Knowing the Resurrection

Two things stand out in Paul's mind as he weighs the implications of the bodily resurrection of Christ for the Christian life: knowing the resurrection effects our conceptions about self-righteous works and knowing the resurrection effects progress in sanctification. The basis of both of these spiritual effects is that great bed rock of redemptive truth, bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead. Everything changed in Paul's life spiritually upon encountering the resurrected Christ; he counted both heredity and achievement as loss, and Christ's righteousness alone as gain. As Paul made progress in the Christian faith, he also began to see the necessity of knowing the power of the resurrection for the sanctified life as well and based upon hi own example he exhorts believers to seek this same power for their growth in godliness.