The "Perfect" Christian

Turn to Phil. ch. 3… vs. 12

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OPEN W:

Scripture Reading:

Philippians 3:12–16 (ESV)

12 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.

13 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,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

----Open in Prayer----

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Intro: “A Work in Progress”

(Q) How many of you love to ROAD CONSTRUCTION [REF: P.P.] when you’re out driving?

+ MAKES YOU LATE

LATELY: LOTS of FLAGGER SIGNS—CRYING WOLF????

COMING AROUND BEND in RD.—NO IDEA WHAT to EXPECT

TEACHING YOU to DOUBT

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BUT....HOW MANY LOVE a NICE,,, BEAUTIFULLY PAVED,,, BRAND NEW BLACK ROAD?? [REF. P.P.]

YOU CAN’T GET ONE WITHOUT the OTHER

WE ALL LOVE the RESULTS

BUT HATE the PROCESS

ONLY HOPE = WHEN YOU SEE IT’S ACTUALLY “IN PROGRESS”....NOT JUST SUPPOSEDLY...

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(T) I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT HOW THIS APPLIES TO LIFE, BEYOND THE ROAD.

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CAN I ENCOURAGE US ALL HERE THIS MORNING, THAT WE’RE ALL WORKS-IN-PROGRESS?

WE ALL WALK AROUND W/ “UNDER CONSTRUCTION” SIGN....

GOD’S BEGUN a GOOD WORK (PHIL. CH.1:6)

GOD’S AT WORK (PHIL. CH.2:13)

BUT WE’RE ALL in PROCESS

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NEED:

TEXT WILL REMIND US: WORKS in PROGRESS

CHALLENGE US: NOT BE STAGNANT

NOT BECOME: “RD CONSTRUCTION” W/ NO WORKERS...

TEXT SHOULD CHALLENGE/ENCOURAGE US in TWO AREAS THIS MORNING...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE DIVE IN, THIS MORNING, I WANT TO OFFER A QUICK RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK:

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RECAP: “THE GREATEST GAIN”

Previous Weeks:

CONTRASTING “BOASTING/GLORYING in CHRIST” VS. CONFIDENCE in FLESH

GOSPEL of GRACE:

SAVED BY JESUS’ PERFECT WORK....NOT OURS

SAVED BY JESUS’ PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS....NOT OURS...

(2 WEEKS AGO) PAUL RECOUNTED HIS REASONS for “CONFIDENCE in the FLESH”

GOOD BACKGROUND

ZEALOUS//RIGHTEOUS GUY

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Last Wk:

TRASHED HIS FORMER LIFE

PAUL’S FORMER “ASSETS” = TRULY LIABILITIES

COUNTED EVERYTHING AS LOSS: SURPASSING WORTH of KNOWING CHRIST....

KNOW HIM

POWER of RESURRECTION

SHARE in SUFFERINGS

LIKE HIM in DEATH....

HOPE of FINAL RESURRECTION...

(T) *CONTEXT* PAUL’S STRIVING = PURSUIT of CHRIST & FINAL RESURRECTION

(Q) WHAT DOES PAUL’S PURSUIT LOOK LIKE?

IF YOU’D PLEASE LOOK W/ ME AT CH. 3.... VS. 12…

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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PREACHING PASSAGE:

THOUGHT 1 (V12)

12 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.

INCREDIBLE CLAIM: PAUL = STILL on the JOURNEY!

TWO ELEMENTS:

1ST....HE HASN’T ALREADY OBTAINED:

FULL KNOWLEDGE of CHRIST//FINAL RESURRECTION

1 Corinthians 13:12 (ESV)

12 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.

ALL OUR “KNOWING” THIS SIDE of GLORY = ONLY in PART....

EXHORT:

WE CAN PRESENTLY KNOW GOD…KNOW the SAVIOR

BUT THERE’S SO MUCH MORE COMING...

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2ND ELEMENT:

PAUL HASN’T FULLY ATTAINED PERFECTION/CHRISTIAN MATURITY....

