THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST

The following sermon was given by George Müller, likely at a conference for Christians.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. (Philippians 3:8-10, NIV)

Beloved Christian friends, it seems to me that the subject before us tonight is “I want to know Christ.” The Holy Spirit, speaking by the apostle Paul, gives no particular reference to the measure of knowledge, which is absolutely necessary concerning the salvation of our souls, but instead points to a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, even as someone is intimately acquainted with a close friend. I gather this conclusion from connecting verse 8 to verse 10: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Then I consider what follows to be more like a parenthetical thought, so that the connection would read like, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings.” The parentheses would be: “For whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” To me, this refers to what Paul has already gained as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and which many of the dear children of God have too. But like Paul, we should not stay here, but should press on to greater intimacy with the Lord, to experience the power of His resurrection and fellowship with Him in His sufferings!

The natural question to ask is this: What does the Apostle mean when he says, “I want to know Him”? Paul wants to know the blessed One in all his worth and beauty, just as one day saints everywhere will see the King in his beauty and worth and all His attributes, when we will see Him in His glory. While the apostle was yet in the body, yet weak, still tempted, and not yet in glory, he desired deeper fellowship with Christ in all His worthiness, so that the joy and blessedness of glory in the age to come, even while yet on earth.

So then, what should the results be of this intimate knowledge of the worthy Lord, which Paul refers to? Evidently, it is that we become increasingly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ, which the apostle John writes about: “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is”—or know Him as He is (1 John 3:2, NIV). So knowing the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly, knowing Him in all His loveliness, seeing the King in His beauty, we will be made like Him. Now, the extent to which we, the children of God, while yet we are upon earth, know the Lord in all His beauty, in all His worthiness, in all His attributes, we shall be conformed into His image. And it’s because of this that the knowledge the Holy Spirit refers to is of immense value! And we should not say, “I know Him as the Savior of my soul! I shall at last be saved through Him.” Praise God if we know the Lord as our Savior. But this isn’t the ultimate goal; it’s for the glory of His name, for our increasing conformity to the image of the Lord while yet on earth. And to obtain this, a deeper intimacy with the precious Lord Jesus is to be sought after, so that no one remains at the elementary knowledge of knowing Christ only as Savior. This is the first truth I want to direct your attention to: where there is a deeper fellowship with the Lord Jesus, there we will be made more and more into His image.

Another result that will be gained is increased spiritual power, comfort and strength in every way. As proof of this, I refer to Isaiah 50:4 (NIV). Isaiah is referring to the Lord Jesus here. The blessed One Himself stated for the comfort and encouragement of His Church: 

The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

The great takeaway is that we can treat the Lord Jesus Christ as our closest friend. We are able to go to Him and say, “My precious Lord, speak a timely word to me,” when we are weary. While passing through the vale of tears, in the midst of trial and difficulty, in the midst of toil and sadness, in the midst of painful temptation, in the midst of conflict of greater or lesser degrees, the child of God who desires to walk in the ways of the Lord will, again, and again, and again, find himself spiritually worn. Now then, go to the precious Lord and say, “My Lord, speak to me a timely word, for I am weary.”  

These happy conference meetings are not so much for theological discussion as for spiritual encouragement. I, therefore, ask my brothers and sisters in Christ, how much do you know of this? Are you in the habit of going to the Lord Jesus Christ and saying, “My Lord, speak to my heart, for I am weary”? I tell you as one who has known the Lord Jesus for over fifty years: again and again, and again, have I gone to the Lord and said, “Lord, speak to Your servant a sustaining word, for I am weary!” And what have I found? Always this—I carry the testimony to the honor of my precious Lord—He has spoken to me timely words when I have been weary. My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, try this! Seek to prove the blessed Lord Jesus in this way, and you will find how ready that blessed One is to speak to you sustaining words when you are weary. These are not merely religious statements, but they are to be treasured up in our hearts and to be experientially known. But if you find it thus, oh, the blessedness of that state of heart to have a friend ready at all times and under all circumstances to speak to you a timely word when you are weary! Oh, the blessedness of this indescribable truth! And if any of my friends have not known this preciousness, let me urge you to give yourself no rest till you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your closest friend! 

