Verse 10
10. That I may know him—experimentally. The aim of the "righteousness" just mentioned. This verse resumes, and more fully explains, "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ" ( :-). To know HIM is more than merely to know a doctrine about Him. Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself.
the power of his resurrection—assuring believers of their justification (Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:17), and raising them up spiritually with Him, by virtue of their identification with Him in this, as in all the acts of His redeeming work for us (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:1). The power of the Divine Spirit, which raised Him from literal death, is the same which raises believers from spiritual death now (Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 1:20), and shall raise their bodies from literal death hereafter (Ephesians 1:20- :).
the fellowship of his sufferings—by identification with Him in His sufferings and death, by imputation; also, in actually bearing the cross whatever is laid on us, after His example, and so "filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ" (Ephesians 1:20- :); and in the will to bear aught for His sake (Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; 2 Timothy 2:11). As He bore all our sufferings (2 Timothy 2:11- :), so we participate in His.
made conformable unto his death—"conformed to the likeness of His death," namely, by continued sufferings for His sake, and mortifying of the carnal self (Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20).
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