Right Thinking In A Troubled World - 9

Introduction - Having already dealt with the central thought concerning right-thinking in the book of Philippians, we now turn to the 3rd chapter Philippians to look at a final example in this short series.

Let’s read our text for this lesson beginning in verses 12.

Philippians 3:12–21 “12 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. 13 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, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 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. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (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: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 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.”

Let’s Pray

As we begin to the look at this final lesson.

We see by the language Paul is using, that He comes full circle with this emphasis concerning right-thinking.

Our lives must be concerned for the Lord Jesus Christ if we are going to have right-thinking.

Notice with me what Paul states in verse 14.

Philippians 3:14 “14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

What is the mark…?

What exactly is Paul saying?

The word ‘mark’ gives the idea of a goal or finish line.

Paul is saying I am headed toward this goal.

And the idea is that he is pursuing this as one that is fleeing from the ways of the world and pursuing Christ.

Example: I can remember running around a track—- knowing that I had to complete two miles in a certain amount of time. And to me, the difficulty of running around a track—- like a quarter mile track is keeping up with where the end or finish line was.

Mentally it was defeating because you would have to circle a quarter mile track eight times.

Whenever, I had to run two miles and it was setup like a straight line or even a mile out and a mile back, the ability to gauge the end was encouraging.

It was also a motivator in a way. The closer you got toward the end, the harder you would press toward the ‘mark.’

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Paul in summing up this right view of thinking said first in chapter 2; Have the mind of Christ.

Here in chapter 3, He tells the church look toward the Lord Jesus Christ, He is finish line.

You will remember that precious verse in Hebrews 12:2 “2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We know that when we leave this life and enter into the eternal presence of the Lord, we will be present with Him.

No doubt the judgment seat of Christ is in view here, but the greatest prize of all is being in the presence of our Savior in perfection.

Paul says, Philippians 3:14 “14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let us notice a few things then about what Paul is speaking about concerning this matter of right-thinking.

Right-thinking involves:

I. Heading On A Particular Path vs. 12

I want you to notice that a major theme which Paul emphasizes in this chapter is the direction in which He is headed.

Paul also exhorts the Christians at Philippi to head that direction.

Philippians 3:12 “12 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.”

You and I, when we received Christ were captured by Him. What is being said here is that the desire ought to be move forward to spiritual maturity.

What direction was Paul concerned with? Well we find these words in verse 10,

Philippians 3:10 “10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

It is interesting to me when I think about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, that as a saved man, regardless of where I am along the path of practical sanctification, I will be changed in the moment in the twinkling of the eye.

The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:1–2 “1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

The end of my path at the moment of Salvation is determined. I know that when the Lord returns I will be changed.

So if that is the case, why do I have to run the race?

I pray you come to realize that God is concerned with the direction you are headed.

In the Old Testament during the times of the Patriarchs—- so much of what befell them had to do with the direction they headed.

Which direction are you headed my friend?

Those who have right-thinking have in their mind the proper direction to go.

The Bible says in Psalm 1:1–2 “1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

In verse 6 it continues “6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

II. Having A Particular Perception vs. 12-13

By perception, I mean, a certain common manner of thinking. Having a particular attitude is important.

We are warned in the Scriptures of having a wrong manner of thinking.

1 Corinthians 10:12 “12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

There is a danger my friend in thinking that you have arrived.

“Pursuing the prize of spiritual maturity begins with dissatisfaction over your present condition.” (Mattoon)

An honest assessment of your spiritual state comes from the revealing of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. (James 1:23-24)

“One mark of maturity is knowing you are not perfect. The Christian who is mature examines himself and strives to do better.” (Mattoon)

One of the sad marks of the Laodicean church in the Revelation of Jesus Christ was that they had a false view of their spiritual state.

Revelation 3:17 “17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:”

There is great danger in making ourselves out to be better than we really are and becoming proud and apathetic concerning our need to draw close to the Lord.

And on the other extreme we can conclude that we are worse than we really are and become defeated and discouraged.

