LET’S OPEN OUR BIBLES TO PHIL. 3- AND VERSES 12 – 16
12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
PAUL OFTEN USED ATHLETICS …TO ILLUSTRATE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
AND HERE WE HAVE THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE ATHLETE …. RUNNING ON ..TO THE FINISH LINE …
THE ILLUSTRATION ….OF ..MAXIMUM EFFORT .. AS THE CHRISTIAN MOVES ALONE … TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE.
AND THE HEART OF THIS PASSAGE .. IS V14..
14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
IT IS TALKING ABOUT CHRISTIAN EFFORT TOWARDS GROWTH ..
IN V4 – 11 PAUL HAS GIVEN US HIS CREDENTIALS AS A JEW ..
LET’S JUST GO BACK AND READ THOSE..
4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
SO HIS JEWISH CREDENTIALS::
CIRCUMCISED ….
OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL …
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN ..
A HEBREW OF THE HEBREWS …(NOT A PROSELYTE ..OR A GENTILE CONVERT . . TO JUDAISM)
AS TO ZEAL … A PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH ..
TOUCHING RIGHTEOUSNESS ….OF THE LAW .. .BLAMELESS ..
HE HAD LIVED AS A GOD-FEARING JEW …AND HE HAD LEARNED TO PUT HIS TRUST IN WHAT HE HAD ACHIEVED ..
AND SO .. .PAUL HAD THIS .. . CREDIT COLUMN ….
AND AS HE LOOKED WITH PRIDE AT THAT CREDIT COLUMN …. HE ASSUMED HE WAS RIGHT WITH GOD ..
BUT THEN .. ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS … HE WAS CONFRONTED WITH THE LIVING CHRIST …
AND HE SAW THAT ALL HIS …CREDIT COLUMN … CRUMBLED …
AND HE HAD TO .. ABANDON THAT …TO RECEIVE CHRIST ..
AND SO …
HE IS SAYING IN VERSES 4 – 11 …. (SOMETHING LIKE THIS)
‘WHEN I SAW THE VALUE OF CHRIST … AND WHEN I SAW THAT SALVATION WAS ONLY IN CHRIST …
I TOOK EVERYTHING THAT I ONCE SAW AS ..GAIN . . .OR PROFIT ….
AND I ABANDONED IT ALL … FOR CHRIST. ‘
THOSE THINGS . . THAT WERE ONCE SO …PRECIOUS TO ME … I PUT THEM ALL ASIDE …TO EMBRACE CHRIST.
AND WHAT HAD HE GAINED ..
V8 – 11 AGAIN ..
8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST …
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS ..OF CHRIST ….
THE POWER OF CHRIST ….
THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST …
AND THE ..GLORY OF CHRIST..
AND HAVING GAINED ALL THIS ….
MAYBE …IT MIGHT LEAD SOMEONE TO THINK THAT PAUL WAS CLAIMING TO HAVE REACHED …. SPIRITUAL PERFECTION …
TO HAVE GAINED ALL THAT THERE IS TO GAIN …
THAT HE HAD REACHED THE GOAL ….
THAT THERE WAS NOTHING MORE TO SEEK …
NOTHING MORE TO PURSUE ..
THAT HE HAD ARRIVED..
BUT PAUL WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE IS NOT PERFECT ….EVEN THOUGH HE …IS .. A NEW CREATION ….
EVEN THOUGH HE HAS A NEW HEART …
AND HE NOW HAS THE RIGHT STANDING BEFORE GOD ..BECAUSE OF JESUS …
HE HAS THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT . .. WHO IS THE ..POWER OF GOD …
AND EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE PROMISE OF FUTURE GLORY ….
HE HASN’T ARRIVED ..
HE IS STILL LIVING IN HIS UNREDEEMED FLESH …
HE IS STILL A SINNER….
AND HE IS STILL …PURSUING THE GOAL.
PETER SAID .. IN 2 PET. 3:18
18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
AND PAUL IS SAYING THE SAME THING IN THIS PASSAGE …
THERE IS A ..GROWING PROCESS ..
WHEN WE ARE SAVED …. WE RECEIVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST …
WE RECEIVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS …OF CHRIST ..
WE RECEIVE THE …POWER OF CHRIST .. .IN OUR LIFE …
WE RECEIVE THE …FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST …. WE HAVE OUR .. COMMUNION . ..WITH HIM…
BUT THERE IS NOT PERFECT …. NOT IN THIS LIFE ..
