There is Only One Way pt 4
Jul 7, 2022 // By:Dave // No Comment
last week we talked about the sports metaphors that Paul uses here (and it other locations in his writings)
back to
3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
“…Forgetting…Reaching…Pressing”
forgetting = mental focus (the things I forget don’t influence me now)
reaching = action of focus (priority, direction)
pressing = energy or effort exerted towards the point of focus
the goal is not the finish line
the finish line simply marks the end of the race (the point at which you can stop exerting yourself towards something)
the goal is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
(we will all cross the finish line by either death or rapture)
after which we will be rewarded according to how well we ran
which included how much time we spent running in the correct direction
isn’t that the basic idea of repentance, turning from our own way and moving in the direction/ path of God ?
if we are not prioritizing God first, we are first called to repent (turn from our wrong path)
then run towards God (the right path)
1Cor. 9:25 Everyone who acompetes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable bwreath, but we an imperishable.
3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
3:11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Phil. 3:12 ¶ Not that I have already aobtained it or have already bbecome perfect, but I press on 1so that I may clay hold of that 2for which also I dwas laid hold of by eChrist Jesus.
I press on 1so that I may clay hold of that 2for which also I dwas laid hold of by eChrist Jesus.
Jesus rescued me for a purpose and my goal is to know it and be it.
the word Paul uses for press on in verse 14 is used back in verse 6
διώκω diōkō 45x
to put in rapid motion; to pursue; to follow, pursue the direction of, Lk. 17:23; to follow eagerly, endeavor earnestly to acquire, Rom. 9:30, 31; 12:13; to press forwards,
whatever Jesus called me for, that’s what I want to be focused on
3:15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
have what attitude ?
(attitude of the focused runner)
Phil. 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss 1in view of the surpassing value of 2aknowing bChrist Jesus my Lord, 1for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
Phil. 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having aa righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, bthe righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
Phil. 3:10 that I may aknow Him and bthe power of His resurrection and 1cthe fellowship of His sufferings, being dconformed to His death;
Phil. 3:11 1in order that I may aattain to the resurrection from the dead.
Phil. 3:12 ¶ Not that I have already aobtained it or have already bbecome perfect, but I press on 1so that I may clay hold of that 2for which also I dwas laid hold of by eChrist Jesus.
Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: aforgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Phil. 3:14 I apress on toward the goal for the prize of the bupward call of God in cChrist Jesus.
Phil. 1:27 ¶ Only conduct yourselves in a manner aworthy of the bgospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are cstanding firm in done spirit, with one 1mind estriving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil. 1:21 For to me, ato live is Christ and to die is gain.
3:16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
living στοιχέω stoicheō 5x
to advance in a line; met. to frame one’s conduct by a certain rule, Acts 21:24; Rom. 4:12; Gal. 5:25; 6:16; Phil. 3:16*
what rules or conduct is Paul referring to ?
(it’s not the 10 commandments, it’s in this letter to the Phillipians)
3:17 ¶ Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
3:18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
3:19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
enemies of the cross
who is an enemy of the cross ?
Matt. 12:30 “aHe who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters
Luke 11:23 “aHe who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.
Matt. 13:25 “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed 1tares among the wheat, and went away.
what is a tare ?
Matt. 13:18 ¶ “aHear then the parable of the sower.
Matt. 13:19 “When anyone hears athe 1word of the kingdom and does not understand it, bthe evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
Matt. 13:20 “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
Matt. 13:21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the 1word, immediately he 2afalls away.
Matt. 13:22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of athe 1world and the bdeceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Matt. 13:23 “And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some aa hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
Matt. 13:24 ¶ Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “aThe kingdom of heaven 1may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Matt. 13:25 “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed 1tares among the wheat, and went away.
Matt. 13:26 “But when the 1wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.
Matt. 13:27 “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? 1How then does it have tares?’
Matt. 13:28 “And he said to them, ‘An 1enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’
Matt. 13:29 “But he *said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.
Matt. 13:30 ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but agather the wheat into my barn.”’”
every believer has multiple calls from the Lord
specific call(s) meant for that individual
general call(s) that all believers share
we are all called by the Great Commission of the Lord to share the faith
(those of us who are not doing so are in need of repentance)
Matt. 28:19 “1aGo therefore and bmake disciples of call the nations, dbaptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
(mirrored in the parable of the 10 virgins with oil)
Matt. 22:9 ‘Go therefore to athe main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’
to refuse to share your faith is disobedience (there is no clearer way to discern this issue)
why do we gather on sundays ?
to equip each other, to sharpen each other, to encourage each other
(sunday fellowship is a pitstop on the race track of our lives)
we are going to begin a new thing
role play evangelism and apologetics)
false religions
common objections and questions etc
3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
3:21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
4:1 ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
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