The Perfect Goal

Introduction

A Goal Not Yet Obtained

“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.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬a ‭ESV‬‬

If we look at verse 11 the prior verse, we see that Paul is talking about the resurrection of the dead as the thing that is not obtained. This is not Paul saying that he is trying to get out of his punishment in prison or that he will immediately rise out of the ground after being buried, but it is regarding the return of Christ where all who are dead in Christ will be raised. Paul is striving toward the prize of eternal life. Does this put into question Paul’s eternal security? Is he saying that he is in danger of losing his soul? No. In the first chapter of the letter, Paul tells the people of Philippi that he is sure that the One who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus. He is saying that faith must endure, saving faith lasts to the end. Pressing on to make it his own, is to prove that Christ is working in him. It is to show, through Paul’s efforts in the power of the Holy Spirit, that the work Christ started will be finished.

Paul is not satisfied with what he has. This is not selfish ambition, but Godly ambition. He wants more of Christ, because he has not obtained all that Christ has for him whether it is in plenty or in few. Paul is using this kind of rhetoric to show the false teaching Judaizers, those who taught that Jesus alone isn’t enough but had to also follow the Law of Moses, to show them that Paul who has every reason to brag. Paul in verses 4-8 this chapter talks about his great feats in Judaism.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day (not like a Gentile convert who’d be baptized at an older age), of the people of Israel (ethnically of God’s people), of the tribe of Benjamin (a tribe who had ties to nobility, whose lot included the holy city of Jerusalem), a Hebrew of Hebrews (strictly following the traditions) ; as to the law, a Pharisee; (the highest role in regard to knowing and teaching the law) 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church (loved God so much that Paul persecuted those he thought was against God) ; as to righteousness under the law, blameless (a faithful observer of the law in the eyes of the teachers in his day) . 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Paul had all these accolades, yet, he has not obtained what was sought for. Now in Christ, he runs towards whatever Christ calls him to. Faith is not a bystander sport. Imagine a King who has gone to war for great loss to Himself. He has fought battles and has lost many and even His only Son. He rescues you, who were a prisoner of war, who would have no chance without the many sacrifices this King has made on your behalf. Not only that, but this King makes you, a helpless prisoner of war, dressed in rags, a prince of His kingdom. Would you respond with “Hey, thanks for all you’ve done for me now I’ll live how I want. Thanks for being my king.”? You might as well spit at his feet! He would deserve your utter devotion, your time, and your sacrifice. This is what Christ deserves of us.

A Goal Worth Striving For

Paul is seeking Christ because Christ first sought after Him. How many of us were looking for Christ when we found Him? I know I wasn’t. I thought I was a good little boy, but I was living in sin and living with the consequences, until Christ pulled me out. Paul wasn’t looking for Christ on the road to Damascus. Jesus was the one who came for Paul. Now Paul is seeking after Christ with everything that he has.

Philippians 3:13–16 “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.”

Paul creates a vivid picture of himself running after Christ. To many of the Greek Christians in Philippi, this would’ve created an image of their mind of the athletic training that the Greeks were so familiar with. You see in Greek the word gymnos is the word for training, but every other form of the word that has the root gym has to do with nakedness. This is how the Greeks trained and even competed in the Olympics without clothing. Even in today’s Olympics, we have athletes that wear tight spandex. This has two effects: the first is celebrating the human form, which was a big part of Greek culture, and the second is do everything they could to maximize performance by minimizing drag from their clothing.

This second effect is what Paul is getting at. He is aiming to throw out all things that could slow down his relationship and pursuit of Jesus. This is is his one pursuit. He forgets the things that are behind, for a runner who looks back will trip and fall, but strains forward to what lies ahead. The Greek word for strain in this passage means not only reaching out, but great effort. For those who are run or race, think of getting toward the end of the race and striding out your legs as far and as fast as you can to reach the finish line.

To what is Paul striving? Toward the goal. What goal? The prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. To eternity with Christ. One day we will reach this goal, not on this side of heaven, but we are to keep striving for the sake of the Gospel with fear and trembling. That we may live out the calling that God has for us. As we mature in Christ we are to think this way. Paul trusts that God will reveal this truth to the believers who do not yet think this way. For those of us who have walked with Christ awhile, we know that at first there are things that we did early on that were foolish and not beneficial for our walk, but as we grow in love of Christ, so do we grow in our zeal. Paul is a man who is prepared to meet with Christ that day, though the Lord does spare him, thus he has one thing on his mind. Why shouldn’t we live everyday in this same way?

I see many Christians who are satisfied with what their relationship with Christ as is. This can range from those who are just checking boxes, reading their Bible, praying, and journaling everyday but are doing so without purpose other than to promote their own righteousness, to people who think Christ only as Hellfire insurance. This is where we are to imitate Paul as he imitates Christ. We are to seek after eternity as if we don’t have it. We are saved for good works that God has prepared for us ahead of time. We must continue to strive, that we do not allow ourselves to be deceived.

A Goal Lost to Many

Philippians 3:17–19 “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

This is Paul’s warning for the people of Philippi, to keep your eyes on him as he is pursuing Christ, or you may fall away as others have. This is not a saying that we are to be perfect, for Paul states that he isn’t perfect. As stated in Proverbs a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. When these men had hardships, when these men had other passions they sought to satisfy them in the ways that they sought fit. They did not seek the Lord, they did not seek the One who truly satisfies.

Their god is their belly. This phrase describes them as people who cannot deny any fleshly desire. It is in reference to being pulled away by every sensation, by every sensual and bodily desire. These enemies of the cross may not have opposed Jesus, in theory, as in they may not have been openly hostile. They may have even thought that they were following Jesus while doing what they want, but Paul shows that they cannot do this. They are ones who are ruled by the flesh that they are to put to death. These desires that they are to crucify to follow Christ, are the very thing that guides them.

They glory in their shame. They are not only doing things shamefully, but are proud of it! They think what they are doing is noble and others should follow their example! If you’ve ever seen any videos of street evangelists or those who hit the streets to speak out against the unborn, you’ll know that this is true of our generation. Many will brag about the amount of people that they have been with or if they have been with the wrong people. Many will brag about the souls that they have killed in the womb. They do not, at least outwardly, show any signs of shame. If anything, they want society to remove all shame from these acts so they can do so even more than they are now.

They set their minds on the earthly things: They live for today. They are not afraid of what is to come. Eat, drink, and be merry for we live today and die tomorrow. They seek after money, because they do not trust that God will take care of them. They seek power, because they want to be the oppressors instead of the oppressed. They seek pleasure, for that is the highest good that they can conceive of. They live shallow lives that seem good in their eyes, yet all this leads only to destruction.

But we who follow Christ, we who seek after Him with all we have, we will see these ideas flip on their head.

Our god is not our belly, for we crucify, or put to death, the desires that are contrary to Christ. He gives us a new heart to live this out faithfully.

Our glory is not in our shame, but in the glory of Christ, who raises us up to be more than conquerors.

Our mind is not set on earthly things, but on the heavenly reward that He promises us.

Our end is not destruction, but eternal life.

A Goal to Hope For

Philippians 3:20–21 “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.”

This is the conclusion of this passage, the goal that we are ultimately waiting for. We are citizens of heaven, here and now. If we are in Christ we do not have to wait to inherit eternal life, we have it now. John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” As citizens of heaven

Conclusion