Title: We Must Press On
Text: Phil. 3:12-21

Having finally and reluctantly reached 50 it has been my observation that in this life we have blessings and victories but we also have trails and afflictions and defeats. It seems that most often it is the trials afflictions and defeats we most easily and readily remember.

Paul reminds us that neither is reason to end the race. Paul is fond of using athletic illustrations. But no matter how wonderful the blessings or how miraculous the victories the race we call life goes on. No matter how hard the trials, difficult the afflictions or devastating the defeats the race goes on. In victory or defeat, blessing or tribulation we are to continue to live in obedience to God, recognizing that our ultimate goal, the crowning achievement of our lives is still ahead to be consummated not in this life time, but in eternity.

That's not to say, as some accuse, that Christianity is a "Pie in the Sky" religion. It's a matter of our priorities. As we have seen in our last two messages, Paul made the point that the things of earth, those things prized in this world, though grand and beautiful and exciting are simply of less worth in comparison to the greater value of a personal experience with Jesus Christ. His greater desire was not to accumulate treasures and wealth, it was to know and experiencing the supernatural power of God which changes lives and which did in fact change his own life.

Paul also wanted the Philippians to know that he had not yet reached his ultimate goal, but was continuing to follow God's leadership and urged them to follow the example he had set. Being a Christian in a continual process. It is not something that ends when we trust Christ, but it continues day by day by day, and its ultimate goal is to be found in the life to come. So Paul encourages us to Press on.

We often think of Paul as the ultimate Christian. But Paul realized he had not come to the place in his life where he had experienced Christ in the fullest sense.  He had not reached the point where his spiritual maturity had been made complete. There was still lots of room for growth. Paul pointedly denied he has reached a spiritual impasse of non-development. Certainly he knew nothing of so-called sudden absolute perfection by any single experience. Paul had made great progress in Christlikeness, but the goal was still before him, not behind him. ⁽¹⁾

His conversion on the Damascus Road was only the beginning of his race not the end. He had to continue to run the race set before him. The Olympics have just passed and I think about how what Paul says about our spiritual life compares to the Olympic athletes. Many of the athletes experienced victories and many other experienced defeats, but for most their careers are not over, as great as the Olympic experience the competition goes on.

I think for example of Teresa Edwards at 20 she was the youngest girl ever on a gold medal basketball team, but that was 16 years ago. This year Teresa became the oldest woman on a gold medal basketball team. I think of Rulon Gardner who had never finished higher than 5^th in international competition but continued to compete and did the unthinkable win the super heavyweight gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. They didn't let wins or defeats stop them from continuing to compete.

Our goal, the prize set before us, is to know and experience the fulness of Christ in our lives as much as possible. For Paul and all believers that means to experience all that Christ did; all that he was and is, and all that he forever will be. That's what it means to be "in Christ."

Paul said we should forget what's past; that includes your past life of sin as well as your past progress in faith. Paul wasn't suggesting that what has already taken place is not important. In fact the past played a very important role in his own personal testimony and life. What he was saying is that it is in the past and we can't live in the past. Concerning you pre-Christian life God forgave you, forgive yourself and go forward. As for your past progress in the faith, don't rest on past victories or give up on past failures and defeats keep on keeping on. As one writer put it if you stop rowing against the current, you will be carried back. Jesus warned us to remember the tragedy of Lot's wife - don't look back, go forward.

When God delivered Israel out of Egypt He didn't bring them into the promised land instantly He led them day by day. When they came to the sea they were ready to turn back, but God's spoke to Moses and said: "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." <Ex 14:15>. That's His message to us go forward, continue to live by faith, continue to grow, continue to share, continue to love

Continuing forward is a responsibility. In verse 15 Paul wrote, "Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude;" (NAS) This is the second time Paul has used the word perfect. In verse 12 the idea is completeness, here the idea is more of maturity in Christ. Basically what he says is "all of us who really know by experience what it means to follow Jesus Christ" ⁽²⁾ should have this attitude.

