4. To Know Him More

Oct 11, 2026 • Rory Mosley

003 To Know Him More

Philippians 3:12-21

October 11, 2026

This morning we come to our final D-Now time together.

The theme has been simple.

“That I May Know Him”

I’ll reiterate it again that there is

NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT than knowing Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

YOU MUST KNOW JESUS CHRIST.

We’ve seen that there is certainly A COST involved in knowing Jesus.

· It cost Paul all things.

· He suffered the loss of all things.

But we also noted that there is GREAT VALUE in knowing Jesus.

· Paul called it the surpassing value.

· For in knowing Christ we receive the righteousness of Christ.

· We are justified in the sight of God.

KNOWING JESUS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

NOW WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE.

ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE – the facts about Jesus,

· This vitally important.

· You must know the gospel if you are to believe it and confess Jesus

INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE – which involves trusting Him.

· It involves a commitment of your life to Him.

· It involves fellowship with Him.

EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE –gained through obedience and following.

· You do what He does and are treated as He is treated.

· There is an experiential knowledge gained there.

And again, I point out that all of those are important.

And we want to continue growing in all of those.

I must strive to gain even more ACADEMIC knowledge of Christ.

· After all, I’m called to love Him “with all of my mind”.

· So we continue to study and seek and meditate upon the truths of Christ that I might know even more about Him.

I am also called to grow in my INTIMATE knowledge of Christ.

· That is I am called to trust Him more and more each day.

· After all, I’m called to love Him with all my heart and soul as well.

· So I seek to trust Him more and be even more committed to Him.

I am also called to grow in my EXPERIENTIAL knowledge of Christ.

· I am called to follow Him more, obey Him more, put His word into practice more and so gain in fellowship with Him.

· After all, I am called to love Him with all of my strength too.

While there is a progression seen in those types of knowledge…

(We start with academic and then gain intimate and then gain experiential)

While there is a progression, they are NOT stepping stones

Whereby we leave the former behind.

The Christian continues to grow in all of those areas.

We want to know Him and then know Him more.

But as we said, when we opened Friday night,

There is a 4th type of knowledge that we also pursue.

We called that: COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE

We strive and grow in all types of knowledge of Him

Until we know Him completely or fully.

THIS IS THE DESIRE AND PASSION OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

(The “one thing” the video talked about)

We don’t stop striving until we know Him fully.

And it is a knowledge that will be ultimately gained

When we stand before Him.

1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

And Scripture teaches that on the day when we know Christ fully then we will be made like Him.

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

SO YOU SEE A PRINCIPLE THERE

GAZING ON CHRIST BRINGS CHRIST-LIKE-NESS.

That is why Paul also said:

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

As we seek to know Christ.

As we gaze upon Christ.

As we trust Christ.

As we follow Christ.

Each of those encounters with His glory

Works to make us more and more like Him.

AND THIS IS THE GOAL.

A COMPLETE knowledge of Christ

That totally and perfectly makes us like Him.

THIS IS THE GOAL.

AND SO YOU SEE THAT

A Christian should never grow complacent in their desire to know Christ.

· A Christian should never grow content in their knowledge of Christ.

· A Christian should never grow apathetic in their relationship with Christ.

WE DON’T

Ask Jesus into our heart, get baptized and then forget all about Him.

NO! True Christianity is a constant study and pursuit of Christ.

It is a total focus on Him until we finally stand before Him.

Whereas a lost man should certainly say, “I want to know Christ.”

He does not stop saying that after he is saved.

The cry of the redeemed is exactly the same. “I want to know Christ!”

I want more knowledge of Him.

I want complete knowledge of Him.

I want to know Him and then know Him more!

THAT IS THE TRUTH WE FACE IN OUR FINAL TEXT THIS MORNING.

We have broken this entire passage down into 3 main divisions.

A WARNING – in which Paul warned us about people who are content to trust in their own goodness and see no need for Christ.

A TESTIMONY – where Paul taught us that despite his religious past, he learned that he needed Christ, and even though it cost him everything, Paul chose Christ and the righteousness that comes only through Him.

This morning we come to the final point which is AN APPEAL

Here is where Paul makes his appeal to the church in Philippi

And through the Holy Spirit Paul now makes this same appeal

To every believer here this morning.

Are you a believer in Jesus Christ?

Have you confessed Him as Lord?

THEN THIS APPEAL IS TO YOU.

#1 PAUL’S CONFESSION

Philippians 3:12-14

(12-14) “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Before Paul gets to the appeal,

He starts with a confession from his own life.

And what is that confession?

I AM NOT YET PERFECT.

· I have not yet obtained perfect Christlikeness.

· I have not yet been fully conformed into the image of Christ.

That is what he pursues.

That is what he desires.

BUT HE HAS NOT OBTAINED IT YET.

