a mound of fecal matter, take it up with Paul. The apostle makes it his life goal to know Jesus more deeply and intimately as he trusts in who He is and what He’s done that we could never do for ourselves (Phil 3:9-16). He pleads with this little church back in Macedonia to be great citizens of God’s kingdom and wait expectantly for our Savior to make His magnificent return (Phil 3:2-21). Now is NOT the time to throw in the towel. Now is NOT the time to give up. 

We pick things up in chapter four. And that’s actually a bit of a problem. That big number 4 might lead us to believe Paul has something different to say at this point in the letter. But the apostle has nothing to do with all these numbered chapters and verses. Bible translators added all of those over the centuries in order to help us find stuff in God’s Word. Think of them as zip codes and addresses. These numbers help us pin down the exact locations of specific passages. But occasionally we can stub our scriptural toes on verse numbers and chapter breaks. 

Right out of the chute, the apostle uses the word “therefore” (v1). This is the Greek conjunction souto. Schoolhouse Rock asks the musical question, “Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?” (Got that stuck in your head now? You’re welcome.) Well, souto connects what he’s just said with what he’s about to say. Anytime you see the word “therefore,” you need ask what is it there for. The word means for this reason, so that, accordingly, in this way, thus, or as follows. It causes us to look back as we look ahead. And Paul uses it not once, but twice here verse one. He’s hooking up the idea of his pursuit of Jesus while waiting for His spectacular encore with the encouragement that we should all do the same. 

Like a passionate fan, Paul has nicknames for his favorite team. The folks back in Philippi are “my brothers, whom I love and long for, my crown and my joy…my beloved” (v1). He begins by reminding them that every follower of Jesus is a family member. “My brothers” (v1). Don’t make the mistake of thinking the apostle is just talking to the guys. Read this as “brothers and sisters.” The Philippians have a special place in his heart. “Whom I love…my beloved” (v1). Twice he uses the Greek word for someone on the receiving end of agape. This the self-sacrificing love-in-action that Jesus demonstrates to you and me. As a matter of fact, our Heavenly Dad used this very same term of endearment when talking to His one and only Son Jesus (Mt 3:17; 12:18).

From his prison cell in Caesar’s Supermax, Paul thinks about his Philippian friends all the time. He writes how they are “whom…I long for” (v1). He writes a word in the original text (Gr. epipothetos) which describes one yearned for, an affectionately craving, a powerful desire, or pursuit out of love. He expresses the deep pain of separation. It hurts to be cut off from them. Earlier he let them know, “I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:8). Have you ever been separated from a dear friend or loved one and couldn’t get them out of your head? Well, Paul feels your pain. He would do just about anything to hang out with his crew again. 

The apostle calls his friends “my joy” (v1). They are his delight. They make him overwhelmingly happy. Just thinking about them gives him great pleasure. But joy? Really? The dude is in the slammer. But his delight has nothing to do with his circumstances. As a matter of fact, this letter to the Philippians absolutely drips with joy. Fourteen different times, Paul uses a form of the word “joy” or “rejoice” (Phil 1:4, 18, 25; 2:2, 17, 18, 28, 29; 3:1; 4:1, 4, 10). His relationship with Jesus brings the apostle a deep delight that prison can’t take away. And knowing his friends back in Philippi are faithful in following Jesus gives him joy in the joint.

These folks not only put happiness in his heart but a “crown” (v1) on his head. He uses the Greek word (Gr. stephanos) which means wreath, which was the award given to the winner of athletic competition. It’s the prize won as a symbol of honor and victory. Our man Paul sure seems to be a big sports fan. He’s constantly talking about trophies and titles won by athletes in competition (1Cor 9:25). The Philippian church is proof positive that his work to tell the world about Jesus is a success! The church down the road in Thessalonica is also community of believers that exists as proof of this worker’s success (1Th 2:19). This crown of Philippian believers came as a result of Paul throwing everything else aside in order to know Jesus (Phil 3:7-11).

Like a fan urging on his team, the apostle cheers them to “stand firm thus in the Lord” (v1). He actually drops a military term (Gr. steko) describing a soldier who refuses to get knocked back from his position. Think of a goal line stand in football. Picture a basketball team needing a stop. It’s crunch time. The game is on the line. Vince Lombardi liked to say, “When the going gets tough the tough get going!” How ‘bout Jim Valvano’s who said, “Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up!” Over and over, the Apostle Paul encourages fellow believers to hold their ground and not give in (1Cor 16:13; Gal 5:1; 1Th 3:8). Earlier in this same letter, Paul pleads for the Philippians live Gospel-worthy lives because then he “will know that you are standing firm (Gr. steko) in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil 1:27).

