(Books study series – Philippians) Message no. 10

December 26, 2021 - SUN a.m.

     The question is: Where you’re headed and what your goals are. In fact, this is an open question to all people of all ages. The vast majority of people answer would be “My goal in life is to pursue Christlikeness.” The truth is we don’t ever remember hearing anything like that when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions.

     We do not heard people say my personal goal for this New Year is to be so devoted to Jesus Christ that God will eventually give a prize for it. The only person that I know in the Bible who actually said that and meant it was the Apostle Paul.

     It is very clear that the goal of Paul in his Christian life was Christlikeness. Paul’s goal was not some resolution he made once a year, Christlikeness was the pursuit of his entire existence. The one goal of Paul in his life was to understand God’s Word and to dedicate himself to Jesus Christ so he would accomplish everything that God wanted him to accomplish in life, so Paul could become a prize winner or could win the prize of God. Since Paul knew that God called him and saved him then gifted him, that drove Paul to pursue this objective to be Christlike.

     Christlikeness was the goal of Paul for his life and that is also the goal Paul wanted for the brethren in the Philippians church, and that is also the goal God wants for all of us as Christians.

     Paul pursues his high calling in Jesus Christ every day in order to pursue the eternal prize of God. Paul wanted to win the prize when he got before God and Paul wanted the Philippians to win the prize of God.

     Let us take a look at how a believer operates as a prize winner. Any believer who desires to win the prizes of God someday, all he needs to do is to study this text and apply these verses to his own Christian life.

Filipos 3:12 "Hindi sa ito'y aking nakamit na, o ako'y sakdal na." FILIPINO VERSION

     To be a prize winner we must have an honest personal evaluation.

     That verb “attained” KJV; or “obtained” NASB, ESV; is an aorist verb. What that means is Paul clearly admits that there has not been any point of time in his life when Paul have obtained his Christ-like objective perfectly. In fact, the word “attain” or “obtain” means to lay hold of total Christlikeness. Paul’s desire was to know Jesus Christ and the will of God so intimately that he would win the prize and to this point, he did not think he had arrived at that level.

     If one is to finish winning the prize, one must honestly evaluate himself. The first thing is realism, he must be realistic in his own evaluation. The believer who will win the prize of God is one who will honestly and realistically evaluate his own spiritual condition and admit he has not arrived at complete Christlikeness or complete spiritual maturity.

     The apostle Paul did not regard himself as a perfect man. He had not reached that state where he was free from sin. Indeed, Paul was not declaring in his statement that no one was perfect (spiritually high level of maturiry), or that no one could be spiritually in high level of maturity in this life but it is a declaration that Paul did not regard himself as having attained to it. Yet who can urge better claims to having attained perfection than Paul could have done? Who has surpassed Paul in love, and zeal, and self-denial, and true devotedness to the service of the Redeemer? Who has more elevated views of God, and of the plan of salvation? Who prays more, or lives nearer to God than Paul did? If there is anyone, that must be extraordinary piety which surpasses that of the apostle Paul; and anyone who lays claim to a degree of holiness which even Paul did not pretend to, it proves that person gives little evidence that he has any true knowledge of himself, or that person has ever been imbued with the true humility which the gospel produces.

     Paul said “Not as though I had already attained”, Paul is comparing himself to a runner in the games, Paul fixes his gaze on the goal, where he sees the prize, to win which Paul had been called to aspire. 

     Paul adds, “either were already perfect:” Many theologian critics, suppose the word “perfect” used here do not refer to moral or Christian perfection, but these critics says it refers to be an allusion to the games that were celebrated in Greece, and to mean that Paul had not completed his course and arrived at the goal, so as to receive the prize. Therefore, it is of importance to understand precisely what Paul meant by his declaration here, so, it will be proper to look at the meaning of the word “perfect” elsewhere in the New Testament. The word properly means, to complete, to make perfect, so as to be full, or so that nothing shall be wanting. In the New Testament it is used in the following places, and is translated in the following manner: It is rendered “fulfilled” in Luke 2:23; John 19:28; “perfect,” and “perfected,” in Luke 13:32; John 17:23; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Philippians 3:12; Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:1, Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 11:40; Hebrews 12:23; James 2:22; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:17-18; “finish,” and “finished,” John 5:36; Act 20:24; and “consecrated,” Hebrews 7:28.

