Phil 3:7-16
SS Lesson for 08/15/2010
Devotional Scripture: John 14:1-4
The outline of the lesson came from Bible Expositor and Illuminator. This week's lesson examines Living into the Future. The study's aim is to be aware that the power of Jesus' resurrection is what is lifting us toward the high mark of being like Him. The study's application is be challenged to fulfill our daily responsibility to become more and more Christlike.
Failure vs. Success
An old lesson in business asks the question, “How many attempts does it take to be successful?” Answer: “Only one, but it may take many failures.” City histories are littered with restaurants that closed quickly, shops that folded within a few months, and even megastores that shut down. In the city where I live, one of the most famous bookstores in the nation recently announced it would close because of changing consumer habits. One estimate is that, sadly, half of small business start-ups fail within the first four years. Older adults can look back on their careers and see failures and successes. Most people follow several career paths in a lifetime, and often a change makes a huge difference. Maybe a person did poorly in school but flourished in business. Perhaps one languished as a salaried employee but excelled in running her own business. Some who flounder in the for-profit world thrive with a nonprofit organization. The story is reversed for many, however. People who achieve early success may fail repeatedly later in life. The music industry speaks of “one-hit wonders,” artists who have a highly ranked song that propels them to prominence but are never able to repeat that success. Literary critics can point to authors who produce a profound, important novel but never write a comparable book again. If we evaluate the career of the apostle Paul objectively, we would say that he had both successes and failures. In Ephesus, his preaching was so popular that he moved to a better location and stayed there for two more years (Acts 19:9, 10). In Athens, though, Paul’s debut before the philosophers received a mixed reception, and he seems to have left the city without having founded a church (Acts 17:32–18:1). Paul was not driven by the goal of personal success. He never changed the essence of his preaching or his basic methods in order to get better results. He preached whether it was popular or unpopular (see 2 Timothy 4:2). Paul says that his ministry was based on “forgetting what is behind” (Philippians 3:13). His goal was simple: serving Jesus by spreading the gospel. His measure of success was equally basic: to remain faithful to his calling (Philippians 3:14).
Lesson Background
We wish we knew more about Paul’s background. As recorded in Acts 9, Paul had a dramatic, personal encounter with the risen Christ. We think that Paul was in his early or mid-twenties when this happened. He came out of this experience with both faith in Christ and a divine appointment to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 26:16–18). But what were the dynamics of his life that had brought him to this point? We have only bits and pieces of this information scattered throughout several New Testament books. When Paul addressed the crowd of Jerusalem on a stairway near the temple, he asserted that he had been born in Tarsus (Acts 22:3). Tarsus was an important city roughly 400 miles north of Jerusalem and 125 miles west of Antioch. Tarsus was known in the ancient world as a center of learning and philosophy, but not for having a large Jewish presence. We assume that Paul’s family was engaged in the business of tent manufacture and distribution, for this was the trade he knew (Acts 18:3). This could be lucrative, although the sewing of large tents from leather was arduous work. Paul seems to have been something of a child prodigy, and his desire for learning soon outstripped the resources available to a Jewish boy in Tarsus. Therefore, he was sent to Jerusalem to study under the famous rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). This was because Gamaliel was a leading teacher of the day among a group of the Jews called Pharisees (Acts 5:34). Paul’s father had been a Pharisee (Acts 23:6). Mentioned frequently in the New Testament, the Pharisees were a super sect among the Jews of Paul’s time. They had an outsized influence in proportion to their relatively small numbers. Scholars today estimate that there were no more than 10,000–20,000 Pharisees during this period. The Pharisees were scrupulous in keeping the Jewish law and the traditions that had built up around it. This emphasis meant they were not as tied to the temple as were their rivals, the Sadducees. Because of this, when the temple was demolished by the Romans in ad 70, the Pharisaic type of Judaism survived, eventually to become Talmudic Judaism (which persists to this day). By today’s standards, Pharisees were highly educated laypersons. To study successfully under a great teacher such as Gamaliel was the equivalent of doing doctoral work at a famous university. We surmise that Paul was one of the most educated people in all of Judaism, even in the entire Roman world (see Acts 26:24). When Paul was called by Christ on the road to Damascus, he was already on the high road to grand success in the Jewish world. Doors were open to him for unrivaled fame and much wealth. When he submitted to the will of God to serve Christ, he turned his back on all of this potential but brought along his great intellect and education.
