Sermon Series: Philippians, Part 20
The Singular Task
Philippians 3:4-14, Part 3 (3:11-14)
[Audio
file on Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/Philippians34-14Part3]
11 If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I
count not myself to have apprehended: but
this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.
Introduction:
How do we think about ourselves, and
our present condition?
How do we view the past, the present,
and the future?
How does the past and the future affect
how we live for Christ now?
Outline:
I. The Carnal Confidence Challenge (3:4)
II. The Apostle Paul’s Curriculum
Vitae (3:5-6)
III. The Eternal Balance Sheet (3:7-8d)
IV. The Two Main Motivations (3:8e-10)
V. The Ongoing Singular Task (3:11-14)
V. The Ongoing Singular Task (3:11-14)
1. The Reason for the Race to Resurrection (3:11-12)
2. Forging Forward with a Future Focus (3:13-14)
1. The Reason for the Race to Resurrection (3:11-12)
11 If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained,
either
were already perfect:
but
I follow after,
if
that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
1) The Hope of Glory (3:11)
2) The Denial of Perfection (3:12a-b)
3) The Perseverance after the Master (3:12c-d)
1) The
Hope of Glory (3:11)
If
by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Paul, that is a might big “if”! What do you mean “if”?
What about positional sanctification?
What don’t you have now, that you are “following after” for?
The word Paul uses here for “resurrection” is a hapaxlegomena.
1 Cor. 15:23 — But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Rev. 20:5-6 — 5 But the rest of the dead lived not
again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him a thousand years.
Acts 26:7 — Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly
serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I
am accused of the Jews. (cp. 26:6-8)
2) The
Denial of Perfection (3:12a-b)
12 Not as though I had already attained,
either
were already perfect:
There is very clear teaching to be found in these verse that the
error of perfectionism is exposed by.
This negative statement with two related elements speaks volumes
about Paul’s motivation for what is to follow. The work of Christ in His people
is never finished in this life. We can never understand ourselves at having
arrived this side of the resurrection. We are not in glory yet. There is more,
much more to follow.
3) The
Perseverance after the Master (3:12c-d)
but
I follow after,
if
that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
This gives us the why for what Paul does in a general all-embracing sense. The next
two verses will flesh this out even more.
(1)
but I follow after
There is a translation issue here that obscures the fact that this
verb translated “I follow after” here is exactly the same as the one in the
beginning of verse 14, there translated “I press.” The KJV is not the only
translation that renders them differently Both the HCSB, and the NIV do so as
with “I make every effort” for the first on here in verse 12, and “I pursue”
for the second in verse 14. This identification or linkage is significant in
the context, as the next verse will make clear.
(2) if
that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus
1 Tim. 6:12 — Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal
life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses.
1 Tim. 6:19 — Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation
against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
2. Forging Forward with a Future Focus (3:13-14)
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended:
but this one thing I do,
forgetting
those things which are behind,
and
reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
1) Facing the Present Personal Fact (3:13a)
2) Focusing the Posture Forward to the Future (3:13b-d)
3) Following the Prize to the Finish (3:14)
1) Facing
the Present Personal Fact (3:13a)
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended:
Spiritual self-examination — I am not there yet, we are not there
yet, nor will we be until raptured, or resurrected, and glorified.
2) Focusing
the Posture Forward to the Future (3:13b-d)
but this one thing I do,
forgetting
those things which are behind,
and
reaching forth unto those things which are before,
(1) but this one thing I do
Italicized words in 2nd clause, and other translations attempting
to make grammatical sense of this anacoluthon. Almost all modern translations
render it as “but one thing I do…” This limits the italicized words by
eliminating the demonstrative pronoun supplied before “one thing” while
retaining the 1st person singular subject and verb supplied after these words.
It is interesting to consider the implications of the absence of punctuation
and italicized words in the original manuscripts: “Brethren I count not myself
to have apprehended but one thing forgetting…”
What is the one thing he does? That comes in the next verse! It
also was introduced in the previous verse!
