The Olympics are coming soon to Vancouver British Columbia. Athletes all over the world are preparing for their various events. They of course train in such a way as to be the best of the best. Their goal; an Olympic Gold Medal, and hearing their national anthem playing while their flag is raised and they stand atop the podium as ‘Olympic Champion.’
Have you ever heard of someone saying: ‘I want to be an Olympic Silver or Bronze medalist.’ or, ‘We’re here to lose!’, or how about, ‘What AM I doing here?’ What would we think of a coach who said something like, do whatever you like, I’m sure it will be fine. There are specific rules for competition and exact sciences in body mechanics, nutrition, training and equipment. Each athlete knows that they have not arrived and must have a specific objective and train. (adapted from Steven Buhr http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=141022&page=0)
The Judaizers taught the Philippians that spiritual perfection was attainable through being circumcised and keeping the Law. There were also heretics (forerunners of the second-century Gnostics) who taught that spiritual perfection awaited those who attained a certain level of knowledge.
As followers of Christ, should we set our sights any lower than the prize for which we all strive for? What is that prize? What is our goal? Are we in a race of some kind that we need to win?
In Philippians 3:12-16 Paul sets forth six necessary prerequisites for effectively striving for the prize of Christlikeness. The effort requires from the believer a 1) Proper Awareness, 2) A Maximum Effort, 3) A Focused Concentration, 4) A Proper Motivation, 5) A Proper Recognition, and finally 6) A Proper Conformity.
1) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12A)
Philippians 3:12a [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). (ESV)
All that believers are now positionally in Christ and will enjoy forever in heaven is eternally fixed by God’s gracious purpose (cf. 1 Peter 1:4). That spiritual reality and promise cannot be improved upon, but believers’ virtue in this present life can and must be. Knowing that we are not now what we should be, and what we someday will be in glory, must not produce apathy and laziness, but a zeal for moving in the direction of the prize. That is the Spirit’s work in us (2 Cor. 3:18) and the longing of the regenerated soul. The awareness of the need to improve one’s spiritual condition is a necessary prerequisite to pursuing the prize of spiritual perfection.
Paul had that awareness, and expressed it in the two words that begin verse 12, not that. He had not yet obtained (from lambanô; “to receive,” “acquire,” or “attain”) the prize he pursued. The twice-repeated word already indicates that Paul was still imperfect when he wrote this epistle.
Despite the rich blessings that were his in Christ, the apostle knew that he was not perfect. His knowledge of Christ was still incomplete (1 Cor. 13:12).
Christ’s righteousness had been imputed to him (2 Cor. 5:21). The tense is aorist: “I say not that I did at once win the prize;” that is, at the time of his conversion (Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Hrsg.): The Pulpit Commentary: Philippians. Bellingham, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2004, S. 114).
Paul Realized:
2 Corinthians 7:1 [7:1]Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (ESV)
Paul had Christ’s power at work in him (1 Cor. 15:10; Col. 1:29), but that power still worked through his weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). The rich fellowship with Christ that he experienced was also imperfect; he still did not know how to pray as he should, and depended on the Holy Spirit to intercede for him (Rom. 8:26–27). While his body was a temple of the glorious Holy Spirit who indwelt him (1 Cor. 6:19), Paul longed for the day when Christ “will transform the body of [his] humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:21).
Obviously, pursuing the prize of spiritual maturity begins with dissatisfaction with one’s present spiritual condition. Those who think they have reached spiritual maturity will not see the need to pursue a better condition; why should they chase something they believe they already have? Such complacent, contented people are in grave danger of becoming insensitive to their sin and blind to their weaknesses. It is only those who continue to recognize the need to eliminate sin and cultivate holiness who will make progress in the Christian life. This pursuit by the power of the sanctifying Spirit produces a decreasing frequency of sin and increasing love for holiness, which makes less sin feel like more. The truly mature and godly have the most sensitive awareness of their sins, and are the humblest before God because of it.
Illustration: When Spain led the world (in the 15th century), their coins reflected their national arrogance and were inscribed Ne Plus Ultra which meant "Nothing Further" - meaning that Spain was the ultimate in all the world. After the discovery of the New World, they realized that they were not the "end of the world" - they changed the inscription on their coinage to Plus Ultra - meaning "More Beyond." Which motto better expresses your Christian life - "Nothing Further" or "More Beyond"? http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=100772&page=0
1) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12A)AND:
2) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A MAXIMUM EFFORT (PHILIPPIANS 3:12B)
Philippians 3:12b [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. (ESV)
True believers will not pursue the prize of spiritual maturity until they recognize the need to improve their condition, but awareness of the need is not enough; there must also be a diligent pursuit. I press on means “to run” or “follow after.” It speaks of an aggressive, energetic endeavor. Paul pursued the spiritual prize with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle as he ran to win (1 Cor. 9:24). The present tense signifies a repeated action, thus I keep pressing on/striving (Loh, I-Jin ; Nida, Eugene Albert: A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. New York : United Bible Societies, 1995], c1977 (UBS Helps for Translators; UBS Handbook Series), S. 110).
