Gospel Reward

Introduction

Well, good morning! Listen, before we get started, I just wanna thank you guys for all the love you’ve showed us over the past month for pastor appreciation. Seriously, we couldn’t have asked God for a more loving church family to call us to. I hope you know just how much Brittany, and I, and the kids, we love you guys and we’re so appreciative and grateful to be able to call you our family. And listen, we’re so excited at what God’s doing and of course what He will do here at FBC. So thank you so much and know that we love you!

Alright, if you have your Bibles this morning, and I hope that you do, open ‘em up with me to Philippians chapter 3…Philippians chapter 3. Over the past several months, we’ve been walking through this letter to the Philippian church looking at the idea of unity. Of course, we know that when Paul wrote this, he was on house arrest in Rome and he was using this letter as a means to update them and encourage them. And listen, one of the main ideas that Paul was really trying to convey to them was unity; what brought them together as brothers and sisters in Christ. He was reminding them of what was important…that it was the gospel that united ‘em…it was the gospel that transformed them and renewed them…Which is exactly why I titled this sermon series ‘Bridge Builders,’ because it’s this message of unity that shows us what we’re called to be for one another. That we’re all here today for the same reasons and brought together for a very specific purpose. And if you’ve noticed every week the sermon title has been “Gospel - something...” “Gospel Mindset” or “Gospel Joy” or “Gospel Testimony” or this week “Gospel Reward.” It’s a reminder that our unity…every bit of it, it revolves around the gospel of Jesus Christ. And listen, in everything we do, it needs to be with the gospel in mind.

Our passages this morning, obviously, they’re no different. They serve as another reminder of what brings us together and what it is we’re called to…both as individuals that follow Jesus and as a body that completes His church. It’s the gospel…And it’s the gospel that must remain center in all that we do.

Listen, back in my high school days, I was football player, right? And honestly, I was kind of a nerd and so that’s why I played but check this out…I played for a pretty good team. We were the most winningest team in the state of South Carolina. We had the most state championships. We were sending players into the NFL left and right…Any of you guys hear of Sidney Rice? He was one of my teammates. But anyways, because they were serious about some football in Gaffney, anyone that wanted to be on the team, they had to do a Spring sport to keep them in shape. And so, for me, that meant I either had to do wrestling or I had to do track. Guys, there was no way I was gonna do wresting…I was a wimp…and so, I chose track. Well, because running really wasn’t my thing either, they just kind of stuck me in where it didn’t really matter how bad I was. They put me in the 4 x 8…which for those of you that don’t know anything about track, that’s a 2 mile race. Guys, I was awful. I was one of the smallest kids out there and I was still last every single time. And listen, if you were out there, watching me, you would’ve just seen this skinny baldheaded kid with his head thrown back and his arms flailing around like some manic. People say I run like a turkey. But anyways, come the end of our season, at our awards banquet, the coach gave me the ‘most determined award.’ And he gave it to me because he said…it didn’t matter if everyone had been off the track for 5 minutes, I was still going to give it my all come the finish of each race. Even though I was last, I ran like I was first. I ran like my life depended on it. At the start of every race, my focus was only on the finish line…I didn’t have a clue the people in front of me were even finished, I was just determined to finish in the best possible way that I could. My circumstances, how bad I was…the people around me, it didn’t take my focus off the finish line…off the reward…which for me was to not have to run anymore and maybe, like, a Big Mac from McDonalds or something.

But listen, as we come to our text this morning, Paul uses a metaphor, he uses imagery of a runner pressing forward to win the prize…the reward that’s received at the finish line. And he uses this picture to show us what it is we’re called to as Christians…what our life is meant to be…what it’s meant to look like.

And so, if you’re there with me this morning, let’s stand together as we read Paul’s words starting in verse 12. It says this, “12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Thank you, you can be seated.

Listen, as we dig into this, there’s three things I want you to see about the reward we’re promised to receive as followers of Christ…number one, if we’re going to receive this reward we must humbly acknowledge the reward that we seek…number two, we must passionately pursue that desired reward…and then number three, we must remember the grace that makes that reward possible.

1.) We must humbly acknowledge the reward we seek (v. 12)

Check out the language that Paul uses here. He says, “I haven’t already obtained this…I’m not already perfect.” It’s a complete shift from his prior mindset where his singular pursuit was to persecute the church. He no longer finds confidence in himself. He hasn’t obtained whatever this prize is…he realizes he’s not perfect enough to receive this prize.

But listen, he continues, “But I press on to make it my own.” And then in verse 13, he says, “I do this one thing.” What’s the one thing he does? Verse 14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

And so, what’s the reward that Paul’s writing about here? What’s the prize that he’s running towards? The prize that he’s pursuing, that he hasn’t obtained? Well go back to last week…it’s being found in Christ. That’s the reward we receive as believers…It’s to be found in Christ. And if you remember, when we gain Christ…we gain His righteousness, we gain a relationship, an intimate knowledge of Him, and of course we gain resurrection, eternal life, right? That’s his singular focus now…to know Christ…to attain the resurrection.