THERE IS ..GROWTH …
THERE IS THE .. . PURSUIT OF THE GOAL ….
THERE IS THE ..RUNNING OF THE RACE..
THERE IS THE …PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK.
NOW … MAYBE SOMEONE COULD BE TEMPTED TO ASK THE QUESTION …
‘WHY SHOULD I BOTHER?’
‘I MEANS .. IF I AM ALREADY ENTITLED TO HEAVEN ….AND I ALREADY HAVE THESE THINGS … GUARANTEED TO ME ……
AND ONE DAY I ..WILL .. ENTER INTO THE FULLNESS OF ALL THAT I HAVE THE …..DOWNPAYMENT ON NOW …
WHY BOTHER TO GROW ???
WHY BOTHER TO PURSUE?????’
THERE ARE A FEW WAYS WE CAN ANSWER THAT …
FIRST OF ALL …THE QUESTION ITSELF IS REALLY A RATHER …. DUBIOUS ONE … BECAUSE ..
IF WE ARE A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST …. WE …WILL … HAVE THE DESIRE .. TO GROW.
HAVING BEEN BORN . .INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD ….WE ARE BORN .. WITH A HUNGER …
THERE IS .. WITH THE NEW CREATION …. A BUILT-IN DESIRE ….AND DRIVE … AND LONGING … FOR GROWTH.
A SECOND REASON FOR DESIRING TO GROW .. IS THAT IT .. .VERIFIES OUR SALVATION …
A THIRD REASON IS THAT GROWTH IS .. .ADORNING THE TRUTH ..
WE …ARE …WEARING THE TRUTHS OF GOD …FOR OTHERS TO SEE.
AND A FORTH REASON IS THAT . .WHEN THERE IS GROWTH …. IN OUR LIFE ….. THERE IS THE SENSE THAT WE BELONG TO GOD …. BECAUSE WE CAN SEE HIS WORK IN US …AND SO WE ARE MAKING OUR CALLING . .. AND OUR ELECTION .. .SURE ..
NOT SURE TO GOD ….BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHOSE NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE ..
BUT SURE ..TO OURSELVES…
ANOTHER REASON …
WHEN WE PURSUE THE PRIZE ..AND WE RUN THE RACE ….AND WE ARE GROWING …. IT PRODUCES JOY …AND USEFULNESS . .IN OUR LIFE ….
ANOTHER REASON . . IS THAT IT ENHANCES OUR WITNESS TO THE WORLD…
MANY REASONS WHY WE SHOULD GROW ….
AND PURSUE THE PRIZE …AND RUN THE RACE..
1 COR. 9:24 PAUL SAID..
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25And 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. 26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27But 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.
HE SAYS … I AIM . .I DO ALL I CAN …..SO THAT I WILL NOT BE ..DISQUALIFIED …
I RUN THE RACE WITH MAXIMUM EFFORT ……
I FOCUS ON THE RULES …
I DON’T RUN HALF-HEARTEDLY …..
I DON’T VIOLATE THE RULES ..
I DON’T TAKE ..SPIRITUAL STEROIDS ..
I STAY WITHIN THE RULES …..
I COMPETE AS I AM SUPPOSED TO COMPETE .. AND I RUN ..TO WIN.
PERFECTION IS THIS LIFE IS A GOAL … BUT NOT ..AND ACHIEVEMENT …
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE PURSUE …. BUT NEVER REACH …
IT IS AN AWARENESS …OF A NEED .. TO BE BETTER … TO IMPROVE ….
TO KNOW …THAT WHILE OUR POSITION IN CHRIST IS FIXED …..
OUR CONDITION IS CONSISTENTLY IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT ….
BECAUSE WE ARE NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE ….WE ARE NOT WHAT WE ..CAN BE ….
WE ARE NOT …WHAT WE WILL BE .. SOME DAY ….WHEN WE ARE WITH THE LORD ….
AN AWARENESS ..OF THE NEED .. TO PURSUE A BETTER .. CONDITION.
30 YEARS AFTER HIS CONVERSION . .PAUL SAYS . .IN V12
12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
‘I’M NOT WHAT I OUGHT TO BE.’
