Fellowship Of Christ.pdf

Pastor Tom Mortenson of Grace Fellowship Church in Port Jervis, New York, delivered a sermon on January 14, 2021, focusing on Philippians 3:8 and the concept of the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. He emphasized the importance of understanding that human effort cannot add to God's perfection and that salvation is a gift, not something that can be earned.

Paul's argument against the Judaizers, who insisted on adding human works to Christ's perfection, is highlighted. Pastor Mortenson notes that Paul counts all things as loss compared to the knowledge of Christ Jesus and that adding human effort to God's perfection is like adding dung to perfection, which demeans Christ's perfection.

The sermon then shifts to Paul's desire to know Christ, experience the power of his resurrection, and share in his sufferings. Knowing Christ historically is discussed, with Pastor Mortenson emphasizing the importance of believing in the historical Jesus and the resurrection. He criticizes progressive Christians who do not believe in the historical Jesus, stating that without the resurrection, the Christian faith is pointless.

The sermon also touches on knowing Christ doctrinally, including the doctrines of penal substitution and justification, which are under attack by some who claim to be progressive Christians. Pastor Mortenson stresses the importance of truth and the historical accuracy of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, citing 1 Corinthians 15 and John 14:6 as key scriptures.