“By Any Means”

“By Any Means”

“...that I may know [Jesus] 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...I press on...” [Phl 3:8-14 NKJV]

“By any means” is a phrase of desperation. (No one ever says “by any means” if they have a viable plan B.)

“By any means” tells me to throw caution to the wind; to go for broke; to do or die.

“By any means” tells me that my objective is more valuable than my life.

“By any means” tasks are only carried out by those who are all in.

This verse was written by a guy named Paul who had a lot going for him. He was well educated. He had connections. He was smart. He had passion and drive. Yet, Paul is throwing all of those things overboard like excess baggage on a sinking ship.

Why do such a thing? Paul ditched his own glory that he might be “conformed to [Jesus’] death”. The word translated “conformed” in our English Bibles means “assimilation”.  Now this is not some spooky Star-Trek borg-ish “resistance is futile...you will be assimilated” assimilation. This is a desire on the part of a believer to become indistinguishable from his Savior in both death and Life.

Jesus’ death was totally voluntary.

His life was not taken. It was given.

His blood was not spilled. It was poured out.

Paul understood this, and he too is voluntarily surrendering his very will, his very life, conforming himself to Jesus’ death, considering himself already dead to this world.

Paul is just following Jesus’ example...

So that “by any means” he could “know [Jesus] and the power of His resurrection,” he explains.

It’s a brutal truth, but it is truth: The more we live in the power of this world, the less we live in the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Even the great Apostle Paul did not claim to have reached the great and difficult goal of self surrender. He did, however, understand the importance of dying to self and was “pressing toward the goal”. His admonishment to the Christians of his day rings true for us as well:

“...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind…”  

Ultimately, Paul did lay his life down for the sake of the Gospel and will someday rise in the  glorifying power of the Resurrection to stand among the redeemed in the presence of the Savior.

May it be so with all those who name the name of Jesus Christ.

Radical Teachings of Jesus Lesson # 7: Blessed are the Peacemakers

In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking.

Radical Concept #7

"Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." [Matthew 5:9 KJV]

What does it mean to be a “peacemaker”? This is the only time in the New Testament that this word is used. Let’s explore the idea of “making peace” and how it labels us as “children of God.”

1. Is a peacemaker the same thing as a pacifist?
   1. Pacifist: a person who believes that war and violence are unjustifiable.

2. What is “peace”?
   1. Peace: Freedom from or the cessation of war or violence

3. Is it possible to have peace by suspending conflict or must the conflict come to an end in order for peace to exist?

4. Should I be willing to deny myself good things so that I can spare a conflict in a fellow believer’s conscience? See Romans 14:15-20

"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." [Romans 14:19 KJV]

5. Is a “peace-maker” fundamentally opposed to all conflict?

"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." [Romans 12:17-21 KJV]

6. Is the Christian ever required to engage in conflict? If so when, how and for what purpose?

7. Questions to answer before seeking peace through conflict:
   1. Do I have the authority to engage in this conflict?
   2. What are my motives for engaging in this conflict?
   3. Have I tried to see the other side of this dispute?
   4. Have I exhausted all peaceful methods for resolution?
   5. Am I trying to do what only God can do?

8. Who is the greatest peacemaker?

9. What conflict did he resolve? Between whom?

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" [Romans 5:1 KJV]

10. How did Jesus resolve the conflict between God and man?

11. Does Jesus continue today in this role?

"For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." [1 Timothy 2:5-6 KJV]

12. How can I apply this example to my life?

13. My greatest objective in any conflict should be to:
    1. Bring peace between the offended and offending parties,
    2. Bring peace between all parties and God.

14. As we imitate Jesus in his role as “mediator” we too will be known as the ____________ ___ ___________.

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