“But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ . . . .” Phil. 3:8. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hos. 4:6. The knowledge of God is God’s light. By the revelation of the Spirit, Paul received this precious knowledge of Christ Jesus that far exceeds all other knowledge. Everything he had previously learned or looked up to in this world now became rubbish and a loss for him. The true knowledge of Jesus Christ has a revolutionary effect on people’s lives. It makes an end of loving the world and the things that are in the world. Paul also prayed fervently for the Ephesians that they might receive enlightened eyes of the heart and the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Eph. 1:17. The knowledge that Jesus died on Calvary as atonement for the sins of the world is well known. However, the way that Jesus went, from the time He learned to discern between good and evil as a child until He cried out, “It is finished!” on the cross, is less known and rarely preached. The way was consecrated through His flesh. Heb. 10:20. Now we can boldly go the same way, right into the sanctuary. In the old covenant it was impossible for a person to deny himself and preserve a perfect conscience. Heb. 9:9-10. This would be just as impossible today if the flesh, against which the law was powerless, had not been condemned to death in Jesus. Rom. 8:3. But God be praised that the flesh can also be condemned in us through faith in what transpired in Christ. The life of Jesus can now be revealed in us to the same extent that we bear in our bodies the dying of Jesus over our self-life. This is how we increasingly partake of divine nature and are transformed according to the image of Jesus, from glory to glory. 2 Cor. 4:10; 3:18; 2 Pet. 1:4. In the power of an eternal Spirit Jesus could always say, “Not My will, but Yours, be done.” We can also say the same thing in the power of the same Spirit; thus we deny ourselves daily, take up our cross, and follow in His steps, and in the end we come to where He is in His glory. What was impossible in the old covenant has now become possible. Now we can be fully preserved according to our conscience. Now we can receive the same Spirit that Jesus had during His sojourn here on earth when He overcame in each temptation. If we, in this same Spirit, overcome just as He overcame, we will sit on thrones together with Him. Rev. 3:21. If we suffer with Him and endure in temptation, we will also be glorified together with Him and will inherit all things with Him. Heb. 2:18; 1 Pet. 4:13; Rom. 8:17. When Paul’s eyes were opened to this blessed way of the cross and self-denial that leads right to the throne of the Father and of the Son, he ran as if only one wins the prize. As long as he was on earth, he also encouraged each and every one to run this race. He exhorted everyone day and night to forsake everything of his own and live a God-fearing life, keeping the commandment pure and blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing. 1 Tim. 6:11-14. The true light and the right knowledge of Jesus Christ are now breaking through the darkness of unbelief in these days. It will be quite impossible to hinder this light from shining. Of course, those who are quite comfortable in the religious semi-darkness will cause a considerable stir when the light shines in; they will try to push it away by maintaining that it is false doctrine and a hard and judgmental spirit. Yes, it is quite certain that the light judges and that the true knowledge of Christ will definitely become a false doctrine for all those who want to live for themselves. However, the upright rejoice greatly when light arises in their hearts.Aksel J. Smith