Pressing On Toward the Prize
Philippians 3:1-16
Introduction
Our lives are going someplace - and it’s a good thing to keep our eyes on the destination so we stay on track. Yogi Berra “You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there.”
Philippians 3:14 NLT “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
The idea of pressing on reflects “the intensity of an athlete running a desperate race to the finish line, eager to win first prize.” (Swindoll) But there were two obstacles he pointed to.
Obstacles to the Prize:
-The influence of others.
Philippians 3:2-3 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh...
Paul warned the Philippians about some who would seek to interject their own beliefs into the lives of the Christians. This was particularly of interest to Paul because of their Jewish influence - he has strong language for them. He reminds the Philippians that what the Judaizers offer is far less than what they have now. We probably haven’t had anyone pressuring us to be circumcised for greater holiness lately … but we may feel pressure from others to abandon what we know and have assurance about - we worship by the Spirit, glory in Christ, and put no confidence in the flesh. (3)
-The accomplishments of the past.
Philippians 3:4-6 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Paul had great accomplishments for the Lord in his life. Craddock: “Were he so minded he could preach the Judaizers’ sermon better than they.” It’s easy to point to our past and what we have done and just be satisfied with that. There’s nothing about Paul that suggests he was ready to live a retired Christianity that didn’t make any effort any longer. Even from prison, he continued to reach out. We can’t let the influence of others nor our own past accomplishments keep us from pressing on to the prize.
What is the path to the Prize?
1. KNOW JESUS
Philippians 3:7-8 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ...
What were Paul’s losses? As he became a Christian he lost his reputation, his mission, his family (?), his people, his life. When he embraced the Jesus way, everything changed. All of his losses were worth losing, in order to know Christ. Knowing Christ as Lord was so valuable to him that the things he lost he now considers “rubbish” (NIV). CEB "sewer trash". Swindoll “The term literally means ‘dung, excrement, manure.’” This is the strongest possible contrast he could make.
When we begin to view knowing Christ as the highest of all possible gains, and we race toward it, then whatever losses we have along the way are of no worth to us.
McGrath “The Christ who knows us so well longs for us to know him in turn.” McGrath goes on to say that we know Christ in our minds, imaginations, hearts, and memories. In our minds, as we study the Scriptures. Imaginations, placing ourselves in the stories and scenes of Jesus in the Bible, opening up windows that affect our mind and heart. Hearts, allowing ourselves to feel and experience the love, forgiveness, and touch of Christ.
Memories, remembering what Christ has done for us, allowing that to spur our hopes of what He has promised to do.
Philippians 3:8 NLT “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”
2. TRUST JESUS
Philippians 3:9-11 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Righteousness in its most simplistic term is being counted as right in the sight of God. (Lockhart) Sin leaves us separated from God, grasping for meaning, direction, hope, forgiveness. In Christ we have all of those things - and this matters because we are pressing on to the prize - our eyes are on the future destination of our lives. Righteousness can only be given to us in light of our faith in Christ. It is the power of his resurrection. It is the power to endure sufferings like He did. It is the sure hope of resurrection when this life is over.
Romans 6:2-5 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Know Jesus, Trust Jesus ...
3. RUN TO JESUS
Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul admits he has some growing to do - he isn’t perfect, his race isn’t over. I’m glad to hear him admit it - I can admit it too! Paul has three strategies for winning the race.
Three Strategies
Forget what lies behind.
What can we do about the past? Apologize for past mistakes. Make amends if possible. Receive forgiveness from God. Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Strain forward to what lies ahead
“…The athlete throws himself forward in the race with all his energies strained to the very utmost.” (Swindoll) What is it in our lives that demonstrates that we are straining toward growth in God?
Don’t ever give up
Philippians 3:15-16 All of us, then, 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.
Hang on to where you are, move forward from there. From Prison, Paul encourages the Philippians not to give up. Craddock “Faith for him involved running, wrestling, striving, and fighting, none of which would end until the day of Christ.”
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Conclusion:
Our lives are going someplace - and it’s a good thing to keep our eyes on the destination so we stay on track.
Philippians 3:14 NLT “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”
How are you doing in the race?
Watching from the stands?
Ready to start?
Running, but a bit ragged / fatigued / thinking of quitting?
Running with endurance?
THE PATH TO THE PRIZE: Know Jesus, Trust Jesus, Run to Jesus!
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Discussion Questions for Philippians 3:1-16
1. Paul uses athletic word pictures of the Christian life in this text (and others) like running, wrestling, striving, and
fighting. What is a sports metaphor that you would use to describe your Christian journey?
2. Paul uses really strong terms to describe those who were potentially causing trouble for the Philippians (3:2). Why is he so strongly condemning them?
3. Paul presents a strong pedigree of his life, being a devoted Jewish believer in God (3:3-6). He relates that these things that meant a lot to him earlier in life now do not. What are a few of the credentials Christians might be tempted to rely on, but in reality are only a false sense of security?
4. Philippians encourages us to know Christ, not simply know about Christ. How would you contrast those two ideas? What are some things we can do to know Christ on a deeper level?
5. Contrast righteousness that comes from the law with righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. Why would it be tempting to rely more on law than faith? (3:9-10)
6. Why is it hard to forget ‘what lies behind’? (3:13)
7. What else did you want to talk about today?
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Resources
Craddock, Fred B. Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, Philippians. John Knox Press, 1985.
Lockhart, Jay and David L. Roper. Truth for Today Commentary: Ephesians and Philippians. Resource Publications, 2009.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, Volume 9. Tyndale, 2017.
