Pressing Toward the Prize Philippians 3:12-16

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1 Pressing Toward the Prize Philippians 3:12-16 Tease: We have all watched a track event where the runners lean forward as they can as they cross the line to win the race. They run as fast as they can and at the last second of the race lean forward to be the first to the tape. They give everything they have to be the first across the line. The Apostle Paul uses this very picture of his own efforts in serving God. He does all that he can right up to the end of the race to obtain the prize. Join us this Sunday as Pastor Rich explores Philippians 3:12-16 as we Press toward the Prize. Pressing Toward the Prize Philippians 3:12-16 Competition is something we all experience every day. It may be competition on the road with someone trying to take our spot on the road, it may be athletic competition, or competition at work for that promotion. We may be competing with our siblings, or other kids in the neighborhood or in our class room. We compete all the time, every day. The Apostle Paul uses the imagery of competition in general and racing specifically as he discusses his service of the Lord and his quest to be the very best he can be. So, let s dig into the text this morning to check out what Paul has for us this morning. 1 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

2 Philippians 3:12 (ESV) 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. We see first there that Paul links back to what Pastor Matt taught last week. Remember what Paul said earlier in this chapter which Pastor Matt shared with us last week. We saw last week that Paul was working on becoming more like Jesus every day. Now here in verse 12 he reminds his readers that he has not made it yet, he was not already perfect but he is working hard every day to get there. Paul s primary goal in his life was to properly and effectively serve God every day. We saw last week in Paul s resume that he had ticked off every important category. He was a Jew, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee and one that fought the perceived heresy of the teaching of the way or the early church. He also claimed that he was a faithful keeper of the law. For the Jew there was not much more that he could do to be a good Jew, faithful to God. At least as the Jews of the day understood it. Paul was in many ways the epitome of a good Jew and none of that got him righteousness. He then came face to face with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and his whole focus changed. But you know what I see that did not change, Paul s dedication to serving God. Paul was completely sold out to serving God before his salvation and 2 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

3 then after his salvation on the road to Damascus he was completely sold out to serving God. Paul s dedication remained strong, it was what motivated Paul s dedication that changed. For the Jews of Paul s day, they were appeasing God and working to keep the law in order gain righteousness. But after salvation his motivation was not an effort to obtain righteousness, he had that through the imputed blood of Jesus Christ. God now saw Paul through the filter of Jesus righteousness. So Paul s motivation was not to obtain righteousness but was to reflect that he was now owned by Jesus. Look at Paul phrased it. Philippians 3:12 (ESV) 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. Jesus has made Paul His own. I really like the way the NASB translates this verse. Philippians 3:12 (NASB95) 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Why did Jesus save Paul? So, that Paul could accomplish the things that God wants him to do. Paul was saved, not for Paul 3 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

4 but for Jesus. We are all saved by the blood of Jesus for His purpose and not our own. Paul was doing everything he could to be obedient to God because God has saved him for His own purposes. Not to obtain righteousness but to demonstrate that he was now made righteous by the blood of Jesus Philippians 3:13 (ESV) 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, This verse is almost a duplicate to verse 12. Paul is emphasizing the fact that he did not save himself, he has not made it himself. But I think his repeating almost that same thing in this verse besides emphasizing the fact he did not save himself also reveals something else. Remember the resume of Paul before and after his salvation. After salvation, he was arrested, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked and many other things. He had suffered as a follower of Christ, perhaps more than anyone else. He was even then awaiting his own execution. If anyone could have claimed personal righteousness it was Paul. But Paul is emphasizing that not even he was capable of saving himself, of making it of his own work. Salvation is always a free gift from God through the blood of Jesus. 4 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

5 Paul says that he no longer looks back at what was but looks forward to what is head of him. I think Paul here is returning the race analogy of pressing for the finish line. When you are running a race it does not do you much good to look back, it makes it difficult to un forward. Paul was focused on the finish line and being prepared to lean forward just at the right time to win the race. I do not think that we can take this passage that Paul placed no value in the events of the past. Sometimes it is important to look back at past events to properly understand where we are and how we got there. Several times we see Paul reminding people of his past, including in this passage. I think what Paul intends for us to see here is that he is running forward to run the best way that he can to do the most that he can in service of god with the anticipation of reaching the finish line and leaning forward to be the first one there. He says so much in the next verse. Philippians 3:14 (ESV) 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul says I press on toward the goal, the finish line to obtain the prize of the upward call. So what is this prize. Here is where we need a little historical context. Paul clearly has athletic contest in mind. The most well known athletic contests of the day were the Olympics and the isthmian games. Official rules and officials made sure that the competitors played fair and did not cheat. The 5 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

