The Goal of the Christian Life

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

There is one segment of people here this morning who are surprised by the language we find in this passage. Paul talks about straining toward the Christian’s prize. Many of us don’t often think that way. We emphasize salvation by grace so strongly that we tend to tune out any talk about straining or striving or working out our salvation. It doesn’t seem to fit the paradigm. It doesn’t make it through our grid. And so we don’t know what to make of it.

There is another group of people here this morning who aren’t surprised by the language at all. In fact, they may be thinking to themselves, “finally, some straightforward talk about working hard to live right.” Those who work hard at it gain the prize. That’s how life works.

What’s interesting is that both of these ways of thinking about work’s place in the Christian’s life seem opposite. In reality, they’re the same. And they are both wrong. Let me explain what I mean. One says, we are saved by grace and not by doing good. So while it is good to keep the law, it’s not necessary since Jesus kept the law for us. The other says, we are saved because we work hard to do good. Grace helps us, but we must work at it.

The other says, we are saved because we work hard to do good. Grace helps us, but we must work at it.

The problem with these two views is that they hold the same view of the law: that it’s purpose is to show us what we must do to be saved. One rejects the view, the other embraces it. The one that rejects that view in favor of salvation by grace, is the group that has trouble with passages like this. The one that embraces this view loves passages like this, though they fail to understand the meaning of it.

Here is part of the problem. When we think about salvation, we spend most of our time focusing on how it is accomplished and received and we spend much less time focusing on where it leads. When we focus on how it is accomplished and received, we are right to embrace the “grace alone, faith alone” label. Christ lived the perfect life and credits our account with his obedience. Christ died the death we should have died, thus paying the penalty we owed to God.

But when we focus on where salvation is leading, we must bring the law back into the picture. Jesus saves God’s people in order to remake them in his image. He didn’t live the perfect life and die the sinners death to forgive us and leave us. He did those things to forgive us and forge us anew. That forging us anew is what this passage focuses on. The prize of the upward call of God in Christ is to know Christ intimately, i.e. to think and live like Christ.

He urges them to imitate him lest they fall into imitating those in the world. This is a real problem, a real concern, as many even in the church “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.”

It’s like we’ve said time and again: God loves you just as you are (a sinner), but he doesn’t leave you as you are. Salvation not only separates you from the guilt of your sin, but it breaks the power of sin over you. This passage talks about what the Christian life looks like in light of that. What does it look like? Striving. Straining. Working hard to be a model and example for others to follow. Living the Christian life is hard work!

And yet, it is rewarding work. We usually think of hard work as taxing and exhausting. Kingdom work is hard, but strangely rejuvenating. Listen to Jesus’ words,

English Standard Version Chapter 11

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

A yoke is large wooden piece that goes over the necks of oxen. It’s how an ox cart driver steers his pair. It’s not a natural image to associate with rest, and yet, that’s exactly what Jesus does.

Jesus talks about it as your source of soul rest. Paul talks about it as your source of joy. So let’s follow Paul’s words on what this hard work looks like.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

...

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Php 3:16). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

There is language repeated throughout the book that references back to the work of Christ as the source. “Christ Jesus has made me his own.” He has done all that is required to make you a child of God. He has paid the redemption price. He has credited you with his righteousness. He has bought your forgiveness by paying your debt. And the point of him doing all of this was so that you might know God. That is the ultimate prize. The barriers and roadblocks have all been removed. But this is only the first part of the good news. Remember, this is the how and who accomplishes salvation.

If you don’t get this, you will never be secure in your relationship with God. You will live in continual fear that you haven’t done enough and thus live in fear of coming to God. You will find yourself less in prayer and more and more defeated in living an honorable Christian life, to the point of not trying anymore.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

The goal of your faith is to mold you into a child of God, a child like God, with his attributes, her perfection. But you are not there yet. Even Paul was not there yet. But he is absolutely committed to working to that end. This is the goal, the direction, of the Christian’s life. If you don’t see this, then ask God to reveal it to you.

I was trying to think of an example… thinking of a person who born to be king and strives his whole life to grow into that role. This isn’t an outsider trying to reach this place by his hard work and determination. For most of us, that would do us in. we would hit a wall, at some point, and give up. The future king might also struggle at times, but the difference is that he knows this is his destiny, this his direction. He must press on. He desires to press on. He presses on with a great sense of hope.

