Sermon
Philippians 3:13
Forgetting and reaching
Every experience you’ve had from the moment you were born until now has made you what you are today. The things that happened to you, both good and bad, determine how you’ll act and react for the rest of your life. Jesus said “(Read Mt 12:35)”. These are things stored up in each of us that must be dealt with before we can move ahead successfully.
· That’s why Paul wrote: (Read Phil 3:13)
Phil 3:13 those things which are behind refers both to his religious credentials (vs.5, 6), now counted as “loss” (vs.7), and to his past Christian achievements and successes. In pursuing his goal to know Christ (v.10), he refuses to let past guilt pull him down, or to rest on past glories. Which could spell spiritual mishaps. Those things which are before refers to his goal of knowing Christ, with all that implies: experiencing his power and participating in His suffering, becoming more like Him in death (vs.10), and experiencing the resurrected life (v.11).
Why you should forget and reach. (Luke 9:62)
Matthew 16:24
1. True disciples are devoted to Christ
a. There are three characteristics of man: self, family, possessions. Anyone who places, these before the Lord Jesus, cannot be his disciple. This clearly delineated in the words of Christ.
i. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself” (Matt. 16:24). Love for oneself is a standard for measuring the amount of love we have for others (Matt. 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27). Love for self is innate and is the primary concern of an unbeliever.
ii. “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sister, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).
iii. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
b. Christ did not conceal from inquirers who wanted to follow Him what the grace of God would accomplish in a believer. He did not promise eternal life, which resides dormant in the human heart. He offered God’s grace, which brings a complete change by putting Christ’s new life in man. The old nature, which puts self, family, or possessions first, is put off by the new nature. “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Col. 3:9). This “putting off” of the old man is equivalent to believing on the Lord Jesus. It takes God’s grace to do this (Eph. 2:8). Christ comes to dwell within us. Our old Adamic nature no longer has uncontested control, but it is not eliminated. Paul had this struggle between the victorious nature of Christ within him and the sin that still dwelt in him. This is why he said, “It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Rom. 7:17).
c. When an unbeliever understands what will automatically take place as a result of salvation, he may be honest enough to reject it like the rich young ruler who came to Jesus (Matt. 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22l; Luke 18:18-23). Jesus told him what must happen in his life for him to receive Christ’s grace or eternal life: he must be willing to give up his possessions. Jesus knew that this was not what the man wanted to do but this did not change his declaration of truth. Therefore the man remained rich materially, but spiritually poor.
d. The Lord Jesus in no way demands that all who follow him sell all their belongings and give them to the poor. However, when He saves a person, He must be first in that person’s life. Family and possessions must be available for the altar of sacrifice for His sake. The same Christ who told this young man “sell that thou hast, and give to the poor” (Matt 19:21) also said “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33). This same Christ also said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt 16:26). What Christ impresses us with is that with Jesus Christ first in our hearts and lives we are always winners. When Jesus Christ is first, I fully enjoy my family, my possessions, and myself. All life is then subject to His command and direction.
2. The call to Cross-Bearing was for all who would follow Jesus
a. The fact that Jesus was speaking to His disciples in Matthew 16:21, 24 has given some people the wrong impression that the call to be disciples of the Lord Jesus is only addressed to believers.
b. In Mark 8:34, however, we see that He was not speaking to his disciples only, “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also…” and also in Luke 9:23, “And he said to them all…”
c. He did not address His disciples directly when He said, “if any man will come after me…” (Matt 16:24); “Whosoever will come after me…” (Mark 8:34); “if any man will come after me…” (Luke 9:23). These apply to non-believer just as John 3:16 does. Jesus wanted those who would truly follow Him as His disciples to know that the acceptance of His grace revolutionizes an individual. Christ not only comes to live within, but there is a constant renewal of the new nature, which gives the old self last place. There is a glory of grace that no love of self, relatives, or possessions can give. The call to be disciples is to all men, and the first step is trusting in him for eternal life.
3. A disciple of Christ lives a balanced life
a. The Greek verb in Luke 14:33 translated “forsaketh” explains the philosophy of a disciple of Christ. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” The Greek word derived with the meaning “from, or away from oneself,” and which means, “to place in the proper category.” The Lord never taught reckless abandonment of self, relatives, or possessions. He wants us as believers to put them where they belong. They should come after Christ. We should never love God with the love, which belongs to self, family, and possessions. The love we have for Him should be unique, leading us to worship. When we give Him the proper love, then our love for other and temporary possessions will fall into its proper place.
b. Jesus Christ assert that a true believer is a disciple who, be constant learning and devotion, loses himself for the sake of his glorious Saviour (Matt 9:23-27). The joy of the believer, however, is proportionate to his obedience to Christ.
Hebrews 6:1 -3
The readers are encouraged to go on to maturity by leaving the elementary teachings of the Word. The word for perfection (Gr. Teleiotes) has both an absolute and a relative sense. Its relative sense involving maturity is expressed here. The six representative doctrines listed here involve three sets: the elementary teaching conversion itself, the post-conversion experience, and teaching on “last things.” Eschatology is included here among the first truths, rather than as deeper truth. The mere study of last things does not demonstrate spiritual maturity. The practical changes these eschatological truths produce manifest maturity.
This one thing I do. Paul sees himself as a runner in a race (cf. Heb 12:1, note), exerting all his strength and pressing on with intense concentration in order not to fall short of the goal that Christ has set for his life –Paul’s perfect oneness with Christ (vv.8-10), his final salvation and his resurrection from the dead (v.11). (1) This was the motive of Paul’s life. He had received a glimpse of the glory of heaven (2 Cor 12:4) and had resolved that his whole life, by the grace of God, would be centered around his determination to press on and someday get to heaven and see Christ face to face (cf. 2 Tim 4:8; Rev 2:10; 22:4).
(2) Such resolve is necessary for all us. Throughout our lives all kinds of distractions and temptations, such as the worries, riches and evil desires of life, threaten to choke off our commitment to the Lord (cf. Mark 4:19; Luke 8:14). What is needed is “forgetting those things which are behind,” i.e., the corrupt world and our old life of sin (cf. Gen `9:17, 26; Luke 17:32), and a “reaching forth” for final salvation in Christ.
(Conclusion):
Paul understood that forgetting and reaching are the keys to spiritual wholeness. One won’t work without the other. Forgetting closes the door to you past; reaching opens the door to your future. What did Paul have to forget? A lot! On his order Stephen, the first Christians martyr, was stoned to death while he watched. And there were many more to follow. Could you forget that? If Paul hadn’t learned to deal with his past, he’d never have written half of the New Testament or helped establish a church that would last for years to come.
Understand this: the only place the past can live is in your memory. The only power it has over you is the power you give it. So the thought for you today is: “Forgetting those things which are behind you and reaching forth unto those things which are before you.”
