Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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,

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.