Tag: faith

Have you ever met someone who is overly optimistic? Nothing can ever get them down.
They’re the human equivalent of Tiger. These people are often seen as being “Glass half-
full.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have those who are pessimistic. The sky is
always falling, doom is always on the horizon. These people are like Eeyore, and are
often viewed as being, “Glass half-empty.” But there is a third way. In our household, we
have what are known as “Brianisms.” These are pearls of wisdom from my father-in-law.
One of my favorite Brianisms is this: “I don’t care if the glass is half-empty or half-full. I
want to know what’s in the glass.” 1 This is the attitude of the Apostle Paul. As he penned
this letter to the church in Philippi, he was not putting on a mask and pretending to be
strong and joyful even though he was dying inside. He acknowledged his sufferings, yet
was able to rejoice in them because of the person and work of Christ.

This is one of the reasons that the local church is so important for believers.
“Bring your baggage in, but leave your mask at the door.”
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2

The gospel call is not, “fake it until you make it.” The gospel message is this:
Come as you are, and by God’s grace, you don’t have to stay where you are! Have
you repented and believed the gospel? Are you a new creation in Christ, or are
you just a well-behaved sinner? The gospel message is NOT behavior
modification – it IS repentance and faith in the Triune God of scripture.

1 Brian Brinkley
2 Ryan Anderson

Sinclair Ferguson has explained contentment in this way: “Contentment is never the
result of the momentary decision of the will. It cannot be produced merely by having a
well-ordered and thought-through time-and life-management plan calculated to guard us
against unexpected twists of divine providence. No, true contentment means embracing
the Lord’s will in every aspect of His providence simply because it is His providence. It
involves what we are in our very being, not just what we do and can accomplish.” 3 In
other words, contentment is not rooted in doing as much as it is in being.

Before moving on, a disclaimer must be made: “There is a place for legitimate
discontentment. All of us should, to some degree, be discontent with our spiritual growth.
If we are not, we will stop growing. There is also what we might call a prophetic
discontentment with injustice and other evils in society that is coupled with a desire to
see positive change.” What we must avoid at all costs is a sinful, whining disposition that
always complains about circumstances.

True contentment is a result of communion with Christ. Contentment is utterly
impossible apart from Him. Have you fully submitted your life to Christ, or just added
Him to your life? Jesus Christ is not an accessory – something to be kept around, “just in
case” you need something.

Are you content with the person, work & presence of Christ? Or are you just
content with the blessings you receive from Him?

The quickest path to misery is to pursue passions, pleasures & purpose apart from God.
The quickest path to joy is to find your passions, pleasures & purpose in Christ alone.
God is not the cherry on top of your already blessed life. He is the one from whom all
blessings flow!

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory
forever. Amen.” 5 – Romans 11:36. That’s why we sing the doxology; it’s a
reminder that everything good in this life comes from the one true living God.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow / Praise Him all creatures here below /
Praise Him above ye heavenly host / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost / Amen

Philippians 4:10 – We can have joy in gospel partnership
In James Montgomery Boice’s commentary, he observes that throughout history, churches have been remembered for different things. The book of Romans reveals a church with remarkable faith, the church at Ephesus was remembered for its hard work, the church at Corinth was remembered for being somewhat carnal/immoral at times, the church at Laodicea is remembered for its apostasy, and Thessalonica for its doctrinal divisions concerning the second coming of Christ. Here, we see the church at Philippi being remembered as a church who shows compassion, stewardship and selflessness. 6 When the day of judgement comes, what will Christ say of His bride at Waldo? How will we as a church be remembered? 100 years from now, will this church on a hill in the middle of a cornfield in Massac County cease to exist, or will we continue to be a light shining in a dark world? Will we be the church who is focused on the things of this world? Will we be the church who chooses division over things that don’t matter? Or will we be the church who is remembered for our joy, charity & worship of God? There is joy in gospel partnership. We can be a part of fulfilling the great commission by praying, proclaiming & sacrificial giving. We are not here to build the kingdom of Waldo. We exist to further the kingdom of God. This can only be done if we are a church who prays, sends & gives our very best for the glory of God and the good of His people.

Philippians 1:3-5. Paul’s relationship with the church at Philippi begins in Acts 16. In
God’s providence, the Apostle is prevented by the Holy Spirit from entering various
cities in this missionary journey. Paul receives a vision at night of a man in Macedonia,
saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” One Sabbath day, Paul encounters a
woman named Lydia, who along with her household, is converted and baptized. As this
encounter ends, Paul casts out a demon from a slave girl. This lands Paul & Silas in
prison. As Paul & Silas are in jail, at midnight they began to pray and sing hymns. An
earthquake occurs, the prison doors are opened, and the jailer assumes that his prisoners
have escaped & decides to take his own life. At the last minute, Paul cries out to the jailer
that no one has left the prison. Then we have the conversion of the jailer. The city
officials ask Paul & Silas to leave the city, so they visit Lydia & the brothers, they are
encouraged by the believers & then carry on their missionary journey.

