Philippians 3:12-21 (ESV)
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 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.
The Christian life is a forward press -- forgetting the past, straining toward the goal of Christlikeness, imitating mature examples, and living as citizens of heaven while awaiting our Savior's return to transform us.
After declaring the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (3:1-11), Paul now addresses the practical shape of the ongoing Christian life. He has not "arrived." He has not attained perfection. But he is pressing on. This passage shifts from the theology of justification (what Christ has done for us) to the practice of sanctification (what we are called to become).
The passage has three movements. First, Paul's personal pursuit of Christlikeness (v12-16) -- the discipline of pressing on without looking back. Second, the call to follow good examples and avoid bad ones (v17-19) -- the importance of patterns in the Christian life. Third, the anchor of heavenly citizenship (v20-21) -- the future hope that empowers present effort.
"The true test of our Christianity is not that we are saved, but that we are being saved. The true Christian is not one who merely once ran well, but one who is pressing forward." -- David Guzik
"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."
Paul begins with a disclaimer. "This" refers to the resurrection and full knowledge of Christ he described in verses 10-11. After 30 years of Christian life, he has not arrived. He is not yet "perfect" (teteleiomai -- completed, finished). The Christian life is a journey, not a destination.
"I press on" (dioko) means to pursue, to chase after, to hunt. It is the same word Paul used for persecuting the church (3:6). His zeal is the same; the object has changed. The ground of his pursuit is not his own effort but the fact that "Christ Jesus has made me his own." Christ's grip on Paul is the foundation of Paul's grip on Christ.
"But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead."
"One thing I do" -- this is magnificent focus. Paul is not scattered or divided. His life has a single organizing purpose. "Forgetting what lies behind" -- not the sins of the past (he knows they are forgiven) but the achievements of the past (even his accomplishments for Christ). Yesterday's victories must not become today's excuses for coasting.
"Straining forward" pictures a runner leaning into the tape, eyes fixed on the finish line, muscles taut with effort. "The goal" is the end of the race. "The prize" is what awaits -- the upward call of God, the resurrection, the fullness of Christ.
"Let those of us who are mature think this way."
Paradoxically, the mark of maturity is knowing you are not yet mature. Immature Christians think they have arrived. Mature Christians know they are still on the journey. If anyone disagrees, Paul trusts that God will reveal it -- but the immediate call is to "hold true to what we have attained." Don't lose the ground you've gained while reaching for more.
"Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us."
Paul does not hesitate to hold himself up as an example. This is not arrogance but the honest humility of a man who knows he is being conformed to Christ and wants others to follow the same path. He also points to others who walk the same way -- not just apostles but ordinary believers whose lives demonstrate the pattern.
"For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ."
Paul warns with tears. He does not enjoy this warning. His heart breaks for those who are enemies of the cross. What marks them? Three things: their god is their belly (they live for appetite and pleasure), they glory in their shame (they boast about what they should be ashamed of), and their minds are set on earthly things (they have no eternal perspective).
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
This is the anchoring truth. The Philippians knew the pride of Roman citizenship: legal rights, protection, identity. Paul says your true citizenship is in heaven. You are a colony of heaven on earth. And from heaven, we await not a thing but a Person -- "a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Christianity is not a system or a philosophy but a relationship with a living King who is coming back.
"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."
This is the ultimate hope. Our "lowly body" (soma tes tapeinoseos -- body of humiliation) will be transformed into a "glorious body" (soma tes doxes -- body of glory) like Christ's resurrected body. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead and that subjects all things to Him will one day transform us. This is not escape from the physical world but the redemption of it.
Murray reflects on the weight of the past: "Many people today are also looking back. They look back at past sins and this produces guilt. They look back at past failures and this produces discouragement. They look back at past trauma and this produces anxiety. Others, though, look back at past accomplishments and this produces pride."
Paul's solution is comprehensive: forget both the sins and the successes. Look forward to Christ. This is not denial but redirection. The past has been dealt with at the cross. The future is defined by Christ. Live there.
Murray uses the image of the United States passport: "Traveling overseas, I find it's a very valuable document to have in my pocket. It gives me protection, provision, and privileges not available to others." For the Philippians, a Roman colony, citizenship was a treasured status. But Paul tells them their real citizenship is in heaven. "When we are born again, we get a spiritual passport that gives us a new identity -- citizenship in heaven, with new rights, privileges, and powers, but also responsibilities."
"They are citizens of heaven. Their thoughts are of heaven; their desires and hopes are of heaven; they live like citizens of heaven, and they wait with patience and joy for their coming Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven to their relief. He will change their bodies into the likeness of his own glorious body."
In an age of endless distraction, Paul's "one thing" focus is revolutionary. We are pulled in a thousand directions -- by notifications, obligations, careers, hobbies, relationships. Paul has a single organizing purpose: pressing toward Christ. This does not mean neglecting responsibilities but orienting them all toward the goal of knowing Christ and being conformed to Him. For the working adult, this provides clarity in the chaos: what is the "one thing" that everything else serves?
Session 10 (Lesson 0010) will cover Philippians 4:1-9 -- "Stand Firm, Rejoice, Think on These Things," with a Knowing focus. Paul calls the Philippians to stand firm in the Lord, to rejoice always, to let their reasonableness be known, to be anxious for nothing, and to fill their minds with whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and praiseworthy.