Lesson 16

Reaching For The Prize

Philippians 3:12-16

We are steadfastly working our way through the Epistle of Philippians, a letter from Paul the apostle to a first century church in the city of Philippi. Today we have come to 3:12-16.

When last we studied from this letter, Paul was writing about his past. In this section, Paul writes about his present. Paul viewed his past as though he were an accountant. In accounting, there is a profit column and a loss column, assets and liabilities. Paul tells us that the things which he had considered his assets before being saved, things like his inherited advantages and personal, moral and religious accomplishments, were actually his liabilities, keeping him from Christ. He moved them into the loss column for Christ and in Christ gained knowledge, righteousness, power, and fellowship.

As the apostle shifts from writing about his past to writing about his present, he also changes his analogies. He views his past as though he were an accountant; he views his present as though he were an athlete.

In the ancient world of Paul, the Greek and Roman world, athletics were a significant cultural aspect, much like they are to us today. And they were a common illustration used by Paul to describe certain aspects of the Christian life. The Bible speaks of running a race (see I Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1). With these things in our understanding, that Paul is now writing about the present, and using the analogy of an athlete, let's read our text, 3:12-16.

There are some words and phrases in this passage which have their root in the world of athletics.

reaching forth - straining of a runner.

press - the maximum effort of an athelete.

mark - goal; the tape at the end of the race.

prize - the winners trophy.

high calling - to receive his trophy a runner was summoned up onto the judges platform and then awarded his prize.

Now, Paul applies these words and ideas to the Christian life. The question is, "What is his goal? What is it that he straining and pressing so much for? What prize will he receive when he is summons up onto the platform of God? That is the subject of this message.

I. The Prize Paul Pursues, 3:12.

Verse 12 begins with ...

A. An Honest Admission - Paul admits

1. "I have not arrived" - "Not as though I had already attained"

2. "I am not perfect" - "neither were already perfect"

This is Paul's disclaimer. He is fully admitting his imperfection. Paul was keenly aware of the shortfalls of the flesh (see Romans 7:17-18. When you reach the point where you think you have arrived is when you stand in danger of falling (see I Cor.10:12a). Here is a man who for 30 years has poured his life and energy into the work of the Lord. Here is a man who has endured tremendous hardship and persecution for the cause of Christ. Here is a man who has accomplished much for the Lord. Think of the CONVERTS for

which Paul is responsible. Consider the CHURCHES which he had a major hand in establishing (85 churches in 35 years). What about all the CITIES which had a gospel witness because of Paul! But Paul says, "I have not arrived! I am not perfect!" The theology which had its roots in John Wesley, which teaches that sinless perfection is possible, that we can eradicate our flesh and our sinful nature, is dealt a death-blow in this passage.

Don't be confused by the paradox and seeming contradiction between verse 12 and verse 15. In verse 12, Paul says, "I am not perfect". But in verse 15 he seems to be saying, "Some of us are perfect". He denies his perfection (12) then numbers himself with the perfect (15)! Believe it or not, both are true! There is a sense in which every Christian is perfect because of his position in Christ. Yet there is a sense in which no Christ is perfect, because of the presence of the flesh. You see, just as a child is "perfect" human being and yet still imperfect in so far as his development, so, too, a child of God is perfect in standing with God yet imperfect so far as his development.

B. A Holy Attempt, 12b (read).

Paul was on his way to Damascus to capture Christians, when, as he says, he was captured by Christ! The man who apprehended and arrested Christians was himself apprehended and arrested by Christ! Now, Paul writes, I want to apprehend Christ. The idea is, "I want to be like (have) Christ".

Paul realizes his imperfection, yet still pursues perfection as his goal. The prize Paul pursues is perfection, Christlikeness. It is a goal which we should constantly pursue, yet, admittedly, which we will never quite grasp.

II. The Process Paul Portrays, 3:13-14.

Not only does the apostle tell us what we desires, he also explains the process which he follows in his pursuit of perfection. Verses 13 and 14 identify 4 steps.

A. Dissatisfaction - "I count not myself to have apprehended". We will never begin to travel the path toward Christlikeness, until we reach a point when we dissatisfied with ourselves. We must honestly appraise ourselves and find ourselves wanting. Coaches sometimes refer to this idea as being "hungry". We must not compare ourselves with others. We can always easily find others whom we outdo. We must compare ourselves to Christ and be satisfied with nothing short of Him.

B. Discipline - "This one thing I do".

An athlete must be devoted to the task winning above all else. Success in athletics requires dedication and discipline, to the exclusion of other things. Excellence in athletics demands absolute commitment. It affects the person's time, diet, everything. That is the life of Paul in his pursuit of the prize of perfection. He has reduced his life to "one thing". Everything he did somehow had to enable him to be like Christ or else it would be put aside.

C. Direction - "forgetting ... reaching forth".

Past accomplishments must be put out of the mind. Past failures must be forgotten. You cannot become like Christ by living in the past. Just as the runner has his eyes on one thing, the finish line, as the baseball player has his eyes on home plate, as the football player has his eyes on goal line, so Paul has his eyes on the prize. He is straining with every fiber for the prize of being like Christ.

D. Determination - "I press toward the mark ..."

He is determined to reach the goal and to be summons up onto the platform to receive his crown from God.

If you are lacking in any of these 4 factors, you will not be pursuing perfection.

III. The Priority Paul Places, 3:15-16.

I can almost hear someone saying now, "That's Paul ... that's not me. I'm a different personality. I'm not that aggressive. I'm not that driven." Look at verses 15-16. Three time Paul says, "Let us".

A. Let us be thus minded - Paul's goal should be our goal. And if it isn't then the Lord needs to deal with you about that. I can tell you what to do. I can set goal. I can explain the process for accomplishing those goals. But I cannot produce spiritual motivation. That comes from the Holy Spirit working in your life and convicting you concerning these things.

Then just to drive the point home he adds ...

B. Let us walk by (live up to) the same rule.

C. Let us mind the same things.

Paul's goal is to be our goal as well.

Ask yourself this question, "Though realizing that I have not and cannot be perfect in this life, do I desire to be perfect and am I doing all that I can and should to be like Jesus Christ?