Philippians 3_12_16 Sermon

Philippians 3:12-16 “Pressing Forward” (these verses speak of sanctification) (1-11 Justification, 12-16 Sanctification, 17-21 Glorification)

Intro: Bill Broadhurst was a young man who lived and breathed running. His hero in life was Olympian runner Bill Rodgers. Upon hearing that Rodgers had entered in a 10k race in nearby Omaha Nebraska he too entered the race

The race began and as expected Rodgers jumped ahead and lead the entire race, he finshed the race in less than 30 minutes. Town officials begin to take down the banners, traffic began flowing on the streets agin, and there was nothing left to tell you that a race had been ran. Save, one runner Bill Broadhurst.

Bill Broadhurst, was paralyzed on his entire left side from an aneurism suffered early in life. But he continued to run. A couple of kids on bycyls road beside him and said, “hey mister, why are you still running the race? It has been over for hours, why don’t you quit!

Broadhurst replied, "I can’t, I have to make it to my hero at the end of the line". And he kept on running.

As he approached the place where the finish line would have been, Bill Rodgers and about 30 people stepped out from an alley. They strung a ribbon across the road and Bill Broadhurst stumbled across the finish line. Bill Rodgers, his hero took the ribbon from around his neck and placed it around the neck of the young man, and he said, "you are a winner!”

Friends we have a race before us, the race of Christian life. It is constant and difficult however at the end of the line is one waiting for us much greater than a hero…. The Savior!

The Apostle’s desire in life was to know the Lord Jesus completely, he had the Spiritual mind which allowed him to view all the wealth of the flesh as a loss and he counted the sufferings of Christ as gain because it molded him into the image of Christ Jesus.

In Chapter three we see that Paul is tell his autobiography he tells of his past life as one who sought righteousness based on works but then met Jesus, in verses 12-16 he speaks of his present life as one who is never satisfied with his level of spiritual maturity, and verses 17-21 he tells of his future life as having been Glorified.

He is using metaphors that the Philippians can understand to illustrate the point he wants to get across to them. He used the metaphor of accounting to drive home the point that work based righteousness is not righteousness at all. Now he uses the metaphor of an athlete to drive home his point that they should not be satisfied with their current level of sanctification but press forward chasing after Christ Jesus until they reach the goal line becoming truly perfect in the presence of the Lord.

CPS: Never be satisfied with your Spiritual attainment but press forward chasing after the Lord Jesus until you meet him at life’s finish line and receive the award that waits for you in heaven.

Continue to press forward in your faith. Vs. 12-16

{The Apostle is concerned with the Philippians’ faith he has told them to be of the mind of Christ, be united in one mind, not to argue, and to conduct themselves is a manner worthy of the Gospel. It is important to note Philippi is a Roman Colony which enjoys all the privileges of Rome including citizenship. Philippi is close enough to Rome to hear of the grandeur of Roman chariot races perhaps they had their own chariot races. Paul uses this metaphor to encourage the Philippians to press on with intense vigor until they cross the finish line.}

The Apostle recognizes that he has not finished his race yet. [He has not attained complete knowledge of Christ nor has he been made complete in Christ but He follows after Christ until that day that he does finish.] (HE IS NEVER SATISFIED WITH HIS LEVEL OF MATURITY OR CONFORMITY)

“Attained” λαμβάνω lambanō = to get hold off

“Perfect” τελειόω (teleioō) = Complete, finished, - even the Apostle was not a finished work, but God was working in him (vs. 2:13) and see him to his completion (Vs. 1:6)

“Follow” διώκω diōkō = press on, to follow in order to catch….

ILL: As a cop I got into many foot chases and always caught who I was chasing except for one time, I cahsed him through Pucket Park, through the housing authority, through the woods (made a circle) then watched him leap a fence, I chased him with intense vigor despratly wanting to get my hands on him ….. Paul is saying I will chase after Christ until I get my hands on that which He grabbed a hold of me for… flesh this out

The Apostle continually presses forward until he reaches the goal line.

“One Thing” I do, compared to “Only Conduct yourself” concentrate don’t get distracted

He forgets the past (Break the power of the past!)

Past sin

Past failures

Past success

Ill: Luke 9:62, Imagine what would happen on the race course if the charioteers started looking behind them. It is bad enough for a plowman to look back (Luke 9:62), but for a charioteer to do so means a possible collision and serious injury.

He reaches for the future

“Reach Forth” ἐπεκτείνομαι ĕpĕktĕinŏmai = to strain or stretch oneself forward. It is the idea of a racer reaching forth with both hand and feet.

Ill: The racing chariot was unlike the military chariots, it was small and light weight really nothing more than a board with wheels on it pulled by horses. The racer had to balance himself over the axel often wrapping the reigns around their waist. With their hands reaching straight forward their waist squatting and their feet out in front they raced toward the finish line. (give a demonstration)

He arrives at the goal line

“Mark” σκοπός skŏpŏs … literally Goal line

His prize is the High calling of God in Christ Jesus “upward calling” “Heavenly calling”

The Bible teaches that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2. Cor. 5:10) the Greek word for Judgment Seat is βῆμα bēma which means “rostrum” or a raised platform on which one stands to receive an award. It is name of the three stepped podium in which you see the Olympians stand as they receive their medals.

Paul is saying that he will press forward until that day when he stands upon the Bema of Christ Jesus and hears his named called out as victor and there he will receive a wreath, “crown of righteousness” an acknowledgement by God for the characteristic of righteousness, an honor he will bear for all eternity and He will see and know Jesus completely as he resides with his Lord forever and all ways.

The Apostle encourages the Philippians to share in his attitude (15-16)

The apostle tells the Philippians as many as be perfect (τέλειος (teleios) (different from τελειόω (teleioō) in verse 12. Or as many of you who has been inducted into the believing community… all you saints. Share in this same attitude.

Understand that you have not arrived, you are not perfect, do not be satisfied with “mere’ Christianity, your goal is to be conformed into the image of Christ Jesus. Yes you are going through difficult times but that means God is working on you!

For all of you who believe you have attained spiritual perfection I believe God will make reveal it to you that you have not. And for you who do not desire to reach any further in Christ, I pray God will reveal to you that you too are wrong. Hold on to your faith and press forward in pursuit of Christ Jesus!

Application: