
The Gospel is Hope
Philippians 3.12 - 4.1 (ESV)
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. 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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
The Gospel is Hope
Philippians 3:12-4:1
3:12 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.
obtained (λαμβάνω)
to get hold of something by laying hands on or grasping something directly or indirectly, take, take hold of, grasp, take in hand
Philippians 3:8–9 (ESV)
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith
Justification (past tense)
Sanctification (present tens/ion)
Glorification (future tense)
Perfect (τελειόω)
to complete, perfect, finish
Passive Form: to be completed, perfected, finished
Judaizers VS Antinomians
(Two Early Church Errors)
Romans 6:1-4 (ESV)
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
3:13 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,
PUT OFF THE PAST
Paul’s Past B.C. = 🏆
Paul’s Past A.D. = 💩
3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I press on (ἐπεκτείνομαι)
to exert effort or energy to the utmost; conceived of as extending or stretching out to the full length
PRESS ON IN THE PRESENT
3:15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
3:16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
“There are some points upon which we are all agreed. There is some standing-ground where the babe in grace may meet with the man in Christ Jesus. Well, as far as we do see eye to eye, let us co-operate with one another, let us have our hearts knit together in a holy unanimity. “Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” There are some people who are always looking out for points of difference; their motto seems to be, “Wherein so ever we differ, let us split away from one another.” Their great idea is that by dividing we shall conquer. The fact is that, by separating ourselves from one another, we shall miss all hope of strength, and play into the hands of the adversaries.”
- Charles Spurgeon
3:17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
3:18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
- C.S. Lewis
3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (I see you Cole Hocker), let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
FOCUS ON THE FINISH
3:21 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.
Chasing (Charlie Hall)
I am chasing after you
Because you first chased after me
And you purchased me with blood
I am free, I am complete
Now a child of my King
Leaving old I am made new
Because you first chased after me
I am chasing after you
Put off the past.
Press on in the present.
Focus on the finish.