‘that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 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— 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 ‘
Philippians 3:8-11
Philippians 3: Maybe one of my favorite texts by Paul. Follow his train of thought…the path to knowing Christ requires that we “share his suffering.” Without death, there is no resurrection. Isn’t that the ultimate promise and experience that we have in Christ? Not a righteousness of our own but the gift of God. Paul says he counts all material and worldly things lost, compared to this ultimate wisdom. “…knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” [Read the chapter.]