Never Give In
Philippians 3:12-4:1
November 26, 2023
You may not know this about Winston Churchill, but he struggled in school. Churchill failed the 6th grade and had to take a math class over 3 times. He couldn’t get into certain colleges because of poor grades and he failed the military entrance exam twice before he finally passed.
In 1941, Churchill was asked to give a commencement speech at Harrow School.
This is part of what he said, during the speech
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This is the lesson: never give in, never give in…in nothing, great or small, large or petty–never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy…
He added - - - - Do not let us speak of darker days; let us rather speak of sterner days. These are not dark days: these are great days—the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.
In many respects, that’s the message that was built into the fiber of the apostle Paul. I believe he wanted to get that point across to us as well. To use his life as an example ---- as he encouraged the church, you and I, to never give up. To press forward.
That message hasn’t changed, and that the need hasn’t lessened, we too are called to press forward, to strain forward to experience the power and glory of Christ.
This is our last Sunday looking at what it means to have the courage to sacrifice. And part of the lesson from Paul is exactly what Churchill said, “NEVER GIVE UP!”
This message is going to be a Bible study on the last part of Philippians 3. As I was reading and rereading this passage, Paul uses a lot of word plays and uses the same Greek words over and over and we’d miss them and his point, so, this is pretty much going to be a line or phrase by phrase message.
As we get started, remember what Paul was talking about last week, he gave us all of his credentials. He was on the fast track to success, but he gave it all up for Jesus. We may have th opinion that Paul was perfect, but he’d be the first to tell us he wasn’t. He still needed to grow in who Jesus called him to be.
Now, let’s get into Philippians 3:12-4:1. Paul never settles for the cop-out many of us use, when we say, “Well, nobody's perfect.” Paul doesn't settle for such a flippant answer as he seeks to be more like Jesus. He wrote - - -
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.
Paul used 2 Greek verbs to describe where he hasn’t arrived - - -
The word obtained, means to take hold of or grasp. But it goes deeper than that, when Paul talks about obtaining, he’s talking about “entering into a close relationship with someone, namely, Jesus. Paul is telling us he hasn't yet taken hold of the fullness of Christ.
Then Paul tells us he isn’t already perfect. Amen to that! We could all use that! The word perfect can mean “complete” or “bring to its goal to make perfect.” Paul recognizes he still is a work in process. God is still perfecting him, still pruning and shaping, still growing in who Christ has called him to be. Paul doesn't claim perfection. He knows God is still working in him.
Sometimes God puts us in places where we are hindered, hampered, or limited. Why? Because at these places in our lives we are desperate enough to seek God and willing to change whatever is necessary in order to lessen our pain.
The circumstance that you yourself are in right now may be a blessing in disguise. It may lead to amazing spiritual growth and reliance on Jesus. You may experience a renewal in faith or a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit. If we’re willing, God will help us to grow, especially when we can admit we don’t have it all together!
Paul knows he hasn't attained his potential in Christ, but he doesn't excuse himself by the difficulty of the calling. That’s why he stated
but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. - Philippians 3:12b
Now, at least for me, we’re going to get into some fun words, another pair of Greek verbs.
The first verb is "press on." The Greek word literally means to "persecute." Yet, here it means “to move rapidly and decisively toward an objective. The root idea of dioko is "to chase."
It gives us the image of quickly and decisively chasing after something, seeking to attain it. Think of something you’ve tried to attain and sought to accomplish and you get the idea of what Paul was talking about. It could be a degree, a job, a life goal. Whatever it is, you move rapidly to capture it.
The second verb that describes Paul's quest for Christ is "make it my own." Paul presses on, so that he might take hold, or make it his own or win the prize.
The Greek word is Katalambano. Paul uses it and it’s root lambano 4 times in these 2 verses. It’s a word play in Greek. This is how important it is for Paul to attain the prize of who Jesus is calling him to be. Paul’s saying - - -
"12 Not that I have already obtained (lambano) all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of (katalambano) that for which Christ Jesus took hold of (katalambano) me. 13 I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of (katalambano) it."
The point Paul is trying to make is that he isn’t perfect. He will be perfected upon death . . . . so he presses on to grab ahold of Jesus. And as spiritual as we may consider Paul, he admits, he still has not fully attained what God is offering him. He’s in the process.
