I press forward

I press forward

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.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. 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.”

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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. 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.”

This statement “but whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”, sums up the dramatic change that has taken place in Paul’s life since he met Christ Jesus our Lord. All of the cherished treasures and accomplishments that gave him confidence in his flesh like, his circumcision, being of the tribe of Benjamin, being a Hebrew of Hebrews, following the law to it imp degree, being a persecutor of the church and being righteous as seen under the law. These things suddenly became deficits and now hold no more value that dung. But by God’s marvelous grace, those things that he wrongly imagined would give him eternal life were replaced by five matchless benefits that were his in Christ Jesus.

What were those glorious five benefits? Well, there was knowledge, the true knowing of Christ Jesus, this knowledge held a surpassing value.

Because to (1) “know Christ” means to have a personal relationship with Him through faith and offers the promise of eternal life as well. , “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Next is having the (2) righteousness through faith in Christ; this is not a righteousness of our own but one derived from our faith in Christ.

Our Faith should be described as expressing the confident, continuous confession of our total dependence and total trust in Christ Jesus. Our faith involves more than a mental assent to the gospel, but also it involves a heart changing direction in our lives; one that is shown through our behavior. Our faith is a saving faith because of our trust in Christ Jesus, and our surrender to His lordship.

The third benefit that we receive when we are in Christ Jesus is power. Paul wanted to know Jesus in the power of His resurrection and that he might gain power in the sharing of his sufferings. Paul knew that there was no power in the Law, because no one could keep the law, but there is power in the resurrection of Christ. God through the Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead, , “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Now that’s power.

Paul also wanted to share in the (4)fellowship of His suffering;

Paul understood that the deepest moments of spiritual fellowship and growth come from living with Christ Jesus during times of intense hardship and suffering.

Suffering drives us believers to Him and strengthens us for the journey ahead. During this suffering we find that Christ is a merciful High Priest and a faithful friend that sticks closer than a brother and that suffering aids and attributes to our sanctification. Lastly, the consummate benefit Paul received when he met (5) Christ was a guarantee of future resurrection. All believers will attain resurrection, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will rise first and then all of us who are live will be caught up in the air to be with the Lord. All who believe and serve Christ will be resurrected; we must never stop running the race and reaching for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus our Lord, we must not ever stop pressing forward.

Let’s us pray…

In his letters, Paul uses many illustrations from the world to communicate truth about the Christian life. There are four are which are prominent: the military (“ Put on the whole armor of God”), architecture (You are the temple of God”), agriculture (Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap”), and athletics.

In this passage, he is using the illustration of an athletics; Paul sees himself as the athlete in a chariot. The Greek chariot that was used in the Olympic Games and other events, was really only a small platform with a wheel on each side. The driver had very little to hold on as he raced around the course. He had to lean forward and strain every nerve and muscle to maintain balance and control the horses, the athlete had to seriously press forward. So Paul expands this common custom, pressing forward into a compelling Christian characteristic that is necessary if we are to truly and throughly serve God. Yet, he reminds us first that change only comes when we find a dissatisfaction.

Pressing forward requires…dissatisfaction

“ Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, (3:12a).

All that believers are now in Christ Jesus and what they will obtain in heaven, is forever eternally fixed by God’s gracious purpose. Knowing that we are not now what we should be, or what we will be someday will be one day in glory, must not produce apathy and laziness in us, but a dissatisfaction and a new zeal for pressing forward in the direction of the prize in Christ Jesus.

Why dissatisfaction pastor? Well because, dissatisfaction is needed to improve one’s spiritual condition; it’s a necessary prerequisite to press forward as we are pursuing the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.

We must become sick and tired of being sick and tired of our situation, our dissatisfaction is the launch pad for our pressing forward toward the greater prize in Christ Jesus.

Paul had this type dissatisfaction, he knew he had not obtained the prize he was in pursued of, he knew he had not become perfect, and he knew he had not reach the goal. Despite the rich blessings that were his in Christ he was still incomplete and he knew he would need to press forward.

But Paul understood that the key to pursuing the prize of the upward call in Christ begins with dissatisfaction with one’s present spiritual condition. Those who think they have reached spiritual perfection will not see the need to continue the pursuit. With such complacency, contented people are in great danger of becoming insensitive to their sins and blind to their weaknesses. When we judge ourselves by ourselves we truly miss the mark that Christ Jesus wants us to obtain. We must measure our lives by the One whom gave us eternal life who is Christ Jesus our Lord. When Christ is our standard then we can clearly see our sins and our shortcomings. There is only one way to continue to recognize the need to eliminate sin and cultivate holiness; it is the pursuits of the upward call in Christ Jesus. It is through the power of the sanctifying Spirit of God, which will produce in us a decreasing frequency and desire for sin and that produces a dissatisfaction with our current condition and allows us to press forward. Someone once said, that success is on the same road as failure, it just a few miles further down the road. We must press forward and trust God and God alone!

, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

It is our dissatisfaction with our sinful lives, it is our disobedience and pride that hinders our progress and it is our denial of our own desire to have our way that draws us further away from God’s will in our lives. This disappointment in our selves produces the dissatisfaction in us needed to press forward, but this requires determination.