We need to hang tough in our trust of Jesus. We need to hang tough in our relationship with Christ. Not the church. Not on the job. Not in the family. Not in reading the Bible. Not in politics. Not in our volunteer work. Not in hobbies. Those things are awesome. But they pale in comparison to our faith in Jesus. Many people like to say “once saved, always saved.” They think that simply because they said a prayer, walked an aisle, or got wet that they’re eternally good to go. Not so fast my friend. The better idea is “IF saved, always saved.” We hang tough when we exhibit the fruit of our faith in our lives. Are we going to stumble? You betcha. Are we going to fall flat on our faces? Count on it. While we don’t save ourselves, Scripture clearly tells us to do everything we can to hang on to Jesus with everything we have. Paul calls us to a life of following Christ because He’s already saved us. We MUST hang tough in Jesus! He certainly won’t let go of you and me. 

Who’s cheering you on? Who gets loud in your life when the game is on the line? Having raving fans is critical to following Christ. Meanwhile, who are you encouraging to hang in there as a Jesus follower? Who needs to hear your voice now that there backs are against the wall? Who are you reminding to be faithful because our Savior is faithful? Let’s be the biggest fans of our brothers and sisters. As Eugene Peterson says in the Message, “My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God” (v1 The Message). Get on your feet and let the team hear you! It’s crunch time. Dig in. Make a stand. Great teams have great fans.

The Chase for the Championship

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

For pro football players, it’s all about the Lombardi Trophy. In baseball, the goal is raising the World Series banner. NBA players will do anything to win a ring. The Stanley Cup is the ultimate prize in hockey. Winning the championship and taking home the trophy drives professional athletes to unthinkable sacrifice and effort. But Paul makes it clear there’s real only one award that matters. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (v14). The apostle is obviously a first century sports fan. He’s like an athlete going for broke to win it all. However this isn’t about taking home a trophy. Paul pushes hard to get his hands on everything God has for him in Jesus. It’s all about the chase for the championship.

Earlier in his life, the apostle devoted himself to filling his trophy case (Phil 3:4-6). His goal was to impress God by piling up accomplishments on his religious resume. Boy, did he ever. There was just one little problem. Once he met the resurrected Jesus, the former Pharisee realized he was totally wasting his time. It was like trying to win the Super Bowl playing fantasy football. Everything he’d done wasn’t even going to get him into the playoffs, much less a championship. Only after God saved Paul did he come to understand Christ had already won the title for him. It wasn’t about piling up stats or winning awards. It was all about trusting in what Jesus had done for us. Once he realized all that God has done for him, the apostle chased after the championship Christ had already won for him.

Paul is devoted to “press on toward the goal for the prize” (v14). “Press on” is the Greek verb dioko. It describes running after, chasing, or hunting something down. It carries the idea of aggression and relentlessness. Earlier in his career as a terrorist, the man formerly known as Saul was “persecuting (Gr. dioko) the church” (Phil 3:6). Once Jesus got ahold of him and put him on God’s team, Paul was going to “press on (Gr. dioko)” for a deeper intimacy with his Savior (Phil 3:12). He’s in hot pursuit of the ultimate prize. If we’re comparing our journey with Jesus with a sports season, realizing God has made us part of kingdom is like making the playoffs. But just getting to the postseason isn’t enough. That’s just the first step his road to the title. The hunt is just beginning. Just like in sports, the intensity ratchets up during the playoffs. Teams devote themselves totally to winning the title 24/7 in the postseason. Former NFL coach George Allen used to say, “The future is now!” If you think there’s a difference in effort in the playoffs, that’s nothing compared to Paul’s commitment to know more of Jesus.

The apostle is focused on the “goal” (v14). The Greek word here is skopos. It means a distant object one is trying to reach, something which all activity is directed, or the aim. This is actually an athletic term for the finish line. That’s not surprising. Several times in his letters, Paul reads like a sportswriter covering first century sports (Rom 11:11; 1Cor 9:24-27; Gal 5:7; Phil 1:27-30; 2:16-18; 2Tim 2:5; 4:7; 1Th 2:19). Picture a scene from your favorite sport during crunch time. A ball carrier stretching toward the pylon. A basketball player focused on the hoop. A golfer locked in on the cup. We’re talking total focus. Blinders. Tunnel vision.

His eyes are on the “prize” (Gr. brabeion). Once again, Paul sounds like he’s writing for ESPN or Deadspin instead of to a church in Macedonia. This describes the award which goes to the winner of the competition. It comes from the word for umpire or referee who awards the prize. This is doing everything within the rules to win. No cheating. No PEDs. You win fair and square. In a letter to Corinth, he writes, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize (Gr. brabeion)?” (1Cor 9:24). He’s talking about winning a medal in the Olympics. Lifting the Stanley Cup. Raising the World Series pennant. The apostle has his eyes on the prize of knowing Jesus. Nothing else matters.

Paul compares knowing Jesus as win at all costs. It reminds me of some great quotes throughout the years. Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi said, “Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.” NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt would say, “Second place is just the first loser.” But is there a better quote on victory than the words of Ricky Bobby? “If you ain’t first,  you’re last!” Well, if winning means more of Christ, the apostle would be the first to agree.

For a follower of Jesus, the ultimate championship is “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (v14). In other words, God calls us to Himself through His Son. It’s Jesus who lived the perfect life on our behalf. In sports terms, He’s undefeated and unscored on. Every game isn’t just a no-hitter, it’s a perfect game. He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He’s got the title in His hands and invites us to share in His victory. Jesus is the Goal. Jesus is the Prize. I love how Eugene Peterson paraphrases verse 14. “I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” (v14 The Message). Eyes on the prize, baby. This is the chase for the ultimate championship!

