In the previous section, Paul enumerated the benefits of knowing Christ as Lord and Savior. We can summarize them in one word: Christlikeness. That is, to live, suffer, die, rise from the grave, and get glorified like Him (Romans 8:29). In this week’s passage, Paul reminds us of our goal and how to pursue it.
Pressing on
“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.”
Full conformity to the image of Jesus Christ is not attainable on this side of eternity. Not even Paul, who wrote half the New Testament and was the godliest man since Jesus, reached it. He was an imperfect sinner in need of God’s grace, like the rest of us. Paul, however, didn’t see it as an excuse to be content with his current level of spiritual maturity but a motivation to keep growing toward Christlikeness.
The Greek word for “press on” means to run or catch something, like a hunter pursuing his prey. Greek texts often used it to describe a sprinter running a race. Like an athlete training his body for a race, believers must train themselves for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). This spiritual training requires intentionality and self-discipline.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
God has given us the marvelous gift of becoming holy and perfect like His Son. Though we won’t reach this goal before heaven, we can keep progressing toward it and increasingly conform to the glorious image of Christ. And we can do this by beholding Christ’s glory as revealed in Scripture (2 Cor 3:18).
Pressing on for the prize
“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.”
As with any race, Paul ran to win a prize, Christlikeness. Therefore, he reduced his entire life to this one thing. Paul did whatever he had to do to keep running and didn’t let anything hinder him from winning his race. Not his satisfaction from his past accomplishments or despair from his past failures. Nothing. He kept moving forward because his goal was ahead of him.
It was not, however, Paul’s drive and passion that made him run the spiritual race initially. It was because God called him to it (Romans 8:30).
God’s calling on a believer’s life occurs when he is still dead in his sin. Jesus illustrates it with the analogy of the good shepherd (John 10). Like sheep, we have all gone astray from the glory of God. But Jesus, being rich in mercy, came to us and called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
He called us by the gospel to get the glory of Christ (2 Thess 2:14), to glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3), fellowship with His Son (1 Corinthians 1:9) unto his kingdom and eternal glory (1 Thess 2:12, 1 Peter 5:10), according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
When we hear the voice of the Savior calling to us, we abandon our wrong ways and follow Him on the path of holiness. One day, Jesus will return and call all His saints to Himself (1 Thess 4:16-17). And on that day, we will receive the prize for running our race. We will fully and truly be like Jesus Christ (1 John 3:2). Praise the Lord!
Pressing on with the right mindset
“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.”
When Paul says, “those of us who are mature,” he is not referring to sinless perfection because it’s unattainable in this life. The Greek word telos translated as perfect in verse 12 may also mean mature. Hence, Paul is probably addressing spiritually mature believers in the Philippian Church. Those who understood they had not obtained Christ’s perfection yet and pursued it with all their might.
Paul could also have been throwing shade to the Judaizers who thought themselves perfect because they kept the Torah.
For those believers who didn’t have the mindset of progressing toward Christlikeness, who had grown passive in their pursuit of holiness and stopped bearing fruits, God would correct them. He is generous to supply us with everything we need to live this life in a manner pleasing to Him, including wisdom (James 1:5-6).
As we wait for glory, we must continue to live according to the principles or standards we have received. We must keep progressing in our sanctification, obey God’s commandments, and live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:27).
Heart check
There is a prevalent mindset in our culture today, especially among women, which says we are enough and perfect the way we are. Scripture says otherwise. We are not perfect and will never be in this life. It’s good to know this truth because it makes us appreciate Jesus’ sinless perfection and motivates us to be like Him. We must never settle for any level of holiness, regardless of how godly or spiritual we feel. There is always room to grow and improve.
If Paul, the godliest man who ever lived since Jesus, kept pressing towards Christlikeness, then who are we not to do the same? Like Paul, we ought to make every effort to progress towards perfection and increasingly conform to the glorious image of Christ.
In Philippians for You, Steve Lawson provides wisdom to examine our race. He says, “so ask yourself, is God right now revealing in you an apathetic attitude toward your Christian life? Is it possible that you have become slack in your sanctification? Have you become undisciplined in your Bible-reading and study? Have you become careless in your prayer life? Have you become half-hearted in witnessing for Jesus Christ? Does there need to be an adjustment in your attitude? If God should reveal this to you, will you be quick to change—to speed up once more in your pursuit of the prize?
Increasing Christ-likeness—until the day we cross the finish line into Christ’s presence, is too great a prize to let slip. If you are slowing, strolling, or even sitting down in the middle of the track, stand up and start running.”
What are your thoughts on this week’s study? Share in the comments below!
Recommended resources
- Reaching for the Prize – John MacArthur
- Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian life – Donald Whitney.
- The Discipline of Grace – Jerry Bridges
Next study
Readings
Read and study Philippians 3:17-4:1.
Memorization
Philippians 3:17-4:1 if you are doing the challenge, if not, verses 20-21.
Questions for reflection
- Christians need to have living role models to emulate. Do you have such godly models in your life? How can you find them and learn from them?
- Who are the enemies of the cross? How does Paul contrast them with true believers?
- How does knowing you are a citizen of heaven change the way you engage with the Lord?
- How can you stand firm in the Lord in a post-Christian culture?
