Apprehended By Christ For Christ!
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning to "apprehend" the purpose for which we were "apprehended" by Christ.
Text: Phil. 3:12
Date: 09/01/2024, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 22
Description:
Paul's desire to be "found in Christ", to live in the "power of His resurrection", and to attain his own spiritual resurrection from his previous "deadness", continues in this evening's verse as his thoughts just seem to roll into each other. He first reveals that he knows he has not reached perfection, and indeed never will in this life; so for the rest of his time on earth he will "press on" towards the finish mark and the accomplishment of his purpose. In the meantime, in a beautifully worded sentence, he vows to continue to "lay hold of" the reason he was "laid hold of" by Christ. We will unravel that somewhat enigmatic statement focusing on the underlying word that the King James Version translates as "apprehend". After carefully defining that and other words in the sentence we will strive to answer three questions stemming from the text: "What does it mean for Christ to 'apprehend' us?"; "What is the purpose for which we are 'apprehended'?"; and "What obligation does this put on the true disciple?". Ultimately we will find that the answer lies in the same place that our redemption, sanctification, righteousness, atonement, forgiveness, restoration and resurrection lies-- like everything else, it is "in Christ".
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I. Introduction, Matt. 28:28-20, 9:36-38.
II. Exposition of the text, Phil. 3:12.
A. Context
B. Finding the purpose of being "apprehended" by Christ.
1. The reason Paul must "press on".
a. Looking at the words, Phil. 3:14.
b. Pressing on towards His teleological end.
c. The dangers of "perfectionism".
2. The goal of discipleship.
a. Overview.
i. Switching translations.
ii. Defining "apprehended".
b. Apprehended by Christ.
i. Chosen by Christ for His purpose.
ii. Examples from Scripture.
1) Of Abraham, Gen. 12:1-3.
2) Of Isaac and Jacob, Mal. 1:2-3.
3) Of Moses, Ex. 4:13.
4) Of Samuel, 1Sam. 16:12.
5) Of New Testament disciples, Mark 1:17; John 15:16.
b. Apprehended for Christ, Eph. 2:10.
i. To save us, 2Pet. 1:10.
ii. To reflect Christ, 1Cor. 12:4-7; Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 8:28-30; Heb. 1:3; John 14:9; Phil. 3:9-11.
iii. To bear witness of Him, Acts 1:8.
c. Under obligation to Christ, Rom. 8:29.
III. Conclusion