And listen, there’s kind of an “already/ not yet” tension in these passages. Paul’s saying, “I already know Christ…I’ve already been justified in the present. The verdicts been pronounced…I’m not guilty because of Jesus.” He’s saying, “I already belong to Jesus. I’m already righteous....I’m already experiencing the power of the resurrection.” But at the same time, he says, “I’ve not already obtained this…I’m not perfect. I’m still running…I’ve not finished yet.” It’s kind of confusing…the language that Paul uses here. Almost as if he really doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Again, to understand this…we have to put it all in context. When Paul sat down to pen this letter, it was one continuous thought. It wasn’t broken up into chapters and verses…And so, when he said back in chapter 1 that “what God started He will complete at the day of Christ,” he’s saying here that he hasn’t obtained that yet. His salvation hasn’t been completed because he’s still being sanctified. You understand what I’m saying? The purpose of us being sanctified, it’s to become more and more like Christ so that we can be in His presence at the day of His return…so that we can fully be found in Him. We have to be perfected…We have to be made complete. And that’s what Paul’s suggesting here. He hasn’t obtained it. He’s not perfect yet…and he recognizes that there’s still a bunch of junk in him that God has to fix so that he can receive this reward and be found in Him...Now, he still clings to His promises…that he will do this…but he’s not obtained it yet. He still lives because Christ still has growing to do in him. “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”

Our purpose for living is twofold…On one hand, we live because He has a plan to use us…just as Paul’s already mentioned…all for the advancement of His kingdom…but on the flip side, we live because He’s perfecting us. And our circumstances, our trials, the things we go through, they all serve to accomplish this in our life. That’s the race we’re running.

That word “press on” (dioko), it literally means to “run” or “flee,” “to catch a person or thing.” It’s a word used of a sprinter running a race. It’s the idea of running swiftly after something, like a runner pressing on to the finish line. I mean just picture a runner widening his stride…pumping his arms…accelerating his legs…pushing out his chest…all for the finish line. That’s Paul’s effort here as he pursues after Christ. And he’s able to forget what lies behind him…the things he did or experienced…because everyday Jesus was changing him…transforming him to become more and more like himself. Guys, that’s the reward…its a full knowledge of Jesus and a full likeness of Him.

And just like with any race, the reward…the prize…it’s received at the end of the race, not during it. Its when he crosses the finish line - the line between this life and heaven…it’s when he’ll be given the prize.

Don’t you find this encouraging?...Paul’s self-assessment in this passage? I mean, here’s the mighty apostle Paul. He had to be one of the most Christlike men who ever lived, the most effective of the apostles, the greatest of all missionaries. He gave us a third of the New Testament...And here’s a man who says, “I’m not perfect. I haven’t arrived. I haven’t already obtained this. I haven’t reached perfection yet, but I’m still running, I’m still pursuing.”

Guys, wherever you’re at in your Christian life, it should encourage you that the apostle Paul was able to assess himself and say, “I haven’t arrived. I still have distance to go in my run, in my race.”

This is something we need in our own lives. We need a humble self-assessment. We need to recognize that we’re still in the race and that we’ve not yet reached the finish line. We’re still being completed in Christ.

Listen, you can’t go from couch potato to this championship wining marathon runner, right? You can’t do that without something happening in your heart and mind…No one goes from not working out to gym membership. No one goes through this process without some kind of wake up call…when they look in the mirror and say, “Gosh, I’m 46 years old and I’ve gained 15 pounds in the last five years.” Or you’re having hearts problems and chest pains and you go to the doctor and he says, “You need to change your diet or your exercise…you need to do it now.” Guys, it’s only when there’s a realistic assessment of ourselves that we begin to take bodily exercise or physical health or any of that seriously, right?

And it’s the same spiritually…we have to recognize that we’re not who Christ wants us to be…that we’re still being sanctified. And it humbles you in that moment, realizing that I’m still not there but yet He still claims me. I’m still in the race…I’m far from perfect. I have to stop judging myself to those in the world and finding pride in myself…because the reality is Jesus is still working on me. I’m not perfect.

I think a passage like this cuts in two different ways. It cuts against the apathy that so often characterizes us as Christians, where we’re not running with this goal in mind, a likeness to Jesus; instead, we’re resting on our own crowns...And listen, it cuts against perfectionism, that doctrine of sanctification that suggests that it’s possible to be sinlessly perfect, to have arrived, to have experienced something that just gets us all the way there, where there’s no growth needed. Either way, this passage reminds us to assess ourselves with humility and to feel a holy dissatisfaction and to keep running, and to run for the reward, the reward of knowing Christ, gaining Christ, of being like Christ. The reward for which you run.

