Connections That Give us Purpose

Philippians 3:12–4:1 KJV 1900

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. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

Paul offered a rousing invitation to lace up our spiritual running shoes and to join in the race toward the ultimate goal for believers. He set an inspiring example of the pursuit of Christlikeness. When Christ returns, will He find us living "good enough" lives, maybe even earthly-centered lives, or will He find us racing toward Christlikeness and anticipating His arrival?

As you begin to think about goals for your future and for personal growth, I challenge you to prioritize spiritual goals. I encourage you to join Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and myself in the race toward the goal of Christlikeness.

Introduction

Divide the class into two groups and give each group a permanent marker and a designated space for their balloon cache. Each group chooses a team name and selects one person as the labeler.

On your signal, one person at a time from each group grabs a balloon and brings it to the labeler The labeler writes the team's name on the balloon then puts it in the cache. Only then can the next group member grab a balloon. Continue until all the balloons have been grabbed and labeled. The team with the most balloons wins the game.

. Transition to the Bible lesson.

The action of grabbing the balloons and marking them for your team parallels a spiritual action Paul described to the Philippians. Just as you might have found it difficult to reach some of the balloons, we all find difficulties in becoming more Christlike. But you didn't give up your efforts in the game. Likewise, God expects us to keep on striving for Christlike qualities in our lives. Today we'll read Paul's invitation to join him in his constant efforts to "grab and own' Christlikeness.

The Goal of Christlikeness

Focus with purpose

Philippians 3:12 KJV 1900

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.

Paul's goal was to be like Christ. He wanted to apprehend—to pull down, seize, lay hold of—the Christlikeness he had described in Philippians 3:8—1 1 . God had saved him for that purpose (Rom. 8:29). He was not satisfied merely to be called a child of God. He aggressively pursued obtaining and owning Christlike character.

ASK: How does your sense of purpose affect your daily focus? Do you even have a sense of purpose?

Forget the past

Philippians 3:13 KJV 1900

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Paul readily admitted that he had not yet arrived at the goal of Christlikeness. However, he continued to push forward and make progress. Paul's key to progress in his walk with the Lord was to concentrate on "one thing." He forgot the past and lived anticipating his future goal. "Forget" here does not mean to lose your memory. Instead, it means not letting the past influence the present standing. Paul did not let his past achievements—either before or after he was saved—excuse him from continually growing in Christlikeness. Neither did he allow his past sins to cause him to despair of ever being more like Christ.

ASK: How can looking back at past failures and successes hinder us from racing toward Christlikeness? We might let mistakes and failures discourage us; Satan often uses them to give us a low opinion of ourselves. Dwelling on past successes might keep us in a "comfort zone" and prevent us from moving forward.

ASK: How might Paul's admission of imperfection encourage you in your Christian growth?

Some Christians lose out on present growth because they look to past successes. They bask in past " memorable experiences with the Lord " and never have new ones. That's like a competitor at a track meet who wins the preliminary heat and says, "That's enough. " That competitor never goes on to win the prize for the competition.

Press for the prize

Philippians 3:14 KJV 1900

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

When athletes in a contest really care about succeeding, they expend every bit of energy and skill to outmaneuver their opponents to reach the goal first. Paul pushed forward with all his might toward the goal.

God issues a high, heavenly calling to His people. He saves and calls them to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. In Heaven we will see the goal of Christlikeness completed in us. Until then, the call to be like Christ should influence how we live on earth. Paul was determined to live a life that would testify to the transforming power of God. He was willing to keep going no matter what happened, to press onward for the sake of the purpose for which God had saved him.

ASK: Why is Christlikeness the worthiest goal for a Christian? We were saved to become like Christ. As we mirror Christ more in our actions and attitudes, we have more opportunity to share His gift of salvation with others.

The Invitation to Connectedness

Philippians 3:15–16 KJV 1900

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Paul wanted the Philippian believers to share his mindset and to persevere in the single-minded goal of placing Christ first in everything, just as he was doing. They were mature in their faith and ready for such a challenge. Paul was confident that if some of his readers had not reached this point in their spiritual maturity, God would work in them to lead them to that point. They had begun to press toward Christlikeness; Paul wanted them to continue along the same path. Again, Paul called for connectivity among the believers as they pursued Christlikeness together.

ASK: How can Paul's testimony inspire us to run behind him toward the goal of Christlikeness? We can see his love, joy, and peace and desire those same qualities in our own lives. We can also notice how he remained true to the gospel even when he suffered for it.