The “let go and let God” mentality was foreign to Paul. He was totally dependent on God’s power working in his life (2 Cor. 12:9; Col. 1:29). Yet he also described the Christian life as “labor and striving” (Col. 1:29), and “the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12; cf. 2 Tim. 4:7). He taught that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22), and repeatedly stressed the inevitability of suffering in the Christian life (e.g., Rom. 8:17; 1 Thess. 3:4; 2 Tim. 1:8; 3:12).
After expressing his desire to press on, Paul states the goal of his strenuous efforts, in order to make it (his) own. The verb translated make it my own could be translated “to overtake,” “seize,” or “catch.” Paul was running spiritually to catch the very thing for which Christ Jesus had come after him. In other words, Paul’s goal in life was consistent with Christ’s goal in saving him.
Please turn to Romans 8
Why were you saved? What is the purpose of your life? Notice the chain of salvation and the purpose for all of it:
Romans 8:28-30 [28]And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29]For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30]And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (ESV)
• God chose Paul, as He did all believers, to make him like Jesus Christ. That purpose for which God saved us is also the purpose for which we live. “It was for this He called you through our gospel,” wrote Paul to the Thessalonians, “that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:14). The Christian life is a life-long pursuit of Christlikeness. That was the Lord’s goal in saving Paul and was Paul’s goal in response.
Illustration: Years ago a young African-American child was growing up in Cleveland, in a home which he later described as "materially poor but spiritually rich." One day a famous athlete, Charlie Paddock, came to his school to speak to the students. At the time Paddock was considered "the fastest human being alive." He told the children, "Listen! What do you want to be? You name it and then believe that God will help you be it." That little boy decided that he too wanted to be the fastest human being on earth. The boy went to his track coach and told him of his new dream. His coach told him, "It’s great to have a dream, but to attain your dream you must build a ladder to it. Here is the ladder to your dreams. The first rung is determination! And the second rung is dedication! The third rung is discipline! And the fourth rung is attitude!" The result of all that direction is that he went on to win four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He won the 100 meter dash and broke the Olympic and world records for the 200 meter. His broad jump record lasted for twenty-four years. His name? Jesse Owens.
1) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12A) 2) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A MAXIMUM EFFORT. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12B) AND:
3) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A FOCUSED CONCENTRATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:13)
Philippians 3:13 [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, (ESV)
A maximum effort without focused concentration is useless. Every athlete knows that runners in a race must fix their eyes ahead of them; those who watch the crowd or their own feet are likely to trip and fall. To make a maximum effort in any athletic endeavor requires the participants to concentrate on a point straight ahead.
Paul addresses the Philippians with the gentle, intimate, affectionate term Brothers/brethren to move their hearts away from the Judaizers and toward him. For the third time in this passage, Paul adds the disclaimer I do not consider/regard myself that I have made it/as having laid hold of it yet. The apostle’s intent is polemical. He is directing his argument at those who were teaching error, and he wants to make the truth abundantly clear. Despite the false teachers’ claims to the contrary, spiritual perfection is not attainable in this life.
Though Paul had not achieved spiritual perfection, he had that blessed discontent that motivated him to pursue spiritual maturity. In fact, it had become the one pursuit of his life, expressed in the phrase but one thing I do. I do is not in the Greek text, but was added by the translators because it is implied. In the Greek text Paul communicates his single-mindedness in a staccato, brief, impassioned, almost abrupt manner. The apostle’s focus on his goal was total, his level of concentration sharp.
Please turn to Proverbs 4
It is such singularly focused people who succeed in athletics and in other pursuits of life. Many people dabble in much, but succeed at nothing. Despite all the energy they expend, they accomplish little. Their lives are full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. James called them “double-minded … unstable in all [their] ways” (James 1:8). To avoid such lack of focus the psalmist prayed, “Unite my heart to fear Your name” (Ps. 86:11), and Solomon counseled:
Proverbs 4:25-27 [25]Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. [26]Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. [27]Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. (ESV)
• When believers have one driving compulsion, to be like Christ, they will move toward spiritual maturity.