As Paul concludes this letter, he thanks the church in Philippi that although no other
church entered into partnership with him in giving and receiving, they did. His focus was
not the material possessions that he would receive from this local church – he was
encouraged by the fact that their sacrificial giving would serve to advance the gospel.

“If you want to live big on a small paycheck – give.” 7
When you give sacrificially for the edification of the church, you may have no idea of the
impact it could have on this side of eternity.
Philippians 4:11 – Contentment must be learned
Learning contentment is not easy, but it is possible, necessary & commanded by God. Paul is
writing this letter from a prison cell – how can he have joy under these circumstances but by
God’s grace alone?

Contentment is learned. It takes both awareness and effort. On one hand, Paul is the most
famous Christian in church history. At the same time, the best of men are men at best. We
should not idolize Paul, or any other Christian. However, we must recognize that the man
who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament, who planted churches, endured hardships & was
one of the most zealous followers of Christ – had to LEARN contentment. This should
encourage us.
8 “Since this is a secret to be learned, two things are implied: Not every Christian
has learned it & it is possible to learn. Many Christians, it seems, go throug their entire lives struggling, fuming, fretting, murmuring, fussing, arguing, and complaining against God and against their life circumstances.” (Davis, 2019)
Contentment is a choice. You don’t always get to choose your circumstances. You
always get to choose how you respond to them.

“In first-century Stoicism, “contentment” was an admired virtue, the trait of true wisdom.
But Stoic “contentment” was self-sufficiency, grounded in aloof indifference. Paul’s
contentment was reliant not on himself and his ability to suppress emotions, but on
Christ, who held Paul fast and sustained him in all circumstances.”

We are seeing a resurgence of this mindset in our culture today. Self-help authors
and alpha-guru personality types (e.g. David Goggins & Andrew Tate) are
influencing our culture by preaching the false gospel of self-sufficiency and
picking yourself up by your own bootstraps. To be content in the truest sense is
only possible by relying on the sufficiency of Christ. Anything apart from that is
antithetical to the gospel message. The solution to man’s problems is not the
prosperity gospel, the poverty gospel, stoicism or any earthly philosophy. The
only answer is Christ crucified on your behalf, dead, buried, raised, ascended to
the Father and is coming back to judge the quick and the dead.

Other scriptures
“But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by
contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take
anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall
be content.” 10 – 1 Timothy 6:6-8

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows
with blessing will also reap with blessing. Each one must do just as he has
purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a
cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace about to you, so that in
everything at every time having every sufficiency, you may have an
abundance for every good deed.” 11 – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

God does not provide good things for us so that we can build our own
kingdom. He gives us aptitude, opportunities & resources so that we may
play a part in building His kingdom. Note in this verse why He gives grace
& sufficiency; SO THAT we may have an abundance for every good deed.
Christ is building His church and He is using ordinary people through
ordinary means to do so. Do you want contentment? Lay hold of the
promises of God. Cling to them like your life depends upon it, because it
does!

“Make sure that your way of life is free from the love of money, being content
with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I
ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The LORD is my helper, I will not
be afraid. What will man do to me?”

John D. Rockefeller was the first billionaire in the U.S. was once asked, “How much money is enough?” He replied, “Just a little bit more.” Money can be a great tool, but is always a terrible master.

Philippians 4:12 – Contentment outside of Christ will not last
As we go through our life, some lessons can be taught, while others must be caught.
Contentment is not a simple math equation that can be easily understood by using a
textbook, it must be learned through experience. Contentment is rooted in being, not just
doing. If all we have is action without meaning, we will be of little use in God’s
kingdom. Our actions must be rooted in knowing and being known by the One True and
Living God.

“To be content as a result of some external thing is like warming a man’s clothes by the
fire. But to be content through an inward disposition of the soul is like the warmth that a
man’s clothes have from the natural heat of the body. A man who is healthy in body puts
on his clothes, and perhaps at first on a cold morning they feel cold. But after he has had
them on a little while they are warm. Now, how did they get warm? They were not near
the fire? No, this came from the natural heat of his body. Now when a sickly man, the
natural heat of whose body has deteriorated, puts on his clothes, they do not get hot after
a long time. He must warm them by the fire, and even then they will soon be cold
again.”