In Hot Pursuit

“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” (Philippians 3:12).

“Who are those guys?!?” No matter what Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid tried to do, they couldn’t shake the posse on their tail. It’s one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies. Lawman Joe Lefors and a native American tracker named Lord Baltimore are in hot pursuit. They’re relentless. They’re aggressive. Nothing will stop them. A few centuries before Paul Newman and Robert Redford made the the Hole and the Wall Gang a household name, a man named Paul spent his life in hot pursuit. In his younger days, his name was Saul and he hunted down Jesus’ followers to arrest and kill them. After his conversion, he used that same intensity to chase after Jesus Himself to experience a deeper relationship with Him. Funny thing. The apostle puts the pedal to the metal to chase after the Savior who hunted him down in the first place. Paul is in hot pursuit because he’s been hotly pursued.

Let’s step back and get a little perspective to what’s happening here. A quick check of the calendar tells us it’s around 61-62 AD. The Apostle Paul is in Caesar’s Supermax in Rome waiting for the emperor to hear his appeal. He fires off a letter to some of his favorite people on the planet, a group of believers in the Macedonian seaport of Philippi. Paul and his travel team first visited the city about ten years back. They brought the amazing message of Jesus to Philippi and things got crazy. God used the man from Tarsus and his crew to turn the joint upside down. It would be very easy for these Philippian friends to put Paul on a pedestal. And why not? The dude sure seems to have his stuff together. Is there any doubt he has everything figured out? In the words of the great theologian Lee Corso, “Not so fast, my friend!” The apostle lets these disciples know in no uncertain terms that the only thing he’s really figured out is he’s desperate for more of Jesus. He’s anything but cocky. He’s far from finished. He’s simply a beggar who’s been shown where to find the Bread. 

Paul has just written how he wasted a lot of his life piling up accomplishments and awards for his religious resume (Phil 3:4-6). It turns out God wasn’t going to be impressed one stinking bit by his credentials. No matter how many trophies he put on the shelf or how many plaques he hung on the wall, it wasn’t going to be enough. As a matter of fact, they were no better than a big steaming pile compared to a personal relationship with Jesus (Phil 3:7-8). As a result, the apostle chucks it all in order to know Jesus and truly experience all that He has accomplished on his behalf. It’s not about Paul’s feeble attempt at self-salvation through his own goodness but Jesus’ complete and total perfection (Phil 3:9). The apostle puts the hammer down and races after Christ, “the power of His resurrection” (Phil 3:10), and the “resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:11). He’s not there yet. Not even close. But he’s headed in the right direction in a very big hurry. He’s in hot pursuit of Jesus and His resurrection.

You’d think if Jesus tapped you on the shoulder as the primo apostle to non-Jews around the world, you’d have things all buttoned up and nailed down. Not our man Paul. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect” (v12). The deeper he gets in his relationship with Christ, the more he realizes he’s just in the kiddie pool. He doesn’t have it all figured out. As a matter of fact, a quick look at Paul’s life in Scripture reveals how his humility and desperation grow through the years. In one of his letters to the Corinthian church written around 55 AD, he describes himself as the “least of the apostles” (1Cor 15:9). A few years later (probably 61 AD), he demotes himself to the Ephesians as the “least of all the saints” (Eph 3:8). And just a couple of years later (circa 63 AD), Paul puts himself at the back of a very long line. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1Tim 1:15). 

Let’s review Paul’s journey. First, he’s least of the apostles. Then least of of the saints. Finally, chief of sinners. I don’t know about you, but shouldn’t he be moving in the opposite direction? But it actually makes perfect sense. The more he grows in his relationship with Jesus, the more he realizes his desperation. The more it becomes glaringly apparent he has not “already obtained this” (v12). The more is crystal clear he’s not “already perfect” (v12). Becoming more spiritually mature is actually acknowledging our absolute and utter need for more of Jesus each and every moment of each and every day. How about you? Do you think you’ve got it figured out? Do you believe you’ve got your stuff in one bag with a handy twist tie? Just stop it. Stop trying to fool people into thinking you’ve got it all together! If Paul didn’t, who in the heck do you think you are?!? For Pete’s sake, the dude wrote most of the New Testament. People don’t need you to stand there with an “S” on your chest and your cape blowing in the wind for Jesus. They need to know you struggle just like they do. The only difference is an eternity changing relationship with the resurrected Rabbi from Nazareth.

