Jan 3, 2021. Philippians 3:12-16

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FINISH THE COURSE.  Philippians 3:12-16. 01/03/2021. #15.

Philippians 3:12-16 [New King James Version]

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

  1. Still in the race
    1. Paul rejected all to serve Christ
      1. His background as a Jew, Benjamite, Pharisee, keeper of the Law, & zealot against those who had abandoned Judaism held no merit before God
      1. Paul counted going to the finest seminary (School of Gamaliel) as valueless before God
    1. Paul embraced Christ instead of the Law
      1. He now studied Christ & not Jewish legalism
      1. He no longer took pride in heritage & position
      1. He pursued the power of the resurrection
      1. He identified with the suffering of Christ
    1. Paul emphasized that he was attaining, but not attained
      1. Paul’s journey did not end with coming to Christ
        1. Too many believers view salvation as the end of the journey
        1. Paul states that conversion = starting point
      1. Paul had attained salvation, but not the fullness of what it means to be saved
    1. If salvation was the ending point of our journey, then there would be no point of  continuing in this life
    1. Paul kept pressing forward in his faith
    1. As long as Paul lived, he sought to grow in & serve Christ
  2. Pressing on
    1. Paul did not rest on his accomplishments
      1. He did not seek to find comfort, rest, or sanctuary
      1. Paul refused to be weary, satisfied, or complacent
    1. Paul pressed on (pursued) to lay hold of all that Christ had desired for him so he could know the fullness of Christ
      1. Paul urgently desired to embrace fully all that being in Christ meant (relationship & service)
      1. Paul was single-minded in pursuing Christ (he let no desires, hindrances, or opposition stop him
    1. Paul sought to obtain full spiritual maturity (perfect = telios)
      1. Only those who have a passion for Word, worship, prayer, & service will reach their full potential
      1. Those who seek own pleasure, safety, & comfort will never come to full maturity
    1. Paul kept his eye on the goal (II Timothy 4:1-8)
      1. Paul refused to be distracted or ease up
      1. Paul wanted to please Christ & be rewarded by him
  3. Mindset
    1. Paul encourages all believers to have the same mindset
      1. Each believer should be totally devoted to Christ
      1. Cast off past beliefs, training, desires, & laziness
      1. Know the goal & strive to attain the goal
    1. Paul demonstrates in word & deed what dedication means
      1. To set mind to focus on the will, worship, & ways of Jesus Christ
      1. To remove all hindrances to achieving the goal
      1. To unite as the body of Christ to have same mind
    1. Paul urges us to walk be the same rule (standard, measure)
      1. Spiritual pursuit should be the Christian norm
      1. Should be rare that a believer is not spiritual
    1. If we aren’t of the same mind as Christ, God will reveal this
      1. All who fail to pursue God, the Spirit convicts
      1. We know when we lack in Bible study & spirituality
      1. The task of the Spirit is to convict of sin (slacking in spiritual pursuits is sin of carnality/worldliness

Key Verse: II Timothy 4:1-8 [New King James Version]

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.