Philippians 3:10, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
To live the Christian life is to live a life of the cross. The life of the cross involves embracing suffering and death in the sense that we are willing to deny ourselves and follow Christ.
In His life, Jesus exemplified the way of the cross, suffering not only for our sins but also as a pattern for us to follow. To know Christ deeply, we must also experience the fellowship of His sufferings.
The cross is where the old life is terminated, and where God’s purpose in us is fulfilled. It is in the cross that we are conformed to His death, enabling us to experience His resurrection life.
To live the life of the cross:
1.Deny yourself daily – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself” (Luke 9:23).
2.Reckon yourself crucified with Christ – “I have been crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).
3.Experience the fellowship of His sufferings – Align your life with the pattern of His cross (Philippians 3:10).
Main Points:
– The Cross as the Way of Life: The Christian walk involves denying oneself and embracing the cross.
– Fellowship with Christ’s Sufferings: We must experience suffering as a way to know Christ more intimately.
– Conformity to His Death: Through the cross, we are made more like Christ in our attitudes and actions.
Prayer Confessions:
Lord, help me to embrace the life of the cross in all circumstances.
May I learn to deny myself daily and follow You more closely.
Let me experience the fellowship of Your sufferings and be conformed to Your death, Amen.
