GOAL!
Philippians • Sermon • Submitted
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Since early September we’ve been exploring the book of Philippians. We’ve discussed how this is a book about joy; but it is also a book about faith, about humility, about God’s sovereignty, and ultimately for me it is a book of encouragement to all of us who seek to live by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our text today is . Before we dive in, let’s pray.
Let’s read Paul’s words to us:
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.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
This is the word to us from God’s word this morning.
Let’s begin at vs. 12 - this for me is one of my life verses. What I mean by that is that this for me is one of those verses that sums up so much of the Gospel for me that I’ve commited it to memory and I hold on to this. If you’ve received an email or a letter from me, I may have signed off with “in His Grip,” and this is what I mean by that.
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.
Previously in this chapter, vs. 8-11, Paul has been talking about how he has suffered the loss of all things to gain Christ, to be found in Christ, to know both his suffering and his resurrection, and to attain the resurrection from the dead.
Some might have concluded that he had reached spiritual perfection and he adamantly says, “NO!”. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect...”
Paul recognizes that he is incomplete in what God would have him be. He is “working out his salvation...” see 2:12.
One of the key phrases in this verse is the juxtaposition of what Paul is trying to do and what Christ has already done. “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
Let’s look at some different translations of that verse:
12 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.
The idea of taking hold, gripping, clasping, seizing, claiming...
12 Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
Phil 3:12
12 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me.
Back to the translation I’m using, the 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.
One of my favorite scenes from the Gospels is found in Matthew where Jesus is walking on the water and Peter cries out to him. You likely remember this story. The disciples have been rowing for hours against the wind and the waves. Suddenly appearing in the distance comes Jesus walking on the water. The disciples see him and are frightened.
Peter calls out and says, “Lord if it is you, command me to come out on to the water.” And Jesus does just that.
The story continues that Peter began to sink, and Jesus reached out...
31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:31
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
AMP
31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
The verb there is to take hold, grip, seize, claim.
Earlier in our study of this book we discussed the difference between justification and sanctification. Justification is past and present - it is what we’ve got already in Christ. Sanctification is the process from present to future to the day of glory.
As Christians we recognize that Jesus already has us; and at the same time we recognize that we have a long way to go to be like Christ. That is our upward call, and that is what Paul refers to in the next couple of verses.
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.
It’s not about where we are today, it’s about the ultimate prize of glory - press on toward that goal, the upward call of Jesus Christ!
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.
Our maturity will help us recognize several things:
We have not arrived yet.
It’s not by the works we think are good that save us, it is God who does that work.
We owe everything to Jesus.
Following Jesus is holding true to what Jesus has already done for us.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
One of the things that is important for all of us is that we have people that we can follow - that are more mature than ourselves in Christ. As a mentor has shared with me we all need a Timothy, a Barnabas, and a Paul in our lives.
What’s that mean you ask? Well, Jesus example, and Paul’s example was that they had people they were discipling. For Paul on of the obvious people was Timothy.
More than that we need to recognize that we need encouragement. Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs. Paul, when the other disciples were not willing to go with him to the gentiles had Barnabas who stepped up. Barnabas name actually means, “Son of encouragement.” Barnabas was Paul’s encourager.
Lastly, we all need a Paul in our lives. As Paul is encouraging us now through his letter, we all need mentors who are doing that in our lives. Who do you look up to spiritually? How are they specifically challenging you as a person?
KNOW....
you are loved by Jesus
you are held by Jesus
you are empowered by Jesus.