Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:12-16

The Possibility of Faithfulness

Intro.

1. We are familiar with the impossibility of apostasy: Warned not to fall, 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12-14.

2. Our conduct is to be worthy of the gospel, Phil. 1:27; 2:12-13.

3. Paul’s life shows us the possibility of faithfulness, and assures us that God sees and rewards His faithful children, Phil. 3:7-16.

I. PUT NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH, Phil. 3:3-7.

A. Commit to Unwavering Priorities, Phil. 3:7-11 (Matt. 6:33, 24).

1. What was “gain to me” … count as loss for Christ, 3:8; Lk. 14:33.

2. “That I may gain Christ” – Be profited by Christ; Be connected to Him. How?

a. Walk as He walked, 1 Jno. 2:3-6.

b. Keep His word, Jno. 14:21-24.

3. Do not love the world, 1 Jno. 2:15.

4. Outcome of worldly priorities is destruction, Phil. 3:18-19.

B. Set Your Goals, Phil. 3:9-11.

-Why maintain such steadfast priorities-

1. To be found in Him, Phil. 3:9; Col. 2:6 (new creature, 2 Cor. 5:17).

a. In Him: Reconciled, Rom. 3:24; No condemnation, Rom. 8:1; Alive to God, Rom. 6:11.

b. Not my own righteousness, 3:9. 2 Tim. 1:9

c. Having righteousness through faith, Phil. 3:9 (Rom 1:17; 4:5-8)

2. That I may know Him­, Phil. 3:10. cf. Titus 1:15-16: Pure, obedient and qualified for every good work.

3. That I may know the power of His resurrection, 3:10; Rom. 6:4-9, 10-12. (Live free from the death and slavery of sin.)

4. Fellowship of His sufferings (being conformed to His death), cf. Gal. 2:20.

5. To attain to the resurrection of the dead, Phil. 3:11.

a. Arrive, come to (achieve with effort): Resurrection of the dead (righteous), Acts 26:15; Jno. 5:28-29; Phil. 3:21.

b. To be with the Lord, Phil. 1:21, 23; 1 Thess. 4:17.

II. OUR BLESSED ASSURANCE, Phil. 3:12-14.

A. We will See Christ by Remaining Faithful, 1 Jno. 3:2.

B. “Not Yet” … - Paul was not Finished, 3:12.

1. I have not already attained (to seize).

a. Not yet apprehended (3:13): Win, acquire, 1 Cor. 9:24.

b. Paul had not yet received the blessed reward: The end of your faith, 1 Pet. 1:9 (salvation of your souls).

2. I am not already perfected (completed), God’s work in Paul was not yet complete, and so Paul would not stop working Heb. 6:1.

3. You have work to do! Phil. 2:12-14; cf. Elijah, 1 Kgs. 19:9, 15-16

C. “I Press On” – To Lay Hold of the Prize of Eternal Life, 3:13-14.

1. Forget yesterday and reach forward: Paul would not be defined by his past; For either good or bad, 1 Tim. 1:12-16.

2. Reaching forward…I press toward the goal: Strive after, chase (pursue) after the prize, 1 Cor. 9:26-27.

3. Confidence of salvation is revealed in pressing forward, assured that the Lord is at work in you, and that He does not forget your faithfulness, Phil. 2:12; Heb. 6:10-12.

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATION, Phil. 3:15-16.

A. Mature in Your Faith (grow up), 3:15; Heb. 5:12-14; Feed on word and obey it (2 Pet. 3:18).

B. Have the Same Mind as Paul, 3:15; Col. 3:1-2.

-Be guided (only) by the revelation of God’s word.

C. Continue to Live Faithfully, 3:16; Heb. 3:14; 4:11.

1. Keep on living as you began, Gal. 5:6-7.

2. Walk by the same rule (canon: reed, standard), 2 Cor. 5:7.

3. Be of the same mind: Mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5, 1-4).

Conclusion

1. It is possible to be faithful to the end, 2 Tim. 4:7-8.

2. You must begin by putting away the flesh. The, live for Jesus daily.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted: September 14, 2017