Are you running life’s race with passion? This message continues the topic of the call God has placed on each of our lives, and how to understand the goal and work toward the prize.

Are you pressing on to the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus? We are to press forward in faith. The evidence of your faith in Christ is seen as a life well lived. God’s call on your life is for you to be justified and glorified. This will only happen as we press on to spiritual maturity as we live up to what we have already attained. Look past the trials, pain and suffering you may have experienced or are experiencing right now and focus on the goal. One step after another, press on forward to the goal.

Are you living up to your life’s calling?

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:12-21, NIV).

Two weeks ago, we considered evidence of salvation regarding one’s faith in Christ. We said that the evidence of a person’s salvation and faith in Christ is witnessed by their faith, love and hope in Christ the Lord, that they display in their lives every day. The believer’s faith is active, and their changed lives are evidenced by the believer’s deep conviction in Christ as Lord. The believer’s deep conviction in Christ as Lord is seen in their driving passion to glorify God, to share the gospel and to encourage others to have faith in Christ. Paul commended the believers for being examples to all believers and how they looked forward to the blessed hope of Jesus' return.

The evidence of your faith in Christ is seen in a life well lived. Your life will:

1. Glorify God Almighty.

2. Provide evidence of genuine salvation.

3. Display God’s grace.

4. Encourage other believers.

5. Draw others to Christ.

6. Confirm the truth of the gospel message.

7. Instill hope to the hopeless and inspire joy to those experiencing trials.

8. Reveal the power of God over sin and has the power to change lives for all eternity.

In Philippians 3 Paul encourages the believer to press on no matter the circumstance and to focus on what is ahead, that being eternity with Christ the Lord in Glory. Growing in the knowledge and depth of insight in Christ will guide the believer to live a blameless lifestyle.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11).

Paul pressed forward in faith and encouraged us to do the same.

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!” (Philippians 1:20-22).

Paul never wanted to fail or fall short of God’s plan or purpose for his life. Jesus was always Paul’s first concern, then others and himself last. Paul told the believers to follow his example and to take note to live according to the pattern shown to them. Paul’s priority in life was to live his life in a manner worthy of the gospel (see Philippians 1:27).

Paul wrote that he considered everything in his life before he placed his faith in Christ as a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ. Paul said further: it was for Christ’s sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ (Philippians 3:7-9).

Paul never considered himself to have arrived at a place where he had accomplished all God had for him in life or to know all about Christ even if others may have thought that. He simply continued to press on towards the goal—to know and grow in Christ more and more.

I said last week that we all have a call God placed on our lives:

• A call to have faith in Christ.

• A call to do the will of the Father.

• A call to take hold of that for which Jesus took hold of us.

• A call to share the gospel message.

• A call to obedience and steadfastness in faith no matter the situation.

• A call to spiritual maturity and to no longer live as enemies of the cross.

• A call heavenward and to do good works.

• A call to be conformed into the image of Christ.

• A call to realize that our citizenship is in heaven and to pursue the righteousness of Christ, as we await Jesus' soon return.

God’s call on your life is to know Jesus and walk by faith for you to be justified and glorified. This will only happen as we press on to spiritually maturity and as we live up to what we have already attained.

What is it that we as believers have attained?

• The knowledge of Christ.

• The grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God

• A blessed hope of his return and eternal life with Christ in glory.

In knowing the gospel and having been delivered from the bondage of sin and death by faith in Christ, Paul focused on living his life as set apart to Christ for all to see and sharing the good news of Christ to whosoever would listen.

With this as a goal, Paul tells us to do the same and press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I shared last week that the prize is the crown of life. It is eternal life with Christ, but what is the goal?

• The goal is to be found faithful.

• The goal is to live by faith.

• To be an example to others.

• To live by faith in Christ and in the blessed hope of Christ return.

• To live up to what we have already attained. The gift of God. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).

• God extended to you his love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Jesus at the cross.

• God’s redemption plan is Jesus going to the cross and in Jesus’ death and shed blood paid your debt to sin and death. Your sin debt is fully paid.

Paul tells the believers, and included himself, to live up to what we have already attained.

“All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained” (Philippians 3:15-16).

The KJV uses the word perfect rather than mature.

“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” (Philippians 3:15, KJV).

Paul is not speaking of being perfect regarding perfection from sin. This will not happen until we are with Christ in glory, but rather positionally perfect in Christ. You will still sin, however that is no excuse to continue to sin.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:11-12, NIV).

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2).

In Philippians 3:15, being mature, perfect, complete is having the same attitude, the same mindset and being focused on the things of God.