Such concentration possesses both a negative and a positive aspect. Negatively, Paul maintained his focus by forgetting what lies behind. In Bible terminology, “forgetting” does not mean “to fail to remember.” Apart from senility, hypnosis, or a brain malfunction, no mature person can forget what has happened in the past. “Forgetting” in the Bible means “no longer to be influenced by or affected by.” So, “forgetting what lies behind” does not suggest an impossible feat of mental and psychological gymnastics by which we try to erase the sins and mistakes of the past. It simply means that we break the power of the past by living for the future. We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past. There were things in Paul’s past that could have been weights to hold him back (1 Tim. 1:12–17), but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of those events changed (Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Php 3:13).
A runner who looks back risks being passed. Nor does a runner’s performance in past races guarantee success or failure in present or future races. The past is not relevant.
What matters is making the maximum effort in the present so as to sustain momentum in the future. Perfectionists and legalists look to their past achievements to validate their supposed spiritual status. The Judaizers sought to ensnare the Galatians in the past, prompting Paul to write,
Galatians 4:9 [9]But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (ESV)
Paul made a break with everything in his past, both good and bad. Religious achievements, virtuous deeds, great successes in ministry, as well as sins, missed opportunities, and disasters must all be forgotten. They do not control the present or the future. Believers cannot live on past victories, nor should they be debilitated by the guilt of past sins. Paul could not obliterate the past from his memory, but he refused to let his past obstruct his progress toward his goal. He wanted to forget his self-righteous past (see vv. 4–7).
Paul refers to a type of forgetting which is no mere passive oblivion. It is active obliteration. By using the present tense for forgetting Paul was indicating that it is an ongoing process. He might even be implying that he wanted to forget everything so that he would not rest on his past successes in Christ, but continue to labor for the Lord. (Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1999, S. Php 3:13).
Many Churches are full of spiritual cripples, paralyzed by the grudges, bitterness, sins, and tragedies of the past. Others try to survive in the present by reliving past successes. They must break with that past if they are to pursue the spiritual prize. God is interested in what believers do now and in the future. “No one,” declared Jesus, “after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). The clearest vision belongs to those who forget the past.
Positively, Paul maintained his focus by straining/reaching forward to what lies ahead. Straining/Reaching forward translates a participial form of the verb epekteinô, a compound verb made up of two prepositions added to the verb teinô (“to stretch”). It describes stretching a muscle to its limit, and pictures a runner straining every muscle to reach the finish line.
Please turn to Ephesians 4
As already noted, the goal on which believers must focus is being like Jesus Christ. It was also the goal of Paul’s ministry to “present every one complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28). He also expressed that goal to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 4:11-14 [11]And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13]until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14]so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15]Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16]from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.(ESV)
To the Galatians Paul wrote that he was “in labor until Christ is formed in you” (Gal. 4:19). He exhorted the Corinthians to “be made complete” (2 Cor. 13:11), and his coworker Epaphras prayed that the Colossians would “stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12). Pursuing Christlikeness here and now, until we are made like Him in glory, defines the progress of the Christian life and the target of ministry.
Illustration: Too many Christians are too involved in “many things,” when the secret of progress is to concentrate on “one thing.” It was this decision that was a turning point in D.L. Moody’s life. Before the tragedy of the Chicago fire in 1871, Mr. Moody was involved in Sunday School promotion, Y.M.C.A. work, evangelistic meetings, and many other activities; but after the fire, he determined to devote himself exclusively to evangelism. “This one thing I do!” became a reality to him. As a result, millions of people heard the Gospel.
The believer must devote themselves to “running the Christian race.” No athlete succeeds by doing everything; an athlete succeeds by specializing. There are those few athletes who seem proficient in many sports, but they are the exception. The winners are those who concentrate, who keep their eyes on the goal and let nothing distract them. They are devoted entirely to their calling. Concentration is the secret of power. If a river is allowed to overflow its banks, the area around it becomes a swamp. But if that river is dammed and controlled, it becomes a source of power. It is wholly a matter of values and priorities, living for that which matters most.(Wiersbe, Warren W.: The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1996, c1989, S. Php 3:13)
1) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12A) 2) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A MAXIMUM EFFORT. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12B) 3) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A FOCUSED CONCENTRATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:13) AND:
4) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER MOTIVATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:14)
Philippians 3:14 [14]I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
In Athletics, the prize is not awarded before the race is completed and, therefore, it can only be looked for after the finishing-line, and not before it. In order to even compete in the competition, in ancient Greece for example, they had to be Greek citizens. No one can even make a start in the Christian race until that person has been born into God’s kingdom (Michael Bentley. Shining in the Darkness: Philippians simply explained. Welwyn Commentary Series. Evangelical Press. 1997. p. 133).