I HAVEN’T REACHED THE GOAL … I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS …
SELF-DISSATISFACTION ….- THAT’S THE STARTING POINT…
WHATEVER WE ACHIEVE ….BEGINS WITH …SELF-DISSATISFACTION ….
I AM NOT … CONTENT … WITH MY CONDITION ….
I AM NOT . .CONTENT .. WITH WHERE I AM ..SPIRITUALLY ….
IF I AM ..CONTENT WITH MY SPIRITUAL CONDITION .. . I HAVE REACHED A VERY DANGEROUS POINT…
THAT .. IS THE POINT ..WHERE I WILL FIND MYSELF … INSENSITIVE TO THE SIN THAT IS IN MY LIFE …
AND DEFENDING MYSELF . .WHEN I OUGHT TO BE ADMITTING MY WEAKNESSES ….
SO SPIRITUAL GROWTH ….STARTS WITH A RECOGNITION THAT WE ARE NOT WHERE WE OUGHT TO BE ….
IT’S THE RUNNER ….AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE …. SAYING THAT THE WHOLE IDEA .. OF THE EXERCISE .. IS TO GET TO THE END….
AND PAUL SAW IT RIGHT …
HE KNEW WHAT HE HAD IN JESUS …
BUT HE ALSO HAD THIS .. SELF-DISSATISFACTION .
SO LET’S ASK PAUL SOME QUESTIONS ..
‘PAUL … YOU SAY YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST’
YES .. .BUT IN 1 COR. 13 HE SAYS … ‘WE KNOW IN …PART …..SOME DAY WE SHALL KNOW AS WE ARE KNOWN.
‘PAUL … YOU SAY YOU HAVE THE COMPLETE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.’
YES ….I HAVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST .. .CREDITED TO MY ACCOUNT ……BECAUSE I HAVE PUT MY FAITH IN CHRIST …
BUT ..PRACTICALLY …. 2 COR. 7:1 SAYS ..
let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
‘LET …US …CLEANSE OURSELVES’ ….
PAUL INCLUDES .. .HIMSELF . .WITH THOSE SINFUL CORINTHIANS …….
‘PAUL … YOU SAY YOU HAVE THE POWER OF CHRIST.’
‘YES .. BUT I STILL SIN…. AND THAT IS WHY GOD PUT THAT THORN IN MY FLESH ….AND ALLOWED ME TO BE …DEBILITATED …..
TO KEEP MY EGO IN CHECK ….
BECAUSE ..IF HE DIDN’T …MY EGO WOULD GET OUT OF CONTROL…
SO … BECAUSE I DO NOT YET KNOW ..HOW TO WORK PERFECTLY .. .WITH THE POWER OF CHRIST ….IN MY LIFE …
I HAVE THIS THORN .. IN THE FLESH.
‘PAUL .. .YOU HAVE ..FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST’
YES ..BUT IT IS NOT …PERFECT FELLOWSHIP …
I DO NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS I OUGHT TO PRAY …AND SO THE SPIRIT MAKES INTERCESSIONS FOR ME WITH GROANINGS THAT CANNOT BE UTTERED ….
BECAUSE OF MY IGNORANCE …
‘PAUL .. YOU HAVE THE GLORY OF CHRIST…’
YES …IN ME IS THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT …
BUT I AM STILL WAITING ….FOR THE LORD JESUS…. WHO WILL TRANSFORM THIS BODY INTO CONFORMITY TO THE BODY OF HIS GLORY.
THAT IS STILL TO COME.
I MUST GROW … I MUST PURSUE ….
AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS …
WITH AN AWARENESS THAT WE ARE NOT THERE …
THAT WE HAVE GOT A LOT TO LEARN …
THAT WE HAVE GOT A LOT .. TO YIELD OVER TO THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT ..
THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO KNOW ..THAN WE ALREADY KNOW.
IF WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH PRAYER …AND ENOUGH CHURCH …AND ENOUGH TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD …
AND ENOUGH CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP ..TO SATISFY US …
WE ARE IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION …
BUT .. IF E ARE AWARE OF THE NEED TO PURSUE A BETTER CONDITION …
THAT IS WHERE IS ALL STARTS ..
WE START . .WITH A BLESSED ..DISCONTENT ..
A BLESSED ..DISSATISFACTION ..
A RECOGNITION .. THAT WE ARE NOT WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE..
AND BY GOD’S GRACE .. WE WILL PURSUE …WE WILL GROW..
