Hey there, Mike!!!

Haven’t talked to you in a long while.  Hope you are doing well.   Just had a question that I wanted you to expound on for me concerning this scripture:

Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death

What is being “made conformable unto his death”  mean….??

Thanks Mike,

K____

Hi K____,

It is good hearing from you. Thank you for your question about being made conformable to Christ’s death as mentioned in:

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Conforming to Christ’s death is a matter of knowing the power of His resurrected life, as Paul says here:

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Paul is not speaking of being physically dead, he is speaking of being dead to anything in this world that would keep us from following in the footsteps He left for us to follow:

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Walking in Christ’s footsteps which He “left us as an example” is the same as “being made comformable unto His death”. It is given to very few to do that, because it does cost us our families and friends in this world. There is no getting around these words:

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Being hated of all men and suffering persecution for Christ’s name’s sake is “being made conformable unto His death” by presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, which is being crucified and dying daily with our Lord “for His name’s sake”.

Joh 12:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Joh 12:25  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Christ will not play second fiddle to anything or anyone. He is first in the lives of His elect, and He will share His throne in our hearts with no one in this world. If we are granted to put Christ first in this world, as He put His Father first, then we are being made conformable unto His death.

I pray these words are of some help to you.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike