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