I am fearful of those two extreme assessments. So what do you do? The answer is found in abiding in presence of the Lord. Stay in the revealing light of the Lord. Draw close to the Lord through His Word, His Presence, and Your Obedience.

When we are in the light, as He is in the light the apostle John penned, we have fellowship one with another.

When the light of Christ shines in our lives, we see ourselves as we truly are.

There was a list I came across while studying through this passage that I thought was very good. It was a list put together by a Bible scholar (Rod Mattoon) as to why spiritual growth is so important:

It glorifies God.

It provides genuine evidence we have been born again.

It makes the truth of God visible to other people.

It brings assurance of Salvation.

It protects the cause of Christ from reproach.

It protects us from the suffering that comes from a backslidden life.

It produces joy in our lives.

It equips us for ministry to other Christians.

It enhances our witness for Christ to the world.

Notice what Paul states in verses 12 and 13:

Philippians 3:12–13 “12 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. 13 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’s assessment of His race was not based on those around Him.

You will remember what Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:9–10 “9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

There are two views Paul gives in this verse. For one He states, I am the least of the apostles. He states, I am not worthy, I persecuted Christ, I persecuted the church of God.

By the way, I think we ought to pay careful attention to the fact that when we persecute members of the church, we are in fact persecuting Christ.

On the road to Damascus, the Lord challenged Him with this thought. Saul thought He was persecuting Christians, and He was, but ultimately He was persecuting Christ.

In Acts 9:4 “4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

As a child of God, I can be found in that way—- I can persecute the Lord Jesus by persecuting members of His body.

So He states, on the one hand, I am the least of the apostles. But then on the opposite side, we see that Paul rightly states concerning the Gospel, “I laboured more abundantly then they all…”

Paul could look out at the Christians He knew and He could have folded His arms and said—— “I’ve gone farther than those over there….” “I’ve run my race farther than anyone else…”

But who was it that He was running after?

We might say it this way, who has outrun Paul?

We can easily answer that question, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A person with right-thinking has a particular perception, common way of thinking, they have the thought, that I have not arrived yet.

Here was Paul’s common mode of thinking, I am forgetting those things which are behind, and I am reaching forth unto those things which are before.

In Paul’s scriptural assessment of Himself, He rightly states, I have not arrived. There is no place to stop in the Christian life.

Which leads us to the third item. A person with right-thinking knows they have a particular placement in the end.

III. Having A Particular Projection vs.13-14

There is power in knowing where this is all headed. You and I are headed for a particular destination.

Did you realize that every person that is born into this world will meet God?

I use to think, early on as a Christian that those who are lost, will never meet God. Well, the Bible tells me that there is a judgment coming for every person. The Bible tells me in Hebrews 9:27 “27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

There is a definite appointment for every person with God Almighty.

In fact I was just speaking to someone about the importance of our assembling together. In the book of Hebrews, the writer was encouraging those Jewish converts not forsake the assembling of themselves together.

Hebrews 10:25 “25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

In Eschatology, the day of wrath is coming. But my friend, your day and my day is approaching closer every moment God gives us here on this earth.

In verse 14, Paul tells us that His particular destination is Christ.

Not only do we see a person with right-thinking will head a particular path, have a particular perception, know he has a particular placement, but next recognize that Paul points out, that right-thinking involves helping particular people.

Who are the particular people that Paul is writing to here:

Philippians 3:15 “15 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.”

IV. Helping A Particular People vs.15

Do you notice the inclusive statements that Paul uses here? He says “Let us…”

Did you know that right-thinking Christians will be concerned with the bride of Christ being ‘…thus minded?’

V. Heeding A Particular Pulling vs. 15

vs. 15

VI. Hating A Particular Perdition vs. 18

vs. 18

Perdition - utter destruction.

The antithesis is seen in verse 19. Paul has given the positive exhortation concerning right-thinking. We have said many times, it could be summed up this way—- Have the mind of Christ. Here in chapter 3, Paul describes further this matter of having the mind of Christ.