The more he understands his own great need, Paul wastes no time hightailing after it. “I press on to make it my own” (v12). He uses a Greek verb (Gr. dioko) that means to run after, pursue, or chase after something. This is no casual stroll down the primrose path. This is an all out sprint. The term paints a picture of relentlessness, intensity, singular focus, and aggression. It’s such a power-packed word that a couple of Gospel writers use it when talking about the intense persecution (Mt 23:34; Jn 5:16). Earlier in his life, Paul was in hot pursuit of Jesus and His followers. In fact, when the risen Christ blindsided the apostle formerly known as Saul outside Damascus, He asked him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting (Gr. dioko) Me?” (Acts 9:4). The former Pharisee pulled no punches in his hunting down of Christ’s disciples. “I persecuted (Gr. dioko) this Way to the death” (Acts 22:4). But after his initial encounter with Jesus, everything changed. Paul is still intensely chasing, but now it’s after more of Christ, more of His grace, more of His mercy, more of His love. He’s in hot pursuit.

The apostle’s relentless quest is all “because Christ Jesus has made me His own” (v12). Paul belongs to the Lord because our Savior hunted him down first. An English poet by the name of Francis Thompson wrote a little called “The Hound of Heaven.” It’s all about God’s unrelenting hunt to find and save the lost. He unleashes His pack of bloodhounds to chase you and me down. There’s no escaping Him. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Jesus caught up with Paul just before he took the exit for Damascus. Christ got a grip on him and never let him go. Has our Savior made you His own? If so, take a tip from the apostle. Paul is in hot pursuit because he’s been hotly pursued. Has Christ not caught up with you? If not, you may want to take a peek over your shoulder. The Hound of Heaven is hot pursuit.

By Any Means Necessary

“that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:11)

It all comes down to this single moment. The game is on the line. It’s do or die. You must make the play. You’ll do whatever it takes. Like a ball carrier willing to sacrifice his body in a all out dive over the defender into the end zone in the Super Bowl. Like baserunner flying round third for a bang-bang play at the plate in the World Series. You MUST do it! By any means necessary. That’s the picture Paul paints here in Philippians 3, “that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” Somehow he’s got to grab the brass ring of eternal life. Someway he’s got to make his escape from the rotting corpses. He’ll do whatever it takes. By any means necessary.

From the slammer in Rome, the apostle is writing a letter of encouragement to his friends back in Philippi. Just a few years back, Paul and his posse rolled into the Macedonian seaport carrying the Good News of Jesus into Europe for the very first time (Acts 16:12-40). God used the man from Tarsus to plant a church out of an unlikely bunch. A transplanted fashionista from Thyatira. A formerly demon-possessed young woman liberated from human trafficking. A tough-as-nails prison guard and his family. This goofy bunch of believers has a special place in Paul’s heart. So after sending letters to churches with serious issues in places like Ephesus and Colossae, he grabs his pen one more time. This time it drips with joy as well as ink. He reminds them how he wasted much of his life trying to impress God with his religious resume (Phil 3:4-6). It was only when he met the resurrected Jesus face-to-face that he realized all his own accomplishments and awards were no more than a big steaming pile (Phil 3:7-8). He had one goal. He had one target. A deep and intimate relationship with the One who came to his rescue. And nothing was going to get in his way.

Paul picks right up where he left off in verse 10. Once he dies and becomes like Jesus in His death, he knows his own resurrection will follow. He’s putting everything on the line in order that he “may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Phil 3:10). A personal relationship with the Son of God logically leads to access to His explosive resurrection power. That means we also become teammates in Jesus’ pain, suffering, and death. But the apostle circles back once again to the glorious end game, “the resurrection from the dead” (v11). He’ll lay it all on the line to get it. By any means necessary.

A closer look at the original language reveals a couple of curious things. Paul drops a tiny Greek word (Gr. pos) from which the ESV translators give us “by any means possible” (v11). It means somehow, in some way, after all, or by some means. If there’s any sliver of hope, the apostle will “attain” what he’s after. This is the verb katantao, which can be translated to come to, arrive, or reach, finish a journey. Cross the goal line. Touch home plate. The apostle is will sell out to make it happen. Picture a running back sacrificing his body to dive for the score.

At first you might read this verse and scratch your head. There sure seems to be a boatload of doubt in Paul’s mind about arriving at his goal of resurrection. Is he hedging his bets? Is he unsure of what will eventually happen? Is he apprehensive about how this will all end? Relax. Robertson tells us this is not so much an expression of doubt, but of humility. There’s no question in Paul’s mind he’ll walk out of the graveyard just like every other believer. He simply knows he’s done nothing in his own efforts to make it happen. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?

Our author will use every club in his bag in order to get ahold of “the resurrection from the dead” (v11). MacArthur points out Paul uses a phrase that literally means a “resurrection out from the corpses.” He’s emphasizing the rising up and escape of believers out of the sea of lifeless bodies. Ewww! Sounds gross, doesn’t it? Seems like a scene from the “Walking Dead” or “World War Z.” Well, it should. There’s nothing the apostle won’t do to put death in his rearview mirror. And he’s going to do everything he can to share the Gospel of Jesus with everyone who will listen so that they can join him in his escape to resurrection.

