Pursuing the Goal in the Christian Life Philippians 3:1-21 Part II
Having employed the words – “Finally, my brethren” in Philippians 3:1, one would have concluded that the grand Apostle Paul was about to conclude this epistle. However, Paul was urged to continue this epistle, informing us that there was danger lurking among the Philippian believers because of the insidious teaching of the Judaizers. Certain men, called the Judaizers, insisted that Gentile believers had to submit to the law, especially the law of circumcision in order to be saved. To abolish this error, Paul was deeply urged to warn the Philippian believers of this dangerous teaching of the Judaizers.
Philippians 3:1-21 may be outlined as follows: I. The Dangerous Teaching of the Judaizers Revealed – Philippians 3:1-3; II. The Pedigree of Paul Unveiled – Philippians 3:4-14; III. The Exhortation to Steadfast Spiritual Maturity – Philippians 3: 15-21.
- The Pedigree of Paul Unveiled – Philippians 3:4-14
To drive home the point of his impressive credentials, Paul’s intent was to reveal that in the flesh he had more in which he could have boasted than did any of the Judaizers (v. 4). Paul is challenging these Judaizers to a showdown. No matter what credentials the Judaizers brought forth, Paul’s advantages super exceeded theirs (Galatians 1:14).
In verses 5-6, Paul will enumerate some seven advantages he had in the flesh, but what he later counted as loss for Christ. The seven advantages listed in verse 5-6 are: circumcision, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew son of Hebrew parents, Pharisee, persecutor of the church, blameless regarding the external keeping of the law. However, those things enumerated in verses 5-6, the grand Apostle considered loss for the sake of Christ (v. 7).
Yes, after careful reflection, Paul considered those advantages (vv. 5-6) as loss. Paul considered as loss not only the things already listed (vv.5-6), but everything (v. 8). In lieu of having confidence in the flesh, Paul gained the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus personally. Christ was now Paul’s Lord. All of Paul’s former gains he now considered as “rubbish” or “dung” so that he might gain Christ. Having Christ as his Saviour and Lord far surpassed anything he had in Judaism.
In verse 9, to Paul, being found in Christ meant relinquishing his own righteousness, a righteousness based on keeping the law. The only righteousness of value is the righteousness that comes from God in response to faith in Christ. Self-merit has no place at all in God’s salvation work! Paul wanted his life to demonstrate that he placed no confidence in legalistic righteousness. Paul considered his life-transforming conversion on the Damascus Road as the time when he switched from confidence in the flesh to confidence in Christ alone.
In verse 10, Paul’s supreme goal in life was to have an ever-increasing experiential intimacy with Christ. The intimacy that Paul was striving for included experiencing “the power of His resurrection.” The power of the resurrected Christ, who won victory over sin and death, is available to every believer. It is this power that raises a believer from the old life of sin and enables him to live a new life (Romans 6:4-11; Ephesians 1:19-20). Not only did Paul want to experience more of the power of Christ’s resurrection, but he equally desired “the fellowship of His sufferings” (v. 10).
Paul is not referring to experiencing Christ’s expiatory suffering He endured for us; instead, Paul was speaking about the identification with Christ that comes with suffering as Christians. As Christ died for sin, so a believer has died to sin (Romans 6:2, 6-7; Colossians 3:3). We should exhibit that cutting off from our former sinful way of living to daily being set apart from sin (Romans 6:1-4, 11-14), and living a new life by means of Christ’s resurrection power (Romans 6:4).
Paul’s ultimate hope was the day when he “might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (v. 11). Perhaps Paul had reference to the Rapture, thus revealing his hope of the Lord’s return during his lifetime. Although Paul had some high spiritual goals, Paul revealed that he had not yet “attained” (v. 12) or laid hold of, all that he sought. He had not yet reached perfection in his spiritual development. Far from being discouraged, Paul set his sights on the future. Paul strove to reach the objective for which Christ had laid hold of him. Paul knew that his spiritual progress was dependent on Christ, who laid His hand on him at salvation.
In verse 13, Paul repeated his assertion that he had not yet reached his goal. He had not reached the final stage of his sanctification. Although he had not yet attained his goal, he focused his energies on what lay ahead. By “forgetting those things which are behind” (v. 13), Paul meant that he had put out of his mind both the failures and the achievements of the past. He focused on what lay ahead. What a wonderful outlook all believers should embrace!
Paul was using the imagery of an athletic contest. A successful runner does not look back but instead keeps his attention on what is ahead. Such an outlook is essential to the task of seeking victory in a race. For Paul, victory meant forging ahead in his quest for spiritual maturity.
Using the same imagery, Paul was determined to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (v. 14). Like a runner who refused to quit no matter how much the body screamed for rest, Paul kept moving toward the goal. Paul pursued Christlikeness with enthusiasm and persistence of a runner in the Greek games.
May God Bless!
