September Passage: Philippians 3:12-4:1
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.
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.
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.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with their minds set on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (ESV)
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Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...
Growing In Maturity
The Bible tells me that I am no longer a slave to sin (Galatians 5:1). The Bible tells me that I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Bible tells me that I am a new creation, that the old me is gone and the new me is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Bible tells me that I am no longer an enemy of God (Romans 5:10).
If you are a Christian, the Bible says all of these things about you, too. But, if you are like me (and I know that you are) then these Bible truths look different in print than they look in our lives at times.
Someone investigating our daily walk would sometimes assume that we are still enslaved to sin. We do not always live as ones who are righteous, especially not as righteous as Jesus. Sometimes, when we are angered or afraid we seem to live more like the old us instead of new creations and there are times when we talk, or act, or think like someone at odds with God.
The difference between who God says we are and the sinfulness that still shows itself in our lives is no small matter. But it is also not a surprise to God, to any of the Apostles, or to any Christian who has walked in this world. The difference is part of what we call Progressive Sanctification.
Progressive Sanctification is at the heart of Philippians 3:15-16
“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.”
Paul just finished writing that he has not made it as far along the path toward Christ-like perfection as he would like to: “I have not already obtained this (resurrection), nor am I already perfect.”
So, while he calls himself “mature” in verse 15, he’s not saying it as a boast. He’s just recognizing that he is a lot farther along toward Christ-like-ness than he was when Jesus knocked him down on the road to Damascus.
Paul has made it a long way from persecuting the church in the early days to where he is when he writes this letter, but he knows that he still falls far short of the goal. So, like we saw last time, he presses on and keeps the faith.
And it is with this humble heart that Paul can look at some of the immature believers in Philippi (or in our church) and understand that we all still have some growing to do.
In the context of this chapter, Paul is acknowledging that some of the hearers of this letter might still be struggling with faith, not works for salvation. It is a struggle. Paul gets that. So he says, if you are not there yet on this issue, God will be gracious and reveal it to you eventually.
God loves you and God doesn’t want His children to be confused.
But, beyond the context of this chapter, if we bring the truth of this chapter to bear on the rest of our lives, it holds up the same promise to those who are humbly trying to walk with the Lord and grow in His ways.
Paul says, “…if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you…”
So, maybe you have grown in your faithfulness in forgiving others, but you still lack faithfulness in showing hospitality to strangers (or even other church family)…God will reveal that also to you…
If you are really digging into Bible memorization and planting the Word in your heart, but you are still having difficulty when it comes to fleeing sexual temptation…God will reveal that also to you…
If you are growing in kindness and cutting out the gossip in the church or the workplace, but you still are not faithfully loving your spouse and children in a way that is gentle and helpful…God will reveal that also to you…
If you are faithfully giving to the church family and supporting missionaries and helping the “least of these”, but you still find yourself stealing from your employer by not actually working while you are clocked in on the company’s dime…God will reveal that also to you…
And this is all to be expected. As one sin is dealt with in your life, the Holy Spirit helps you overcome the next one. If God were to show you all of your sin at once, the truth of your brokenness would crush you in shame and guilt. But remember, there is now no condemnation for you IF you are in Christ.
Just take each new battle with sin and temptation to the cross of Christ. See His death as sufficient to rescue you from that sin. Then put that sin to death through repentance and faith.
Seeing the reality of our ongoing rescue from sin and keeping the faith through the battle is what it means to, “hold true to what we have attained.”
The accuser (Satan) will want you to give up fighting, he will tell you that there is no way that God can love a sinner like you. But Satan is a liar, don’t fall for his schemes…hold true to what we have attained.
The world and the culture around us will make a joke of it all and tell you that your sin is no big deal, that it is “just who you are.” But God says that we are not identified by our sin anymore, we are identified in baptism as children of the Father, servants of the Son, and sent as Gospel missionaries by the Holy Spirit. Don’t live for something so superficial as sin, live for the higher call of Jesus and…hold true to what we have attained.
Your own heart can be deceitful above all things, do not settle for the broad and easy path that your heart sometimes wants to jump back onto — a path that leads to death. Instead…hold true to what we have attained, and walk diligently in repentance and faith, and guard your heart with God’s Word, God’s Spirit and God’s People (don’t neglect any of the three).
The summary of all of this could be said thus: If you are trying to reach perfection on this side of Heaven, you are doing well. Jesus himself said that we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.
But, if you are expecting to reach perfect, sinlessness on this side of Heaven, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus throughout His ministry also inspired The Apostle John to write that, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…” (1 John 1:8)
Strive for perfection, knowing that you will reach the goal at the end of the race. Until then, in everything:
“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.”
