Finished and unfinished
Notes
Transcript
Scripture
Scripture
I want to be upfront
Tbh it’s been a tough week
so today might be a bit shorter than the usual Sunday sermons
As we continue in our series on Philippians
Just a recap
Paul is reminding us not to put any confidence in the flesh
But to gain Christ! To know Jesus as a personal relationship
How do we live? and the wisdom
Let me pray:
Introduction
Introduction
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever been to a marathon before?
There are a few runners in this room
When I say runners I mean those who run regularly, park run enjoyers
but A marathon blows my mind
its 42kms
running for 3~4 hours straight
Now I don’t particularly like running that much
After ten minutes I get tired very quickly
I puff out, I get thirsty,
Sometimes I feel like man, I just want to pass out
^ Now that’s my fitness level on display
But maybe you’re also like me
And I’ve found, that I need a good goal to work towards
otherwise, I’m just aimless, or demotivated
So perhaps against our better judgement, I have signed up for the mother’s day classic, a 4km run with a few others.
its 1/10th of a marathon
but it’s a start
And since then, it’s made training much more purposeful, and bearable.
When we get to our passage for today,
Paul perhaps makes a shocking confession
verses 12 and 13,
“Not that I have already obtained all this.”
Excuse me? Aren’t you the apostle who lived through trials, persecutions and wrote all these letters to the many churches as their beloved spiritual father
yet humbly he admits, “I’m not there yet.”
I have not reached the finish line
Why is that the case?
Today there are three truths that I believe Paul is saying that we can glean from
Truth #1: The Christian walk is a lifelong journey
Truth #1: The Christian walk is a lifelong journey
Our journey with Jesus started from a simple decision
To give our lives to Him who has defeated sin and death
And from that choice was a life that would be different from your previous life
Still figuring out what it means to follow Jesus
Remember friends, as Christians we believe that there is nothing we can do to earn our standing with God
just earlier in Philippians 3: Put no confidence in the flesh,
but boast in Jesus Christ
we have hope that Jesus has restored our relationship with God
And that’s great news for us!
Pause
You know the Summer Olympics are held every 4 years
they run for about two weeks through the different stages
It’s interesting is that each time it comes up, sports clubs and gym memberships spike in that period
It’s quite inspiring really!
But what we don’t see behind the scenes
are the years of training for that one event
for that chance at the gold medal and podium finish
They’re thinking long term
The Christian walk is a life long journey,
And we know this, because when we look to scripture,
Jesus promises that the good work he began in us will be carried on to completion! Phil 1:6
The perfection that is assured to us will be complete in the future! The best is yet to come!
but right now in this present moment, we are unfinished works in progress
We believe that Jesus has overcome sin and death in his resurrection
and that sin in our own lives can be overcome too
but in our present moment, we still struggle with sin. We aren’t alone! we have Jesus,
our future is finished and secure, but in the present we are still struggle.
That is why Paul says in verse 12, he will press on! He uses the image of pursuing, like chasing after.
so that he “can take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
that he continues to press on with the help of Jesus
And actually,
very much like a marriage
except, we tend to put a lot of focus on the wedding day
its a huge milestone with much celebration and joy
but the amount of planning that gets thrown into it is immense
The time, the money, the energy that gets poured into making everything perfect
At the end of the day, it is, well, one day.
The gift of marriage is not solely on the wedding. Please don’t fall into that trap
There is the rest of marriage life being worked out
for 10, 20, 30 40, 50, 60, 70 years
And that is never a perfect relationship, because the dynamic changes over different seasons, life stages
The gift is to be with that other person, that you commit to for the rest of your life.
not the benefits, though they might come naturally
And as he mentioned in chapter 3 earlier, his desire is to know Christ (v10)
So for Paul, he has this one goal.
eyes fixed on the prize like an athlete
For Paul, he’s not running around aimlessly
but it means that whatever comes his way in his life
if they aren’t part of his goal to know Jesus
they are distractions
they are hindrances to his faith
Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead
So he’s not looking to his former life anymore
Not looking at his old life of disobedience to God
Jesus at the forefront of everything that he does.
And v14, it says
“for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”
The Christian walk is a lifelong journey.
God has chosen us!
So if we just zoom out a bit:
I hope you’re starting to see that there’s this tension
We believe that our assurance, our security is in Jesus, in heaven!
We may not suffer from the punishment of our sin
but we ought to work hard with Jesus so that sin would not have power over us.
I’ll say it again
Through Jesus we no longer suffer from the punishment of our sin
but we still work with him so that sin would not have power over us.
How can we run the race for life?
That leads to truth #2:
Truth #2: We need consistent reminders
Truth #2: We need consistent reminders
Because we are still works in progress
sin still remains in our lives
we have a spiritual apathy
We are forgetful beings
So what we need are reminders to help us in our lifelong journey
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.