(PREFACE,, TODAY’S PASSAGE: “CHRISTIAN MATURITY” = TWO THINGS)

1. MATURITY = CHARACTERIZED BY HUMILITY

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ATTAIN: MEANS, “TO ATTAIN A STATE AS A GOAL”[2]/COMPLETE (TDNT)

(Q) When will the Christian be perfected?? — IN GLORY!

EXHORT: WE WON’T ENJOY TOTAL ABSENCE of SIN UNTIL WE RECEIVE RESURRECTION BODIES

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PAUL CONCLUDES: HE HASN’T ARRIVED.

SO WHAT’S HE DO??

(V12B) “I PRESS ON”

2ND PART of CHRISTIAN MATURITY:

MATURITY = PRESSING ON (AGILITY)

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MATURITY = HUMILITY (HAVEN’T ARRIVED)

MATURITY = AGILITY (PURSUIT)

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PRESS ON:

PURSUIT/CHASING AFTER

*SAME GK WORD for “PERSECUTE”

PAUL IS PURSUING AFTER:

A GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST

FINAL DAY OF PERFECTION AT THE RESURRECTION...

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(V12C) AIMING to MAKE HIS OWN— BECAUSE CHRIST JESUS HAD MADE HIM HIS OWN!

SAUL the PERSECUTOR = APPREHENDED BY JESUS on DAMASCUS RD

KNOCKED DOWN

BLINDED

EARLY CHURCH CONCLUDED: “HE WHO USED TO PERSECUTE US IS NOW PREACHING THE FAITH HE ONCE TRIED TO DESTROY.”[4]

CHRIST HAD MADE SAUL THE PERSECUTOR HIS OWN.

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· CHRISTIAN, CAN I REMIND YOU TODAY THAT IF YOU’VE BEEN SAVED, THAT MEANS YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT?

REDEMPTION/RANSOM LANGUAGE = A PURCHASE HAS BEEN MADE...

1 Peter 1:18–19 (ESV)

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

§ THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, “YOU’VE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE” (1 COR. 6:20).

HE BOUGHT YOU—YOU’RE HIS PROPERTY

EXHORT:....REF. LAST WK: “MY” LORD—

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ALL OUR STRIVING AFTER CHRIST = BECAUSE HE FIRST STROVE AFTER US

ALL OUR PURSUIT of CHRIST = BECAUSE HE FIRST PURSUED US

ALL OUR LOVE for CHRIST = BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US

IF YOU’VE BEEN MADE CHRIST’S OWN—YOU SHOULD BE STRIVING AFTER HIM,, SEEKING to KNOW HIM MORE...

(T) AND PAUL CONTINUES AND SAYS:

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THOUGHT 2: (V13-14)

13 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, 14 I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

PAUL = REPEATING HIMSELF in SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TERMS...

HE HASN’T ARRIVED:

FULL KNOWLEDGE of CHRIST

RESURRECTION

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(V13A) “I HAVEN’T MADE IT MY OWN” — GREEK IS EMPHATIC.

“I,, MYSELF,, I,, HAVEN’T MADE it MY OWN”

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REMEMBER: WE’RE TALKING ABOUT the APOSTLE PAUL...

CONSIDER HIS DEDICATION:

THREE MISSIONARY JOURNEYS,

TRAVELING THOUSANDS OF MILES,

STARTING CHURCHES,

ENDURING PERSECUTION,

SPREADING THE GOSPEL CONSTANTLY, EVEN IN JAIL…

HIS LIFE = MORE CONSUMED THAN ANY of OURS!! THAN ANYONE’S!!

MORE DEVOUT

MORE MISSIONAL

MORE INTENTIONAL

MORE “ON FIRE”

HE SAYS: “I, PAUL, I,, HAVEN’T ARRIVED”

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CHRISTIAN....IF PAUL HADN’T ARRIVED, DON’T THINK YOU’VE “ARRIVED” EITHER.

