Keep Pressing

Introduction: Paul speaks to his goal of attaining to the full stature and maturity of Christ. He notes that although he is a great apostle and church planter, there is still growth to be made and a commitment he has to become the man to which God is calling him.

Personal Commitment (3:12)

Personal Evaluation (3:12a) - “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:”

1 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV) - “28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) - “5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves*. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates*?”

Luke 6:42 (KJV) - “42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.”

Personal Motivation (3:12b) - “but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 9:27 I(KJV) - “27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

Note: Progress is not equal to completion. Do not give up early and begin putting feathers in your hat or laurels on your head before you finish the work.

Note: Past successes are insufficient for the current race.

Purposeful Commitment (3:13)

Perspective Commitment (3:13a) - “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,”

Philippians 1:18-19 (KJV) - “18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,”

Psalm 27:4 (KJV) - “4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”

Luke 10:40-42 (KJV) - “40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Progressive Commitment (3:13b) - “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,”

Luke 9:62 (KJV) - “62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back*, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

🔑 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (KJV) - “16 Wherefore henceforth* know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Hebrews 6:1 (KJV) - “1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

Pressed Commitment (3:14)

Heavenly Prize (3:14a) - “I press toward the mark for the prize…”

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) - “9 But as it is written*, Eye hath not seen, nor* ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

1 John 3:2 (KJV) - “2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (KJV) - “24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all*, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things*. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means*, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

High Calling (3:14b) - “of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:3 (KJV) - “3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

Note (3:14b) - “There is a higher standard that God is calling us unto and that is what we are pressing forward toward.

Although it is a higher standard and level than we are living at this pint it give us something to reach upward unto.

Christians are called to move toward an authentic relationship with God and forsake superficial religious practices.

William Cooper was an accomplished poet who wrote hymns including “God Moves in Mysterious Ways