But that’s not all! Another result that would follow is this. As we know the Lord Jesus more and more, then we’ll rest in the truth of Psalm 9:10 (NIV): “Those who know your name trust in you.” Therefore, knowing Him, we confide in Him, we trust in His power, we trust in His love, we trust in His wisdom, we trust in Him at all times and under all circumstances. What a blessed condition of heart that is! The world looks and wants to know if our religion is more than a mere difference of creed between them and us, to know how much we really believe in God. If the world finds a man or woman who is at all times calm, peaceful and quiet, no matter the circumstance, all because they have a trustworthy friend in heaven they confide in who is almighty, infinitely wise, loves at all times and in all circumstances, always helping, guiding and giving them grace, and if that man or woman can say, no matter the circumstance, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15, NIV), then the world will know that God is true. 

And because of this, it’s vastly important that we aren’t merely content with knowing enough of Christ for our salvation, but to seek to know Him more deeply, more intimately, to know Him as our best friend, thus to wholly trust in Him. I have found this blessing in all the varying conditions of my life. Oh, trust Him, trust Him, trust Him! You will find how good it is to confide in Him, and as you do, He will help you and never leave you nor forsake you.

The final reason why all of it is important to keep seeking to know the Lord Jesus is this: We all know that we are in fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ; that we are in partnership with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. Now, isn’t it clear how deeply important it is to know who our partner truly is—to understand the riches, the ways, the character, and the power of our Partner? To seek increasingly to acquaint ourselves with them, regarding whom God in the riches of His grace declares that we are in fellowship, partnership with, the Father and the Son? How wondrous the voluntary lowering of that blessed One to vile, worthless, wretched beings like us. While yet in weakness and yet exposed to the powers of darkness, and a pilgrim here on earth passing through this vale of tears, how important that I should be able to go without fear to Him, the good and gracious, and ever generous partner, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is infinitely rich and wise, and who loves me with an eternal and unchangeable love. 

But some may say, “All this is very amazing, but how can I have it?” Well, first of all, we must recognize and acknowledge our sin and our need for a Savior, then we must put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Without this, there can be no deeper friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is absolutely necessary. As I stated at the beginning, I believe this passage speaks of a higher degree of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ that goes beyond knowing Him for our salvation, so that we may glorify God, living as children of God, bearing abundant fruit, sixty or a hundredfold. I’ll just mention, and have you ever considered it, that we’re not to be content with bearing just enough fruit, but to go on bearing it, to press on,  that we would bear much fruit. And if you have a lot, then aim to bear more! Have you ever considered, dear brothers and sisters, that we are not meant to rest satisfied with bearing only thirtyfold? We are to press on, bearing forty, fiftyfold! And if we reach that, then to aim at seventy, eightyfold, never being satisfied with anything short of a hundredfold! When the blessed Lord Jesus said this, He meant what He said, that some bear more fruit than others. And why shouldn’t we strive for the highest measure possible until we reach that glorious fullness of a hundredfold? Never lose sight of the fact that our salvation is not God’s ultimate purpose, but the glory of His name is directly related to our bearing fruit. Don’t think that because we have a few years left in the world that we can take it easy and retire, but instead, press on, press on, press on and set your eyes on the prize—to bear abundant fruit!

Let’s look at the verse in its context. How can we attain this deep, personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings.” Paul put aside and renounced everything, so that he might know Christ in increasing measure. Therefore, my beloved friends, the pleasures of this world are to be set aside—the practices and attitudes, the riches, the esteem, all that the natural mind craves after, desires, and finds gratification in—all these are to be laid at the feet of Jesus. Then we will be able to say with Paul, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

So, may we have for the remainder of our lives this single object (not many, but one): to live for God. May we live to know Christ more deeply—to walk with Him, trust Him, and love Him with all that we are and have. Don’t settle for a shallow acquaintance—press on to know Him who sustains, Him who comforts. And as we seek to know Him more and more, may our lives bear abundant fruit for the glory of His name.