Pressing forward requires… determination.

But I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own (3:12b).

True believers will not pursue the prize of spiritual perfection until they are dissatisfy and see the need to improve their condition, but awareness of that need is not enough; there must also be a diligent determination that pursues and presses towards that change.

The words “I press” means “ I run” or “follow after.” This pursuit speaks of an aggressive, energetic, endeavor on one’s part. This word [epekteinomai] means to strain forward and much as humanly possible to attain the goal.

Paul pursued the spiritual prize with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle as he ran to win.

, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Paul uses the perplexing phrase, “ because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” This means that Christ had overtaken him, had laid seize to him, had called him, capture him, and had conformed him for His purpose.

Paul was now in a race for his life; running spiritually to make his life consistent with the goals of Christ had for him.

Has Jesus gotten a hold of you yet? Does Jesus control your life, your thoughts, your money, and your mouth.

When Christ Jesus gets a hold of you He will bring you to submission and to surrender His service.

, “ I appeal to you therefore, brother, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We must be determine to live our lives as living sacrifices unto Christ as we press forward.

Pressing forward requires… devotion!

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” (3:13).

“One thing” is a phrase of importance in the Christian life. You see this phrase throughout the Bible.

“One thing you lack” said Jesus to the rich young ruler () “One thing is needful” said Jesus to the sister in (). “One thing I know” said the man who received his sight from Jesus in (). And “One thing have I desired of the Lord” said the psalmist in ().

Too many Christians are too involved in too many things; the secret to progress in this Christian life is to become devoted to “one thing”.

Yes, l said devoted to one thing ! Having a determine effort without total focus is useless; every athlete knows that runners in a race must fix their eyes ahead of them; those who watch the crowd or their own feet are likely to trip and fall.

Paul says brothers, I have not obtained it, you have not obtained it, and these false teachers that are teaching you had not obtained it. No one has obtained spiritual perfection.

But then Paul shows his single- minded focus, when we says, but this one thing I do, I focus not on what is behind me, but on what is in front of me.

You see my brothers and sister our past can be instructive but also our past can be intrusive, I’m straining forward to reach what lies ahead of me. And my brothers and sister don’t ever let anyone try to restrain or blackmail you concerning your past. Because everyone has a past and you have been forgiven by Christ Jesus our Lord for all sins past, present, and future. You are now a new creature in Christ Jesus and they need to get over it, because Christ has gotten over it, the Bible teaches, “ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” () You should hold on to that promise as Christ Jesus holds on to you.

This phrase “pressing forward” is the verb epekteinomai which is a compound verb meaning, “ straining forward” in verse 13 literally means, “ stretching as in a race.”

It describes stretching a muscle to its limits and pictures a runner straining ever muscle to reach the finish line on foot or in a chariot. We must push past our past and stretch towards our future. But to do this we must practice what we preach, pressing forward requires discipline.

Pressing forward requires… discipline.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (3:15).

Paul was not in this spiritual race alone: it includes all believing Christians, “as those of us who are mature…” The word here is Teleios which, means to become fully grown, or needing nothing for becoming complete, and/or to become perfect.

, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Paul is not speaking of practical perfection; that would contradict what he said earlier in this passage. Practical perfection does not come until believers are glorified. Rather, this is a play on words, he is describing believers as those who are positionally perfection in Christ. We are in Christ Jesus and Christ Jesus is in us.

Since this is an uncompromising passage directed against those who taught that perfection was attainable in this life. Paul’s use of the word perfect here may be a bit double-edged sword, with a tinge of sarcasm. Those false teachers were not perfect in practice, and also were not perfect in their position. We are perfect in position because of Christ, He is in us and we are in Him, we are sitting with Him right now in heavenly places.

Every true Christian must have this same attitude and same thought process that Paul had. Phroneo (and if in anything you think otherwise) literally means “to think this way” “ to be intent on this” or “ to set one’s mind on this.” Like Paul, believers must be totally focused on making the determine effort to pursue and press forward to the prize of Christlikeness. We know how Christ thinks because having Him in us and we in Him gives us His mind.

, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

When we think biblical, divine thoughts, viewing all of life from the Lord’s perspective, those thoughts will move our behavior to become like His.

, “For the weapons of our warfare are not the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.”

But Paul was an experienced pastor and knew that not all believers would share the strength and relentlessness of his focus on pursing the prize. So Paul says, “God will reveal that also to you.” Those who refuse to heed Paul’s message will hear that same message from God in their own hearts and heads. It is God who will correct them through His Word, it is God who will prompt them through His Spirit, or through chastening. And It is God who will do whatever it takes to make believers recognize their need to pursue the prize of Christlikeness.

He will also provide the resources they need to do it all as well.

, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

So this morning, resolve in your hearts and minds to press forward in 2019, because of dissatisfaction, because you have the proper determination, because you have total devotion toward Christ and because you are disciplined. Pressing forward and not looking back at the past but stretching forward and reaching for the upward call in Christ Jesus our Lord.