"Pressing On"
Philppians 3:2-4:1
June 7, 1992

INTRODUCTION

A. Raising children: lots of activities to choose from

1. What's really important?
2. Same thing with growing in Christ... what's really important

B. This passage gives a summary of Paul's basic values

1. "...that is how you should stand firm in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1)
2. "All of us who are mature should take such a view of things." (Phil. 3:15)

C. Begins with a warning against those who sought to reimpose the law on Christians

1. Circumcision was the central legal point and the symbol for the entire law
2. This is not so attractive to us today: but other legalisms are still alive and well

a. They are admired for their commitment; great sacrifice; boldness
b. They by direct teaching or cultural bias imply that Jesus is great now add:

(1) social action praying specific or long or w/much praise or with authority, etc.

I. CENTRAL VALUES

A. We Worship by the Spirit of God (3a)

1. Jesus and the women at the well in John 4 ("The kind of worshippers the Father seeks)
2. By His Spirit we cry "Abba Father" (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6)

a. Romans - adoption; Galatians - sonship
b. Subjectively we cry...; Objectively His Spirit cries out through us

3. "Not by might nor by power" i.e. not by show nor by atmosphere

B. We Glory in Christ Jesus (3b)

1. Those under the law always glory in their standards for spiritual life: hair, dress...
2. Those who trust in themselves glory in what they have done
3. We glory in the sufficiency of the cross of Christ

a. "Live by the faith of the Son of God" (Gal. 2:20)

C. We Put No Confidence in the Flesh that We May Know Christ (3-8)

1. All the grounds for confidence in the flesh, once profitable, now counted as loss

a. Paul's unique credentials (3c:4-6)
b. Loss for gaining Christ:
e.g. confidence in the flesh hinders gaining Christ... the way they catch monkeys
c. Loss for the surpassing glory of Knowing Christ e.g. wedding ring to the marriage

2. Know Christ and the Power of His Resurrection (10a)

a. New life: e.g. foul mouthed man who came to the office to complain about his wife
b. Renewing process that continues II Peter 1:5-7 goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love

3. Know Christ and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings (10b)

a. Misunderstanding of "His sufferings:" it's not because of our own errors
b. Suffering because of rejection; when doing right; sacrificing for others

4. Know Christ and becoming like him in His death (10c)

a. Dying to self: "I die daily" "lose your life to gain it"
b. Like Him in His death: check the attitude...

5. Somehow attain the resurrection from the dead (11)

a. Not a works issue
b. By every means possible; i.e. being fully committed

II. CENTRAL PASSION: Attain or Be what God Has Called us to Be (12-21)

A. "Press on" (12)

1. Implied resistance
2. Implied effort

B. Forgetting what is behind (13)

1. Most difficult thing gain what is new: hurts; limitations e.g. elephant
2. Let go of standards; attainments; and God's past blessings (He may want to do more)

C. Take note of those who live by this model (17)
D. Eagerly await our Savior From Heaven (20