Page 12 - June 2025 - Truth & Tidings

e have been noting ways in of life which is on the resurrection side of
which believers in the Lord death, as one who is spiritually risen with
WJesus can be looking to Christ Christ, so that when the Saviour comes
in Philippians 3. Having looked to Him again at the Rapture of the Church, the
for salvation as our perfect righteousness only thing that will need to be significantly
before God (v9), the apostle expresses changed will be that physical transforma-
how we continue to look to Him as the tion of our bodies being made like unto
supreme Object of our lives for present His body of glory.
sanctification (vv10-14). It is a tremendous thing to know the

Attaining Unto Resurrection risen Christ with us in our daily circum-
stances of living, conscious of His abiding
In verse 11, Paul speaks of a further presence, help and guidance for all things
aspect of our spiritual identification with here on earth. An even greater blessing is
the resurrection of Christ: “if by any means to leave this world spiritually, and be with
I might attain unto the resurrection of the Him where He is in those heavenly places,
dead.” The particular Greek word occurs enjoying Him as the risen Man, glorified
1
only here in the New Testament: the “out and exalted at God’s right hand. That’s
resurrection [Newberry] of the dead.” the essence of spiritual identification with
There will be that future physical resur- the risen Christ. “If ye then be risen with
rection of all believers in Christ out from Christ, seek those things which are above,
among the unbelieving dead. Paul speaks where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
about the physical bodily transformation God. Set your affection on things above,
of believers’ bodies in verse 21, when they not on things on the earth” (Col 3:1-2).
will be made like Christ’s own glorious
resurrection body when He comes again. Apprehended of Christ Jesus
But in verse 11, Paul expresses his de- In verse 12, we are looking to Christ as
sire to attain unto a spiritual condition our blessed Master, as those who have
whereby he will be living presently as one been apprehended by Him, to be His
who will be fully worthy of that future exclusive possession. Paul expresses his
physical out-resurrection of believers. It understanding that he has not yet ar-
will happen for all believers in the grace rived at the ultimate glorified purpose
and power of God, but Paul wanted to be of God for all believers: “not as though I
worthy of what God will do – in that sense, had already attained, either were already
to presently “attain unto the resurrection perfect [complete].” He does not want to
of the dead.” He desired to live the kind
become complacent and satisfied with the
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV spiritual level he has reached; otherwise,
unless otherwise noted. he knows he will likely make no further

172 TRUTH kTidings June 2025