Pressing Toward the Goal: A Call Out Of Complacency

Polaroid, founded in 1937

Originally known for inventing polarized sunglasses

Most well-known for the instant film and instant film camera

Superceded Kodak, and even successfully sued Kodak for nearly 1 Billion dollars in 1985.

By 2001, they filed for chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Why?

Digital Cameras

Strategic Investment Mistake

Reluctant Leadership

All spells - Complacency

Complacency - A feeling of satisfaction and lack of need for change, effort, or movement.

This section today starts with Paul saying twice - in both 12 and 13 - “I have not already obtained…I am not already perfect.”

In other words, he wants to stress to the Philippians that he hasn’t arrived at perfection yet.

We should be reminded what the definition of his goal, what his definition of perfection is.

vs. 10-11

knowing Christ fully

becoming like him in his death

attaining the resurrection from the dead.

Last week we saw this -

Knowing Jesus is worth more than everything we are and everything we have. He is worth rejoicing in!

Christ is a worthy goal! He is a fixed point of reference and the prize of our salvation. Believing that truly is saving faith - its how we enter relationship with Him.

But simply believing and knowing that isn’t the end of our purpose here on earth.

Knowing Jesus goes hand in hand with following Jesus. Since we are Christ’s, we have his call to press on with him toward eternity.

Principles in Following Jesus

A. We Are Christ’s

A people for God’s treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Realized in Christ, not just as national Israel, but all who believe.

John 17:24 ESV

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

In terms of motivation, nothing greater.

In terms of assurance, nothing greater.

In terms of real love, nothing greater.

Christ has made me his own.

By his sacrifice, by his love, by his obedience to the Father.

We are Christ’s.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

B. He Has a Call

His first call - to salvation. To faith. To relationship.

His ongoing call, to follow in his steps.

His eternal call - resurrection, the “upward call.”

resurrection - anastasis

Upward - ana

Christ’s call is ever up.

up from the grave spiritually - Ephesians 2.

up from the pit - psalm 40:1-2

up from slavery to family

up from bondage to sin, to victory over it.

in the future, up from the physical grave and this body of flesh, to resurrection, perfection, glory.

All of these “ups” go together. Bu we see them in time.

the first “up” - spiritual life - is real, and assures the rest of the “ups.”

The final “up” - resurrection and glory, is a promise that is as sure as reality.

The middle “up” - up from bondage, up from slavery, is an ongoing “up.” In it we find purpose.

C. He Has a Purpose

Purpose, in this passage, is seen in the little phrase - “press on.”

Motivated and fueled by the fact that we are Christ’s, assured by the promise of final victory and perfection, we press on.

Right back to chapter 2:12

Work out your own salvation.

Practices in Following Jesus

Often we speak of coming to Christ and receiving Christ in terms of a point in time - where we placed our faith in him. When we first believed, confessed our sins, and came to know Him as savior. That is true and right, but coming to Christ is just the beginning of a wonderful lifetime pursuit.

Much like in a marriage, or even an engagement or the beginning of dating. There is some kind of “agreement” - will you go out with me? Will you be my girlfriend?

That initial “yes” started something wonderful. But what if we did this?

“Oh, she said yes! It’s so wonderful.” Fast forward 5, 10, 20 years.

“Tell me about your relationship?” Oh, she said yes to me! How wonderful!”

Well, what is she like? What kinds of things have you learned, done, accomplished?”

Oh, well I haven’t really seen her much since then - but she said yes to me, isn’t that great?

Not a perfect analogy - because in Christ, the genuine faith of that initial “yes” is a call from the grave to spiritual life. It is a call that comes with a promise. But the relationship ongoing is where we get our strength, and mine the treasure of knowing and showing Christ.

Paul describes his following of Jesus with this phrase - “one thing I do...”

He then gives three things.

But really, the first two are qualifying statements.

The one thing? Pressing toward the goal - the final, full, complete gaining and knowing of Christ for whose sake everything has been counted loss.” PT Obrien.

A. Forgetting What’s Behind

What is meant by “forgetting the past?”

It does not mean ignoring it. Or not learning from it.

Those who fail to learn from the past...

It is not forgetting the good, like for Paul his knowledge of the scripture, the grace of God in bringing him to salvation

Forgetting the past in this context is this

It is when we stop letting things in our past be bigger than what is present or coming.

It is stopping resting on yesterday’s accomplishments, and seeing the need for today and tomorrow’s grace.

Example - manna and Egypt

maggots and flesh pots.

Both in Legalism and Guilt

Legalism, forgetting what we have done as assurance God’s love and relationship.

Guilt, being able to move past what Christ has already stamped “covered, cleansed, forgiven” on with blood-red ink.

B. Seeing What’s Ahead

In this case? Resurrection! We know its coming.

Wednesday hike. Camel’s hump.

About a mile into it, felt like I was going to die.

In all reality, knowing i’m not going to die.

Wanting to give up, reminding myself of the goal. 360 views, clear day.

Along the way, little glimpses.

Sunshine through the dark trees.

little clearings that provided a limited vista.

a plane that seemed much closer than it should have.

What lies ahead for us? Knowing Christ fully, ourselves perfect in glory.

1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

C. Pressing toward the Goal

Pressing toward the goal, then, is by God’s grace moving toward the mark in the race that we call life.

The mark, though, is not just a finish line. There are many checkpoints along the way.

Go back to the idea of being called by God again.

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

There we see God’s call and his purpose, and we are reminded that they are both good. God is good, and the outcome of his work is good.

Romans 8:29 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

To be conformed, is a process, like the idea of running a race.

The finish line is “heaven.” Ultimate perfection. That is for sure. But there are so many checkpoints of growth and “being conformed” along the way.

What are checkpoints?

each day.

give us this day our daily bread.

new points of growth

when we grow in one area, God often shows us another area.

example, feeling “done” with one thing, and then realizing behind the scenes there was a storm brewing.

Not a setback, a checkpoint.

new means of service and obedience

opportunities, goals, ministries.

I want you to think about this. What part of this do you struggle with the most?

Do you too easily rest on the past?

Do you rest on former guilt and failure, not being able to see Christ’s forgiveness of it?

Do you rest on achievements and goals met, not being able to see that Jesus might have something new for you to do for him?

Do you look too far in the future, seeing heaven but just wishing you could ignore the space between now and then?

No complacency

We must not be complacent like some who say “I’m already perfect. I’ve already arrived.”

We must not be complacent like some who say, “I’m forgiven. I don’t need to obey and follow Christ.”

Rather, motivated and fueled by Christ possessing us, calling us, and promising our completion, we press on.