External circumstances are beyond our control, but the way we respond is within our
control. Our response to external circumstances is based upon our inward disposition of
our heart. We fail to recognize this truth when we use phrases such as, “That makes me
so angry”, “This person causes me to be anxious”, or “I would be happy if I only had
_.” The root of sinful anger, anxiety & discontentment is the flesh. In order to kill sin,
we must call it for what it truly is & look to Christ alone to set us free.

“As far-fetched as this may sound to us, Jesus actually likens the value of salvation to a
secret treasure hidden in a field (Matt. 13:44). Christian contentment is part of that
spiritual treasure. It has such transformative power that it is far more valuable than any
physical treasure that has ever been buried beneath the surface of the earth. And the
apostle Paul claims to know where the treasure of contentment is buried.” (Davis, 2019)

o What the Christian life is NOT: Justification > spend your time on earth
complaining about your circumstances > heaven.
o What the Christian life IS: Justification > Sanctification > Glorification

Contentment is NOT the same as a lack of ambition. Contentment and ambition exist
harmoniously in the Christian life when our affections are ordered properly. If your satisfaction and joy rise and fall with your power, prestige or possessions, rest
assured that power, prestige and possessions are not the problem – it’s a heart issue.
Christians need to face the reality that sometimes we wrestle with spiritual powers and principalities, sometimes we wrestle with the world, but more often than not, our greatest
problem is ourselves, the flesh.

As we pursue contentment in Christ, we must stay on guard against anything contrary to
that end. One of the more prevailing sins in our culture that robs us of contentment is
anxiety. It’s no coincidence that just a few verses prior to our text, Paul warns against
anxiety in the life of a believer. Jerry Bridges wisely stated the following: “The opposite
of trust in God is either anxiety or frustration, and Jesus had a lot to say about anxiety.
The most prominent passage in which Jesus speaks about it is Matthew 6:25-34, in which
He uses the word anxious six times. We are not to be anxious about what we are to eat,
drink, or wear, or even about the unknown circumstances of tomorrow… Paul picks up
this admonition about anxiety with his words in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious
about anything.” And Peter adds his exhortation, “Cast all your anxieties on him, because
He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Matthew 6:25-34 – This world is not our home. The words of Jesus and Paul make sense
only because they have eternity in view. When I am anxious, I am believing the lie that my Father in heaven does not care for me. When I am anxious, I am refusing to believe God’s promises that He will work all things out for my good and His glory.

In our culture, anxiety is often used as a crutch, or sometimes even displayed as a
badge of honor. People will wrap their identity in their anxiety with phrases such
as, “I’m an anxious person.” This language has become normalized in our culture.
Would we use the same language for other sins, such as envy, greed, lust, or
arrogance? As a church, we cannot afford to soften the language the Bible uses
for sin because we are worried about offending someone. We’re so worried about
not offending anyone, the only person we don’t mind to offend is God. Anxiety,
like any other sin, must be put to death in the life of a Christian. The more we see
sin for what it really is, the more we can appreciate the beauty and glory of who
Christ is and what He has done. In the 23 rd Psalm, we read these words: “Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You
are with me, Your rod and staff, they comfort me.” The psalmist does not whine
about his circumstances. He rejoices in the fact that His shepherd loves and cares
for Him and is willing to lead him through the deepest and darkest valley. This is
the attitude of Paul. If you struggle with anxiety, you are not alone, and there are
men and women in this church who will walk alongside you.

Keeping discontentment, anxiety, impure thoughts or any other sin around in your
life would like having a rattlesnake as a pet. Eventually you it will bite you. When
it does, the venom will coarse through your veins and it will destroy you. What’s the solution? Christ has crushed the head of the serpent – look unto Him!

Philippians 4:13 – Christ ALONE is the source of our contentment

This is one of the 3 most misquoted scriptures in our day.
Matthew 7:1 – Quoted when someone is trying to justify their sin and want to do
so guilt free.
Jeremiah 29:11 – Quoted when someone wants covenant promises of prosperity
without the difficulties of living in exile/Babylon.
Philippians 4:13 – Quoted in an effort to win God’s favor in a sporting event,
business venture, or pursuit of the flesh. By the world’s standards, if anyone had something to complain about, it would have been Paul. When Paul says he can do “all things”, what does he have in mind?

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 – “Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to
talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more
frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and
again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times
I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was
shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on
the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger
from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in
the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored
and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and
have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything
else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.”

