Striving for Glory
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Introduction
Introduction
In our last study, we considered Paul’s strong reminder to the Philippian believers that the only means of salvation is by grace through faith. There is no hope, no merit within a person, no basis upon which any claim can be made before God for a right towards salvation. Paul used his own credentials as a devout Jew to indicate that even the most devout of people who rely on any kind of external hope, are in fact without any hope.
Our Gospel hope, our hope salvation, our hope of glory is to be found in Jesus Christ alone.
However, one of the great dangers for the person who knows that they rely on Christ alone for their salvation is that they sit back and relax in their lives because their salvation is seemingly secure. It is an attitude that says that since Christ has paid the price, I don’t need to work this salvation out; I don’t need to put in any effort in my walk with God as I look towards this future prize of being with Christ.
This attitude breeds complacency, and is dangerous!
And so, in this next section of Paul’s letter, he goes on to urge these believers in Philippi to strive towards Christ-likeness and the prize of ultimately being with Christ.
In order to do this, he begins this section under the symbolism of the ancient foot-races that took place in those days. What they had were ancient Greek Stadiums, with a course on which they would run their races. These were not lush grass tracks like we’re used to, but rather compacted earth / soil tracks. The athletes would prepare themselves diligently for such races, and would then come and run these races with the goal of winning, being crowned the victor. At the start of the race, they would set stand at the starting line and set their eyes ahead to the finish line.
If they came into the race with the idea in their minds that they’re most certainly going to win - no doubt about it - then it may seriously hamper their chances of winning. Think of the story of the tortoise and the hare, where the hare relaxed and slept along the way, because he was clearly going to win! In the end he lost.
It is much the same in the spiritual life. Become complacent, assume that you can just take it easy and relax in your spiritual journey, and you’re in for some problems along the way.
As we begin then, Paul indicates firstly...
1. The Believers Frame of Mind (v.12-13a)
1. The Believers Frame of Mind (v.12-13a)
Paul begins this section of his letter by demonstrating from his own life what the believers frame of mind ought to be as he lives life in this world as a Christian. In verse 11, Paul spoke about the importance of becoming like Christ. He used the term “to know Christ”. And as he closed off that section he spoke about “becoming like Christ in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
With that thought in mind, he says in verse 12...
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Paul’s theology is not that since he has been united with Christ, he has by default attained to the final resurrection from the dead. In other words, he certainly does believe that he has obtained resurrection spiritually. He is a new creature in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has some identity with Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, as he outlined so clearly in Romans 6. In Romans 8, Paul states clearly that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. So there is security in Christ.
But he also knows that this security in Christ does not mean that there is human responsibility. Already back in Philippians 2:12, Paul has said that the believers should “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling...” but then to go on to say, “for it is God who works in you...”
Paul speaks here about pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him.
Who was it that took hold of Paul, and saved him out of his darkness and spiritual blindness? It was Jesus! On the road to Damascus, Paul was confronted with Jesus Christ. Christ took hold of him and told him that he had chosen him for a purpose. Paul was radically saved out of that darkness. But now, Paul says that he must continue to pursue the very thing for which Christ took hold of him.
The same is true of every person in Christ. It is by God’s amazing grace that we have been saved through faith in Jesus our Lord, but having been saved, we now press on in our lives to take hold of that prize.
Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:12...
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
The believers Frame of Mind in this world must be, there is a race to be won, and I must take hold of that. How you enter into this race as a believer is going to impact how you run the race of the Christ life.
Paul goes on in verse 13 to outline...
2. The Believers Exertion (v.13)
2. The Believers Exertion (v.13)
He writes...
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Paul reiterates that he doesn’t consider himself to have taken hold of it. But then he goes on to speak about this spiritual exertion that he engages in. As Paul speaks about this exertion, remember that he has in mind the athletes, who would apply great physical exertion in their races in order to run and win the prize.
Paul didn’t live as if he already had the prize in his hands. Yes, there is certainly a great hope, and a certainty about it. But when living in this life, you don’t live as if you’ve won the prize. You live as if you are on the race to obtain the prize.
Paul speaks here about forgetting that which is behind. When a runner runs the race, the last thing he needs to do is turn his face behind him, and look at what has happened behind on the track.
There is much that he could refer to in terms of forgetting what is behind, but within the immediate context, most certainly he’s talking about all those things that a person may have once relied upon for their right standing with God.
Further to this, Paul would have in mind here anything that would form part of the old self in terms of desires of the flesh that are contrary to Christ and His perfections. Paul emphasizes this in many places in his letters. That which belongs to the old, sinful nature should be put off and out of our lives as we strive towards Christ-likeness. It ought to be part of the believers goal to put out of mind, to forget those things that once consumed their thoughts and desires. And as the Christian grows and perseveres in the faith, these past old nature desires ought to have less and less of a pull on the Christian. The Christian athlete is to fix his eyes entirely on glory, and press on to take hold of that prize…
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
On the opposite side, Paul says that the Christian is one who is straining toward what is ahead.
Baker New Testament Commentary: Philippians D. In Christ I Press on to Perfection (3:12–16)
The verb used in the original is very graphic. It pictures the runner straining every nerve and muscle as he keeps on running with all his might toward the goal, his hand stretched out as if to grasp it.
The same is true in the spiritual sense for the believer. Having taken the eyes off of the desires of the flesh, and off of the old patterns of life, the believer has now focused their attention on Christ, and being with Christ in glory. Every fiber of the being of the Christian must be directed towards and straining towards growing in holiness. His desire is to live a life that is in accordance with the salvation that has been received in Christ.
Anyone who thinks that growth in holiness is an easy task, doesn’t really have a biblical understanding of sanctification. Sanctification is a tiresome and often wearisome process, that will test the believer. But the goal at the end of the process is what drives the believer forward…
With the picture of great exertion in the mind of the recipients of this letter, Paul goes on to outline...
3. The Believers Goal (v.14)
3. The Believers Goal (v.14)
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Every believer has within them a desire to be with Christ, and to receive a welcome into the kingdom, with our Lord and Saviour saying to us “well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your promised rest.” That is the goal with which every believer ought to live with in their mind day after day. As we live our lives in the everyday mundane happenings of family, work, school, relationships etc. every single moment should be lived with the view that what I am doing now, or more importantly, how I am doing what I am doing now, has consequences on my journey towards that final goal.
Will I live my life here in purity and holiness of character? Will I apply myself to living for Christ and His kingdom, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Am I going to pursue in each day a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ, so that I may become more like Him?
Or will I live my life in this world thinking only of the temporary pleasures that I can enjoy in this life? Do I live my life so focused on myself and my comforts, that anyone or anything that unsettles this comfort will be seen as and treated as the enemy?
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:24...
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
The goal is the prize of being with Christ in glory, worshiping Him. Is this your delight? Have you made it your goal in your own mind? Have you made that decision, as a Christian, that I am going to pursue with all diligence, a humble life devoted to loving God and loving those around me?
Paul develops this thought further and goes on to outline for us...
4. The Believers Reward (v.14a-16)
4. The Believers Reward (v.14a-16)
Philippians 3:14 (NIV84) — 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
When a runner runs a race, they don’t take their eye off the prize, off the finish line.
1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
What is this calling to which he has called us? What is the prize? Nothing less that unity with Jesus Christ, and being made perfect, even as He is perfect…
9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
Paul then goes on to write in verse 15...
“All of us who are mature should take such a view of things...”
Paul uses the plural “us” in these words in order to encourage the Philippian believers to see themselves as part of this group that should take this view of things. But what does Paul have in mind here when he says this?
It was evident that among the Philippian believers of that day were those people who saw themselves as perfect, having a higher righteousness. There were those who were known as the Judaizers who were placing heavy burdens on people, saying that they needed to do certain things in order to be right with God.
But what Paul says is that no Christian has as yet attained to the spiritual perfection to which he ought to be striving. This is not a perfection contained in rigid obedience to man-made rules and regulations. But rather, this is a spiritual holiness in Christ demonstrated in humble trust in the Saviour, and and outward expression of deep love towards God and ones’ neighbour.
In Paul’s mind, everyone should see their spiritual lives in this manner. Those who truly understand the nature of the Gospel will live with this mindset. They will know that there is much work to be done in heading towards the prize, and yet all trust is placed in the Saviour who has bought them, and who gives the strength to attain that prize.
Any idea that you have already attained perfection in this life is foreign from Paul’s thinking, and is foreign from Scripture itself.
In this past week, I was watching a video of a modern-day “preacher” who claims that since he’s become a Christian, he’s never sinned. He says that he’s so close to Christ, in such close fellowship with Jesus, that he doesn’t sin. Well he’s claiming to be better than the apostle Paul… This is simply not the biblical picture, and I think that any person who is honest with themselves, and any person who truly knows and understands the sinfulness of the heart of man, will realise that this is not really possible.
But Paul doesn’t dwell further on this. Instead, he goes on to say...
“And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.”
Evidently, there were some that did not agree with this view of Paul. But clearly they were not seeing things clearly and in accordance with truth. But Paul doesn’t fight and argue with them, except to say that God would in due time make this clear to them. He does however go on to give them an appropriate exhortation in the interim… In verse 16, he says...
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Paul has outlined the basic principle. We are far from perfect, and yet we strive for perfection. If you disagree with the idea that you are not yet perfect, at the very least continue to live up to what you have already attained, union with Christ. Therefore, live in Christ-likeness. Strive to be like Christ in all of your conduct.
This leads us to our 5th point for consideration this morning, and that is...
5. The Believer’s Examples (v.17)
5. The Believer’s Examples (v.17)
Paul goes on here to present himself as an example to be followed. In verse 17, he writes...
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
There is a pattern of life that is an example for others to follow. As we consider this instruction by Paul, it may seem to us that Paul is here acting contrary the humility of Christ that he has just been encouraging these believers towards. How can Paul be telling people to watch his life and copy him? Is he not being boastful here? Well let us remember some important factors as Paul makes this appeal...
Firstly, we must recognise that Paul’s great desire for these believers, and what he began by telling them, is that they are to imitate Jesus Christ. Christ is their great example. Christ-likeness is their goal.
Secondly, what he’s encouraging them to follow is his example of striving towards excellence. He has just said to them that he doesn’t claim to have taken hold of that for which Christ laid hold of him. So he knows that he’s on a journey of growth in Christ-likeness. They are really to follow his example in pursuing holiness.
Thirdly, we should keep in mind that Philippi was a Roman colony, and certainly not a place of great Christian (or even Jewish) “morality”. This was a place bustling with people of the world, living as those who do not know God. I was reading an article by Tim Challies on just how debauched the Roman civilization was, particularly when it came to sexuality. You would be disturbed if you knew just how bad it was. And all the while it was celebrated by the Romans. Coming into the midst of this debauched context, Paul holds his own life as a different example to the pervading culture. In that sense, any Christian that evangelizes a person in a dark and lost context, should be able to say to that person, follow my example, rather than the example of the cultural context to which you’re accustomed.
Finally in this regard, notice further that Paul doesn’t merely hold himself up as an example, but includes others that live according to this same pattern. So he’s saying, whoever you see in this world, living according to the pattern that was given to you, follow such people and imitate such people.
Having set forward these examples, Paul now raises the point of those who live in a contrary manner to the example that he’s just encouraged them towards.
And this leads us to our 6th consideration through this passage...
6. The Believers Enemies (v.18-19)
6. The Believers Enemies (v.18-19)
Many people, says Paul, live as enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. In verse 18-19 he writes...
18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
The example that Paul was setting for the believers in Philippi was to live a life in which his mind and heart were focused forward on the eternal reward of being with Jesus Christ His Lord and Saviour.
Notice the earnestness with which Paul addresses these brothers and sisters as he now turns his attention to those who live contrary to this way. He writes here in verse 18 that he has told them these things before, but he says them again, even with tears. Paul is in anguish at the thought that these earthly-minded deceivers would come in and lead these believers astray to follow and indulge in their fleshly desires.
We find a similar picture of Paul in the book of Acts, in chapter 20, in terms of the tears that Paul sheds. As Paul called the Ephesian elders together to bid them farewell as he would be leaving that area, probably never to return again, he cautioned them against false teachers who would rise up in the church. He called them savage wolves!! And in verse 31 he says...
31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
What I want to emphasize here is the seriousness with which Paul viewed these false teachers. They were savage wolves, and just the thought of the destruction that these wolves could bring into the church drove Paul to tears. Friends, in an age where tolerance is so heavily pushed, we really do need to be on our guard against such false teachers. It drove Paul to tears to think of the destruction that they would cause, perhaps even leading people away to destruction.