Here’s the crazy thing. On one hand, Paul says he’ll take extreme measures to get his hands on resurrection. But that only happens through a relationship with Jesus (Phil 3:10). We only attain His resurrection because He’s attained it for us. We can’t do it. There’s no way. We CANNOT save ourselves. We can’t make ourselves good enough. We can’t build up enough brownie points. We can’t win enough awards. What we can do is place our trust in the One who has. Jesus attained the perfect live I failed to live. He died the bloody death I should have died. He rose to the jaw-dropping resurrection life I don’t deserve. I believe in what He did on my behalf. I have to. There’s no way I can attain it on my own. You see, Christ was willing to do whatever it took to “attain the resurrection from the dead” (v11) for you and me. The night before His murder, the Son asked the Father if there was any other way this could go down. Jesus determines to do whatever His Dad decides (Lk 22:42). By any means necessary.

Knowing Jesus

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Philippians 3:10).

How can you really know a Person who hasn’t walked the earth for more than 2,000 years? Is it really possible to have the mythical “personal relationship with Christ” so many of His followers claim is possible? You’re telling me I can have an intimate friendship with Somebody I can’t see, can’t hear, and can’t touch. What are you smoking?!? But Paul says this relationship with Jesus is not only possible but something each of His followers can experience. He should know. The man from Tarsus didn’t really begin his friendship with the Lord until AFTER Christ was crucified, dead, and buried. The apostle tells us his personal desire is truly growing in His knowing of Jesus through three key ideas. Knowing and actually experiencing His resurrection power. Knowing and actually sharing His suffering. Knowing and actually sharing in His death. Intimacy with the risen Rabbi/Carpenter from Nazareth is really and truly available to you and me. Once we come to a personal relationship with Jesus through His resurrection, His suffering, and His death, everything else is just background noise. 

If anybody should know, it’s our man Paul. This former Pharisee spent the early days of his career as one of the best and brightest in Judaism (Phil 3:5-6). Top of his class. A five-star recruit. First round draft pick. He was so aggressive and rabid in his defense of his religion that he devoted himself to ruthlessly wiping any mention of Jesus and his followers from the planet. But a funny thing happened on his way to kill more Christians in Damascus. Jesus happened. The RESURRECTED Jesus happened! Christ divinely blindsided the man known as Saul and transformed the number one enemy of His church into His number one spokesman (Acts 9:1-22). It’s not everyday you end up becoming best friends with your mugger, but that’s how Paul’s relationship with Jesus began. I guess you could say the apostle never saw this friendship coming.

Paul tells his friends back in Philippi how he soon realized that his once impressive religious resume is now worthless (Phil 3:7). He goes so far as to say all of his credentials, awards, and accomplishments are really nothing more than a big steaming pile compared to his relationship with Jesus (Phil 3:8). If you think that’s disgusting and shouldn’t be in the Bible, take it up with Paul. He goes on to talk about trusting in what Christ has done for us that we could never do for ourselves (Phil 3:9). We lean on His perfectly obedient life. We lean on His death for our sin. We lean on His spectacular resurrection. 

But our relationship with Jesus is much more than flipping back through the pages of history and remembering a few facts (spectacular facts, but facts nonetheless). Following Christ is not just the past. It’s the present. It’s for the future. The apostle has made it his life’s goal “that I may know Him” (v10). He’s not looking to simply gather data about the Son of God through a Google search and a trip to the library. Knowing ABOUT Him is never a bad idea. But truly knowing Christ is at the top of his priorities each and every day. Remember, this dude met the risen Jesus face-to-face on an expressway outside Damascus. Yet he’s absolutely consumed with the desire for a deeper relationship and intimate friendship with his Savior. He’s not satisfied with a one-and-done encounter. And he says we shouldn’t be either. 

For us to truly dive into the deep end of our friendship with Jesus, Paul says we should start with “the power of His resurrection” (v10). Imagine the kind of supernatural energy it took to bring our Savior back to life. The Greek word translated “power” is dunamis, which means might, strength, or force. It doesn’t describe some sort of minimum strength capability. This term ripples with explosive power. Back when Alfred Nobel invented his explosive blasting powder, he went to this very same ancient word for the brand name dynamite. You may want to step back. The resurrection of Jesus is HIGHLY VOLATILE! The radical Rabbi/Carpenter gave the world a teaser trailer of what was to come when He called His old buddy Lazarus out of grave (Jn 11:43-44). Just before calling her brother back from the dead, Christ tells Laz’ sister Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25). 

Paul tells the Romans how God didn’t used TNT to blast Jesus out of the grave, but His Holy Spirit. “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom 8:11). The very same Spirit who brought the Son out of the graveyard lives in every follower of Jesus. Any Marvel fans out there? The Spirit-powered resurrection makes the infamous infinity stones look like a worthless gravel. It makes nuke plant look like a half-dead D battery. To steal a line from one of our great hymns of the faith, Jesus’ resurrection” (v10) gives me strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. God gives this very same power He used to raise His Son from the dead to you and me. His resurrection is so powerful it allows us to replace religion with a relationship. Once we experience a friendship with Jesus and “the power of His resurrection” (v10), we ought to come with a warning label. 