6 prize was a wreath worn on the head like a crown and presented by the official in charge, the chief judge. Following the race the winner was called up to the official box of the chief judge where the crowd could see him receive his reward, the crown. That is exactly what Paul was working for. To be called up to stand before the chief judge and receive his reward, a crown. That should be the motivation for all of us. We should be working to obtain the most and best rewards we can. So we can stand before the Judge (Jesus) and have Him present to us our reward. How cool will that be? So, who is it that thinks this way? What Christian today is looking forward to the end of the race and receiving the prize from the chief judge. Paul answers that question in the next verse. Philippians 3:15 (ESV) 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. Paul says those of us that are mature are to think this way. The word mature here is the Greek word τέλειοι (teleioi) which is often translated as perfect. Let those of us who are perfect think this way. Let me say right here something that will elicit a big harry amen from Linda, I am not perfect. But neither are you. None of us are. But God see me as perfect. My sins have been dealt with and when he looks at me He sees the 6 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

7 righteousness of Jesus, so He sees me as perfect. So, Paul is saying here that those of us who are seen by God as perfect should press toward the prize, the goal, of serving God with everything we have and do. If you have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ you are viewed by God as perfect because He filters through the blood of Jesus when He looks at you and your focus should be serving Him in all you do all the time. Notice that Paul does not say that we should serve God when we have nothing else to do. Or even that we serve God when we have our regular work and our recreation done. No if we are seen as perfect by God it should be our primary focus in life, at home, at work, even at play. Focus on God. The last phrase of the verse is a little bit of a mystery to many students of God s Word. But I do not think it is that complex a topic. Paul is speaking to saved people, those seen by God as mature or perfect. Paul s point in the last phrase is that if you are seen by God as perfect but you do not have a primary focus on serving God then God will reveal that to you. God will correct you and bring you to the place where you will begin to understand the truth of this statement. This may be through the message in church like this one. It may be because God takes you through some event or series of event to get you to see the reality of the need for service to God. He may bring you through cancer, or some other illness. I can tell you from 7 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

8 experience that spending more than a week in intensive care changes your focus. I may be that God uses your work or home environment to change you. He has all sorts of ways to teach you and correct you and if you are saved but are not focused on serving God all the time He will motivate you to get there. Philippians 3:16 (ESV) 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Paul concludes this paragraph with a short sentence. At the end of verse 15 Paul speaks of those who do not yet quite have it down as far as serving God all the time but here in verse 16 goes right back to speak to all who are seen by God as perfect, that is saved people, followers of Jesus. He says let s keep moving forward and not regress. He tells the entire congregation, no matter where there are in their journey of serving Jesus, that they needed to live up to what they had already attained. So, what had the Philippians already attained. They had attained the exact same thing we all have, a righteous position in Jesus Christ. It is what we have been talking about throughout this passage. The reality that we are viewed by God through the filter of Jesus sacrifice, which means that we are seen by God as perfect. Let us remain dedicated to God who has saved us. 8 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

9 Conclusion The Apostle Paul is making the point in this paragraph that our focus as people who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and are now seen by God with the righteousness of Jesus is to be on doing all we can do to serve God and accomplish all that He wants us to accomplish. Paul reminds us that many who have been saved have not yet gotten to the point where serving God is their primary focus but God will coach us and teach, moving us to serve Him. God saved us for Him and not for us. That is one of the things that drive me crazy about modern church theology, especially Evangelism. We tell people that when people get saved everything will be all right. We in a deep theological way that is true, but the person who is struggling to pay their bills will not all of a sudden have the money they need to pay their bills. True God will care for them and provide for them but when it does not happen the next day they easily turn from following God. We need to remain loyal and have fidelity to word of God and what God said He would do for us. He did not save us to give us stuff. He saved us to serve Him and accomplish His goals for us. Paul closes this paragraph with the statement that we all need to live up to what we have attained and that is a righteous position before God. We need to live like we have been saved by God. So I ask you this morning Is that how you live? Is that how you 9 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,

10 think? Are you focused on serving Him or did you come to him to get from Him? These are questions we all need to confront. If Paul had to deal with them so do we. Let s Pray! 10 Page Dr. Rich Schnieders,