One of the marks of Christian commitment is living today for tomorrow. Spiritual growth and maturity are never on holiday for believers. God has called us to know Christ ever more personally. The process of maturing in Christ is to be an ongoing experience. It is a daily experience with a view to the future. Paul has laid out the course of spiritual maturing for all of us. Once he gained true righteousness in Christ, he set out to attain the goals for which he had been apprehended by God. He pressed vigorously forward, like a runner in a race. The prize of his high calling was set clearly before him and was attainable with God's help. He desired to know Christ more personally and to experience His resurrection power in his life, along with sharing in Christ's sufferings. Paul saw these goals as attainable, for God had called him to achieve them. These goals are attainable for all believers, for that is God's call to them as well. We live today with the view toward arriving at the goal in the future. It appears to be common for a person to consider his religion the best in the world. Paul certainly was proud of his Jewish reputation as he grew up in Tarsus and studied in Jerusalem. He felt honored to be a Pharisee (Acts 22:3; 23:6). He was obviously very intelligent, forceful, and dedicated to his beliefs until he was converted to Christ as he traveled to persecute believers in Damascus (9:1-19). Things then changed dramatically. This text explains his new goal. It is a shocking and traumatic experience to be facing one way down life's pathway and then be made to make a 180-degree turn and head in the opposite direction. An individual's outlook must be reversed when reaching out for a new objective. Paul made a complete break with his past and reached out to a far different future.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. "Follow me," Jesus said to him, [28] and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength.' " All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. [22] But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation
As a Christian, Paul learned that the kind of righteousness that comes from keeping the law is not true righteousness at all. In Christ, however, Paul possessed true righteousness, the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ. This genuine righteousness is a gift of God. When a person receives Christ as his Saviour, God also gives him the righteousness of Christ.
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
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.
But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice [29] and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.
For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, [14] because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
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.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
62 Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."
24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
6 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
7 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
Today’s Olympic athletes compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals. Outside the games, however, many of these athletes receive rich monetary rewards. Some receive cash payments from their government for winning. Others reap the benefits of celebrity through product endorsements and personal appearance fees. In the ancient version of these games (the type that was familiar to Paul), the athletes competed for honor and a laurel wreath worn as a crown. To win was to receive one’s “laurels.” If handled carefully, these organic crowns probably lasted for a long time, but they had no cash value. Yet the potential of being honored as a victor in an Olympic event caused many to undergo strict training and preparation leading up to the games. To win was their goal, and to be honored was their prize. Most people have many goals in their lives. Some are short term. In times of great hardship, the goal might be to make it through another week or another day. The prize is that life usually improves; things do get better. A longer personal goal might be to lose 10 pounds or to pay off a credit card. The prize comes from better physical and fiscal health. Still longer term might be the goal of early retirement. At one time, I had hoped to retire by age 50. Since that age is now seen only in my rearview mirror, it is a goal I will not attain (nor do I want it anymore). I still have the goal of being able to retire with adequate financial resources in place. The prize will be reasonable comfort and security in my old age. Personal goals change over the years, and the attraction of various prizes shifts as we mature. My primary goals in life have not changed for many years, though. Each year, I want to know Christ more fully (Philippians 3:10). I have chased this goal for many decades, and while I have made progress, there is still more track to run. I want to live in service to Christ in such a way that people will look at me and say, “That was a life well lived.” And when I die, I want to hear the words, “Well done, faithful servant. Come and share my happiness!” (see Matthew 25:23). That is my goal. May my prize be to be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