I’m not going to lie. I would be happy for Paul to slam on the breaks right here. I’m stoked about whole resurrection power deal but would rather pass on what comes next if you don’t mind. Suffering? No thank you. Death? I’ll politely decline. But as a friend once told me, we can’t get to Resurrection Sunday with joining Jesus at Calvary on Friday. Paul knows that a personal relationship with our Savior means the privilege being able to “share in His sufferings” (v10). If you’ve spent any time around traditional church folks, you’ve heard them talk about koinonia. That’s Christianese for hanging out in the church basement after a pot luck supper of casseroles. For many of us, that’s as close to true suffering as we’ll ever get. 

However the original Greek meaning of koinonia describes a close mutual relationship or partnership. Think of being teammates. We’re on Jesus’ team because of His suffering. By personally experiencing unspeakable and unimaginable pain on our behalf, Christ provides you and me with supernatural comfort as we suffer (Heb 2:18; 4:15; 12:2-4). Because He experience the full extent of pain, we can expect to experience some of it as His followers (1Pet 2:21-24). And it’s in our suffering that we truly become teammates with the Lord. Our relationship with Jesus means not only growing in our knowing about His resurrection power but growing in our knowing of His suffering too. But our suffering with Jesus means being comforted by Jesus. “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too” (2Cor 1:5). While I would rather politely decline this pain-filled invitation, it’s the surefire source of an intimate friendship with the resurrected Son of God.

The apostle doesn’t stop there. We truly experience a deep relationship with Jesus by “becoming like Him in His death” (v10). Again, I wasn’t crazy about the whole suffering part. I’m even less excited about the dying deal. But Paul tells us this is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to knowing Christ. The Savior didn’t die a meaningless death on a cross. Hundreds of thousands of other victims suffered this torturous death at the hands of the Roman Empire. But Jesus’ crucifixion was different. He died for you. He died for me. And there was nothing we did to deserve this incredible act of love. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). The cross didn’t just drip with His blood but His amazing grace as well. We become like the Lord in His death when we do for others what they can’t do for themselves. We become like Him in His death when do for them what they don’t deserve. We become like Him in His death when we serve others. That’s why the Bible is full of the encouragement to die to self (Mt 10:38; Mk 8:35; Lk 9:23; Jn 12:25; Gal 2:20; 5:16). We become like Christ in His death when we stop concerning ourselves with ourselves. We grow in our relationship with Jesus when we get our serve on. 

We can truly experience a dynamic intimacy with Jesus even though He headed home to heaven 2,000 years ago. Take it from Paul. It starts with understanding and unleashing the explosive resurrection power of God’s Spirit living inside you and me. We also grow in our relationship when we suffer alongside Him. Christ is right there with us, comforting us every step of the way. We really dive into the deep end of knowledge of Jesus when we die to ourselves and serve others. You see, it IS possible to have a personal relationship with our Savior. Once we do, everything else is just background noise.

Fakes, Imitations & Cheap Knockoffs

“no devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth” (v14)

My wife and I were walking through the funky, cool neighborhoods of lower Manhattan a few years ago. We love Greenwich Village, Little Italy, and Chinatown. But something surprised us when my wife was looking at purses one tiny shop. The lady behind the counter made her an offer. “We can make it Fendi for you.” What’s she talking about? My lovely bride said, “No, thank you” and we walked out the door. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. Deb let me know that the woman was willing to turn one of the store’s generic purses into a designer bag. Yeah, I’m a little slow on the uptake. For just a few dollars, my wife could have walked out with purse with a Fendi logo. Well, at least one that LOOKED like a Fendi. That was just one of many stores that had to be making a fortune selling fakes, imitations, and cheap knockoffs. 

Here in this letter, Paul tells Titus to shut down a team of false teachers that are peddling a message that sure sounds like the Gospel. It sounds religious. As a matter of fact, it sounds VERY religious. They’re talking about all sorts of Jewish stuff. They sure seem to know what they’re talking about. There’s only one problem. It’s NOT the Gospel. It’s NOT about Jesus. Using a lot of religious mumbo jumbo, these snake oil salesmen aren’t drawing people closer to Christ but farther away. They are selling fakes, imitations, and cheap knockoffs.

One factor that makes any false teacher dangerous is when they seem to know what they are talking about. That’s the case with these Cretan con artists. You see, they’re members of what Paul calls the “circumcision party” (Titus 1:10). They’re Jewish Christians who believe that non-Jews must convert to Judaism before they can even think of following Jesus. This isn't the first time the apostle has run into such crazy talk. It happened in Galatia. Even Paul’s pals Peter and Barnabas got caught up in that mess (Gal 2:7-13). It’s hard for us to wrap our brains around what a huge controversy this was for the new church. Eventually they called a meeting at the home office in Jerusalem to figure out what to do (Acts 15). The leadership team decided that if God was bringing in Gentiles without making them become Jews first, who were they to get in His way.

The false teachers are dazzling these new Cretan Christians with a lot of scriptural hocus pocus. One of the rabbits they pull out of their hat are “Jewish myths and commands of people who turn people from the truth” (v14). They talk at length about stuff that sure sounds churchy and religious. They drop a lot of important sounding theological words. There’s just one little problem. It’s NOT true! It’s NOT God’s Word! And the same thing is still going on today. You’ve heard about this stuff. Kabbalah. The Bible Code. The Daniel Diet. The Search for Noah’s Ark. Folks get caught up in a lot of crap that sure seems religious but actually has very little to do with the Gospel. They’re just fakes, imitations, and cheap knockoffs.

