Philippians 3:12-21

Press On

Paul encourages the Philippians to continue in their journey of sanctification or spiritual maturity. Paul says that he presses on to take hold of that which has taken hold of him in Christ. What does this mean? It means to be conformed into the image of Christ. Romans 8:29

Romans 8:29 NASB95

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

This means that we put away our fleshly sins and put on the righteousness of Christ. Romans 6:13

Romans 6:13 NASB95

and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Ephesians 4:20–24 NASB95

But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

This is a lifelong process that is fought daily. As long as we are in these bodies we will struggle with the flesh. The desire for sin will not go away. We must get stronger through faith in Christ to help overcome the desires of the flesh. 1 Cor. 9:24-27

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NASB95

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

We must be discipline our body and soul to the submission of Christ so that the flesh can be defeated. We must exercise self-control in everything. This means our thoughts, our words, and our actions. We must not afford sin to capitalize on any of these aspects of our lives. The word of God must have such a dominate place in our hearts that the flesh is submissive to it.

Just think about your time. How do you use it? When you go home, what do you do? When you get to a point where you stop, what do you do? Some people watch TV, some get on social media, some watch tic-tock or other forms of entertainment. Did you know that these things influence your discipline? If you are putting these worldly things in, they will have an affect on how you think, what you say, and what you do. However, if you engage in the study of scripture, listen to sermons, read christian literature, these will affect what you think, say and do. Phil. 4:8

Philippians 4:8 NASB95

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Paul gives the qualifiers to what we should allow to influence our hearts.

Paul says he hasn’t achieved the image of Christ but presses on by forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to the upward call of God in Christ. This means that you do not rely on what you have done in the past that helped you mature or kept you from maturing. It also means that you are in a perpetual state of improvement. When I listen to coaches like Kirby Smart or Nick Saban they always emphasize getting better is the goal. Winning is not the goal. Winning is the result of getting better. We must get better in our walk with Christ. When we do the result is victory over sin.

Enemies of the Cross

Paul asks the mature Christians to be aware of those who are lost. These are people that are living for the world rather than the kingdom of God. He describes them as enemies of the cross who’s end is destruction, who’s god is their appetite, who’s glory is their shame, and have their minds on earthly things.

Enemies of the cross means that they value of the cross means nothing to them. They don’t believe in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for the remission of sins. This doesn’t mean they are bad people, it means that they are lost and do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Consequently, their end is destruction. The life they live now is the best its going to get. When they die they will be separated from God and cast into the lake of fire . Matt. 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13–14 NASB95

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

These people live for the flesh and have no appetite for the spiritual. All they are concerned with is the things that satisfy the flesh. Rom. 8:5-8

Romans 8:5–8 NASB95

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

There glory is found in themselves. There efforts to glorify themselves mean nothing to God. Is. 64:6-7

Isaiah 64:6–7 NASB95

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls on Your name, Who arouses himself to take hold of You; For You have hidden Your face from us And have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.

They have their minds on earthly things. They fall for the trap that this world is meant to satisfy them. The American dream is what they strive for.

Heavenly Citizenship

This is not our home. Heaven is our home. Jesus is our King. We must live as ambasssadors of Christ. 2 Cor. 5:20

2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB95

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We will be glorified. This means this body we have now will be transformed into our new body that is conducive to home. 1 Cor. 15:50-58

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 NASB95

Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.