Straining forward

Text: Philippians 3:12-4:1

Philippians:

- Written around 60 AD

- Written while Paul is in prison

- Written to portray joy and thankfulness

- Philippians

o Paul discusses the

Important words to work with…

- Press on (v.12) – Paul is pressing on to become perfect

o What does it mean to become perfect?

o What does this process look like?

§ Is Christ the example of perfection?

§ I’m not sure that you ever become fully

- Christ has made him his own (v.12) – Jesus has made Paul His own

o What does that mean?

o How do I get to be made his own?

- Prize of the upward call (v. 14) – Paul is straining for a prize that is upward called

o What is this prize that Paul is speaking of?

o Is this pressing on linked to verse 12?

- Transformation of our bodies (v.21) – Jesus is going to transform our bodies

o What does it mean to have our bodies transformed?

§ Physical bodies to Spiritual Bodies (1Corinthians 15:43-53)

· Possibly activity related to this is baptism

· Like him in His death… (v.10)

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Important ideas:

- Pressing on (straining towards

o

- Mature thinking

- Holding to what we have attained

- Citizens of Heaven

Intro: Working toward the great goals

Text: Philippians 3:12-4:1

Text flow:

- I have not obtained perfection – important to humbly address this idea

o I press on to make it my own

§ Why? Christ made me his own

o I do not consider myself to have made it

§ How? Forgetting what lies behind AND straining forward to what’s ahead

§ What? I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ

§ Who? The mature should think this way

· God will work out the call to salvation with those that think otherwise

· Let us hold to what we know (our progress), DON’T LOSE THAT

- Join in imitating me (Cor 11:1)

o How? by keeping your eyes on those who walk as examples

o Why? Many don’t, they walk in the ways of the world

- We are citizens of Heaven (citizenship is not in word but in deeds)

o Awaiting Christ to transform us

§ Lowly (earthly) bodies TO glorious (heavenly) bodies

· How? His power shown through Him making all things subject to Himself

o Who? His joy and crown… Stand firm in the Lord

Point 1 -

Point 2 – Walk focused on those that are imitating Christ

Point 3 – Our citizenship requires our attention

How can we strive to live lives that pursue God?

Paul starts out this section of the letter by taking a humble approach to pursuing Christ. He gives a clear explanation of the challenge he faces with straining toward being more like Christ. He knows that Christ has made him his own by coming to the earth as a humble servant. Jesus bought us with his blood on the cross. Paul acknowledges the fact that Jesus has made the sacrifice to