“Knowing Christ and Pressing Forward”
Philippians 3:10–21
Knowing Christ Should Be Our Pursuit!
Philippians 3:10–11
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 If, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Knowing Christ Personally
Paul’s desire is not position, knowledge, or comfort—but Christ Himself.
Moses
Exodus 33:13
Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
Psalm 103:7
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
Exodus 33:11
So, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
David
Psalm 27:4
“That I may dwell in the house of the LORD… to behold the beauty of the LORD.”
Jesus’ prayer
John 17:3
“This is eternal life, that they may know You…”
Knowing His Power and His Sufferings
Resurrection power gives victory.
Fellowship of sufferings produces maturity.
Paul
II Corinthians 12:9–10
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Peter & John
Acts 5:41
So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
You cannot know Christ deeply without walking with Him fully.
Spiritual Growth Requires Pressing Forward
Philippians 3:12–16
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Salvation Is Not the Finish Line
Paul admits he has not “arrived.”
Growth is ongoing—no spiritual complacency.
Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Hebrews 6:1
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Forgetting What Is Behind
Past sins forgiven
Past successes cannot sustain future obedience
Israel
Exodus 16:3
And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Lot’s wife
Genesis 19:26
But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Paul — former persecutor who moved forward in grace
Reaching Toward the Prize
Philippians 3:14
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Runners
I Corinthians 9:24–27
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may [a]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [b]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Faith heroes
Hebrews 12:1–2
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What you pursue determines where you end up.
Living with a Heavenly Mindset
Philippians 3:17–21
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Follow Godly Examples
“Follow my example…”
Timothy
Philippians 2:19–22
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
Faith leaders
Hebrews 13:7
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Warning Against Earthly-Minded Living
enemies of the cross:
Mind on earthly things
Esau
Hebrews 12:16
lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.
Rich fool
Luke 12:20–21
But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose, will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Our True Citizenship Is in Heaven
Believers live from heaven’s values, not earth’s pressure.
Abraham
Hebrews 11:9–10
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God
Believers
1 Peter 2:11
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
Our Future Is Transformation
This gives hope, endurance, and holiness.
1 John 3:2–3
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.