The attitude he's referring to is the one he has been talking about, the priority of a personal experience with Christ, continuing to follow in obedience and pressing on towards what he referred at the upward call of God. He said If there are any that disagree with what I am teaching I am convinced that the Spirit of God will convict you of your error and convince you of the truth I have given. Paul knew his teaching was external or intellectual. It is the Spirit of God that internalizes the truth in our lives and in our hearts and in our minds.

How do we do that? Paul says we follow the example set for us by those who have patterned their lives after Christ. Verse 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (NAS) He wrote to the Corinthian church, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." 1 Cor 11:1 (NAS) To Timothy he wrote, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but {rather} in speech, conduct, love, faith {and} purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Tim 4:12 (NAS)

Peter wrote the same thing in 1 Pet 5:1-3, ". . .I exhort the elders among you, as {your} fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to {the will of} God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock." (NAS)

Believers imitate the faith of others and live their faith as an examples to others. Heb 13:7 says we are to, "Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." (NAS)

The church at Thessalonika was commended in 1Thes 1:6-7, "You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." (NAS)

Because we have an obligation to press on and imitate Christlikeness for others and to observe Christlikeness in others Paul warns us in verses 18-19 to be aware of those who do not imitate Christlikeness in their attitude or conduct. "For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, {that they are} enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is {their} appetite, and {whose} glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (NAS)

There are two specific groups in mind here. First are the Judaizers who deny the value of the cross. There are any number of modern day groups who fit into this same category - those who teach salvation by works of the flesh rather than grace.

A second group are those who taught once a person was justified by faith in Christ they no longer had any obligation towards the moral law. Libertines some call them. This view is called antinomianism, another 50 cent theological term so you'll know I'm studying. Paul dealt specifically with this in his first letter to the church at Corinth. It was a persistent problem in the early church, it is an ongoing problem in the modern church as well.

In I Jn 2:4, John wrote, "The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;" (NAS) Today Moral relativism, which we talked about on Sunday night, is one form of this type of thinking which exists both inside and outside the church today.

In verse 3 of this chapter, Paul wrote, "for we are the {true} circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh." (NAS) In verse 19 he describes the people in both these categories as enemies of the cross; those whose end is destruction, whose god is {their} appetite, and {whose} glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (NAS)

Paul says of these people, their god is their appetite. Some translations say belly. The word is used figuratively for the lower or worst nature of a person. These people seek the fulfillment of human desire in all forms. They have elevated human desire to the point it takes the place of God and they glory in what they should find shame in. They elevate humanity to the highest degree and their priority is fulfilling their desires in this world. Does that sound at all familiar?

But, Paul warns their end is destruction. The word destruction in this verse does not mean annihilation that is never taught in Scripture. It is a Greek word used in the New Testament as the opposite of salvation as it is in verse 28 of chapter 1. It signifies not just a point of termination, but the inevitable outcome of conduct. Jesus said I came to give life, destruction is the loss of everything that makes true life. It is complete moral ruin now and complete separation from God in eternity.

Lastly we press on because our true citizenship is in heaven. The promise of God reminds us that in sharp contrast to those who elevate the things of this world to divine status we have a different priority. Believers recognize that this life is not all there is. There is life after this that is eternal. This is the blessed hope of believers a living hope, in a living Savior who will one day come again. We know hope is sure because of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A reality testified to by eyewitness accounts that have never been disproved. Luke, the doctor, the man of science wrote in Acts 1:3 He (speaking of Jesus) presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over {a period of} forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. (NAS)

Because He lives we too shall live. And we are to practice kingdom citizenship in this world while pressing on to higher ground. Where is you citizenship this morning? Where is your God, where are your priorities - in this world or heaven? One way leads to destruction the other eternal life. Which will you choose?

1. A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament

2. (from UBS Translator Handbook Series)

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