So what Paul says,
for the seasoned, battle-hardened Christian
note that Paul doesn’t say for those who have been Christians for a long time
nor does he single out recent believers
But he says, those “who are mature”
not by age, but of faith. spiritually mature
“Take such a view of things.”
in other words, remind yourself again and again!
If you think you’ve graduated and you think you don’t need reminders anymore
think again!
American Pastor Paul Tripp calls it a journey where we never really graduate from God’s grace.
we need Jesus
Mature people don’t think they are perfect or have arrived
One of the dangers of if we don’t heed this reminder
is that we begin to think that we’re good enough Christians
that we can slowly let our foot off the gas
and begin to backslide into our old way of life
our old way of living apart from God
When that happens
sin so easily creeps in
the sin that ruins lives and relationships with others
the sin that softly whispers:
“it’s okay for you to say that, but not for them”
“you’re much more important that him”
“your opinions are always right, and she can’t convince you otherwise.”
Friends, pride is a slippery slope that can encroach on anyone. Myself and the leaders included!
Hebrews 12:1–3 says the same thing: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
And if you’re still figuring out what faith means and looks like to you,
Philippians 3:16 “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
We need reminders again and again
And for that reason, God has designed us not to live in this tension
with the help of human relationships
that there is a beauty of human relationships
You know, people are difficult
because we’re different to each other
and church seems to be so diverse with different people
but I do believe God has designed the church that way
seriously!
if we were all the same, that would be a cult
but the fact that we can gather
under one banner that is of Jesus Christ
regardless of our culture, age, language, or even personality,
And the fact that we still stick together!
I realise that I am not just living for my own faith, but for others as God has called me to
we need reminders like that, because its impossible to be a Christian on your own
the devil will target the isolated believers like a lion waiting to pounce
not on the pack, but on the lone animal away from the herd
with each other, we can remain alert, with “eyes on the prize”
It is so necessary for there to be a communal effort to live as Christians.
That is why Paul says, in v17:
Philippians 3:17 “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”
Following the example of others is a good reminder too
This is especially true for parents here
kids may sometimes listen to you
but they will definitely absorb how you act and behave.
Athletes training for the Olympics need encouragement. They need support from family and friends who cheer them on. They also need coaches to tell them where to work on and improve!
So we need consistent reminders
and church is the place for that to take place!
a support network to check up on us
and for us to be part of someone else’s support network
It’s mutual!
#1 Christian walk is a lifelong journey
#2 to help us, we need constant reminders
Truth #3: Our prize is upwards
Truth #3: Our prize is upwards
Why is that important to know?
our prize is upwards
Paul explains that there are two ways to live
one is with Jesus, and the other is without
in fact he even goes as far to call it “enemies of the cross of Christ”
Why?
For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
Many live with passions contrary to how we ought to live
Earthly things,
things that will fade away
When Paul mentions “their god is their stomach”
he’s talking about the desires and appetite
material things, experiences, destinations
Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) C. Pressing on: Marking Those Who Live or Walk as Godly Examples, 3:17–21
• possessions and property
• houses and furnishings
• food and appetite
• comfort and plenty
• money and wealth
• pleasure and sex
• acceptance and social standing
• position and success
• honor and fame
In short, to live life as they please
without caring whether
The other way to live, focuses on the prize that is upwards
we read in
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
What is the cure? What could be better than the things accessible to us here?
our citizenship is in heaven
that is our hope
secure, safe in heaven
with the power to rule over everything under his control
So I’m going to give us some time of reflection
you can open your notes app on your phone, or on your notebooks if you have paper
just spent 5 minutes reflecting, right now,
What is your goal in life right now?
you may have one, or many, or none. And that’s ok.
To finish school
to please parents
to find a girlfriend
to get a comfortable job
But I do really want to ask you to reflect, and consider
Is Jesus part of that goal?
I’ll let you chew on that for a bit.
~5 mins
So.
What is your goal in life right now?
Is Jesus part of that goal?
If he isn’t, I want to ask you, why not?
I invite you to flip with me to Phil 2:6-11
The New International Version Chapter 2
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
what a beautiful poem
on the cross he said
“it is finished”
the work to bring us into the family of God is finished
the gift of grace is freely given
so we are part of God’s family
There will be a day when every knee should bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
but while we have time right now
our precious time on earth before we go to our Father
we live like his family
which means the sin in our lives needs to be called out
and repented
it means in a community of believers I can show my authentic self
true without fear of falling short of perfection
because Jesus was perfect for our sake
it means we can spur each other onwards
when one stumbles we restore them
when one is victorious we rejoice with them
when one mourns, we mourn with them.
So Paul ends with his reminder:
stand firm.
dear friends, stand firm!
remind each other of this!
when its easy to cower, to hide, to run away, to wimper, to throw in the towel, to question whether it is worth it or not
I tell you, it is.
Let us seek Jesus together! And discover how much richer, fuller it is living this way
