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. 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 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. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers,
join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the
example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell
you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is
their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord
Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body,
by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 4:1 Therefore,
my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the
Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 3:12-4:1)
I know a number of people at Manor Park are runners. I’m not, well at least not long
distance. I was however, at school, very
good over a short distance (100 and 200 metre sprints). When practising and training for these events
our PE teacher would drum into us; focus just beyond the finishing line. Never turn your head to see who is coming. At speed and over such a short distance that
would cause us to run a wonky line or trip up.
Face to face
Most commentators would say that Paul uses sporting analogies
in his writing and here we can imagine him thinking about a long-distance runner
pursuing the finishing line. However, Paul applies this to his life and pursuit
of Christ. He writes in verse that he wants to “gain Christ” and “know him.”
Paul wants to behold Jesus face-to-face. That is why Paul says that he has not
“already obtained this” or is “already perfect.” Paul knows that this will only
happen when he beholds Jesus face-to-face. It seems that Paul’s driving resolve was to
see Jesus face-to face. That is why he goes on to say “…but I press on to make
it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”
Actually, the language in the Greek is a little more colourful.
Paul says, “…but I am pursuing, if indeed I may seize (it) for I was seized by
Christ Jesus.” Paul is thinking of his Damascus Road experience, where Jesus
“seized” Paul for himself. Now, Paul says, his life resolve is to “seize”
Jesus. He lives for him. He serves him. He suffers for him. His entire life is
to seize the one who seized him.
Pursuit is involved in straining toward the goal. Paul is very conscious that he has not yet
arrived. He is not yet perfect. He is certainly a new creation in Christ, but
he does not yet see Jesus face-to-face. Paul has a single-minded goal: “But one
thing I do….” Paul was clearly involved in all kinds of ministry. He was a
preacher, teacher, author, pastor, counsellor, evangelist, and so on. But, all
those roles and functions flow out of his supreme ambition. Paul forgets the past. He strains forward to
the future. And presses on toward the goal in the present.
In verse 15, Paul was writing against the false teachers.
They believed that it was possible to attain perfection in this life. Paul did
not believe that. Mature Christians know that they are still on the journey
toward. Paul wants the Philippians to
continue pursuing Jesus. He wants them to continue running the race that they
had started. We do not believe in sinless perfection in this life. We know that
the Christian life is a journey, a race, toward the time when we will behold
the glory of the Lord and enjoy perfect and sinless communion with him.
A warning.
Sadly, though, not everyone who professes to be a Christian
is in fact a Christian. The Bible is full of warnings to false professors (verse
18). We must never think that just because a person prays the “sinner’s
prayer,”, gets baptized, and so on, is necessarily a true Christian. In verse
19 Paul goes on to give four brief warnings of those who make a false
profession of faith. Paul’s warning is
simply that the way we live, the things we desire, the things in which we
boast, the things that occupy our thinking tell whether or not we are true
Christians. Interestingly, in this warning, Paul says nothing about faith.
Instead, he is saying that our lifestyle reveals whether or not we have true
faith.
Our future hope
and summing it up
Paul wanted to assure true believers about their eternal
destiny and status. So, he said in verses 20-21 that when Jesus returns, he
will transform our bodies into glorified bodies. This will, of course, only
take place at the Second Coming of Jesus. When we die, our bodies go into the
ground and our spirits go to heaven. It is in that moment of death that
believers will see Jesus face-to-face. And then we will wait for the
consummation of all things, when Jesus returns a second time, and inaugurates
the new heaven and the new earth.
Exhortation is involved in straining toward the goal. Paul
concludes this section in verse 1 of chapter 4, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I
love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” Paul’s
final exhortation to mature believers is simply, “…stand firm thus in the
Lord.” In other words, believe that you will see Jesus face-to-face. Know that
he has seized you. Therefore, live your life so as to seize him. Pursue the
Lord with purpose and passion.
Prayer for the
day.
Lord,
As we go through each day help us to keep our eyes focused
upon you. We long for the day that we
see Jesus face to face but Lord, we are so aware that you have much for us to
do in our journey. Forgive us when we do
not live up to the standards that you have set and may we be always repenting when
we fail. Give us strength through your
Holy Spirit to run the race set before us.
Give us greater love for you and for each other.
We ask for the sake of Jesus.
Amen.
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