3X in PASSAGE:

HE HASN’T OBTAINED

HE ISN’T PERFECT

HE HASN’T MADE IT HIS OWN...

CHRISTIAN LIFE = JOURNEY.... FINISHED AT DEATH.

THROUGHOUT THIS LIFE—WE’RE ALL a WORK in PROGRESS

PHIL. CH.1:6— GOD’S BEGUN a WORK

PHIL. CH.2:13— GOD’S AT WORK

BUT WORK ISN’T FINISHED...

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**DISCLAIMER** TALK of IMPERFECTION = NEVER USED to JUSTIFY SIN

EXHORT:

Romans 6:1–2 (ESV)

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

TALK of IMPERFECTION (PURPOSE)

HUMILITY

PREVENT DISCOURAGEMENT

NOT TO JUSTIFY SIN

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BECAUSE PAUL HASN’T ARRIVED (HUMILITY)

HE DOES ONE THING: HE STRIVES (AGILITY)

(V13B) 2 WAYS:

FORGETTING— WHAT LIES BEHIND

STRAINING FORWARD—WHAT LIES AHEAD

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(1) FORGETTING THINGS BEHIND

* DISREGARDING—PUTTING OUT of MIND*

INTENTIONAL FORGETTING!

ILL: LOOKING BEHIND = LOSING RACE

DON’T BE DISTRACTED—GIVE IT ALL YOU’VE GOT

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THE BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST SHOULDN’T BE DISTRACTED BY THE PAST.

ONE COMMENTATOR HAS SAID,

“BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE, PAUL WAS LETTING THE PHILIPPIANS KNOW THAT THEY MUST NOT ALLOW PAST FAILURES TO PARALYZE THEM WITH GUILT OR “DISQUALIFY” THEM FROM PURSUING A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.

NEITHER SHOULD THEY BECOME COMPLACENT, THINKING THAT THE LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY OR INTIMACY WITH CHRIST THEY HAD OBTAINED WAS “GOOD ENOUGH.”[1]

YOU’VE NEVER DONE ENOUGH BAD in the PAST to WRECK YOUR FUTURE SPIRITUALLY

YOU’VE NEVER DONE ENOUGH GOOD in the PAST to MAKE YOUR FUTURE SPIRITUALLY

1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

**MIGHT FACE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES FOR SINS (REF. DAVID)**

1 John 1:9 (ESV)

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

DAVE RAMSEY: WINDSHIELD = BIGGER THAN the REARVIEW MIRROR

LEAVE the PAST WHERE IT BELONGS—IN the PAST—PURSUE CHRIST TODAY....

(2) LIKEWISE—DON’T THINK YOU’VE “ARRIVED”

DONE ENOUGH GOOD

GROWING COMPLACENT

ALL BELIEVERS ARE to PURSUE CHRIST in THIS LIFE UNTIL WE ARRIVE in GLORY

THE PAST IS NOT TO TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF WHAT IS HERE AND NOW:

THE PURSUIT OF CHRIST AND THE FINAL RESURRECTION… THAT BRINGS WITH IT A FULL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENTIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SAVIOR.

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2ND PART: COMPLEMENTARY to FIRST = “STRAINING FORWARD”

FORGETTING THAT WHICH is BEHIND

STRAINING FORWARD

THIS MEANS: “TO EXERT ONESELF TO THE UTTERMOST, STRETCH OUT, STRAIN”[2]

SOMEONE STRIVING in RACE—BREAK the TAPE BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE

LEANING

REACHING

WHATEVER THEY CAN

[REF: P.P.] ANYONE REMEMBER THIS SCENE FROM “CARS”??

DOING WHATEVER POSSIBLE to BREAK the PLANE

FORGETTING the PAST

STRAINING FORWARD to FUTURE

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(V14) PAUL CONCLUDES: THAT HE PRESSES ON TOWARD THE GOAL….

HOW??

HE ALREADY TOLD US:

FORGETTING THAT-- BEHIND

STRAINING THAT--BEFORE

THE “MANNER” BY WHICH PAUL PRESSES ON!

