Following the Road To Maturity

Introduction

In , Paul is giving us his spiritual biography…his past (), his present (), and his future ().

By doing this, he gives us insight into how he thinks…he views the things he experiences on earth from God’s point of view…he does not allow the things behind, around or before him to steal his joy.

In our present context, he uses the illustration of athletics to encourage his readers regarding their responsibility in running the race to win the prize!

He had already told them in chapter 2 that they were to be working alongside God in the sanctification process

Philippians 2:12–13 NASB95

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Phil 2:

Because we are already God’s children, we must stay on the course God has set for our lives and work towards achieving the goal God sets before us…if we do that we receive a reward…if we don’t we lose the reward but not our citizenship.

So what is that goal that God sets before us?

God’s Goal For Us: Spiritual Maturity Comes to Those Who Pursue It.

Three steps to help us grow in Christ…three essential steps towards greater levels of spiritual maturity.

Evaluate Your Present Spiritual Condition with Humility (12-13a)

You Have to Be Dissatisfied With Where You Are

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect...

This is coming from someone who could very easily be considered a spiritual giant…Paul was obviously satisfied with Christ () but he was not satisfied with his Christian life..

It is easy for us to look at the life other believers live who are not making progress and become self-satisfied…when we compare our lives to others we are tempted to become proud and let up on our pursuit of Christ.

Perfect = mature = Paul uses it twice in this context in two ways...

In verse 12 = he uses it as a verb to indicate something that has come to completion…process that is finished.

In verse 15 = he uses it as an adjective to describe someone who is mature, of full age...

By doing this Paul communicates that he the work God began in him () is not complete yet, but he is mature...and one of the marks of a mature believer is the knowledge that the process of complete transformation into perfect Christlikeness is not complete.

The mature believer will not be satisfied with where they are spiritually and will strive to grow deeper and stronger.

You Have to Define Yourself As Spiritually Needy

I press on so that I may lay hold...

I press on so that I may lay hold…as having laid hold of it yet!

The Scripture warns us against a false estimate of our spiritual condition...

Church of Sardis () — they were alive, but they were dead…they had a reputation without reality.

Church of Laodicea () — boasted they were rich, but in God’s eyes they were miserable and wretched

Church of Smyrna () thought they were poor, but in reality they were rich

Samson () thought he still possessed his power, but in reality it had left him.

In self-evaluation we can often make ourselves better than we are or view ourselves worse than we are…Paul found the balance…it was recognizing he was spiritually needy and that he had to keep pressing on so that one day he could lay hold of that which Christ laid hold of him…listen to what Paul says about his need...

Philippians 3:9–11 NASB95

and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Phil 3:9

We all must evaluate ourselves by the same standard of perfection…Christ…when we humbly compare ourselves to Christ there is no other conclusion we can make than that of being extremely needy.

You Have to Be Devoted to the Process of Sanctification

but one thing I do

This is a very important phrase…it is far too easy for many of us to become too involved in too many things when we must concentrate on one thing if we want to progress...

We must be devoted to the process of sanctification…progressively becoming more like Christ...

Put the Past In Its Place (13b)

You Must Face the Right Direction

forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead

Passionately Pursue Christ (14-16)

You Must Have Determination (14)

Press on

Directed In the Right Path(13c)

You Must Be Disciplined (15-16)

Determined to Move Forward (14)

Disciplined To Obey God’s Word (15-16)

Determined