FOCUSED ON THE
PERFECTION OF CHRIST
Philippians 3:12-16
V: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."
A. We should never
get to the point where we think we are perfect in the Lord.
1. As long as we
are in the flesh, we are subject to the temptation of evil.
2. We have to
continue to beat the flesh into submission.
3. When we get up
in the morning we have to put on the full armor of God.
a. Satan is
always on his job.
b. Satan
will not lose an opportunity to temp the believer into sinful behavior.
c. Armed
with a knowledge of the Word, we have the power to resist the devil.
B. Even though we are
not perfect, we should keep our eye on the goal of perfection.
1. We should never
get weary in our pursuit of being like Christ Jesus.
2. Perfection is
our goal and nothing less should be in our sights.
3. When we are weak,
and weary, Christ is our strength.
C. Christ has hold of every believer and they will not be
lost.
1.Even though
salvation cannot be lost, the believer has the responsibility to
continue his pursuit of
Christ' perfection.
2. With Jesus as
our guide and protector, we can continue making gains on His
perfection.
V: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."
A. Don't ever get to
proud of yourself.
1. Keep a
truthful assessment of yourself.
2. Perfection is
our goal but there are always gains to be made.
B. Don't beat yourself
up on past failures.
1. You can't do
anything about your past.
2. You can't
change your past, but you can learn from your past.
C. Looking in the
rear view mirror, keeps your focus off the goal of perfection.
1. You have to
let go of the past to move into the future.
2. Meditation on
past failures dampens our outlook for the future.
3. Vain glory
about past successes makes us complacent
about our need to push
ourselves to
improve.
D. Consider how a
farmer reacts to what God has done for us in nature.
1. God gave us
four seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter.
2. For a farmer,
the spring is the time to plant.
3. The Summer
is the time when that which was planted comes into full growth
and is readied
for harvest.
4. The Fall is
the time when that which was harvested is stored.
5. The Winter
is the time when God gives rain and snow and the land lies dormant.
a. God
prepares the ground for the spring season and the cycle starts over again.
6. The farmer
can't focus on seasons gone by, but must focus on seasons ahead.
a. The
farmer can't focus on past seasons.
b. The
farmer must focus on the possibilities of the new season.
7. God gives us
new grace and new mercies each day for what lies ahead of us.
a. We can't
waste our time on yesterday, but we must focus on the task ahead.
b.
Yesterday is done and each day begins fresh in the Lord.
E. What is before us
is our perfection in righteousness and our heavenly home.
1. We must never forget that there is much
work to be done for Christ.
2. In Christ is
the power to succeed in all work to Glorify the Father.
3. We are His
workmanship and He made us for good works.
V:14. "I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
A. Good athletes
never give up.
1. A good athlete
prepares himself to compete in the championship round.
2. Christians are
in the championship round and victory is assured.
B. The question is
how do you finish the race.
1.We have to
strive toward the high calling of Jesus
Christ.
2. God has given
us a training manual, the Bible.
3. By following
the Commands of Jesus, we are pressing toward the mark.
C. We haven been summoned
by God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
secure the
crown of eternal life.
1. The crown is
ours through faith in the promises of Jesus Christ.
2. Because we
are grateful, we should use our time on earth to glorify the Father
in all of our activities.
V:15. "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus
minded: and if in any thing ye
be otherwise
minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
A. "Let us
therefore, as many as be perfect."
1. Our perfection
is in Jesus Christ.
2. If we abide in
Christ, He will abide in us. John 15:4
3. Keeping the
commands of Jesus in love is abiding in Him.
John 15:10.
B. "Be thus
minded"
1. The mind of
Christ must be our goal. Phil 2:5
a. A mind
of love.
b. A mind
of forgiveness.
c. A mind
of compassion for one another.
d. A mind
of service.
e. A mind
to sacrifice for the love of Christ and the love of the brethren.
C. The world has a
mind that is different from Christ.
1. It cannot
be our will but the will of the Father.
2. We can know
the will of the Father by studying His Word.
V:16. "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained,
let us walk by the same rule,
let us mind the same
thing."
A. What we have
already obtained is God's favor through faith in Jesus Christ.
1. We have
already obtained eternal life.
2. We have
already obtained a place in heaven.
3. We have
already obtained the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ.
4. We obtain each day God's grace and mercy.
5. We have
already obtained kingdom blessings.
B. Because we are
children of the King, we ought to walk worthy of the King.
1. Our daily
thoughts ought to be the thoughts of the king.
2. Our daily walk
ought to reflect Christian values.
C. Joy and peace is
ours through our relationship with Jesus.
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