Philippians 3:12-16

This past weekend I was helping lead a high school retreat for a church and the message of the weekend was over Philippians 3:12-4:1. 

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 Savior, 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 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

This passage speaks for itself. Its clear, direct, convicting but most of all encouraging. It does not need to be dissected and broken down verse by verse to understand. Press on toward the goal of living like Christ, don't live in shame of the past but push forward to the life ahead. God, through his power, can transform us to be more like him. 

Paul, the author of Philippians, wrote the book to encourage the Philippians to live their lives as citizens of a heavenly colony; to serve Christ and to love each other.

12-16:

Paul has some serious credentials: He was circumcised on the 8th day, a dependent of Israel through the tribe of Benjamin, he was a Pharisee and he wrote half of the new testament (Phil 3:4-8). He counted everything at loss for the sake of knowing Jesus. After his conversion he sought to have a righteousness found through Christ by faith, not through his own effort and the law. Paul understood how serious his sins were and realized his own imperfection. Paul confessed that he was not perfect but that he was pushing forward to become mature in his faith.

We are all imperfect in our own ways. It might be lust, pride, cursing, idolatry. We all have our own vices that we need to be aware of. Satan attacks and tempts us in our weakest moments.He tempts us when we are tired or frustrated and he tempts us before we even realize what has happened.  Becoming more aware of the sin in my life has helped me avoid and counter it through prayer. 

13

Paul encourages us to continually push ahead and not live in our sinful pasts. Paul was a persecutor of Christians. He killed Christians for a living. But God revealed the truth to him and Paul became a spiritual powerhouse whose writings fill half of the new testament. If Paul had lived in the past with the guilt of his sin he would have never been healed from sin and been filled with the spirit to do the works he did. The same applies to us! Even though we have all sinned before, that sin should not control us or prevent us from growing in our faith. But to fully move on from sin we must confess to God and run to him for healing. His grace is never ending but we must seek it. 

14:

Paul had an incredible understanding of human wickedness and the pressing need to seek constant growth in our spiritual walks. Paul encourages us to live a purposeful life and to aim for a heavenly goal. This is the prize Paul mentions. This prize is salvation and an eternal life in Heaven. 

This is what we are living for. We are not living for grades, we are not living for involvement, leadership positions, relationships, hookups, drunken nights and memories. Our purpose in this life is to seek eternal life and along the way perform the works God set aside for us. Ephesians 2:10 " For we are his(God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which god prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them".

15:

The greek word for mature is the same word used in verse 12 for perfect. They are interchangeable. Paul encourages us to seek maturity or perfection in our faith. The more mature we become, the more we realize our wicked nature and our constant need for mercy and grace.  

Matthew5:3 " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Poor in spirit is an understanding that without God we are nothing and without him we cannot achieve salvation. It is a lifestyle that is dependent on him. The result of this is receiving the kingdom of Heaven. 

So now what? What does all of this mean? 

Paul's purpose for Philippians is to serve as encouragement. Let his words encourage you to continue pursuing a relationship with Christ and to shed the temptations and sin that are holding you back. For me, lust has been holding me back in my relationship with God so that is something i'm looking to improve on. For some of us, it might be relationships, drinking, pridefulness, lust, cursing, and not getting into the word enough. Continue to seek personal and inner change through God's power and by placing trust in him. 

More to come in Philippians 3:17-4:1