Listen to me, there’s more for you than you’re presently experiencing. I believe that there’s more for you. There’s more for every individual in this room—there’s more of God, there’s more of Christ, there’s more of the Spirit, there’s more godliness, there’s more holiness, there’s more joy! There’s more you can have if you’d pursue Christ.

I’m praying right now, Lord, would you stir us up? Would you do something in our hearts to make us earnestly long for more and to run harder because we want so desperately to be like you?

Guys, if we’re content with what we have now, then our focus isn’t on the true reward.

2.) We must passionately pursue the desired reward (v. 13)

Which leads us straight into the second point this morning, we must passionately pursue the desired reward. If we know the reward’s out there, if the finish line’s still ahead, if we haven’t pressed through the tape at the end yet…what does it take for us to get there?…It’s takes a passionate pursuit. It’s takes concentration…it takes discipline.

Often times, when it comes to Christians…because grace and faith and salvation, it all belongs to the Jesus....because He does all the work…often times it causes us to adopt this passive attitude about the Christian life. It causes us to become complacent…We come to church, we sit in our assigned pews, we open our Bibles when the pastor tells us to, we sit and listen to a message about Jesus, we sing a couple songs praising Him…and then we kind of go on about our life never really putting any kind of weight into what it is He commanded us to do…He told us first to be ready for His return, right? Which if you’d been listening to Paul at all, that’s the one thing he keeps reminding his readers…and then He’s commanded us to go out and make disciples, right? To advance His kingdom. We’re not called to passive Christianity. In fact, passive Christianity goes against Jesus’s teachings…it fights against what the gospel does in our lives. We’re not called to an impassive stroll through life....we’re called to athletic Christianity…one of discipline and determination.

I mean just look at how Paul addresses this in verse 13. He says, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”…You see that language there? Paul’s a runner…he’s leaning forward and pushing with all his strength towards Christ…towards the finish line. He’s saying, “The one thing I do: I press towards the goal.” This one thing! He has a new pursuit…Instead of all the other things he cared about when he was a Pharisee…Jesus is his one pursuit now. It’s all he cares about…He’s tasted the grace of God and all he desires is to be like Jesus in every way. He wants to honor Christ…And so he pursues Him.

Listen, Paul recognizes he’s not already obtained this…part of faith, it’s understanding that faith’s always active and dynamic, it’s always moving us out and moving us forward. It should always be growing in us…it’s part of that sanctification process. Paul’s acknowledging that he’s not come to a point in his spiritual life where he’s arrived. There’s still so much growth that needs to happen before he can be made like Christ. But he’s tasted it and he wants it....he thirsts and hungers for righteousness and so he passionately pursues Jesus.

Guys, has your faith growth since the day you were made new? Is your singular pursuit Jesus? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Because listen to me, you will always passionately pursue the things you desire. You understand what I’m saying?

You wanna get more disciplined in your Bible reading? You wanna get more involved in church? You wanna grow in your prayer life but it just seems something always comes up? Guys, you’re not passionately pursuing Jesus. Your eyes aren’t set on Him. And listen, I’ll take it a step further, if you’re not currently doing those things…more involved in your spirituality outside of Sunday morning, you’re eyes aren’t set on Him and you’re not passionately pursuing Him...and listen to me because this is serious…if those things aren’t happening…if those things aren’t your desire…what’s really different about you? Because your desire should be Jesus and becoming more like Him…you do that through those things. Part of your changed life should involve you passionately wanting to pursue Jesus....to be more like Him.

3.) We must remember the grace that makes the reward possible (vv. 12 & 14)

But listen, when we’ve acknowledged the reward we seek and when we’re passionately pursuing that reward…we have to remember the grace that makes the reward possible.

So far…this sermon, it’s been a call to do something, right? Almost like it’s one of those “do better” sermons…and so you might be sitting there and all you feel is guilt…Listen to me, I’m not trying to guilt you…maybe conviction. The Spirit’s working. Maybe conviction that something in your life needs to change, that maybe you’ve grown apathetic or weary or cynical or tired, or you’ve just fallen down and you haven’t gotten back up, right?

But listen, Paul gives us some good news. There’s grace in this race we’re running....In fact, it’s this grace that allows us to run…it’s the wonder of the gospel that keeps us in this race. He mentions it in two places here…once in verse 12 and then in 14.