     In Acts 20:24, it is applied to a race or course that is run - “That I might finish my course with joy;” but this is the only instance, however, the proper sense of the word is that of bringing to an end, or rendering complete, so that nothing shall be wanting. The idea of Paul evidently is, that he had not yet attained that which would be the completion of his hopes. There was something which Paul was striving after, which he had not obtained, and which was needful to render him perfect, or complete. Paul lacked now what he hoped yet to attain to; and that which Paul lacked may refer to all those things which were wanting in his character and spiritual condition, which Paul expected to secure.

     As those things were needful in order to the completion of Paul’s happiness, we may suppose that Paul referred to them now, when Paul says that he was not yet “perfect” or were already made perfect in the Saviour's likeness. That is Christlikeness.

     That word “perfect” refers to having reached a perfect, completed condition that has accomplished and fulfilled everything perfectly. Now the word “perfect” is never used in the Bible to describe sinless perfection. For all have sinned, except Jesus Christ. The word “perfect” in verse 12 refers to being at a complete mature Christian and has a growth level that is a completely finished product. Paul is truthfully saying he did not evaluate himself as having arrived already to the complete level of maturity that has accomplished everything that God wanted him to be.

1) Positional perfection that one has in Jesus Christ.

2) Relative perfection, meaning level of spiritual maturity.

3) Ultimate perfection, when we are with God and no longer can sin.

     Paul had been a believer for 30 and more years at his point and Paul thought his life might be over. But Paul still did not believe he had arrived at the ultimate level of Christlikeness.

     Since Christlikeness was Paul’s pursuit, that is why Paul not yet achieved this complete mature status and it was not due to his lack of effort or his lack of intense drive or desire about it.

     Some people defensively say, “Well no one is perfect” and “I have not arrived yet,” which is really true. But actually, someone is using that words as an excuse for apathy or sin. That was not the case with the apostle Paul. Paul with full of passion pursued the will of God for his life and his desire was to be like the Lord Jesus Christ, to be Christlike. In fact, Paul was willing to die for Jesus Christ, as he said “to live is Christ and to die is gain”, yet Paul knew that he had not arrived to a total Christ-like perfection. Paul testified that he had not grown to a level of complete maturity.

     Prize winning Christians are like Paul, they are honest in their personal evaluation of themselves. Prize winning Christians always see that there is more work to do and they always see the need for more growth in their Christian life, they also realize there is room for more prayers, more bible knowledge and more Christian service for the Lord. That is the way prize winners think as he evaluates himself honestly.

     There are believers who use their past heritage or services or ministries for making a claim that they are spiritual than others. But prize winners realized they have not arrived yet and are always working on things. That was the apostle Paul.

     After his honest personal evaluation of himself, Paul said “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:” That is the way we should be to be a prize winner.    

Filipos 3:12b “kundi nagpapatuloy ako upang iyon ay aking maabot, kung paanong ako ay inabot din ni Cristo Jesus.” FILIPINO VERSION

     To be a prize winner we must have the proper Christ-like pursuit.

After Paul has evaluated himself honesty his pursuit is complete Christlikeness. Paul said “I follow after” KJV, Διωκω, means “I press on” NASB, ESV. Paul is saying “I pursue the object, striving to obtain it.” “I pursue, what is still before me.” The prize was seen in the distance, and Paul diligently sought to obtain or attain it. There is a reference here to the Grecian races, which Paul continues through the two next verses, and the meaning is, “I steadily pursue my course;” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

     The verb “I follow after” or “press on” (διωκω) in verse 12 and again in verse 14 is a verb that means to pursue something, to drive after something, to follow something with speed. In fact, this word was used to describe the intense action of runners in the Greek games.

     As Paul press on, he says, “that I may apprehend that” perfect holiness, that entire conformity to the will of God. Paul is saying he was pursuing with rapid speed the goal of “laying hold of Christ Jesus.” That idea of “laying hold” is the idea of seizing something or to overtake by comprehending and apprehending something. It is a word that describes discovering and grasping something at a high level of apprehension.

     The word “apprehend” that is Paul is saying If so be that he may lay hold on [Katalaboo (G2638)] that is namely the prize, (Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”)             

     Then Paul said, “for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus,” Appearing to Paul in the way to Damascus, (Acts 26:14,) whose condescending hand graciously laid hold on Paul, he was laid hold on by Jesus Christ, namely at his conversion, when he was proceeding in his mad career of persecuting Jesus and His followers, and in the extraordinary manner of which brought Paul to engage in running that very different race which he was now pursuing. Paul mentioned “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” the Author, is also the Finisher of Christian 'race.'