If the Apostle’s goal was to be a motivational speaker, he did a terrible job! What is Paul
saying here? “I can endure hunger, beatings, desert heat, arctic cold, persecutions,
poverty, wealth or anything in between. Why? Because my view of God is not based
upon my circumstances. My view of circumstances is based upon who God is.”

Consider the context of the church plant in Philippi. Acts 16 shows a group of people
with differing backgrounds & social status, but their fundamental need is the same –
Christ alone. You can be poor, yet be content. You can be rich, yet lack contentment. To
be content is not based upon outward circumstances. It’s an internal disposition that is
possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit. Contentment is not natural – it is
supernatural.

“A carnal heart reads the promises (of God), and reads them merely as stories, not that he
has any great interest in them. But every time a godly man reads the Scriptures
(remember this when you are reading Scripture) and there meets with a promise, he ought
to lay his hand upon it and say, This is part of my inheritance, it is mine, and I am to live
upon it.” 16

Application – Consider the provision of God to His people down through the ages and in your
own life. In Exodus 16, we see God providing manna from heaven. The Israelites were
commanded to gather enough for that day only. If they kept any of it until morning, it would be filled with maggots and unfit to eat. Why? Because Yahweh wanted to teach His people to
depend on Him. How long will you try and make your own way? How long will you try and live
on yesterday’s manna? Consider Jesus, who taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily
bread.”

If the Israelites tried to live on yesterday’s bread, they would get sick.
If they tried to live on tomorrow’s bread, they would starve.
If they learned to trust in the provision of the One True God, they would be satisfied.
That same offer stands today for you: Trust in your heavenly Father to meet all of your
needs. Learn to be content in the person and work of Christ the son. Rely on the presence
of the Holy Spirit when fears and doubt come your way. Faithfully gather with the saints
every week so that you may be a part of what God is doing, building His kingdom
through His people.

Closing
“What is Heaven, but the rest and quiet of a man’s spirit, that is the special thing that
makes the life of Heaven, there is rest and joy, and satisfaction in God. So it is in a
contented spirit: there is rest and joy and satisfaction in God. In Heaven there is singing
praises to God; a contented heart is always praising and blessing God. You have Heaven
while you are on earth when you have a contented spirit.”

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker, but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice; being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil; and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

Introduction: We cannot afford to think wrongly about ourselves. Misunderstanding the nature of humanity, our great need, and how to fix it is of the utmost importance. Many today wrongly think that humanity’s problems can be solved through technology, but our problem is not a technological one. Others think we can solve humanity’s problems with education, but intellectual ignorance is far from our greatest need. Others may suggest politics is our hope, but public policy cannot get to the heart of our problem. If we diagnose the problem incorrectly, we will prescribe insufficient medicine. 

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said that preaching is the primary activity of the church because God never changes, and man’s need never changes. 

“…the moment you consider man’s real need, and also the nature of salvation announced and proclaimed in the Scriptures, you are driven to the conclusion that the primary task of the Church is to preach and proclaim this, to show’s man’s real need, and to show the only remedy, the only cure for it.”

This article clearly explains humanity’s problem in our confession. Only by understanding the nature of man’s true need can we accurately see that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the sole solution. 

I.) Humanity was created in Holiness

We believe that man was created in holiness, under the law of his Maker

The opening pages of Scripture testify that all of God’s creation was good. Genesis records God’s positive judgment on what he has made with the refrain, “And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:10, 12, 18, 25). 

God’s creation of humanity continues this pattern but in escalation. Humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation. Only humans are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:26-27; 5:1), and only after the creation of man does God see that all he has made is “very good” (Gen. 1:31). 

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 

²⁷  So God created man in his own image, 

in the image of God he created him; 

male and female he created them. (Ge 1:26–27)

Unfortunately, the text in Genesis does not explain what it means to be created according to the image and likeness of God. Nor does the confession articulate a particular understanding of the image of God. It simply rightly affirms that man was “created in holiness.”

Christians have postulated several interpretations, attempting to locate the image in the capacity for reason, the ability to have a relationship with God, and the function of rule and dominion (Gen. 1:28). Although all of these may relate to what it means to be created in God’s image, they do not constitute the essence of the image itself. 

I want to humbly suggest that the image and likeness refer to a royal status that every person possesses as God’s representative on earth. As God’s image and likeness, humanity’s presence on earth marks that God created and thus exercises dominion over all of creation. It is true of everyone regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, mental capacity, or social status. Therefore, every person has an inherent dignity, worth, and value as God’s image bearer. 