BUT WHAT DO WE SEE ABOUT PAUL’S DETERMINATION?

That despite not having obtained it yet,

Paul has not stopped striving for it.

You see that too don’t you?

· (12) “I press on so that I may lay hold of that…”

· (13) “forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead”

· (14) “I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God”

He hasn’t obtained it yet and so he hasn’t stopped pushing for it.

“ONE THING I DO”

NOW LET’S ASK A QUESTION HERE.

WHAT IS THE “IT” THAT PAUL IS SEEKING?

· “Not that I have obtained IT”

· “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of IT”

What is “it”?

Paul further defines “it” in verse 12

By calling it “that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

Whatever “it” is,

It is the same thing Jesus died to give me.

Then we find out in verse 13

That whatever “it” is, it is NOT found in the past, but in the future

For Paul is “reaching forward to what lies ahead.”

Then we learn more in verse 14

Paul says that it is “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”

So when we want to know what Paul is striving for.

1. We see that it is the thing Christ died for him to receive.

2. We see that it is something to obtain yet in the future.

3. And we see that it is referred to as the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

SO WHAT IS “IT”?

The real clue comes in verse 12

When Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained it

OR HAVE ALREADY BECOME PERFECT.”

(He restates it there in a different way so as to identify it)

“It” is perfection.

“It” is glorification.

“It” is absolute Christlikeness.

Can I remind you that this is why Christ died for you?

To recreate you in His image.

Can I remind you that this is God’s will for you?

To be like Christ.

Romans 8:28-30 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”

Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

Do you see the goal?

Do you see the prize?

DO YOU SEE THE FINISH LINE?

· It is to be perfect.

· It is to be like Christ.

· It is to be finished with sin and absolutely blameless.

This is the Christian goal.

This is the Christian pursuit.

Can I remind you that you are not there yet?

Your race isn’t over.

Don’t stop running.

It doesn’t matter if you are old or young.

It doesn’t matter if you have finished school or are still in school.

· The goal of the Christian life is not graduation.

· The goal of the Christian life is not retirement.

· The goal of the Christian life is not to complete some stint in ministry.

That’s not the goal. That’s not the prize.

THE GOAL IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST,

IF YOU ARE NOT LIKE HIM YET THEN DON’T STOP RUNNING.

Now it is also important is that you remember HOW WE OBTAIN IT.

Colossians 2:20-23 “If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.”

· You don’t become perfect through legalism or works of the flesh.

· You don’t become perfect by abstaining from food.

· It’s not through self-abasement or severe treatment of the body.

Those things won’t help you become perfect.

OUR PERFECTION COMES THROUGH GAZING UPON CHRIST.

Through knowing Christ

We’ll read it again:

AND THAT IS THE POINT.

The lost man should want to know Christ

· So that he can be forgiven and justified in the sight of God.

The redeemed man should also want to know Christ

· To be conformed into His image.

WE NEVER STOP PURSUING CHRIST.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO PAUL’S APPEAL

#2 PAUL’S APPEAL

Philippians 3:15-16

(15-16) “Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”

Now this is interesting.

Paul just said in verse 12 that he had NOT become perfect.

But here he says “Let us…as many as are perfect”.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

There are two types of perfection to be obtained.

One is positional perfection.

· We are justified.

· We are declared perfect before God because we are clothed in Christ’s

perfection.

· Every lost man NEEDS that perfection, every saved man HAS it.

Paul calls the Philippians perfect because they have been saved.

They have been justified.

They have been declared righteous before God.

But there is also a practical perfection

Which we DO NOT YET have though we strive for it.

So a Christian in one sense is perfect

And yet strives for perfection.

AND THAT IS WHAT PAUL WANTS HERE.

Paul reminds the Philippians

OF HOW THEY ONCE PURSUED Christ in order that they might be made perfect.

· “Remember when you saw your guilt?”

· “Remember when you felt your condemnation?”

· “Remember when you heard the gospel?”

· “Remember when you ran to Jesus for mercy and righteousness?”

THERE WAS A METHOD

By which you attained a righteous standing before God.

What was that method?

What is the method by which sinful men obtain righteousness before God?

That method is pursuing, believing, and confessing Christ.

· A lost man runs to Christ.

· A lost man believes in Christ.

· A lost man confesses Christ.

· And that lost man is declared righteous in God’s sight.

SO WHAT DOES PAUL WANT FROM THE PHILIPPIANS NOW?

THE EXACT SAME THING!

“have this attitude”

· Keep seeking Christ!

· Keep running to Christ!

· Keep believing in Christ!

· Keep confessing Christ!

Don’t stop seeking to know Him now, seek Him all the more.

Seek to know Him more and more and more

That you might continue to be conformed into His image.

“ONE THING”

To pursue and love and seek Christ with all of your life.