This hasn’t defeated Paul. It’s actually doing the opposite - - - - it’s motivating him to draw closer to Jesus, to become more like Jesus, so there’s no turning back or quitting. He says - - -
13 But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
This is such a great passage for us to hold onto. The imagery Paul is using comes from a race. It’s from the Greek verb we say in verse 12, to press on. Again, Paul says in verse 14, I press on - - - - which means he’s chasing after, he’s pursuing the prize.
Paul has that single minded focus as he said in verse 13, ONE THING I DO. He has a laser like focus. He knows what he’s after. He’s after the prize, which is Jesus.
If you’ve ever been running, you know that looking back does at least 2 things to you, it slows you down; and it sends you off the line you were running. It’s also easier to trip and fall by the way. Instead, when you’re running, you keep you’re head still, focused on the finish line. That’s the image Paul has in mind. We are focused on the goal. For Paul, that finish line, or goal is the target. It’s the bullseye that he wants to hit in crossing the finish line.
Too many people live their lives looking backwards, with lots of regrets. They count their losses, they consider what they didn’t do, or their failures. You can’t ever go backwards, so Paul tells us he’s letting go of the past, so that he can focus on moving towards the goal.
Paul has let go of the past. If he didn’t, I think it would have really haunted him. Remember, he was there to help kill the early believers and was off to kill more, when Jesus stopped him in his tracks.
And here’s where we give thanks to God for forgiveness! I’m not going to go through the many passages the Bible tells us that God forgives us and remembers our sins no more. Suffice it to say, that’s great news. So, we’re called to let go of our sins by confessing them to God and allowing Him to fill us with His grace, peace and mercy.
So, Paul is able to let go of the past. It’s still there, he has not forgotten them, but he’s let go of them and no longer is persecuting himself because of his former self. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17 - if you’re in Christ, you’re a new creation, that old person is gone and a new person has come.
With all of the distractions in the world, social media, politics, wars, violence and simple pressure to conform, it becomes even more important to fix our eyes on the goal, the prize, which is Jesus.
Paul adds that he’s "straining forward." The Greek verb means to exert yourself to the uttermost, to stretch out.
Let’s do an experiment, if you would, lift your arms in the air.
Now try to extend a little bit more.
Good, now do it even more!
This video will show you exactly what Paul meant. Watch the finish to this hurdles race.
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Can you imagine hitting that track like that? The bruises and cuts? But by straining forward, in fact, by diving, he won the race. That’s what Paul wants to do and wants us to do as well. Strain forward towards Christ. Reach for the prize of Jesus - - -
Forget the past
Let go of the mistakes
Repent / Confess
Trust His forgiveness
Keep moving forward
Straining forward!
Jesus is the prize. He always is and always will be!!!
Paul’s talking about his commitment to see this through to the end. No slacking off. No long lunches and late mornings. No excuses. No laziness. Paul is serious about this, he’s in it to win it!
He was seeking Christ and His fullness. It’s urgent, it’s time sensitive. Paul disciplines himself so that he will not miss out on the greatest prize of all ---- ---- knowing Christ. And we talked about the desire to know Jesus and be known by Jesus last week.
It’s so easy to allow life to disrupt us. To throw us off kilter. To derail us to the point where we allow anger and bitterness and others to just stop! So many have been hurt by people in the church, I know it, trust me. Yet, we need to remember that when we’ve been hurt that’s satan at work. He’s the one who is attacking through others.
But know all you have to do, is begin to draw closer, nearer to Jesus and you can find healing from Jesus. He forgives you and can help you forgive yourself and others. He can turn your eyes from the past to the present and future with Christ.
ISN’T THIS FUN?! We’re only 3 verses in! We have 8 more verses to go!!
In verse 14, Paul said - - - -
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We’ve seen Paul speak about pressing on before. He’s chasing, he’s in an all out sprint. He’s chasing after God as if there was a bear chasing him. Paul doesn't run for the sake of running.
He’s intent on reaching the goal. And let me add, I don’t believe he’s talking about reaching heaven. Paul already believes he’s destined for eternity. I believe he’s talking about doing what he needs to do in order to honor and glorify God. He wants to live the life he believes God is calling him to live. I guess you could say his goal is Christ-likeness and Christ-oneness. And I believe that is the prize Paul is after. He wants to honor and glorify God as he becomes more and more like Christ.
