Pressing Ahead

Scriptural Context From Philippians 3:12-16

Intro: As we come to the end of another year and look forward to the New Year we should begin to establish our priorities for this coming year. Our priorities will reflect what is really on our hearts. I pray that we will have the same priorities as the Apostle Paul had in these scriptures before us today.

I. Perfection should be the priority for all believers. Philippians 3:12 (NLT)
¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

   a. It’s the reason Christ saved us. Paul saw the Christian life as a process. While believers are considered righteous when they accept salvation, their entire lives are marked by growth toward Christlikeness.

Romans 8:29 (NLT) For God knew his people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)  You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

In Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT) ¹⁰ I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,
¹¹ so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

Paul says he wants to know Christ on a very intimate level.

He wanted to experience Christ’s resurrection power and His fellowship in suffering.

   b. He was pressing toward that goal. Press means to move by force in a certain way.

Paul said I have not made it yet. Paul had not fully experienced all of Christ’s resurrection power working in his life and he wanted to participate with Christ, as a believer, in suffering for the gospel. We share his death as we “die” to sin and the old nature.

We willingly suffer persecution in living for Christ as we seek to be resurrected from the dead.

Paul did not doubt the fact that he would be raised, but how he would experience the resurrection was within God’s plan and power and not his own.

II. We should focus on perfection. Philippians 3:13 (NLT) ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

   a. By forgetting the past

Unlike some, Paul did not consider that he had achieved spiritual maturity; he was not all that he knew he should be. Paul would forget his past with all its credentials, accomplishments (and sins).

   b. By looking forward to what lies ahead.  By concentrating & controlling the mind.

It has been estimated that man uses only one-tenth of one percent of his mental capacity. Imagine how far short this is of perfection. We are to focus our mind in the right way.

What lay ahead was total redemption of the spirit, soul, and body.

1 John 3:2 (NLT) Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as he really is.

III. We are being called by God. Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

   a. To reach the end of our spiritual race. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

   b. To receive the Heavenly prize. Paul spoke of this prize in 2 Timothy 4: 7-8 (NLT) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ⁸ And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

   c. God’s calling for the Heavenly prize is through faith in Christ Jesus. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord makes all this possible. He has saved us for this purpose.

IV. All mature Christians should agree on these things Philippians 3:15 (NLT)
¹⁵ Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

 That is, they too ought to be pressing on toward the goal. We should never become complacent and lethargic. God is ever calling us onward and upward.

   a. To those who disagree God will make it plain to them

Whatever problem of pride may have threatened to divide the Philippian church, Paul stopped it with these final words.

 Paul invoked the illumination of God himself to make plain the truth of his words.

V. We must hold on to the progress we have already made. Philippians 3:16 (NLT)
¹⁶ But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Revelation 3:11 (NLT)  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

a. How do we hold on?

      1. By keeping our spiritual race foremost in our minds & hearts. These believers were in different stages, but everyone needed to obey the truth they had learned already.

Christian maturity involves acting on the guidance that we have already received.

      2. Through prayer, daily bible reading & studying, assembling in God’s house

Invitation: As we come to a close for this year, examine your heart and let the Holy Spirit show you where you stand in your relationship with God. If you’re not sure whether you have a relationship with Him or not, make sure today. Ask Jesus to forgive your sins against God and invite Him into your heart to take charge of your life.

If you already have a relationship with God, make a determination to continue to grow in that relationship by allowing the Spirit of God to lead you on to perfection in your faith

ABIDING IN CHRIST

The New Testament urges the need for Christians to remain living in Christ, by the reality of close personal relationship with Him which can be expressed in continued obedience to His Word. Obedience and love go together. The definition of abide is to stay, remain, continue firm and stable, lasting. Abiding also means keeping close. Jesus Himself requires this of His followers. Remaining in Christ depends upon holding to His teaching, living like Him and receiving The Holy Spirit's anointing, which aids the believer. Christlikeness is not achieved by people's imitation of Jesus, but by God renewing believers and making them more like His Son through the process of sanctification by The Holy Spirit. A living union with Christ is absolutely necessary and without it, the reason for existence has no purpose. Just as in nature, a branch detached from the vine dies, so a believer separated from Christ looses life. A branch (true believers) out of contact with The Vine (Christ) is lifeless.
 John 15:1-11 (NLT) ¹ “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. ⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
⁹ “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
¹¹ I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!                       
Christ abides in believers and believers abide in Christ. It is a personal life-giving relationship.      Believers that remain in Christ and Christ in them is a union that is closely connected. Because of Christ, the indwelling of The Holy Spirit enables Christians to continue to live as level-headed disciples and as they do so the reality of His indwelling presence is deepened. Abiding in Christ arises from trust and belief in His promises. Love for Christ and the worship of Him accompany His blessings to His people. Salvation goes from strength to strength from when it is first received. Jesus desires joy that is complete for His redeemed. Living with Christ is a daily experience as believers grow and mature in love and obedience. Remaining in Christ means to continue to do what He says to do. God and His Kingdom are glorified when people remain in a strong relationship with His Son, who also receives glory and honor as a result of His own abiding in The Father. A Christian's life is to be intertwined with Christ always; this keeps their life stable regardless of the circumstances. The certainty of a present relationship with Christ gives the assurance of a secure future centered on the promises of God the Father. Rewards and blessings promised are a free gift. The result of abiding in Christ is fruitfulness which covers many aspects of a believer's life. It also produces development of the character to maturity, effectively in service, or mission ministries. These disclosures are not from human effort, but from the fruition of remaining in Christ. Love and Joy are perfected. Answered prayer is an outcome of abiding in Christ, as is freedom from persistent sin. Christians cannot be absolutely sinless, but have the possibility of living a life in which sin is not the normal habit. Sins in a Christian's life are lessened as the believer abides in Christ.                                                                         Remaining in Christ leads to expectancy, hope, trust and patience. The continuing commitment of The Lord Jesus Christ to The Father is the example for believers in faithfulness.                                                                        There are Scriptural warnings to remain firm in Christ.
If a believer does not remain living firmly with Christ, the faith is groundless and empty, it cannot save and thus is not the faith of a true believer. James 2:17 (NLT) So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
 Not remaining in Christ brings complacency to a believer's spiritual life and a false security. The Bible gives clear caution to those who fail to abide in Christ. To continue remaining in Christ is the purpose for which believers are saved until being made complete when they share in Christ's glory at His return.                                                                   Benefits of staying close to Christ are, living qualified to share His inheritance, being in His Eternal Kingdom, being rescued from the domination of darkness, being free from God's wrath and His judgment upon sin.
Confidence in the Last Day. 1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming". Christ's return will inevitably cause one of two reactions. For the believer, the response is confidence, in contrast to the silent terror and shame of those who must tremble before Him at His return.  Living in Christ establishes a stable and unwavering victory in situations, whether emotional, personal or political. Stability, an important element of life, depends upon holding on to the firm and solid of belief which gives resistance to natural and spiritual assaults. To stay living in Christ throughout life, brings humility and gentleness. Christ upholds the believer, guides, provides joy, strengthens, gives hope, gives forth light, broadens understanding of The Father, shows God's will, builds up, confirms the right, comforts the heart, produces fruit in a believer's life, cleanses the conscience and convicts of sin.

Invitation: You can’t remain in Christ if you have never known Him. If you have never asked Jesus Christ to forgive your sins, you can do that now if you really want Him to forgive and save you. If you are ready to give your life fully to Him, ask Him to forgive your sins and then ask Him to take charge of your life and help you to remain in Him. You will be thankful and joyous that you did.