Why is Paul seeking to “attain to the resurrection of the dead,” that is, becoming like Christ with his life? Because Christ has made him his own. He’s not suggesting he’s reached that pinnacle, that level of obedience and perfection. That doesn’t deter him. He presses on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

This points to the calling of Jesus. It is to something. It is to perfection like the Father, full maturity in Christ. This is what Jesus calls his disciples toward. Thus, it is the thing we seek to strive to be.

I was trying to think of an example… thinking of a person who born to be king and strives his whole life to grow into that role. This isn’t an outsider trying to reach this place by his hard work and determination. For most of us, that would do us in. we would hit a wall, at some point, and give up. The future king might also struggle at times, but the difference is that he knows this is his destiny, this his direction. He must press on. He desires to press on. He presses on with a great sense of hope.

How?

Forgetting what lies behind. That is key. For Paul, it was his Pharisaism. What is it for you? The reality is, the call of Jesus has remade you entirely. You are no longer the person you once were, though there will be times when old thoughts and habits overwhelm you. This is NOT you anymore. It isn’t that you’re trying to overcome that person and become someone new, you are someone new. Your destiny is set. Your role now is to grow into that destiny, into that role, into that life. Paul explains this more in Romans chapter 7-8,

English Standard Version Chapter 8

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

English Standard Version Chapter 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

He is not referring to the Old Testament law or to any other law in the ordinary sense of the word, but to an authority or control that is being exercised... So here by ‘the law of the Spirit of life’ he means, I take it, the authority, the control, the compelling pressure, which the life-giving Spirit of God exerts upon those whom he indwells, and by ‘the law of sin and of death’ the authority, control, compelling pressure, exerted by sin, with death as its inevitable consequence. Paul is saying that ‘in Christ Jesus’, that is, on the basis of what God has done in Christ, the authority exerted by the Holy Spirit has freed the believer from the authority of sin and death.

He is not referring to the Old Testament law or to any other law in the ordinary sense of the word, but to an authority or control that is being exercised. He has already used the word in this metaphorical way more than once in the previous chapter (7:21, 23 (the first and third occurrences of the word), 25 (the second occurrence)): So here by ‘the law of the Spirit of life’ he means, I take it, the authority, the control, the compelling pressure, which the life-giving Spirit of God exerts upon those whom he indwells, and by ‘the law of sin and of death’ the authority, control, compelling pressure, exerted by sin, with death as its inevitable consequence. Paul is saying that ‘in Christ Jesus’, that is, on the basis of what God has done in Christ, the authority exerted by the Holy Spirit has freed the believer from the authority of sin and death.

Cranfield, C. E. B. (1998). On Romans: and other New Testament essays (pp. 32–34). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

He explains further,

On Romans and Other New Testament Essays Chapter 4: Sanctification as Freedom: Paul’s Teaching on Sanctification

‘the law of sin and of death’ is the power which sin has over us, the bondage in which it holds us, and its inevitable concomitant, the power of death. The essence of sin, according to the Bible, is the attempt to put oneself in God’s place, to make one’s own ego and the satisfaction of its desires the centre of one’s life. That is the fundamental sin of every one of us, whether we are unbelievers or believers. Illuminatingly in Genesis 3 the serpent is represented as setting before Eve the beguiling, flattering, enticing promise, ‘ye shall be as God’: Sin is the illusion that one is God, or that one can be God, and all that springs from that illusion. One form which this idolatry of the ego takes—and it is an exceedingly virulent form—is the egotism of the group, whether the family, the tribe, the nation, or the social or economic class (and must we not also reckon with the possibility of a group-egotism of the church?). The law of sin is the dominion exercised over us by this idolatry of the ego. To be enslaved to this law is to be in rebellion against the true God.

Straining forward to what is ahead. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

‘the law of sin and of death’ is the power which sin has over us, the bondage in which it holds us... The essence of sin, according to the Bible, is the attempt to put oneself in God’s place, to make one’s own ego and the satisfaction of its desires the centre of one’s life. That is the fundamental sin of every one of us, whether we are unbelievers or believers. Illuminatingly in the serpent is represented as setting before Eve the beguiling, flattering, enticing promise, ‘ye shall be as God’: Sin is the illusion that one is God, or that one can be God, and all that springs from that illusion... The law of sin is the dominion exercised over us by this idolatry of the ego. To be enslaved to this law is to be in rebellion against the true God.