• It is displaying the same love, same goal, to see people redeemed.

• It is having the knowledge of Christ in our hearts and living it out for all to see.

• It is being an example and living a life well lived for the glory of God.

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:28-29).

Hebrews 10:14 tells us that by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

God has placed his laws in the believers’ hearts and has written them on our minds and each day we are to grow in the knowledge of Christ as we are being conformed into the image of Christ.

• Hebrews 10:16: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.

• Colossians 3:16-17 tells us that how we are to live. With the word of God in our hearts and visibility giving thanks to God in all we do in Jesus’ name. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul tells the believers to follow others as they follow his example.

Understand that the life you live is to be an example to others and pointing others to Jesus, not away.

• Are you a living example of a life that is set apart?

• If a person were to follow your example, would it lead to knowing Jesus more and toward spiritual maturity?

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do” (Philippians 3:17).

In verses 18-21 Paul gives the reader a warning. Paul clearly points out that there are only two eternal destinations, two mindsets: An earthly mindset or a heavenly mindset. A life and destiny that ends in destruction or one that ends with a heavenly citizenship. The mindset that is earthly will result in shame and destruction. It will end with the person who holds such a mindset as an enemy of the cross and of God Almighty. Paul grieves for this person because it would appear that they are spiritually blind to the fact that their eternal destiny is destruction and far from God.

This person with an earthly mindset has four characteristics:

1. Their destiny is destruction.

2. Their god is what they desire.

3. Their glory is their shame: pride, selfish ambition, self-praise, their own success by their own ability.

4. A self-seeking, worldly and evil position.

But on the other side, the mindset that is heavenly results in eagerly waiting for a savior (Jesus), who will transform their lowly bodies to be like his glorious body. Paul encourages this person to press on and to remain steadfast in the Lord. This person will be blessed and will enjoy heaven’s glory. This person's citizenship is in heaven.

Paul wanted everyone to know that having a heavenly mindset and enjoying citizenship in heaven is possible even for those who may think differently at the moment. Paul knew and believed that God would make it clear. The gospel message can reach even the hardest of hearts: all we need to do is say “yes Lord,” have faith in Jesus, believe God's word and allow the Holy Spirit access to our hearts.

As we press in and seek to know Jesus more and more, we will grow in the knowledge of Christ and grace of God. A faith in Christ will develop into a deep conviction as we grow in the understanding of God's love and what Christ has done for us.

As you press in to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of you, you will gain a deeper insight into the things of God, and you will develop a deep gratitude for what Christ has done for you.

I wonder if you caught what Paul is saying. Jesus took the first step. Only after Christ took hold of Paul, did Paul press on to take hold of what Christ had for him. The same is true for you. As you press in, you will develop a deeper insight regarding the things of God. You will develop a deeper gratitude in your heart for the things of God. You will develop a deeper love for God as displayed in your lifestyle. You will develop a deeper spiritual maturity regarding the truth of the gospel and having such a view it will drive you to press on all the more in faith and obedience. The opposite is also true. If you do nothing, you will not gain a deeper knowledge or develop spiritual maturity in Christ.

The more you press in regarding the knowledge of Christ each day, the more you will grow in spiritual maturity, and the greater love, gratitude and understanding you will have for God’s love, grace, mercy and forgiveness that he has extended to you.

The more you press in, the more you will live up to the call of God in your life. The more you press in, the more you will want to live up to what you already attained—being the knowledge of Christy and faith in Christ the Lord. Such a lifestyle will lead to a greater passion for Christ, a greater joy of knowing that your citizenship is in heaven, a greater love for Christ and a deeper appreciation and understanding of the price Jesus paid on the cross.

Do you understand and appreciate the symbols of Jesus' body and blood that you hold in your hands when you partake in communion? The symbol of Christ's broken body and shed blood will hold a deeper meaning for you.

• It is by his death on the cross;

• It is by his shed blood;

• It is by his broken and bruised body;

• It is by his obedience to the father and his love for you that you have redemption, forgiveness from sin, and the righteousness of Christ, and a heavenly citizenship in the first place.

All who are mature understand this, so let us live up to what we have already attained. Let us be living examples of God's glory to the world and press on each day to know him more and more.

Please take a moment and consider these questions for your own life:

• What are you living up to?

• What does your life display?

• Who is your example in life—is it to be more like Jesus?

• What do you seek and press on towards?

• Is it to know more and more of Jesus and to live up to what you already know and have attained in Christ?

Suggested Praise and Worship

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