This understanding of the image is reflected in the Psalmist’s interpretation of Genesis 1:26-28: “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet.” (Psalm 8:4)

Note that crown, glory, and honor are descriptors of royalty. The rule and 

dominion humanity was meant to possess over creation resulted from 

being in God’s image, but it’s not the image itself. Of course, to be God’s 

royal representative, one also has the capacity to relate to God and other 

creatures. 

This interpretation parallels how the word “image” was used throughout the culture of the ancient Near East. “In ancient near East, the setting up of the king’s statue was the equivalent to the proclamation of his domination over the sphere in which the statue was erected.”

Furthermore, in the ancient world, kings and pharaohs were believed to be the “image” and adopted “sons” of their particular deities. The Egyptian Pharaoh was called the “Image of Re,” and the Assyrian Kings were called the “Image of Bel” or “Image of Marduk.”

“However, unlike the ancient Near East background, where the concept is applied only to the king, Scripture teaches that all humans (“man” collectively) is created in the image of God, and under Adam’s headship, all humans were created to be rulers over creation.”

Adam was created to be a priest-king over God’s creation and meant to exercise dominion over it. He was created good and in holiness, capable of fulfilling God’s commands and living rightly in communion with God. At creation, there was no sin or disruption of fellowship with God. 

Even though Adam was good and created in holiness, he was not free to live and do as he pleased. The confession rightly states that humanity was created”…under the law of his Maker.”

God is holiness, justice, and righteousness. Being created by God means being under the law of our maker. Adam was obligated to God and his holiness. We can and should distinguish between two types of law: natural (moral) law and positive law.  

Samuel Renihan helpfully clarifies the difference between the two, “Natural law refers to the universal moral law of God impressed on the mind of men. Positive law refers to indifferent things prescribed or proscribed for a particular period, place, and people.”

When the confession states that man was created “…under the law of his Maker,” it means that Adam was under God’s moral law and particular positive laws because of God’s covenant with God in creation. 

What positive laws did God give Adam as part of their covenant relationship? 

¹⁵ The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. ¹⁶ And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, ¹⁷ but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Ge 2:15–17)

Some have attempted to suggest that God did not make a covenant with Adam in creation because the word “covenant” does not appear in Genesis 1-2. However, the context of Genesis 1-2 and later biblical texts referring to Genesis 1-2 make it clear that God made a covenant with Adam in creation. 

Evidence for the Covenant of Works/Covenant of Creation 

1.) In Genesis 2:4, the name LORD (YHWH) is used. As later Israelites read Genesis, they would have most certainly understood this as the name of the covenant Lord (Exodus 3:13-15). 

2.) Adam is given commands, promises for obedience, and curses for disobedience. Had Adam obeyed God in the garden, it would have resulted in eternal life (Gen. 3:22-24; Rev. 2:7), but disobedience brought the curse of death (Gen. 2:17; 3:16-19). 

3.) Later Biblical texts refer to Adam transgressing God’s covenant,But like Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. (Ho 6:7)

4.) In the New Testament, Paul consistently and repeatedly compares Adam and Jesus as two representatives of humanity. It is difficult to think of Christ as the head of the new covenant without Adam also being the head of a covenant in creation.

For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. (Romans 5:15)

¹⁷ For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Ro 5:17)

²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Co 15:21–22.)

God created humanity in goodness and holiness. Adam was God’s image-bearer in a covenant relationship who was meant to bear fruit and multiply, extending God’s reign and rule over all of creation. 

Unfortunately, Adam failed at his task and broke God’s covenant. The result was dire for him and for the humanity whom he represented.

II.) Humanity fell in Adam 

but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choice

As Genesis 3:6-24 records, Adam transgressed God’s covenant, and as a result, all of humanity are now sinners, “in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners.”

It is important to note that in Adam, humanity sins not by constraint but by choice. There has never been anyone who forced us to sin. From the moment we are born, our sinful choices are our own, and we are accountable for each one. We are born into sin because Adam is our representative head, but our sin is ultimately our own free choice.  

¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned (Ro 5:1)

THE Scriptures teach that the fall of Adam involved also that of his posterity. In the covenant, under which he sinned, he acted not merely as an individual man, the sole one of his kind, or one isolated from all others of his kind, but, as the head of the race, for his posterity as well as himself. The condition of mankind shows that they have all participated with him in the evils which resulted. The Scriptures teach that this is due, not merely to his natural headship, but to a representative or federal headship, because of which his act of sin may justly be considered as theirs, and they may be treated as though they had themselves done that act, each man for himself.- James P. Boyce 

III.) Humanity is depraved in Adam 

being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil

The human condition after the fall is dire. Humanity maintains the image of God, but in a tainted and imperfect way (Gen. 9:6). There are no proper representatives of God and his rule on earth because all humanity is in sin with a nature “…utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evil.”