We all need to take a step back and take a long, hard look at what’s being taught. Ultimately, is the message focused on Jesus? Is it telling us who He is and what He’s done? Is it drawing deeper and deeper into a relationship with our Savior? Are we being encouraged to focus on the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2)? Or are we simply being fed a big pile of religious sounding hooey? Is it all just spiritual smoke and mirrors? Here’s the bottom line, the entire Bible is about Jesus. He’s THE Hero of THE Story. Don’t major in the minors. As Stephen Covey says, “Keep the main thing, the main thing.” And the Main Thing is JESUS! When we spend all of our time looking at the trees with a microscope, we miss the beauty of the forest of the Gospel! Don’t fall for fakes, imitations, and cheap knockoffs.

Tangled up in "Eww"

“For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” (v20).

We’ve all heard the stories. Someone who’s apparently beaten addiction falls off the wagon and plummets deeper into the darkness than they’ve ever been before. Maybe it was someone you loved. Shoot, maybe it was you. It’s heartbreaking to know that a person can taste freedom from their demons only to get tangled up again. In many ways, this is worse. They’ve experienced sobriety but have made the choice to return.

The Apostle Peter wants us to know there’s a similar back story for these false teachers who are making the rounds. A posse of spiritual snake oil salesmen are infiltrating local churches and teaching a message that rots these fellowships from the inside out (2:1-3). If it’s not bad enough that they’re out to make a fast buck (2:3, 14-15), these hucksters are also sexual predators (2:10, 13-14, 18). But even worse than that, they’ve heard all about Jesus. They know the Gospel. They’ve heard the Good News. They’ve learned some Bible. However, they’ve chucked any chance at a deep and personal relationship with Christ for a life without Him. “Nah, we’re good,” they say. “That stuff might work for you, but not for us.” Sound familiar? As a result, they’re worse off than they were before hearing about Him.

In the midst of this gut-wrenching story, Pete drops a powerful reminder of just who Jesus is and what He’s done. The Son of God provides us with a way to free ourselves from “the defilements of the world” (v20). Only through Him have we “escaped” (Gr. apopheugo). This Greek word only appears three times in the New Testament and all three of them are right here in Pete’s sequel. Check for yourself (1:4; 2:18). It means to flee from or become safe from danger. The former fisherman opens this note with a spectacular fanfare of the amazing benefits of a relationship with Jesus. One of those is we become teammates “of the divine nature, having escaped (Gr. apopheugo) from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire” (1:14). Only our Savior can bust us out of the joint of our own sin.

Our prison reeks. Can’t you smell it? The apostle describes how Jesus frees us from “the defilements” (v20) and uses the word miasma. It means contamination, pollution, or corruption. According to MacArthur the term carries the idea of putrid or poisonous vapors. In the words of those great philosophers and theologians Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Can’t you smell that smell? The smell of death surrounds you.” It’s nasty. It’s noxious. Tangled up in “eww.” The problem is that we’ve been in that stank so long we can’t smell it. 

A personal relationship with our Savior delivers us from all of the slimy stench.  Once again, Pete pleads with us to experience “the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v20). This is the third time in this letter that the leader of the apostles invites to know the resurrected Rabbi from Nazareth. Only when we know Jesus personally that He multiplies His “grace and peace” in our lives (1:2). Only when we know Jesus personally does He give us everything we’ll ever need for “life and godliness” (1:3). Here’s the deal. Pete wants us to know that the same deep relationship he had with Jesus is available to you and me. 

Don’t fly right by who he says Jesus is. He’s “our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v20). As our Lord, He’s in charge. Jesus is our Leader. Let’s follow Him and do what He says. As our Savior, He’s our Hero. Jesus left the indescribable comforts of the heavenly palace to go dumpster diving for you and me. He came to our rescue when we couldn’t rescue ourselves. As Christ, He’s God’s long-promised One. Christ is the New Testament equivalent to the Old Testament Messiah. Pete’s reminding us that Jesus is the point of the entire story. The One God promised the satanic snake in the garden would eventually crush his demonic head (Gen 3:15). Leader. Hero. Messiah. That’s the One who has come to save us!

There’s just one problem for the false teachers. They’ve heard all about Jesus but “are again entangled” in the same crap all over again (v20). The filth of the world has once again kicked their tails. They are “overcome” (v20). A closer look at the original text paints a picture of people who are entwined in a massive knot. They’re bound up. The stuff they’re involved in severely restricts what they can do. That makes sense. Earlier Pete describes these hucksters as “slaves of corruption” (2:19). They may promise freedom while at the same time are actually entangled in their own sin.