Verse 14 ends with Paul saying it’s all IN CHRIST! The goal, the prize, and the call - - - - - - ALL ARE WRAPPED UP IN JESUS, THE MESSIAH!!
This quest for God is not an "all roads lead to Rome" journey where people can say, Jesus is one of many ways to attain salvation. For Paul, and I believe for us as well, all roads lead through Jesus and Jesus alone. I trust His words, when He said, He’s the way and the truth and the life.
OK, I’m going to try and get us to the finish line. I’m striving to get us there!!
It seemed that some of the people believed they had already arrived. They were done. They were complete and perfect. There was no more for them to attain. As a result, they believed they could do whatever they wanted. Paul wrote in verses 15-16 - - - -
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. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Paul’s challenging those who already believe they are mature or perfect to continue on that quest, pressing on to reach the goal. And if they disagree, Paul believes they will be corrected by God. Then Paul warns these "perfect" Christians, "Only let us live up to what we have already attained" (3:16) In other words, if you claim perfection, let it show in your life.
Paul warns these so-called "perfect" Christians, if they really believe they have attained perfection, they they should be showing it by the way they live, which they weren’t doing.
Now, Paul calls his readers to follow his example - - - -
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Because of the life Paul is living, he wants the people to follow his example. And remember, Paul is writing this from a Roman prison. I like the way Paul said it in 1 Corinthians 11:1 - - - - "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." Jesus is the main one to follow. He’s our root, our vine, and we are the branches, which must be connected in order to bear fruit.
Now Paul reminds them of the sad fact that the lifestyle of some professing Christians is not at all "perfect" and they’re not coming close to maturing. In fact, they’re doing the opposite. He said - - - -
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Paul says these opponents "live as enemies of the cross of Christ." The cross of Christ is the way of suffering and self-denial. It’s having the courage to sacrifice in the name of Jesus. And that stands in sharp contrast with a self-indulgent lifestyle that revels in what Paul refers to as shameful activities.
And when we do that . . . when our minds and hearts are set on the things of the world, the things that are only going to please our flesh, when our confidence is only in ourselves, it’s ultimately going to lead to destruction or ruin.
Finally, whew! We come to the end where Paul tells us good news. In contrast, to those headed for destruction, Paul gives great news and an affirmation - - - -
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.
The New Testament reminds us that our citizenship is in the Kingdom of God; here on earth we are to consider ourselves exiles and aliens in a foreign land.
There’s an old Gospel song by Jim Reeves, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.” That’s so true. I believe we were created for the garden, but we’re not there and we long to be in the garden . . . and some day, we will be, as we’re reunited with God in heaven.
And we have that great promise from Paul that our bodies, our bodies which wear out and die, will someday be transformed to be like the glorious body of Jesus. That’s great news for us to hold onto.
So, Paul ends with Philippians 4:1. There were no chapters, but I believe 4:1 should be part of this, because this is Paul’s logical conclusion of what he’s just stated - - - -
4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. - Philippians 3:12-21
Finally, Paul calls on the people to "stand firm in the Lord."
Simply put, it’s remain steadfast, not wavering in the faith. Because if your faith is IN CHRIST, you will be able to stand firm. You will be able to endure the storms of life. You’ll be able to resist those temptations and endure those trials.
In the end, Paul wanted more than just a status-quo faith. He wants more. He wants to know Christ in His fullness. With every fiber in his being, Paul’s straining forward to receive the prize of knowing Christ, of being "in Christ."
As we prepare to close, where are you at in your relationship with Jesus? Have you settled for the status quo? Becoming a bit complacent?
We all go through those seasons of life where we kind of move away a bit. I want to encourage you as I said last week . . . Jesus stands at the door, He’s bidding each of us to draw closer and experience His power, mercy and grace.
When we do, we will have a greater courage to sacrifice, doing it in the name of Jesus. I can say with Paul that I certainly haven't attained where I want to be in Christ. I still fight the temptations of Satan that try to derail me and cause a train wreck. But my heart leads me on, as I sense yours does, too, to an all-out pursuit of God.