Cranfield, C. E. B. (1998). On Romans: and other New Testament essays (pp. 34–35). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

When Paul writes that you are set free from the power of sin, he’s talking about the beginning of an action.

...the liberation which the Spirit works has not been completed for any one, so long as that person’s earthly life lasts. The completion of our liberation from the power of sin and of death is not until our death and resurrection. But the beginning of this action is something altogether significant and decisive. When the beginning has been made, the earnest of final fulfilment is already present... God’s Spirit has begun to loosen [the bonds of enslavement to sin, the tyranny of self]

What was called above the ‘first liberation’, that effected by Christ in his death and resurrection, is indeed complete, his finished work; but the liberation which the Spirit works has not been completed for any one, so long as that person’s earthly life lasts. The completion of our liberation from the power of sin and of death is not until our death and resurrection. But the beginning of this action is something altogether significant and decisive. When the beginning has been made, the earnest of final fulfilment is already present. Paul is affirming that the Roman Christians are people, the bonds of whose enslavement to sin, to the tyranny of self, God’s Spirit has begun to loosen.

Straining forward to what is ahead. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

Cranfield, C. E. B. (1998). On Romans: and other New Testament essays (pp. 38–39). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

The beginning of liberation is the making of a person open to Jesus Christ, the creation of incipient faith. The Holy Spirit frees the human person to begin to believe.

Straining forward to what is ahead. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

Cranfield, C. E. B. (1998). On Romans: and other New Testament essays (p. 39). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

The liberation of which Paul speaks is a setting free to resist sin’s reign over one’s life. When he says to the Roman Christians ‘Stop, then, allowing sin to reign unopposed in your mortal selves … stop placing your members at the disposal of sin …’ (6:12–13), he is bidding them do something they could not do, had not the Holy Spirit made them free to do it. It is the Holy Spirit who sets us free to stop permitting sin’s tyranny over us to go unchallenged, to stop yielding up all our capacities tamely for sin to exploit, to begin to rebel against the usurper and to fight back in support of our rightful owner, God. We have not been freed in the sense that sin has no longer any hold on us; but we have been freed to the extent that we need no longer be sin’s unresisting slaves.

Straining forward to what is ahead. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

Cranfield, C. E. B. (1998). On Romans: and other New Testament essays (pp. 39–40). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

The liberation of which 8:2 speaks is also a setting free to turn in the direction of obedience to God’s law, to make a beginning of trying seriously to obey it.

Straining forward to what is ahead. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

Cranfield, C. E. B. (1998). On Romans: and other New Testament essays (p. 42). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

So we see why Paul uses such strong language. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

Straining forward to what is ahead. Straining here is a strong word. It comes from the root word “extend”. Picture a runner in a race running with everything he has, every ounce of energy and effort and determination, pushing his body to its limits, perhaps beyond what he thought he could do and now, as he approaches the finish line, he stretches his hand out, straining forward, toward that finish line, that he might reach it before the runner next to him.

This is what it means to be a mature believer (v15). We are to hold true to what we have already attained. This is how we reach the prize, which is also the goal of Christ’s work in you, to know Christ. We will only really understand, really know God when we become like him, one with him in heart and mind.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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.

Imitate Paul. We need people to imitate. This is how we learn things the fastest. When I’m building something new, or fixing something in the car I’ve never fixed before, I can get a book on directions or I can search for a youtube video to watch, and imitate that builder; that mechanic. This is why apprenticeships are paramount in learning a trade. While classroom work is good, mentors are better.

What happens without a mentor, without someone like Paul to imitate? We will imitate someone else and those bent on worldly pursuits will lead us to walking, i.e. living, as enemies of Christ, though we are called to be like him.

So imitate godly leaders. Find a mentor to follow. Spend time in your small group getting to know the leaders and their lives. And then turn around and find others you can mentor and pour into them your life. As parents, we seek to do this with our children.

Once again, our citizenship is in heaven and he will return to transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. This is his goal, to make us into what he has called us, destined us to be.

The Goal of the Christian Life

How Much Determination is Needed to be a Disciple of Jesus?

First, we must recognize that full maturity in Christ is His goal, not ours.

Second, it requires unflinching determination.

Third, you imitate Paul and live in such a way that you are willing to invite others to imitate you.