Pressing On into 2024
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Introduction
- New Years resolutions and starting again
In October of 2023, Forbes Health and OnePoll surveyed around 1,000 adults to get insight on how people would be approaching their new years resolutions. They published their findings a week before Christmas. Here are some things they found.
“The most popular goals including:
Improved fitness (48%)
Improved finances (38%)
Improved mental health (36%)
Lose weight (34%)
Improved diet (32%)
Overall, 80% of respondents feel confident in their ability to reach their goals, but the survey found that the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months.
The researchers and editors go on to say that, “In fact, failing at New Year’s resolutions is so common that there’s even a slew of (unofficial) dates commemorating such failures—some sources cite “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” as January 17 while others denote the second Friday in January as “Quitter’s Day.”
Friends, as we approach the new year, my hope today is to simplify things with encouragement from the Apostle Paul.
Reading the Main Text
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. 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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Main Point: We are to press on to know Christ, for he is our goal and prize, both in this life and in the life to come.
Verses 12-14
Observations and Illustration
Paul wrote Philippians while he was incarcerated in Rome. This letter is one of several "prison epistles." His audience was the church in Philippi, the same church he helped plant during his second missionary journey, and it was his first church plant in modern day "Europe."
Philippians has a few very distinct purposes it was intended to serve, but its main purpose was to be a letter responding to a missionary support gift that was sent by the church via Epaphroditus. It was a long, expressive, thank you letter filled with joy and encouragement.
Paul, from the outset of his letter wanted to encourage the Philippians to continue on in the work of the Gospel the Lord had begun in them.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Not only here, but in several other places in Philippians, you can see and hear Paul’s unwavering desire to this church he loved so dearly to continue on toward the goal.
Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Paul wanted the Philippians to be unified, to be of the same mind, and to be fixated on goal: knowing Christ!
One of the practical ways that Paul encouraged them in being unified was by pointing the godly leaders examples they were to follow in. Epaphroditus, Timothy, himself, and of course the Lord Jesus.
Here in our text it is important to note Paul ‘s attitude towards his own continuation in the Gospel, what he wants his readers to emulate. Notice his humility… “Not that I have already obtained this”… “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.”
What Paul is not saying here is that it is solely up to him to arrive at his goal, as if it all depended on his works to keep the prize. No, because Jesus has already “made Paul his own.”
What Paul is getting at is simply that it was not yet his time to leave and depart, his time was not up. It isn’t time for him to throw in the towel.
In fact earlier on we hear of Paul’s confidence that his work was not yet finished, even in the midst of prison, even in the midst of his greatest trial, he still had work to do.
Paul knows he hasn't arrived. He knows he hasn't reached that state of perfection in this life. But he knows his place, he knows the promise, he knows who he belongs to, and he knows the prize awaiting for him at the finish line. It is this promise and assurance that drives Paul's effort. This is what allows him to "press on" in this life and not lose heart.
1). Let us press on to know Christ
“Laying hold of”, or “made it my own” is a one greek word used here and repeated three times with 3 different moods and tenses.
Philippians 3:12–13 (ESV)
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. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.
Paul is actively making it his goal even though he doesn’t know the time and place because Jesus has already laid claim on Paul’s life! This is the crux of his effort, of his reaching.
As one reads verses 7-11 of chapter 3, you cannot help but notice the fuel of Paul’s effort: the surpassing worth of knowing Christ! Because again, it is reiterated here in verse 12.
And a second time he negatively states that he hasn’t arrived. But, in this third sense the action is the goal: laying hold of the prize of knowing Christ.
How does Paul do this? It isn’t through a long arbitrary list of resolutions, I can tell you that! It is one thing…repeat after me “one thing”
Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV)
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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
What is Paul forgetting here? Past achievements, failures, hurts, losses? I would say yes to all, but most importantly it would be the things that could drag him down, or those things he simply considers “a loss for the sake of knowing Christ.” I like how Peter O’Brien puts it…
“He will not allow either the achievements of the past (which God has wrought) or, for that matter, his failures as a Christian to prevent his gaze from being fixed firmly on the finish line. In this sense he forgets as he runs.” - Peter O’Brien
Thinking about my kids, and how this Christmas they strived to make those presents their own. They hadn’t received them yet, but my girls knew who the presents belonged to. Day after day as presents were added below the tree you could see their excitement grow. But they couldn’t lay hold of them yet. It wasn’t until that day, the beautiful Christmas morning, that they could grab those presents and truly make them their own.
However, they surely trying to make them their own, by touching, feeling, reading their names, guessing what was inside of them.
