Verse of the Day

Monday, May 14, 2018

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Philippians (series), Part 20: "The Singular Task" (Phil. 3:4-14), Part 3 (3:11-14)


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)

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