(2) forgetting
those things which are behind,
and
reaching forth unto those things which are before,
What does he have in mind in “those things which are behind” which
he is “forgetting”?
The two participial clauses contain descriptions of how this one
thing is to be done, or requirements for the doing of it.
Is it always and ever wrong to remember the past?
No, not all. Scripture often calls us to remember.
Is. 51:1 — Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye
that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of
the pit whence ye are digged.
Lk. 9:62 — And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to
the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Eph. 2:11 — Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past
Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called
the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Heb. 6:1 — Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Rev. 2:5 — Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and
repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will
remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
However, “Remember Lot’s wife!” (Lk. 17:32; read 22-37)
3) Following
the Prize to the Finish (3:14)
I
press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(1) I
press toward the mark
Remember that this is the same word found earlier in verse 12
where it is often translated differently, as “I follow after.”
(2) for
the prize
What about all the modern translations bailing out on the KJV’s
“win” at the end of verse 8?
What will they do with the “prize” in verse 14? And, they all
translate this word as “prize”! (NKJV, NASB, ESV, HCSB, NIV, NLT, YLT, etc.)
How is the sense of “winning Christ as a prize” to be ruled out in
this context in order to argue against a translation of “win” versus “gain”?
1 Cor. 9:24-25 — 24 Know ye not that they which run in
a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
(3) of
the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
Rom. 11:29 — For the gifts and calling of God are without
repentance.
Rom. 8:28 — And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
2 Tim. 1:9 — Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Conclusion:
“To know Jesus is the shortest descripton of true grace; to know
him better is the surest mark of growth in grace; to know him perfectly is
eternal life.”
— John Newton (1725–1807); cited in Tony Reinke, Newton on the Christian Life: To Live is Christ,
Theologians on the Christian Life, eds. Stephen J. Nichols, and Justin Taylor (Wheaton:
Crossway, 2015), pg. 18; from John Newton, The
Works of John Newton, 6 vols. (London, 1824; 1985 reprint ed. by Banner of Truth,
Edinburgh), 2:213.
[Sermon preached 7 MAY 2017 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at
Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]
Hymn Suggestions:
He Lives (I Serve a Risen Savior)
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee
Moment by Moment
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
(AKA: The Solid Rock)
I am His, and He is Mine
When We All Get to Heaven
I’m Pressing on the Upward Way (AKA: Higher
Ground)
Gadsby 562, 655, 951
Complete
Outline:
[Sermons preached 23, 30 APR, and 7 MAY 2017 by Pastor John T.
“Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]
I. The Carnal Confidence Challenge (3:4)
1. The Wrong Basis for Confidence
2. The Thrown Gauntlet for
Competition
II. The Apostle Paul’s Curriculum
Vitae (3:5-6)
1. His Lineage
2. His Life
III. The Eternal Balance Sheet (3:7-8d)
1. This is a Lose-Win Proposition
2. This is a Shocking Estimation
IV. The Two Main Motivations (3:8e-10)
1. The Gain of Christ (3:8e-9)
1) The Reality of the Gain
of Christ (3:8e-9a)
2) The Righteousness of the
Gain of Christ (3:9b-e)
2.
The Knowledge of Christ (3:10)
1) The Reality of the
Knowledge of Christ (3:10a)
2)
The Essence of the Knowledge of Christ (3:10b-d)
V. The Ongoing Singular Task (3:11-14)
1. The Reason for the Race to Resurrection
(3:11-12)
1) The Hope of Glory (3:11)
2) The Denial of Perfection
(3:12a-b)
3) The Perseverance after the
Master (3:12c-d)
2. Forging Forward with a Future
Focus (3:13-14)
1) Facing the Present Personal Fact
(3:13a)
2) Focusing the Posture Forward to
the Future (3:13b-d)
3) Following the Prize to the
Finish (3:14)