The Bible’s description of humanity’s post-fallen condition supports the confessions article. 

David refers to himself in Psalm 51:5 as having been born in sin, Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Ps 51:5)

⁹ What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written: 

“None is righteous, no, not one; 

¹¹  no one understands; 

no one seeks for God. 

¹²  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; 

no one does good, 

not even one.” 

¹³  “Their throat is an open grave; 

they use their tongues to deceive.” 

“The venom of asps is under their lips.” 

¹⁴  “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 

¹⁵  “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 

¹⁶  in their paths are ruin and misery, 

¹⁷  and the way of peace they have not known.” 

¹⁸  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Ro 3:9–18)

and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.

God’s holiness and righteousness cannot allow for lawbreakers to go without justice. To be in Adam, as a sinner, is to be under the wrath and judgment of God that will be fully realized in the age to come. 

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Ro 1:18–20)

³² Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. (Ro 1:32)

³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (Jn 3:36)

The importance of these doctrines is articulated well by my friend, Jake Stone.  

“If God did not pour out His wrath upon lawbreakers, then He would cease to be God. His essence demands that His holiness be vindicated. Eternal ruin is what awaits all those who die in Adam. Do you see why a grasp of the gospel must include a real knowledge about what Adam’s fall did to us and what our condition is? This is not a mere intellectual debate to have but the souls of men are doomed because of their natural condition. The reason that Paul speaks in Gal. 3:10 about cursed are those who rely on the works of the law is because none of us can keep that covenant of works. If I try to, all I am is cursed and all I will know is judgment from God.”

Sermon Idea: As citizens of heaven, we have true Christian hope and live in light of it. 

Introduction: One of the great sources of encouragement in my Christan life and pastoral ministry has been the writings of D.A. Carson, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written more books than I can count, ranging from technical academic works to edifying popular-level books for the church. He is quite a good preacher, too. Unfortunately, Dr. Carson is currently declining from Parkinson’s and has stopped all speaking engagements and writing commitments.

Upon seeing the announcement about Dr. Carson’s health, many began to quote one of his most famous statements online, “I’m not suffering from anything that a good resurrection can’t fix.”

Only the church can understand that statement because they know it is not rooted in make-believe but is the essence of true Christian hope. 

When I found out about Dr. Carson’s condition, I was rereading my favorite of his books, Praying with Paul, to prepare to teach about prayer during our Wednesday evening gatherings. In it, Dr. Carson reminds us how important it is for Christians to set their minds and hearts on the world to come. 

“If we do not aim for the new heaven and new earth, many of our values and decisions in this world will be myopic, unworthy, tarnished, fundamentally wrongheaded. To put the matter bluntly: Can biblical spirituality long survive where Christians are not oriented to the world to come?– D.A. Carson

What a question! Can biblical spirituality long survive where Christians are not oriented to the word to come? 

Paul may not have used those exact words, but that is essentially what he is telling the Philippians in 3:17-4:1. They are citizens of heaven, and because they are citizens of heaven, they have true Christian hope. 

They are not to set their minds on earthly things but to imitate the way of those who have oriented their minds and hearts to the world to come. 

If you have been with us throughout our Philippians study, you may remember that we identified something important about verses 27 of chapter 1 and 20 of chapter 3. These verses serve as bookends for the main portion of the letter. Paul wants us to learn how to live as gospel citizens or as citizens of heaven. This is the thesis statement given in 1:27. 

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Php 1:27)

The phrase “let your manner of life be worthy” in verse 27 carries the connotation of citizenship and is better translated by the CSB in this way:Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Php 1:27)

This morning’s text concludes the main portion of the letter. It repeats the references to citizenship and the command to stand firm but does so in a way that is charged with hope. 

Yes, we are to live as worthy citizens, but we do so oriented toward the world to come. One day, our Savior will return, and we will be transformed to be like him on that day. The return of Christ and the resurrection from the dead is the true nature of Christian hope.

That is in the future, but it changes everything about how we live today. As citizens of heaven, we have true Christian hope and live in light of it.

I want us to hear from the Lord by calling you to do three things this morning: imitate examples of Christian hope, remember the nature of Christian hope, and respond by living in light of Christian hope. 

I.) Imitiate examples of Christian hope (Phil. 3:17-19) 

A recurring theme in the Philippians is the contrasting of examples. Paul often puts forward himself, his co-laborers, and ultimately Christ over against the unfaithful examples of selfish people or those who put confidence in the flesh. That theme continues here in verses 17-19. 

¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ (Php 3:17–18)

Notice how Paul uses the word “walk” to describe both groups. We are called to imitate those who walk according to the example of Paul and his friends. We are to mark and avoid those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 

Paul presents two ways of life. One way is shaped by the cross of Jesus Christ and lives in the hope of all that the cross has accomplished. 

The other way of life is opposed to the cross of Christ, living as enemies of the cross and making little of all the cross accomplished by how they live.  

This great contrast reminds me of the opening verse of the Didache, a very early piece of Christian writing that was essentially a discipleship book.

There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between the two ways. – Didache 1:1 

Similar to the Didache’s appeal to life and death, Paul urges us to reflect on the end of these two visions of life. We already know how life is in Christ ends. That’s what we’ve discussed extensively over the past several weeks.

All who place their faith in Jesus Christ are counted righteous in God’s sight, share in the power of Christ’s resurrection, and will one day attain the resurrection from the dead. In other words, the end of the Christian life shaped by the cross is perfection in Christ Jesus. 

The way of life that is opposed to the cross does not end in perfection and glory but in destruction. 

 ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. (Php 3:18–19)

Whoever these opponents are, they live in a way that opposes the cross. They are selfishly ambitious, driven by their desires, and even gory in things they should be ashamed of. In other words, their life is contrary to self-denial and so contrary to the cross. They pursue their own self-interest rather than share in the sufferings of Christ. They are earthly-minded people.  

This is the path to destruction. Friends, as we hear the call to imitate those who live in Christian hope, we cannot afford to minimize the warning of judgment and destruction. 

Did not Jesus warn us of this himself? 

¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Mt 7:13)

If you could trace the trajectory of your life, where does it end? Paul gives two visions of life. One through the cross that leads to righteousness from God and resurrection life. The other is destruction. One is filled with hope, and the other is hopeless. What trajectory are you on this morning? What describes the state of your life before God?  

As we hear the call to imitate Paul’s example of the cross, we should consider the importance of being those examples for one another. Let us be a people who are shaped by the cross of Jesus Christ. Let us be people who press on to the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus and hope for the resurrection from the dead. 

Let’s talk in such a way, pray in such a way, worship in such a way, and live in such a way that no one can leave our presence with minds set on earthly things. 

We are to imitate examples of Christian hope because we are citizens of heaven. As such, we have true Christian hope. Let’s look at verses 20-21 to remember the true nature of Christian hope. 

II.) Remember the true nature of Christian hope (Phil. 3:20-21) 

²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ 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. (Php 3:20–21)

The church is a people whose citizenship is in heaven. This means that our hope is not in any earthly person, thing, or power. When Paul describes Jesus as a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, he clearly states that Jesus Christ is the source of the Christians’ hope, not any earthly power. 

Paul is writing to a people who are citizens of a Roman colony. One of the monikers of Caesar was that he was the “savior of the world” because “he restored order and peace not only in Italy but also throughout the provinces and regions under sovereign rule.” To be a Roman citizen was to worship the Ceaser, “the savior of the world.”

Paul redirects the Philippians to their true Savior from heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christian hope for the future is in the Savior from heaven and not any earthly thing, person, or power. 

What is this hope, then? If we are citizens of heaven and have true hope, what is our hope? There are two primary aspects of Christian hope that are mentioned in these verses: the return of Christ and the resurrection from the dead. 

The Return of Christ 

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…”

Core to our faith is the belief that just as Christ came, he will come again. The book of Revelation ends with this way, ²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Re 22:20)

In Philippians, Paul does not spend time on the when and how of Christ’s return but on its reality to bring Christan hope. 

The language used to describe Christ’s return goes far beyond a confession of belief. Christian hope is not less than confessing his return, but it is much more. Notice the language: “…We await.”

The idea is more than passing the time like you’re waiting in line at the DMV, but like eager anticipation, a longing. Chrisitan hope eagerly awaits the return of Christ Jesus from heaven. This is how Christian waiting is typically described in the Bible. 

²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (Ro 8:23)

²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Heb 9:28)

I want you to think with me for a moment about something you eagerly waited for. It can be big or small. It can be trivial or serious. 

Like a student completing all their classes and anticipating graduation, like a groom eagerly awaiting to see his bride walk down the aisle; like parents eagerly waiting for a child to be born, we know and understand what it means to wait for something eagerly. We know the difference between passing the time and waiting for something with eager anticipation. 

The church is to set its eyes on the hope that is coming and eagerly wait for him. 

It is certainly worth asking if our churches are often so unfruitful because we don’t eagerly await his coming. Our minds might be too often preoccupied with earthly things, so we lack the drive to press on and pursue the heavenly, eternal things that matter the most. 