In verse 12, Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” The CSB translation says, “because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.” Listen, his emphasis isn’t on his doing part…its on what Jesus has already done. The NIV says, “Not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Or the NLT, “I do not mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection, but I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” Let me give you one more, the old King James. “...not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Listen, we don’t really use that word “apprehend” anymore. I think the only time I’ve ever used that word is when I worked in my secular job where I “apprehended” shoplifters. We called every time we stopped a shoplifter an apprehension. It’s the same idea as a police officer apprehending a criminal, right? The criminal’s seized, he’s been brought into hand, taken into custody. You understand what I’m saying? That’s what this word means…it means to grasp or to seize…to overpower. Paul says, “I’m running in order to seize that for which Christ has seized me.” Listen guys, because this is the grace part. You’re seeking to seize something, but you’ve already been seized by Jesus. Jesus has already overpowered you, He’s already taken you. You understand what Paul’s saying? He was very conscious of the fact that something had happened to him…there was something different about him…and he knew Jesus had done that something to him.

And guys, listen, that’s true of every Christian. If you’re a believer, one of the things it means is that Jesus has done something for you and that He won’t let you go. He took hold of you, and He does it with a purpose. That’s grace!

But look at this second thing Paul says. Verse 14, not only did Jesus take hold of Paul…but he says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” That word “call,” it means the divine summons. It’s another statement about God’s grace in salvation. God’s calling us towards heaven.

You understand the difference between a summons and an invitation? Listen, if you get an invitation…maybe to a wedding or a baby shower or something…guess what it means? You don’t have to go! Right? How many of those things have you ignored? Come on be honest!....You can refuse to go to those things. But listen, a summons…that comes with authority....it compels you to go. Maybe its jury duty or some kind of court summons. You don’t really have a choice, you have to respond to it and you have to go.

God’s call here…according to Paul…it’s not merely an invitation, it’s a summons....its a summons to come....it comes with authority…it comes with power. Guys, there’s grace here. This call…this “upward call of God,” it means it originates with God…it comes from Him....it’s rooted in his elective will....its realized in his effective word.

That’s why it says in 2 Timothy 1:9 “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

Guys, we run this race because of the grace that was given to us. We’re not simply here this morning, believing in Him because we chose Him…He first chose you. His choice preceded our choice. And its grace…Guys, it should leave us with a wonder for the gospel. In fact, we should never lose that wonder. How could a God this perfect and great…how could He simply chose me? We can’t lose that wonder…The gospel…our reason for running…the ability to run…it all stems from grace. And Paul says back in chapter one…what God started…when He took hold of you…He will complete! He’s summoned you and you should have this desire to run and grow and be closer to Christ…but because of the grace of God that’s already taken hold of you…you will cross that finish line. That’s our reward!

Closing

Guys, can I ask you a question this morning? First of all…are you in the race? Have you truly experienced this upward call…this summons? Has Jesus taken hold of you? Do you know Him? Do you trust Him? Have you responded to the gospel…the good news that your sins can be forgiven through the cross of Christ…that you can have new life and power through the resurrection of Jesus? Where are you this morning?

Listen, as you reflect on those questions…would you bow your head and close your eyes with me?

Most of you…you’re here…for the most part, because you’re a believer. You’ve experienced the gospel…you’ve been taken hold of…but guys, are you running the race well? Are you running to win? Are you running with a focus on the reward? Are you seeking to become more and more like Jesus? Do you have this single-minded pursuit in your life? This pursuit to know Christ…to become like Him? Is there focus? Is there discipline? Is there effort?

Listen, when’s the last time you put some sweat into your Christian life? When’s the last time you put effort into it? When’s the last time you sacrificed something all for Jesus and His kingdom? How long’s it been since you saw growth? Maybe you’re still paralyzed by the past…you’re tripping over past sins or past mistakes…you can’t get past your circumstances you grew up with or whatever…Paul says he looks past that stuff…let it go! Put it behind you. Your sins…your circumstances…if you’re in Jesus…you’re forgiven and He will use the other stuff all for His glory…let it go! Reach forward for the reward. Run with your eyes set on Jesus.

Listen, maybe God’s working on your heart right now…maybe He’s telling you do something…to humble yourself…to let something go. Guys, give into that. Maybe you’re here and you recently came to know Christ and you wanna get baptized or maybe you wanna join the church…or listen, maybe even now you’re here and the Spirit of God is telling you to respond to the gospel. He’s telling you to believe and repent. Believe in who Jesus is and what He did…to turn from yourself. Listen, if that’s you, Jesus died so that you didn’t have to experience the punishment you deserve…that we all deserve. He died so that we could be in His holy presence and have a real intimate relationship with Him…so that we could have eternal life. All you have to do is repent and believe.

Listen, whatever it is…I wanna do something just a little different this morning…As Wendy plays…as you pray and respond to the Word of God…I’m gonna be down front. If you want me to pray or talk to you about baptism or membership or maybe you wanna be saved this morning…Guys would you come?

And listen, maybe it’s none of that stuff...if it’s just simply to bow at these steps…and seek Christ this morning, I wanna give you time to do that…to respond…to humble yourself. And so, you do that and then I’ll close us in just a moment. I’ll be down front if you need me.

[Prayer]