The Apostle Paul was a very active man. When he contrasted himself with false apostles, he said he was "in labors more abundant" (2 Cor. 11:23). It would be an understatement to say that he was involved with many things. In Phil 3:13-14, however, he said, "This one thing I do." What did he mean? He meant that he had one supreme passion in life, to become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ. His major concern was not to do something great for Christ but to let Christ be great in him! When Paul spoke of pursuing the things that were ahead, he was referring to moving ever closer toward Christlikeness (Phil. 3:12). This is the ultimate reason why Christ has laid hold of us, to produce His likeness in us in all of its fullness. Being transformed into the perfect likeness of Christ is a gradual process that occurs in a believer as he is exposed to the ministry of God's Word. Our experience in life will be like Paul's experience. In speaking of his own conformity to the image of Christ, he said, "Not as though I had already attained" (Phil. 3:12). We will never attain to perfection until the coming of Christ. At that time, Christ will present the church to Himself as "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:27). Paul's supreme passion to be like the Lord was generated by a burning love for Christ. His heart was so gripped by this passion because of his love for Him. Since Paul knew that the Lord was so flawless, so loving, so excellent, and so compelling, he deeply longed to be like Him in every aspect. Desiring to be like Jesus was Paul's way of expressing his affection for Him. A parallel is love for the Bible. Those who have a burning love for the Bible long to be conformed to its principles and examples. In Psalm 119:167 we read, "My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly." Keeping the Word is the offspring of loving the Word. Conforming to the living Word should be our heart's desire. A good test of our love for Christ is how much we desire to be like Him. Sharing Paul's passion to be like the Lord requires two ingredients. First, to strive to put on the Lord Jesus daily requires a healthy leaving of the past behind. In Philippians 3:13, Paul compared the Christian life to a race in which the runners must not look back. When believers lament and relive the pain of the past, they are not able to give full strength to the present and the future. Regrettably, many believers have arrested spiritual development because they simply will not let go of the past. Second, to put on the Lord Jesus daily requires pressing toward the finish line. Paul testified that he was focused on the great reward that comes for all those whose lives are centered on Christ. A basketball team will press the other team, which means constantly guarding each player. Tremendous energy will be expended by the pressing team. It also takes much effort to daily press toward Christ's likeness.
1. If we claim Christ as our Lord, we cannot cling to the things of this world (Phil. 3:7-9)
2. Following Christ is a guarantee that we will suffer (Phil. 3:10; cf. 2 Tim. 3:12)
3. There is no room for complacency in the Christian life (Phil. 3:11-12)
4. If we live in the past, we will never fulfill our calling in Christ (vs. 13-14)
5. If we are submissive to God, He will see that we understand and conform to His will (vs. 15)
6. We may not know everything, but we must obey everything we do know (vs. 16)
Are you a person who lives in the future? The Apostle Paul was. That is why Philippians 3:7-16 tells us how we can be people who live in the future.
Our culture is filled with man's ideas, which are here today and gone tomorrow. Those ideas exist in time only and have no connection to that which is eternal. For a person to have any connection to the future, he must have the experience of the eternal. The only individual who can provide that eternal experience is Jesus Christ, the God-Man. The Apostle Paul (then Saul) discovered that when Christ met him on the road to Damascus. At that time he became a believer in Jesus Christ. Now he knew for certain that, through Christ's death and bodily resurrection, his past was forgiven, his present had eternal purpose, and he could live in hope for the future, for his future was to live in the Lord's presence. Having discovered Christ as his eternal foundation, Paul considered all of his pedigree and status as being of no eternal spiritual benefit. He realized that his self-generated righteousness was like a filthy rag; the righteousness of Jesus Christ was all he needed to be declared righteous by Him. He now knew he was connected to the future in Christ.
Once he came to know Christ personally, Paul realized that his relationship with Christ must be developed here and now. His passion became to know Christ personally in a more intimate way and to experience His resurrection power while experiencing His sufferings. He realized that through being identified with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, he could become more and more like Christ. He showed his willingness to accept the paradox that it was through suffering that "the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in [his] mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4:11; cf. vs. 7-10; Gal. 2:20). Having such a relationship with Christ did not mean that Paul was perfect; there was always the opportunity to grow more in Christ, to be more like Him. There was always the future ahead of him. This remains the experience of every believer today.
Even though much had happened in his relationship with the Lord, Paul did not live on past accomplishments. Why? He knew the God who rules the future. He knew that God had more in store for him as he lived each day with his Lord. He knew that ultimately there was a future reward that would be his someday in glory. He kept reaching for the goal of becoming like Jesus Christ. In pursuit of that future goal, Paul lived with the mind of Christ at work in his life on a daily basis, the mind of Christ that kept reaching forward to the future, not living in the past. This did not mean that Paul was so heavenly minded that he was of no earthly good. The truth is that being heavenly minded is the only way to do earthly good! Since Paul was living for the future, his life was filled with excitement to serve the Lord in the Holy Spirit's power. What about believers today? Do we really live for the future? Or are we so tied to the past and present that we miss out on what God has for us both now and later?