As the apostle tells us their back story, he warns us of what happens when we don’t have a relationship with Jesus. These false teachers know ABOUT Christ. They know ABOUT the Gospel. They ABOUT the Bible. But they don’t really know our Lord and Savior. You can spend a ton of time in church or around Jesus’ followers without ever truly experiencing salvation. Some folks will talk about “once saved, always saved.” If that’s the case, how can these con artists be worse off than they were before? That’s because a better way to understand the idea of eternal security is through the phrase “IF saved, always saved.” The false teachers were all around Him but never knew Him. They were never saved to start with. Think of it as an inoculation. It was kind of like they had just enough of Jesus to keep from getting Him. 

Do you know Him? I mean REALLY know Him. A relationship with Jesus is more than knowing a bunch of facts about Him. Have you gotten a taste of His amazing rescue? In many ways, this is my story. I was so close to Christ but really didn’t know Him. I was perilously close to being like the addict who successfully completes rehab only to fall deeper down the rat hole of abuse. To paraphrase Bob Dylan, I was tangled up in “eww.” Only then, did I really meet and fall in love with my Savior.

Do you know Him? REALLY know Him? Are you re-snarled in your sin? Is the knot worse than before? Can you smell that smell? The smell of death surrounds you.

Up and to the Right

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v8).

So just how do you really get to know Jesus? How in the wide world of sports do you have a so-called “personal relationship” with Christ? Can I be blunt? This amazing Rabbi/Carpenter walked the earth more than 2,000 years ago. After His blooding crucifixion, He headed back home to heaven. If to know, know, know Him is to love, love, love Him, how do I do that? Well, our pal Peter has the key. He should know. Pete was a member of Jesus’ inner circle, the leader of the Twelve as well as the first preacher in the church. I can’t think of anyone better to let me know how to know my Savior.

First, the apostle wonders if we have “these qualities” in our hot little hands. He’s talking about the list in verses 5-7. These are the ingredients to a delicious Gospel Stew. Faith. Virtue. Knowledge. Self-control. Steadfastness. Godliness. Brotherly affection. Love. It doesn’t matter how much you have of each component. Simply chuck what you have into the pot. This is the stuff that enables us to unlock a real relationship with our risen Savior. So you might want to take a moment to look over that recipe one more time. 

Pete tells us that these ingredients should be “yours and are increasing” (v8). The first word in the original language is huparcho. It means to be at one’s disposal, have as a resource, be at hand or belong to someone. Check the list. Do you have them? He doesn’t ask how much you have. He simply wants to know IF you have them. If you’re a follower of Jesus, these qualities are certainly part of who you are. OK, they might be small. Shoot, they may even be microscopic. But you’ve got’em. 

He wants to know if these personal characteristics are growing. Are they “increasing” (v8)? This is Greek verb pleonazo, which means to be more than enough, greatly abound and grow to the point of abundance. It describes something that is increasing and superabounding. If you put these qualities on a chart, are they going up and to the right? Earlier, Peter pleaded with his readers to work their tails off to add to each item on the earlier list. “Make every effort to supplement” them (1:5). He’s talking max effort. Or in the words of Scottie on Star Trek, “I’m givin’ her all she’s got, captain! She can’t take anymore!!” You might not have much of the items, but work your heiny off to increase what you have. It won’t be long until they “increasing.” Growing. Even superabounding!

The apostle then lets us know what happens if we fail to increase in these Christ following characteristics. We will be “ineffective or unfruitful” (v8). That’s actually a rather sanitized version of what’s in the original letter. The former hardworking fisherman uses the Greek word argos. It actually means no work. In one of His parables, Jesus talked about how the boss “saw others standing idle (Gr. argos) in the workplace” (Mt 20:3). Paul warned his buddy Titus about the work ethic among the people he was serving. “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy (Gr. argos) gluttons” (Titus 1:12). Do I seriously want to be inactive, not working, idle and unemployed? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want THAT to be on my resume!!

If that’s not bad enough, Pete warns that we run the danger of becoming “unfruitful” (Gr. akarpos). This literally means without fruit. Barren. Unproductive. Unprofitable. Paul gave the Ephesians a heads up when it came to what not to do. “Take no part in the unfruitful (Gr. akarpos) works of darkness” (Eph 5:11). It’s the exact opposite of the relationship Jesus taught His posse about. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in Him, he it is that bears, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Connected to Christ=lots of fruit. Unconnected to the vine=no fruit.

The apostle says that the fruit he’s talking about is “the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v8). He’s NOT talking about filling your head with a bunch of facts about this first century Jewish Messiah. While that’s certainly a good idea, Pete’s talking about a relationship. 

Doing nothing. Producing nothing.

If I’m not maxing out to increase the qualities in the previous verses then I’ll be lazy and useless. I’m refusing to work. If I don’t have the qualities Pete lists in verses 5-7, I’ll look just like any other nonbeliever. So I need to get off my blessed assurance and use what God has so graciously given me to know Him more personally. This “knowledge” is epignosko, a deep understanding through personal experience. He’s given us everything we need “that pertain life and godliness” (1:3). And in doing so, He’s invited us to get to know Him. Personally. Relationally. Intimately. Jesus has given us everything. Now, get to work. That’s the surest way to get to know Him more deeply and intimately. A relationship that grows. A relationship that increases.

Up and to the right.