Sermon Tone Analysis

Pressing toward the Goal

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.

But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

This is a letter, so Paul is continuing a thought here.

So, in order to understand this verse we must remember what Paul has already stated.

Let’s remember in verses 2-4, Paul contrasted the faith in Jesus’ work on the cross with the Judaizer dogs who are trying to get people to work for right standing with God by circumcision.

In 5-6 Paul listed his impeccable Jewish resume.

7-8 He says that his resume, all his accomplishments and all he’s attained is actually in massive pile of crap in comparison with knowing Jesus.

In the eyes of people who don’t know Jesus, awesome, in the eyes of followers of Jesus all those things get in the way and keep you from truly knowing Jesus.

How so?

In verses 9-11 Paul lists how he wants to know Jesus and position, power, and possessions won’t allow Paul to know Jesus this way.

He won’t know God’s power because he has his own, he won’t experience God’s suffering because he can insulate himself from that, he definitely won’t be willing to share in his death, because life here is too good.

So now this is where Paul goes when he says he hasn’t yet achieved it, this full knowledge through suffering, and he hasn’t yet fully experienced God’s power, and he obviously hasn’t died yet.

The focus is really on verses 8-10 here.

So what hasn’t Paul achieved, what is this perfection?

So now this is where Paul goes when he says he hasn’t yet achieved it, this full knowledge through suffering, and he hasn’t yet fully experienced God’s power, and he obviously hasn’t died yet.

The focus is really on verses 8-10 here.

The moral and spiritual perfection that comes through what?

Obedience

Paul gives us a key not only for our spiritual life, but also for our life in general, in verse 13-14, what is it?

What does he mean by forget?

Why do this?

Where is his focus?

Why?

What do these two things allow him to do?

15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things.

If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Unity, Paul is a mature apostle with wisdom and spiritual insight.

17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 They are headed for destruction.

Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.

And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Follow me as I follow Jesus, what I’m doing is right and good.

It’s ultimately what our soul desires, not the things of this world.

Coming from a man in prison.

What does verse 18 say?

How about 19?

How are we different?

Verse 20, If we are truly a follower of Jesus, and is this our mentality?

Verse 21 is our glorious hope, this life is not all there is.