(V14) PAUL’S USING a RACE METAPHOR

GOAL = FINISH LINE

PRIZE = REWARD/TROPHY/LAUREL WREATH

WITH ALL HIS MIGHT—PAUL = STRIVING, PRESSING ON—STRAINING— TO the GREATEST PRIZE:

A COMPLETE AND FULL KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST AT THE RESURRECTION.

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THIS “UPWARD CALL!” BEGINS WHEN GOD CALLS US to HIMSELF...

REMEMBER: “CHRIST HAS TAKEN HOLD of ME”

GOD CALLS US to HIMSELF in CHRIST—

WE PURSUE/PRESS ON—IN FAITH— UNTIL THAT FINAL DAY

IF KNOWING CHRIST = the GOAL of LIFE

THEN MEETING CHRIST in GLORY = THE PRIZE of LIFE

(T) AND NOW, PAUL IS GOING TO CLOSE WITH AN EXHORTATION IN VERSES 15 AND 16:

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THOUGHT 3: (V15-16)

15 LET THOSE OF US WHO ARE MATURE THINK THIS WAY, AND IF IN ANYTHING YOU THINK OTHERWISE, GOD WILL REVEAL THAT ALSO TO YOU. 16 ONLY LET US HOLD TRUE TO WHAT WE HAVE ATTAINED.

PAUL USES SOME IRONY HERE.

(V12) — REMEMBER,, PAUL SAYS HE WASN’T “PERFECT”??

(V15) — “MATURE” = SAME GREEK ROOT

THOSE WHO ARE “MATURE/PERFECT” CHRISTIANS OUGHT to THINK THIS WAY...

HAVEN’T ARRIVED— HUMILITY

PRESSING ON— AGILITY

THE IRONY of the “PERFECT” CHRISTIAN IS the 1ST STEP = REALIZING YOU’RE IMPERFECT!!

PAUL’S EXHORTATION— ALL MATURE— THINK THIS WAY....

THOSE WHO DON’T—GOD WILL SORT THEM OUT

LET’S STAY TRUE to WHAT WE HAVE ATTAINED in GOSPEL...

(T) AND SO, WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT:

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

CHRISTIAN MATURITY IS CHARACTERIZED BY HUMILITY AND AGILITY…

HUMILITY— ACKNOWLEDGING WE HAVEN’T ARRIVED....

AGILITY— A CONSISTENT PURSUIT,, PRESSING ON,, PURSUIT of CHRIST—LEAVING PAST BEHIND & STRAINING FORWARD....

“PERFECT”/MATURE CHRISTIANITY = THINKING THESE TWO THINGS

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GOSPEL:

(T) KNOWLEDGE of IMPERFECTION = CONSISTENT PART of CHRISTIAN LIFE...

BECAUSE IT’S PART of HOW WE BEGIN the CHRISTIAN LIFE...

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CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGINS—TRUSTING CHRIST as SAVIOR

WHY??

BECAUSE WE’RE SINNERS in NEED!!

CAN’T PUT “CONFIDENCE in the FLESH”

WE DON’T BRING ANYTHING to the TABLE—EXCEPT the SIN THAT MAKES IT NECESSARY!

NOT RIGHTEOUS ENOUGH

NO AMOUNT of GOOD DEEDS = ENOUGH

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CAN’T FIND HOPE—UNTIL YOU REALIZE YOU’RE HOPELESS

CAN’T BECOME a SAINT—UNTIL YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU’RE a SINNER

CAN’T BE FOUND—UNTIL YOU REALIZE YOU’RE LOST

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BEGINNING CHRISTIAN LIFE— ACKNOWLEDGING:

I HAVE SINNED AGAINST a HOLY GOD

AS CREATOR— HE MAKES RULES

I STAND CONDEMNED

THE BAD NEWS....