TURN TO: REVELATION 2

Revelation 2 & 3 are 7 letters that Jesus wrote to 7 churches.

· Some are rebuked.

· Some are commended.

· Some get a mixture of both.

But I want you to look at the encouragement

That Jesus gave to 3 of those churches.

First we look at Ephesus.

READ 2:1-5

Do you see the problem?

· This church, who had been redeemed by Christ had maintained all of their religion and theology,

· But they quit loving Him.

They continued to seek to know Him theologically,

But they quit seeking Him intimately.

READ 3:1-3

· This was a church that thought they were alive, but they were dead.

· They weren’t finished, though they acted like they were.

· They were filled with complacency as they rested only on their past accomplishments.

Paul said that he “forgets what is behind and strives for what is ahead”,

BUT THIS CHURCH DID JUST THE OPPOSITE.

They rested on past accomplishments and quit pursuing Christ.

Jesus threatened to bring judgment like a thief.

READ 3:7-11

Philadelphia was a faithful church who continued to pursue Christ.

And His one admonition was “KEEP IT UP.”

“DON’T STOP NOW!”

DO YOU SEE THE POINT?

Even as believers the call is to continue seeking Christ.

We are called to continue to grow in our knowledge of Christ.

It’s as though Jesus would look at those first two churches and ask,

“WHY DID YOU QUIT PURSUING ME?”

And I wonder if Jesus would ask any of us that the same thing this morning?

WHERE IS YOUR PASSION FOR JESUS?

On that day when you found yourself in your sin…

· You ran to Him quickly and found in Him salvation.

· You made a covenant to be His bride and He your groom.

· You wanted every kind of knowledge of Him that you could get.

· You studied His word to learn about Him.

· You trusted Him in trials to learn of His care.

· You followed Him to share in His suffering and burdens and ministry.

And then you stopped.

WHY?

That sort of behavior is NOT Christian behavior.

That is worldly behavior

#3 PAUL’S CONCERN

Philippians 3:18-21

Do you see Paul’s grief?

Do you see His concern?

Do you see the tears in his eyes?

He ends this chapter weeping.

This letter that is all about our joy in Christ

And here we find Paul weeping.

(18) “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,”

WHY IS HE WEEPING?

Because those who claim to be believers

Are living just like those who are not.

Instead of loving Christ and loving the cross

They have become enemies of the cross of Christ.

HOW DOES ONE BECOME AN ENEMY OF THE CROSS?

(19) “whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”

This is an enemy of the cross of Christ.

· Their “god is their appetite”

· They “glory…in their shame”

· They “set their minds on earthly things”

· And the end result of that person is “destruction”

THAT IS WHAT A NON-BELIEVER DOES!

Someone without Christ

Is focused only on their flesh and the things of this world.

ALL THEY THINK ABOUT IS

The world and it’s treasures and it’s fame and it’s entertainment.

· They are more focused on what the world offers than anything else.

· They don’t want Christ, they want the world.

· They want fun, they want money, they want entertainment, they want the lusts

of the flesh.

Well that’s not new, so why is Paul weeping all of a sudden?

Because he is witnessing those

Who claim to belong to Christ act just like them!

HE IS LOOKING AT BELIEVERS

· Who quit seeking Christ.

· Who are more enamored with the things of the world.

· Who live to gratify their flesh.

AND PAUL IS HEART-BROKEN BY IT!

THAT’S NOT WHAT A CHRISTIAN IS!

YOU SAY, “WELL THEN WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?”

· What makes a Christian different?

(20-21) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

A CHRISTIAN IS ONE

· Who knows this world is not his home.

· He knows he’s not home because he’s not with Christ.

All he wants is to be with Christ.

He wants his Savior to return.

He wants to be conformed into His image.

He wants to enjoy Him fully.

He is done with this world.

He just wants Jesus.

“THAT I MAY KNOW HIM”

· Not more money…

· Not more fun…

· Not more success…

· Not a better boat…

I WANT HIM!!!

CAN YOU NOW SEE THE PROBLEM?

We live in a world where even those in the church

Are consumed by anything and everything except the one thing.

Paul told the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 11:2-3 “For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

· What happened to you?

Remember when Jesus ate with Mary and Martha?

Luke 10:38-42 “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

· Mary wanted the one thing.

THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO CONCLUDE OUR WEEKEND.

I want to make an appeal to you just as Paul did to the Philippians.

This appeal is primarily for those of you who claim to be Christians.

I want to appeal to you to return from where you have fallen

And I want you to pursue Christ like you did before.

· I want you to run to Him like the prodigal ran to his father.

· I want you to run to Him like Lazarus coming out of the tomb.

· I want you to run to Him like the blind man, the leper, and demoniac.

· I want you to pursue Him like the men who tore the hole in the roof.

It may very well be that this world has seduced you,

But I promise that there is nothing for you here.