Please turn to 1 Corinthians 9
As noted earlier, this verse is the heart of the passage. The present tense verb translated I press on denotes Paul’s continuous effort to pursue the “impossible dream” and defeat “the unbeatable foe.” The root meaning of the preposition kata (toward) is “down.” Paul again expressed his single-minded focus, saying, “I continually bear down on the goal (skopos; “a mark on which to fix one’s eyes”).” The goal specifically refers to the marker at the end of a race on which runners intently fix their eyes. The prize is the reward for victory (Radmacher, Earl D. ; Allen, Ronald Barclay ; House, H. Wayne: The Nelson Study Bible : New King James Version. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1997, S. Php 3:14)
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 [24]Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25]Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (ESV)
• In the earthly race, only one could win (1 Cor 9:24); in the heavenly, all who love Christ’s appearing win (2 Tim. 4:8). They win the prize by being minded as is Paul, and by conduct in harmony with this disposition (William Hendriksen. Philippians New Testament Commentary. Baker Publishing House. 2002. p. 176)
• In the earthly race the prize is perishable; in the heavenly, imperishable. The prize which those ancient Greek athletes gained was a wreath made of leaves. It was a very great honour to win it, but it eventually faded away and died. Our reward, the crown which we shall receive at the end of our Christian lives, will last for ever (1 Cor. 9:25) (Michael Bentley. Shining in the Darkness: Philippians simply explained. Welwyn Commentary Series. Evangelical Press. 1997. p. 134).
The goal is the heavenward call of Jesus Christ. The “goal” (“mark,” KJV; skopos) is the “goal marker” in English. It was the focus of the eye when a runner ran the race. For Paul, it was probably the model provided in Christ who demonstrated both obedience unto death and the resurrection (Melick, Richard R.: Philippians, Colissians, Philemon. electronic ed. Nashville : Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001, c1991 (Logos Library System; The New American Commentary 32), S. 139).
That prize was what motivated him to run to win (1 Cor. 9:24). Believers will not receive the prize (Christlikeness, with all its eternal benefits) until the upward (lit. “above,” denoting both the source of the call and to where it leads) call of God in Christ Jesus ushers them into God’s glorious presence in heaven. As noted, perfection is not attainable in this life. The finish line is the threshold of heaven, where the rewards will be handed out (cf. Matt. 5:12; Luke 6:23; 1 Cor. 3:12–15). It is not until Christ “appears, [that] we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2).
Please turn to 2 Timothy 4
Like a runner triumphantly pumping his fist in the air as he approaches the finish line, Paul declared at the end of his life:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 [7]I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8]Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (ESV)
• Only “in the future” in heaven would Paul receive “the crown of righteousness” (Christ’s righteousness perfected in him); only then would he receive the prize which he so diligently pursued.
Illustration: What really is the significance of having a Goal? In the critical days of World War II, England faced the need for increased coal production. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, called a meeting of labor leaders to give them the facts and enlist their support in his unique way of using imagination and power oratory. He closed his presentation by picturing in their minds a parade which would surely be held in Picadilly Circus after the war was over. There would come the men of the Royal Navy whom everyone would know had kept the vital sea lanes open. There would pass the Army who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa and fight under Montgomery in Berlin.
There would come the Air Force who had driven the Luftwaffe out of the sky and beat it at its own game. Then, he said, last of all, there would come a great host of sweat-stained, soot-streaked miners. Someone would cry out from the crowd, “Where were you?” And from ten thousand throats would come the answer: “We were deep in the earth with our faces against the coal.” Winston Churchill sat down to a wildly cheering throng, many with tears running down their cheeks. The man at the top had shown the power of a purpose, the need for a goal, how everyone working together would mean victory (Dunnam, Maxie D. ; Ogilvie, Lloyd J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 31 : Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982 (The Preacher’s Commentary Series 31), S. 296).
1) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12A) 2) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A MAXIMUM EFFORT. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12B) 3) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A FOCUSED CONCENTRATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:13) 4) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER MOTIVATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:14) AND
5) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER RECOGNITION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:15)
Philippians 3:15 [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. (ESV)
Paul was not in the spiritual race alone; it includes all Christians, described here by the phrase the mature (cf. Heb. 10:14). The apostle is not speaking of practical perfection; that would contradict what he said earlier in the passage. Practical perfection does not come until believers are glorified. Rather, in a play on words, he describes believers as those who are positionally mature in Christ. Since this is a polemic passage directed against those who taught that perfection is attainable in this life, Paul’s use of mature may be a bit double-edged, with a tinge of sarcasm. Those false teachers were not perfect in practice, and also were not perfect in position.