And on that day, oh that glorious Christmas morning, as they opened those presents that quickly forgot about all of the days behind them of waiting and waiting. They forgot as they opened.
But the difference for us, is we already know what our prize is. We already know the gifts that God has given us. They have already been unwrapped, all except for one: knowing Christ Jesus in the fullness of his glory. And that is our ultimate aim, pursuit, and prize in this life.
Paul’s mindset is heavenward. And may we learn even more to adopt this same stance in our own walk.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Application and Proclamation
Brothers and sisters, we have a lot to leave behind in 2023. I know many of you are carrying loads and burdens this morning. If you are carrying burdens, loads, disappointments, sins, hang ups, habits, that are pulling you away from chasing hard after Jesus, this morning is the time to lay them down.
(Verses 13-14)
2). Let us press on to know Christ because he is our goal and our prize
There is such a greater prize to lay hold of in this pursuit. In fact, the prize is so unique here that Paul uses two profound words here to help communicate his point. One word is used only one time in the entire NT, right here in this passage. And the other is used only 2 times, once here and again in 1 Corinthians 9:24.
Skopos, translated as “goal” here, is a goal understood more in the sense as a target that one aims a weapon at. It is a target that requires focus and strained effort to hit.
Brabeion, translated as “prize”, used only in other place, 1 Corinthians 9:24. Most of us are very familiar with this passage…
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
I love how Gordon Fee captures the visual here…
“Paul pictures a runner here, one who is not distracted by other by other things, presumably by others in the race. The imagery is probably that of the runner who is in the lead and does not look back to see where the competitors are; rather, he focuses all his energy on the goal…There is no other prize; hence nothing counts for much except knowing Christ, both now and with clear and certain hope for the future.” - Gordon Fee
Friends, we are all on a race, a journey with Christ that requires we focus heavenward in our pursuit as our goal. Let us take with us into 2024 and unwavering mindset of knowing Christ as our aim. What are you needing to leave behind in 2023, or in the famous words of Elsa from Arendell, what do you need to let go of?
And, may the greater words of Jesus our Lord serve us well here:
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Verses 15-21
3) Let us press on to know Christ because he is our goal and our prize, both in this life and the life to come
Observation and Illustration
After encouraging us to press on after Christ, Paul then tells us to do something he says several times in a number of his letters.
Philippians 3:15–17 (ESV)
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
It is not enough for Paul to share his mindset with us. He tells us to adopt it. “Think this way.” Think heavenward, think of the ultimate goal and aim of your life.
As he does elsewhere, Paul can say this because he is in fact seeking to imitate Christ in his life.
He encourages this church to keep close watch on those who walking according to this example. Paul wasn’t the only one seeking to live this heavenward life. Epaphroditus, Timothy, and others in the congregation must’ve been seeking to live from this mindset.
D.A. Carson is very helpful here…
“Sadly, not all believers, not even all Christian leaders, adopt the stance that Paul views as normal and normative. So look around carefully, and emulate those who are continuing to grow spiritually, not those who are stagnating. Beware of those project an image of smug self-satisfaction. Imitate those who keep on imitating Christ.” - D.A. Carson
Why is Paul urging us on to imitate this heavenward mindset? Because the reality is that there are those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, even within the life of the church. They truly have no real desire to follow after Christ, even when the outside looks clean. We can see this because of Paul’s tears, and because of his exhortation preceding to follow after the mature examples.
Just look at the contrast here between those who are citizens of heaven, and those who are citizens of the world.
Philippians 3:19–21 (ESV)
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
On guessing who these individuals may be, Carson is helpful here again…
“Every generation produces some of these deceivers. They are not to be confused with Christian preachers whose motives may sometimes be mixed, nor are they to be confused with pagans or others who make no pretense of faith in Christ and oppose the gospel. Rather, they talk a good line, dupe the unwary and undiscerning, parade themselves as Christian leaders, and perhaps exhibit a good deal of power. But what is missing is a focus on the cross, a focus like Paul’s. Enemies of the cross never adopt that stance.” - D.A. Carson
Application and Proclamation
In this life there will always be a temptation to turn away and press on after the world, to imitate those living under its influence, and to hide it from view. But Jesus bought us with his own blood, as Paul says “Christ made us his own” so that we might live to make him our own and make him known.
One Goal in 2024
Might I suggest to you today, to simplify your goals for 2024. If you have already begun this endeavor, go back and look. Where is Christ in your goals, hopes and dreams for 2024?
As a church family, I want to encourage us to make “knowing Christ” our great aim for next. As we go to two services and begin making more room here in the next couple of weeks, let us not forget what the real goal is: to know Christ deeply, and to make him known to others.
Prayer
Conclusion
Prayer