Memory Verse: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10, 11, NKJV).

INTRO: There are many believers that remain reluctant about salvation in Christ by “faith alone,” apart from the “works of the law.” For some reason, we seem to confuse obedience to Christ with works of the law as if it could ensure our salvation. Let’s begin our discussion today with question about the difference between “salvation by works” and “salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”

Q: What is the important distinction between the “obedience” which Paul encourages, and the “works of the law” (see Ch 3, verse 9) which he repudiates?

Q: Life can be very difficult for us all, no matter how well things might be going at the moment. But even if they are not going well now, what things can you and should you and I rejoice about? What things could be stopping you from rejoicing when facing difficulties?

Q: Why is it so important to always keep before us the Lord, His goodness, His power, His love, and His salvation? How can we, both individually and together, accomplish that amid the inevitable challenges of daily life? How does this idea reinforce the idea of unity?

CLOSING SIDEBAR:

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings.”
— Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)

“Faith in Christ reshapes the believer’s confidence, redirecting it away from human achievement toward complete dependence on Christ alone.”
— Douglas J. Moo, The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon

“Paul’s longing to ‘know Christ’ is not about private spirituality but about a vocation shaped by the Messiah’s own path. Resurrection power does not bypass suffering; it works through it. The life of faith is marked by conformity to Christ’s death in order that it may share his life. This is the pattern of genuine Christian existence.”
— N. T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters

Paul points believers away from self-reliance and toward a deep, lived relationship with Christ. Knowing Christ involves both sharing in His resurrection power and walking with Him through suffering. This shared dependence on Christ draws believers together, strengthening unity rooted not in success, but in faithfulness.

NEXT WEEK, we’ll look at another theme in Paul’s letters to Philippians and Colossians, “A Heavenly Citizenship.” My thanks to Naomi Cueto and Faith Montes, our program engineers, and to all of you for listening in. Until next time, for the “Good Word,” I’m Phil Muthersbaugh.