If we just look at the churches around us today, and the way in which they are giving into the promiscuous kind of lifestyle that would never have been tolerated 50 or 60 years ago, we can see this unfolding before our very eyes. Or in our modern day, how many churches have given into the cultures homosexual agenda, and are now calling good what God has very clearly called evil.
Notice particularly how Paul describes these false teachers and poor examples that he has in mind. He speaks about those whose minds are on earthly things. He says that “their god is their stomach.” They love to indulge in self-satisfying pleasures, delighting themselves in the temporary pleasures of this world. Furthermore, he says that their “glory is in their shame.” That phrase most likely refers to the sexual promiscuity and impurities that they indulge in. They are those whose hearts and minds are focused on earthly pleasures, rather than on denying ones self and following Christ.
If you know the book of 1 Corinthians, you will recall in chapter 5, how this wrong thinking had infiltrated the church in Corinth, where there was gross immorality being practiced in the church itself, and Paul writes...
2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
As we return to our passage in Philippians, notice that Paul doesn’t say that these people are somewhat off track. Instead, he speaks of them as being enemies of the cross. These people whose focus is on the temporary things of the world are enemies of our Saviour. And they are in turn those who are actively working against our Lord, and we should avoid them, and avoid following them.
With that in mind, Paul finally goes on to outline...
7. The Believers Expectation (v.20-21)
7. The Believers Expectation (v.20-21)
Instead of having minds and hearts focused on the temporal, on fleshly desires, Paul writes in verse 20...
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Again, this idea of our citizenship being in heaven is brought up. We need to keep this in our minds as Christians, that we are citizens of another dwelling, living merely as ambassadors here in this world as we prepare to go to our true home. For those in Christ, our citizenship is in heaven.
Not only that, but we eagerly await a Saviour from there… Jesus Christ. Our Lord and Saviour has promised that He has gone on ahead in order to prepare a place for us. In Acts 1:9, the Lord Jesus was taken up before the disciples, and as they looked up into heaven, and angel of the Lord stood beside them and said to them: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
The question is, are we as Christians living our lives with this eager expectation in our hearts. Or have our hearts grown cold, because our Lord is taking long to return.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
We serve a gracious and a loving heavenly Father, and our great delight is that this return of Christ is a promise of our loving Father.
Further concerning this future expectation, Paul says that we eagerly await this Saviour Jesus Christ...
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Jesus Christ is going to exert His great power that has enabled him to bring everything under his control, and he will do this for our good and benefit on His return to this world. We look forward to that day. We wait in eager anticipation.
These lowly, weak, frail, corrupted bodies and lives will one day be perfected.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
As we close this morning, I would ask, are you striving in your life towards this goal of perfection, Christ-likeness? If Christ has captured your heart; if you are resting in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation; if you have repented - turned completely away in brokenness - of your sin, and are trusting in Jesus Christ as your Saviour and lord; if you have that joy of knowing forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation with God through Christ; then you must follow the example that Paul lays down in this passage. You must strive with all earnestness and with all diligence to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of you… you must strive towards Christ-likeness.
Dear friends, life in this world is never going to be easy as a Christian. We were not called to a life of ease. We were not called to a life of sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the ride to heaven. No, we were called to a life of diligent pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more fully, and so living our lives more like Him. Have you set your mind on this.
It is easy to become distracted by the ways of the world. It is easy to succumb to the pressures to be like the world around us. It is easy to lower our standards of holiness out of a fear of being irrelevant to the culture around us. That’s what much of the church has done today. In fact, many churches are striving to make their services and their presentation of Christ “relevant” to the culture.
What makes Christians relevant to the world is that we have right relationship with the Creator of the world, and we live out that knowledge of Him and His ways in a world that follows another master. Our task is not to emulate the ways of this other master, Satan. Rather, our task is to follow the true Master, our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ. We are to live holy lives in the world so that the world sees just how different we are to them.
Is this your goal? Have you set your sights on the finish line of the Christian race? Are you exerting every fiber of your being towards Christ-likeness? Are you looking forward to the prize, and running the race so as to win that prize?
May Christ Himself strengthen us as we seek to do this day by day, until that day when Christ our Lord appears.