All that Christ meant Paul to be, Paul wants to be. All that Christ meant to give Paul, Paul wants to have. All that Christ meant Paul to do, Paul wants to do; to apprehend, to lay hold of that for which I am laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

     What Paul is stressing here is he did not consider himself to be at the ultimate level of Christlikeness, but Paul was after Christlikeness. Paul meant since Jesus Christ pursued him at his conversion and tracked him down and so then Paul is now pursuing Christlikeness.

Filipos 3:13-14 “Mga kapatid, hindi ko pa inaaring naabot ko na, ngunit isang bagay ang ginagawa ko, nililimot ko ang mga bagay na nasa likuran, at tinutungo ang mga bagay na hinaharap, ¹⁴ nagpapatuloy ako tungo sa mithiin para sa gantimpala ng dakilang pagtawag ng Diyos kay Cristo Jesus.” FILIPINO VERSION

     To be a prize winner we must have the proper mental attitudes.

     The way Paul thought is a key in his amazing spiritual life. Paul honestly thought in right ways about himself, about his goals and where he was at his Christian life.        

     Paul said “I count not myself,” Notice, the “I” is emphatic, evidently in contrast with some of those who thought themselves or whatever count as to themselves as “perfect.”  Bible tells us that a person who counts himself perfect deceives himself (1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”); yet each of us must aim at perfection to be a Christian at all (Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”).

     Paul said “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:” Whatever gifts, graces, or honors Paul may have received from Jesus Christ, Paul consider everything as incomplete. That is means to have obtained that for which Paul have been called into the service of the Redeemer. There is something which Paul strive after which he has not yet gained. This statement is a confirmation of the opinion that in the previous verse 12, where Paul says that he was not “already perfect,” Paul includes a moral perfection, and not merely the obtainment of the prize or reward; for no one could suppose that Paul meant to be understood as saying that he had obtained the crown of glory.

     Paul is saying he did not yet attain or possessed those high degrees of perfect holiness, internal and external, those of usefulness and conformity to his blessed Master Jesus Christ, which he has in view. That is Paul's judgment concerning himself; he has not yet attained to the full all that the religion of Christ can give him.

     Then Paul said, “but this one thing I do,” means this is the concern of Paul, as it is the chief business of Paul’s life. Paul had one great aim and purpose of life. He did not attempt to mingle the world and religion, and to gain both. Paul did not seek to obtain wealth and salvation too; or honor here and the crown of glory hereafter, but Paul had one object, one aim, one great purpose of soul. To this singleness of purpose, Paul owed his extraordinary attainments in piety, and his uncommon success as a minister. A man will accomplish little who allows his mind to be distracted by a multiplicity of objects. A Christian will accomplish nothing who has not a single great aim and purpose of soul. That purpose should be to secure the prize, and to renounce everything that would be in the way to its attainment. So, let us then live a where there is one great object which we always have in view, and that we mean to avoid everything which would interfere with that one thing we do.

Filipos 3:13b “ngunit isang bagay ang ginagawa ko, nililimot ko ang mga bagay na nasa likuran,”  FILIPINO VERSION                   

     The proper mental attitude is the attitude of forgetting the past.

     The precept given here is absolutely general, applying to past blessings, past achievements, even past sins.

     Paul said, “Forgetting those things which are behind,” Paul’s conduct is not regulated nor influenced by that of others; Paul gives importance on his calling, his Master, his work, and his end. If others think they have time to loiter or trifle, Paul do not think that way: time is flying; eternity is at hand; and Paul’s all is at stake.

     Looking back ends in going back: so Lot's wife (Luke 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.”; Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot's wife.”). If we cease pulling the oar against the current, we are carried back. God's word is, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward" (Exodus 14:15 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:”). The Bible, as our landmark, shows whether we are progressing or retrograding.

     Forgetting those things which are behind is referring to that part of the race of Christian experience, duty, and suffering, which is already run. 

One person running to secure the prize would not stop to look behind him to see how much ground he had run over, or who of his competitors had fallen or lingered in the way. If the attention of the person running was diverted for a moment from that, it would hinder his running, and might be the means of not reaching the mark. Paul did not allow his mind to be diverted from that by anything - not even by the contemplation of the past. That person running did not stop to think of the difficulties which he had overcome, or the troubles which he had met, but he thought of what was yet to be accomplished.

     This does not mean that a believer would not have regarded a proper contemplation of the past life as useful and profitable for a Christian, but that believer would not allow any reference to the past to interfere with the one great effort to win the prize, to be like Christ. It may be, and is, profitable for a Christian to look over the past mercies of God to his soul, in order to awaken emotions of gratitude in the heart, and to think of his shortcomings and errors, to produce penitence and humility. But none of these things should be allowed for one moment to divert the mind from the purpose of Christlikeness.

