My aim is to know Him, to experience the power of His resurrection... Philippians 3:10, NET

Do you know the power of Jesus' resurrection?  Just a couple weeks ago, I had a chance to study with a group of young people about the hope of Jesus' second coming and the power of the resurrection.  As I looked across the circle at one of the participants, I saw tears welling up in her eyes, tears of humble gratitude over what Jesus offers to us.  A little more recently, I was able to enjoy some time with a more "seasoned" friend who has been coming to grips with his increasing age.  As he reflected on this awareness, his voice trailed off for a bit, and after a long pause he shared with a twinkle in his eye that the hope of the resurrection has been taking on new significance for him.  Do you know the power of Jesus' resurrection?  Like my friends, we can view the fact that Jesus rose from the dead as our guarantee that those who sleep in Jesus will someday soon be raised from the dead (1 Thes. 4:14) and that death itself will be swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54) when Jesus returns.  What a blessed hope we have to look forward to!  But is it possible that we can "experience the power of His resurrection" (Phil. 3:10) not only someday in the future but also in the present?

A NEW LIFE TODAY

Absolutely.  Listen to the apostle Paul describing what Jesus' resurrection means today for the believer who has been baptized into Christ:

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  Romans 6:4, NIV

When we say YES to Jesus and identify our story with His, two miracles happen: 1) our old self is put to death just like Jesus was put to death, and 2) we can now live a new life just as Jesus was raised to new life!  That's not only a future hope; that's a present reality!  Experiencing Jesus' resurrection today means living a transformed life today -- one that is no longer enslaved to sin (v. 6) but instead "has been freed from sin" (v. 7).  Friends, this is good news, and maybe for some it's familiar news.  But as we've been thinking on Paul's message in Philippians through our recent sermon series, I'm discovering something new about this new life.

A NEW LOOK AT OUR NEW LIFE

In Philippians 3, Paul shares a bit of his personal testimony.  He describes his former life of placing "confidence in the flesh" (vv. 4-6) in stark contrast to the the things he now values (vv. 7-11) and the one thing he prioritizes above all:

...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14, NIV

Interestingly, the term translated here as "press on" (also in v. 12) is actually the very same Greek word Paul uses to describe his former life of "persecuting the church" (v. 6).  The verbal idea is that of chasing, hunting, pursuing with great fervor.  Apparently, the old Paul was fixated on the feverish pursuit of Christ-followers, but the Paul who has experienced the power of Jesus' resurrection feverishly pursues something else...or rather Someone else.  Instead of chasing down all that's wrong in others, his eye is single toward chasing relationship with the Righteous One and being found in Him. 

And here's the beauty of this testimony:  

God transforms our old self not just by replacing it, but by redeeming it.  

I tend to think of walking "in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4, NKJV) as a miracle that can only be accomplished when the old life has been removed entirely out of the way, but Paul's experience seems to indicate that our old identity isn't something God obliterates but instead resuscitates. 

Consider this:  When we read about Jesus appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, it's evident that He was recognized by His friends, whether through physical features or customary habits that were familiar (cf. Jn. 21:7; Lk. 24:35).  All this indicates that our hope of physical, bodily resurrection in the future still allows for some recognition of our former selves in our glorified state.  

Paul's testimony in Philippians points to the reality that the same can be true when we experience spiritual resurrection in the present.  

Even in the new life we live there may be some familiar vibes that hark back to our old selves -- unique qualities and traits from our former lives that have been sanctified and even restored into the image of God.

Just ask the former fishermen on the Sea of Galilee whom Jesus turned into fishers of men.  Just track the transformation of the sons of thunder (James & John) whose former strength of personality and even violent defense of Jesus were converted into a martyr's loyalty and model of agape love.  Or even follow the story of John Mark, whose penchant to abandon ministry and return to the comforts of home (Acts 13:13) was eventually transformed into a useful availability that Paul could lean on when others had forsaken him (2 Tim. 4:9-11).  All this underscores a beautiful truth about God:  He loves us for who we uniquely are and does all in His power to recreate us into who He has uniquely called us to be.

Again, do you know the power of Jesus' resurrection?  As you take time to reflect on your own story of grace, let God show you traits of your former life that He has transformed (and still is transforming!) in your new life.  Let God bring awareness to former pursuits that He wants to convert with new and holy focus.  Be real with those former weaknesses -- and even boast in them (2 Cor. 12:9) -- so that God can reclaim them and make His strength perfect through them.