Study Guide: "Moving On"

Philippians 3:12-21

Open:

Judging from his frequent use of athletic metaphors in his writings, St. Paul must have been a sports fan.

Speaking of his desire to be effective in his Christian life, Paul wrote, "I box in such a way, as not beating the air" (1 Co 9:26).

He described the Christian life to the Ephesians as a "struggle (wrestling match) not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness" (Ephesians 6:12).

In what might be considered his epitaph, he declared triumphantly, "I have fought the good fight" (2 Tim 4:7).

In an allusion to the Isthmian Games (held in Corinth and second in importance only to the Olympic Games), he reminded the Corinthians, "Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable" (1 Co 9:25).

But Paul's favorite athletic metaphor is that of a footrace:

To the Ephesians elders: "So that I may finish my course and ministry" (Acts 20:24).

To the Corinthians: "Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim" (1 Co 9:24).

To the Galatians: "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?"

To Timothy: "I have finished the course, I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:7).

Here in Philippians 3, Paul uses the metaphor of the Christian life as a race: "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:12-21).

The Apostle Paul tells us in this passage exactly what's important in life, and gives specific instructions on how to pursue it.

I. Moving On Requires an Honest Self-Assesment (3:12).

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect....."

illus: I tweeted yesterday: "Perhaps I'm only as good as my next honest question and as real as my next sincere confession."

The awareness of the need to improve one's spiritual condition is a necessary prerequisite to pursuing the prize of Christlikeness.

  1. Paul expressed his awareness in the two words that begin verse 12, "not that."

He had not yet obtained the prize he pursued.

  2. Paul's confession is made against the backdrop of his earlier stated pedigree in 3:4-7 and clearly articulated purpose in verses 7-10.

  3. Paul recognizes that everything in his life was the result of God's grace.

Even this goal was made possible because Christ pursued him.

"but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." (3:12)

II. Moving On Requires Focused Determination (vv. 13-14).

"Every athlete knows that a runner in a race must fix their eyes ahead of them; those who watch the crowd or their own feet are likely to trip and fall.  To make a maximum effort in any athletic endeavor requires the participants to concentrate on a point straight ahead." __John MacArthur

  1. Paul makes a confidant declaration: "but this one thing I do."

This speaks of singular focus.

"I do" is not in the Greek text, but was added by the translators because it was implied.  In the Greek text Paul communicates his singular focus in a staccato, brief, impassioned, almost abrupt manner: "This one thing."

It is such singularly focused people who succeed in athletics and other pursuits of life. Many people dabble in much, but succeed at very little if anything at all.

Paul was pleasantly obsessed with one thing--knowing Christ intimately, profoundly, passionately, to the point of absolute identification:

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death."

  2. Paul adds a curious description: "forgetting what lies behind" and "straining forward."

So, is it one thing or two things? Actually, it's both.  Let me explain....

Singular focus requires both a negative and positive aspect:

1) Negative aspect -- "forgetting what lies behind."

A runner who keeps looking back runs the risk of being passed and losing the race, regardless of their ability and potential.

A runner's past performance neither disqualifies a runner nor guarantees her/him victory in the current race.  The past is not relevant; what matters is making maximum effort right now.

Paul made a break with everything in his past, both good and bad.

*Frequently, our greatest challenge is not looking to the future, but coping with our past.

Let me ask a critical question: What do you need to let go?

Who has injured you that you need to forgive?

Who has failed you that you need to get over?

What mistake did you make that you need to move beyond?

illus:

Regret--How many times will I descend to this--reaching below the bottom?  I know it's not politically correct, but I can't forgive you and I won't forgive me.  Regret pulls like a gravitational force, tugged down toward a bottomless journey of tragedy. Regret is an irrepressible weight obliterating every element of optimism and joy in its wake. (Posted by Dane Fowlkes, Ph.D at Saturday, January 25, 2014)

What success in the past do you need to move beyond?

"No one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

  2) Positive aspect: "straining forward to what lies ahead."

This is straining the muscles to their limit, and pictures a runner straining every muscle to cross the finish line.

The ability of the muscles to perform on demand and under duress is based on their previous conditioning.  You cannot decide today that you will compete in a marathon tomorrow.  Requires conditioning over time. "Muscle memory."

What are you doing today that will condition spiritual muscle memory tomorrow?

I am not encouraging a rigid, legalistic approach to Christianity & spirituality.  I am stressing that only one thing really matters--how we finish the race.  What matters is that you finish well.

Close:

The Apostle Paul tells us in this passage exactly what's important in life, and gives specific instructions on how to pursue it.  Let me be very personal with you right now:

(1) Have you started your race?  I mean, have you given your life to Jesus Christ?

(2) How are you doing in your race?

Listen....

You may have gotten off to a bad start, don't stop.

You may have stumbled or even fallen down, get back up.

You may have been tripped and hurt by someone else, maybe even someone you loved, refuse to stop and sulk and nurse the pain.  Get back on the course (My phone GPS: "Proceed to the course").

You may be exhausted and ready to fall out, don't quit. You're almost there. You're almost home! Can you see the finish line?  Do you see the Father's arms outstretched to catch you as you collapse across the line? Do you see the winner's circle with your name on it? Do you see your loved ones jumping and shouting--"You can do it! Just a little farther! You can make it... Don't give up!"

(Dr. Dane Fowlkes, pastor)