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BUT the GOOD NEWS… IS THAT CHRIST DIED for ALL YOUR SINS

YOU DON’T HAVE to BE PLAGUED BY the PAST

YOU CAN HAVE NEW LIFE W/ CHRIST

YOU CAN HAVE a HOPE— OF FINAL RESURRECTION

YOU CAN HAVE HOPE—FINAL PRIZE—MEETING CHRIST in GLORY!

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NO MATTER HOW BAD of a SINNER

OR HOW “GOOD” of a SINNER

WE ALL NEED a SAVIOR

& SALVATION = PROVIDED in CHRIST & CHRIST ALONE...

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· JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR YOUR SINS.

· HE MADE A WAY FOR YOU BY GRACE.

o NOT BY WORKS.

o NOT BY YOUR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

o NOT BY ANYTHING YOU BRING TO THE TABLE.

§ BUT BY WHAT HE HAS DONE.

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NEVER RECEIVED CHRIST,, BEGUN CHRISTIAN PURSUIT??

NEVER TRUSTED HIM as YOUR SAVIOR??

NEVER TURNED FROM YOUR SIN,, to FIND FORGIVENESS in HIM?

§ I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR YOU TODAY, AND HE MAKES A WAY FOR US BY GRACE.

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DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU STAND ??

HAVE QUESTIONS ??

STRUGGLE W/ ASSURANCE ??

I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER the SERVICE TODAY...

(T) AND NOW, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST, TO THOSE WHO ARE IN PURSUIT OF HIM, I WANT TO OFFER A CHALLENGE TO YOU IN CLOSING:

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APP: Humble Pursuit of Christ

PAUL SAYS: MATURE CHRISTIANS THINK THIS WAY:

MATURITY = HUMILITY & AGILITY

HUMILITY = ACKNOWLEDGING WE HAVEN’T “ARRIVED”

IMPERFECT

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AGILITY = PRESSING ON—STRAINING FORWARD—FORGETTING PAST....

STRIVING AFTER CHRIST & HOPE of FINAL RESURRECTION

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DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU’RE AT TODAY....

(1) MAYBE YOU THINK YOU’VE ARRIVED

YOU’VE BEEN FAITHFUL—FOR YEARS

YOU SHOULD STILL BE “PRESSING ON”

YOU HAVEN’T ARRIVED.

YOU AREN’T PERFECT

DON’T BECOME COMPLACENT

DON’T BECOME PROUD.

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(2) MAYBE YOU’RE HUNG UP—NOT PRESSING FORWARD

PAST SINS/FAILURES = BESETTING

LEAVE the PAST in the PAST

Romans 8:1 (ESV)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

PRESS ON—PURSUE CHRIST & FINAL DAY of RESURRECTION

KNOWING CHRIST = GOAL of LIFE

MEETING CHRIST = PRIZE of LIFE

THERE’S NOT ONE of US HERE TODAY THAT HASN’T SCREWED UP— MANY of US in BIG WAYS...

EVERY SAINT HAD to FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE THEY WERE a SINNER

IF YOU’VE FAILED IN YOUR PAST—YOU’RE in GOOD COMPANY

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CHRISTIAN MATURITY =

AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of IMPERFECTION (HUMILITY)

AND a PRESSING ON-- PURSUIT of CHRIST (AGILITY)

KEEP TAKING STEPS in RIGHT DIRECTION

REMEMBER, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT A “WORK IN PROGRESS” IS THAT IT’S ACTUALLY A WORK “IN PROGRESS.”

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Closing:

AND ONE DAY, I CAN ASSURE YOU,

WE’LL RECEIVE THE PRIZE,

AND ON THAT DAY ALL THAT WE WENT THROUGH IN THIS LIFE WILL PALE IN COMPARISON.

AMEN?

Close in Prayer

[1]William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1053.

[1]Timothy D. Sprankle and Thomas Moore, Philippians: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching, ed. Herbert W. Bateman IV, Kerux Commentaries (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2019), 202. [2]William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 361.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 13:12. [2]Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996) 150. [3]William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature(Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 519. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ga 1:23.