Every true Christian must think this way/have this same attitude that Paul had. Phroneô “To think this way,” can be rendered “to be intent on this,” or “to set one’s mind on this.” It might be translated “continually think like this.” Like Paul, believers must be totally focused on making the maximum effort to pursue the prize of Christlikeness. We know how Christ thinks because the Scripture gives us His mind (1 Cor. 2:16). When we think biblical, divine thoughts, viewing all of life from the Lord’s perspective, those thoughts will move our behavior to become like His (cf. Col. 3:16).
Colossians 3:16 [16]Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV)
But Paul was an experienced pastor and knew that not all believers would share the strength and relentlessness of his focus on pursuing the prize. To them Paul says, if in anything you think otherwise/have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you. Those who refuse to heed Paul’s message will hear that same message from God. God will correct them through His Word, His Spirit, or through chastening. God will do whatever it takes to make believers recognize their need to pursue the prize of Christlikeness. He will also provide the resources they need to do that (2 Peter 1:3).
Illustration: In July 1981, Bill Broadhurst entered the Omaha, Nebraska, Pepsi 10k. Broadhurst is slowed by a brain aneurysm he suffered 10 years earlier, which left him partially paralyzed on the left side. He made it his goal to finish the 10k despite this obstacle. He was determined to run because Bill Rogers, his hero and a world-famous distance runner, was in the race that day. Rogers, great runner that he is, placed first in a time of 29 minutes and 37 seconds. One hour in, for Bill Broadhurst, his partially paralyzed left side started to feel like dead weight. After two hours, the cars were back in the streets, and getting through intersections became difficult. At two hours and twenty minutes the pain was so intense and throbbing, he didn’t think he could go on. Then he saw the end. But as soon as he saw it, his heart sank: the banner was gone and everybody had left. Still, having come this far, he decided to push through to the end. As he approached the finish line, he perceived a small gathering of people off to the side. Then they moved out to greet him, and he saw Bill Rogers at the front crowd. They had been waiting for him. As Broadhurst crossed the finish line, Rogers opened his arms, and hugged him. Rogers took the gold medal from around his own neck, and put it around the neck of the last runner to cross the line. "You’re the winner, man," he said. "You take the gold." What a beautiful picture of our life with Christ. Jesus, the first runner of this race, has not forgotten us, struggling runners that we are. No, he has taken hold of us, he is making us fit for the race, and he is cheering us on toward the goal, and he’s waiting for us to give us the prize that he earned. And so, let us not forget Him Let us fix our eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of our faith, as we live our lives in an unhindered pursuit of his love and grace.
1) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER AWARENESS. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12A) 2) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A MAXIMUM EFFORT. (PHILIPPIANS 3:12B) 3) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A FOCUSED CONCENTRATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:13) 4) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER MOTIVATION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:14) 5) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER RECOGNITION. (PHILIPPIANS 3:15) AND FINALLY:
6) PURSUING THE PRIZE REQUIRES A PROPER CONFORMITY. (PHILIPPIANS 3:16)
Philippians 3:16 [16]Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (ESV)
Plçn (Only let us/one more thing/however) is often used to express one final thought. This last prerequisite for pursuing the prize might also be described as consistency. Having developed a proper awareness, effort, focus, motivation, and recognition, believers must consistently hold true/keep living by that same standard to which they have attained. Stoicheô (keep living) means “to line up,” or “to follow in line.” Believers must keep to the spiritual path that they have been following. To use the metaphor of a race, they must keep running in their lane.
Finally, please turn to Hebrews 12
Four divinely provided resources help believers to consistently pursue the prize of Christlikeness. First is the Word of God. Peter wrote, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). Second is prayer. Paul prayed that the Corinthians would “be made complete” (2 Cor. 13:9). Third is following a godly example. Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “Be imitators of me” (1 Cor. 4:16; cf. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 1:6; 2 Thess. 3:7, 9; 1 Tim. 4:12; Heb. 13:7; 1 Peter 5:3). Finally, God uses trials to mold believers into the image of Jesus Christ: “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10; cf. James 1:2–4).
Hebrews 12:1-2 [12:1]Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2]looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)
(Format Note: Outline & some base commentary from MacArthur, John: Philippians. Chicago : Moody Press, 2001, S. 241)