     Backward, we ourselves see everything to dishearten and to humble. Our own unfaithfulness; our coldness, deadness, and dullness; the little zeal and ardor which we have, all are fitted to humble and discourage. believer who is accustomed much to dwell on the past, though he may be a true Christian, will be likely to be melancholy and dispirited, to be a recluse rather than a warm-hearted and active friend of the Saviour. Any Christian who will trust his past endeavors, and feel that the prize is now secure, will relax his future efforts. Let us not spend our time either in pondering the gloomy past, and our own unfaithfulness, or in thinking of what we have done, and thus becoming puffed up with self-complacency; but let us keep the eye steadily on Jesus, and run the race as though we had just commenced it.

     The person who will win the prizes of God is one who learns how to forget the things behind.

     That word “forget” means to forget by neglect. An important thing in forgetting something in our minds is to neglect to focus on it and not allow our mind to think on it.

     In the context of a “foot runner” who wants to win a race, in order to win an award at any race at any distance, we must totally forget about our previous good accomplishments or failures. You must forget your many dusty trophies and fading memories. You must totally focus only at the task at hand, which is to run to win the race

     Paul does not live in the past that is why Paul says he forgets the things behind. We never find Paul looking back on past successes or failures.

After 30 or more years of very successful ministry, Paul was still running to win, but most people would call it quits and retire.

     We must learn to forget our past accomplishments.

     Do not live in the past. People has an idea that they did one thing once or they used to do that certain thing or they accomplished that thing.

     We must learn to forget our past sins.

     There is no winning of the prize for the person who dwells on past failures.

     In case we have our pasts which we are ashamed of, but once we have confessed them and handed them over to God, we need to forget those things and move on. There is no profit in dwelling on past failures.

     You can not rely on your successes or failures. You must focus here and now. Prize winners cannot live in the past.

Filipos 3:13c-14 “at tinutungo ang mga bagay na hinaharap, ¹⁴ nagpapatuloy ako tungo sa mithiin para sa gantimpala ng dakilang pagtawag ng Diyos kay Cristo Jesus.” FILIPINO VERSION    

     This is the proper mental attitude, which is the attitude of reaching to the future.

     Now both participles forgetting and reaching are present tense middle voice participles.

     And reaching forth unto — Literally, stretched out over the things that are before — Pursuing with the whole bent and vigour of the soul, perfect holiness and eternal glory.

     Paul knows Judaism with all its boastings; Paul experienced persecutions with all their bitterness. And Paul flees for his life, like Lot out of Sodom, and press with all his energies to win the prize. Yea, this one thing Paul do, to lay hold on the hope set before him, the enjoyment of God in Christ for ever.

     A person is the most cheerful Christian who looks onward.

     Paul said, he is “Reaching forth”. The Greek word επεκτεινομενος points out the strong exertions made in the race; every muscle and nerve is exerted, and Paul would keep his eyes steadily on the prize and puts forth every particle of his strength in running that he might obtain his goal.         Paul was running for his life to be Christlike that would make him a prize winner.

     What this means is that each person is responsible, in and of himself (middle voice), for this continual action (present tense).

     The word “reaching forth” [epekteinomenos (G1901)] – that means 'stretching out for the things in front,' for the higher stages of holiness, with hand and foot, like a runner in a race the body bent forward to get to that finish line with a Christlikeness that would win the prize. “Reaching forth,” an expression showing great concern to become more and more like unto Christ. (Hebrews 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,”).  

     Paul was focused on getting to that finish line with a Christlikeness that would win the prize. He was after it.

     He did not live in the past. He did not think about the past. He was reaching to the future and focused on winning the prize. His goal was to be like Jesus Christ.

     Then Paul said “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

     The word “mark” KJV; “goal” NASB, ESV (v. 14) refers to his target and the word “prize” refers to the award a person receives for reaching the target, mark or goal. Although, Paul was a goal-oriented person, all the goals of the apostle Paul were focused on the eternal, not the temporal. Paul is always making progress toward his goal.

     Paul presses toward the mark, that is a full conformity to the image of His Son in Paul’s heart and life Paul said “of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:29).

     We need to learn how to win the race, we needed to stay focused on ourselves. We must keep working on ourselves, in our race. We would not win if we are thinking about the other person.

     We need to be totally focused on our pace, our speed, our race.

     If we want to win the prize of God, to be prize winner, that is what we need to do. We need to focus on our own lives.