The Patterns of Co-laborers

Follow sacrificial patterns

Philippians 3:17 KJV 1900

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

ASK: Whose lives did Paul previously offer in his letter as patterns of Christlikeness? Timothy, Epaphroditus, himself Believers are to follow Christ as the primary pattern for their lives. But Jesus isn't walking among us today. So God also uses believers who are carefully following Christ as secondary patterns for Christlike living. Other believers help us see what living like Christ looks like practically.

Paul encouraged the Philippians to look at his life as an example of how to live for the Lord. This counsel was not egotistical. Paul had already made it clear that he counted all the things the average person would glory in as worthless (3:4-10). Paul's goal was to know Christ and His power (3:10, 1 1). Although he was spiritually mature, Paul knew he wasn't perfect (3:12). He was still striving to pattern his life after the life of Jesus Christ.

Paul also encouraged the Philippians to observe other mature Christians within the church. Timothy and Epaphroditus were part of the " us" mentioned in verse 1 7. The two men had proven Christlike character (2:19-30).

ASK: How can teens set an example for Christlikeness among their peers?

ASK: Who in our church might you look to as a pattern of Christlikeness?

Flee selfish patterns

Paul also warned the Philippians about unfit patterns, whom he tearfully described as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:18–19 KJV 1900

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

ASK: How do the people described in these verses contrast with Paul? They are focused on earthly things; they are opposed to Christ; they are selfishly motivated.

If the people Paul pointed out professed to know Christ at all, their professions were false. They were unbelievers whose energy was devoted to destroying the gospel message.

Those who were bad patterns for life had hijacked Christianity to accomplish selfish goals and satisfy their greed. They were the antithesis of a Christlike life because they minded earthly things. They indulged their fleshly desires and boasted about behavior of which they should have been ashamed. They put the highest value on things that pass away—things that neither come from God nor have eternal worth. Their values were worldly rather than spiritual. But Paul assured the Philippian believers that these enemies would be destroyed. God would hold them responsible for their hedonistic actions.

ASK: Why might believers be tempted to follow the bad examples of these enemies of the cross? Living for the moment is easier because it offers immediate gratification for our fleshly desires.

The Reminder of Citizenship

Anticipate relocation

Philippians 3:20 KJV 1900

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

While the enemies of the cross lived as if present pleasure was their purpose, Paul wrote that believers should focus on their heavenly citizenship. The Philippians were Roman citizens because they lived in a Roman colony. They enjoyed all the privileges and benefits of Roman citizenship even though their colony was separated from the mother colony by land and sea.

ASK: What is the spiritual parallel between the Philippians' Roman citizenship and their heavenly citizenship? Both citizenship were in different places from their actual place of residence, but both greatly affected their manner of life where they were living.

Although the Philippians didn't yet reside in Heaven, they were citizens of Heaven and therefore should prioritize heavenly things. The prospect of going home to be with the Savior should motivate the believer to live like a heavenly citizen on earth, while awaiting the imminent return Of Jesus at the Rapture.

Anticipate transformation

Philippians 3:21 KJV 1900

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

ASK: What weaknesses do our human bodies suffer? illness, injury, decay

At Christ's return, believers will experience two wonderful changes: we will become residents as well as citizens of Heaven, and our earthly bodies will be transformed. When Christ comes to claim us and take us home to Heaven, He will transform our weak, mortal bodies to perfect, immortal bodies like His own. We will no longer be subject to age, disease, injury, or death. We will have new resurrected bodies, tangible and real but free of sin and all its resulting defects.

How can God put back together a body that has been returned to the dust of the ground or burned by fire or dissolved in the sea? This miracle will be no problem for the Creator and Sustainer of the world. He is powerful to resurrect our bodies and demonstrate through them that even death is subject to Him!

When Christ appears, we will be like Him. Our goal of Christlikeness will finally be accomplished.

Anticipate with dedication

Philippians 4:1 KJV 1900

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

ASK: How might Paul's repetition of his great affection for the Philippians have compelled them to follow his commands? His love for them would have revealed He had the best for them in mind when he gave them commands.

In light of a mutual race to Christlikeness, the presence of the enemies of the cross, the reality of a heavenly citizenship, and the expectation of the returning Savior, Paul again encouraged the believers to stand strong in their faith. They were to anticipate the future while staying dedicated to Christ.

Paul poured out his love for the Philippian believers, affirming his personal affection and concern. He longed for the company of these partners in the gospel and reminded them that they were a source of joy to him. He regarded them as one of the rewards of his ministry.

He had informed them that serving Christ would not be easy, because false religious leaders would oppose the Philippians' efforts at every opportunity. However, he turned their focus to the future. In the end, the enemies of the cross will succumb to divine judgment, but the Philippian believers will enjoy ultimate victory. Seeing Christ at the

Rapture and becoming like Him will make every battle worthwhile. Therefore, the Philippians were to take an unwavering stand in the Lord.