Beloved, our hope is a Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, who is coming from heaven. So, let’s eagerly await him. This is the true nature of Christian hope. 

When Christ returns, he will also transform us into being like him.

The resurrection from the dead

²¹ 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.

When Jesus returns, every believer in Christ will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. All those who have died in Christ will be raised and transformed into the likeness of Christ. 

When Jesus was raised from the dead, he became the first fruit of bodily resurrection. 

²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Co 15:20–22)

It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to see that what is transformed is our physical bodies. Our lowly bodies, our humble mortal bodies, will be gloriously transformed by the one who once humbled himself by taking the form of a servant, was born in the likeness of men, and humbled himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. The glorious Son of God humbled himself in the form of a lowly servant so that are lowly bodies could be transformed into the likeness of his glory. 

Christian hope is not a bodiless, spiritual existence but an eternity in a redeemed and glorified body that has been transformed by the power of Christ. 

So much of this is a mystery, but how amazing is it that we are transformed into the likeness of Christ’s glory? We will be perfect as he is perfect, and we will be incorruptible as he is incorruptible.  

⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (1 Co 15:51–53)

We simply don’t know what awaits us, and we must be content with what God has revealed to us in Scripture, being careful not to speculate beyond what is written.

We will be transformed into being like him. That, my friends, is enough. 

As citizens of heaven, we have true Christian hope. We have the promised return of Christ and future resurrection from the dead. You’re “…not suffering from anything that a good resurrection can’t fix.

To properly understand Christian hope is not only to believe in the hope we have but to live in light of it. That is the point of 4:1 

III.) Respond by living in light of Christian hope (Phil. 4:1) 

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved (Php 4:1)

Future hope is the fuel for the Christian life in the present. Note the words Therefore…stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. The hope we have leads us to action, not apathy. What might Paul mean by “stand firm?” 

It means to obey all the commands Paul has given to us in the main body of the letter. 

² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. (Php 2:2–3)

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Php 2:12–13)

 ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain (Php 2:15–16)

We do all of these in joyful obedience to Christ because of our great hope in him. 

As citizens, we have true Christian hope and live in light of it. For most of you this morning, my encouragement is to reflect on the return of Christ and the promised resurrection from the dead. One day, you will be transformed to be made like him. Reflect, rejoice, and meditate on how the promise of the resurrection might change how you might live today. 

For the rest of you, I want to revisit my previous question. 

If you could trace the trajectory of your life, where does it lead? Paul presents two visions of life: one through the cross that leads to righteousness from God and resurrection life, and the other to destruction. One is filled with hope, while the other is hopeless. What trajectory are you on this morning? How would you describe the state of your life before God? 

Sermon Idea: The Christian life is a marathon in which we press on toward the prize of God in Christ Jesus. 

Introduction: In the past, I have been a curmudgeon when it comes to rewriting great hymns. It is not that I don’t think it should be done, but that I’ve often seen it poorly done. I once heard a modern version of How Firm a Foundation that nearly made me punch my radio. That one means a lot to me. 

However, there are some remarkable exceptions today, and this is winning over this boring curmudgeon one hymn at a time. One example is the 2019 version of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, written by Sovereign Grace. 

It includes the hymn’s well-known refrain as the opening verse, 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

But it adds a chorus that echoes our passage this morning, 

Jesus, to You we lift our eyes

Jesus, our glory and our prize

We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true

Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to You

In our text this morning, we are called to turn our eyes to Jesus Christ, who is our very prize at the end of our Christian lives. 

Last week, we saw how Paul’s testimony teaches that salvation is through Christ and Christ alone. As we stand before God, we are not to be confident in ourselves but in the finished work of Christ. 

We saw that knowing Christ is of surpassing worth because in Christ, we gain righteousness that is from God, and one day, we will attain the resurrection from the dead. Life for Paul is Christ-centered. All of his life is now in reference to who Christ is, what Christ has done, and what Christ promises to do. 

Paul wants to clarify now that although he is in Christ and totally dependent upon him for salvation and righteousness, he has not yet arrived and attained all that is in Christ. His life is in Christ, but he remains imperfect and has not yet become what he will be in Christ Jesus. 

This means that Paul’s life has one singular vision. His eyes are lifted to Jesus, whom he sees as the prize at the end of his life. He will fix his eyes on Christ like a marathon runner with one consuming goal—to finish the race and claim the prize that awaits him as he crosses the finish line. 

The New Testament often uses the imagery of a race or a marathon to describe the Christian life. In Hebrews 12:1-2, for example, the author encourages us to strip ourselves of any and every weight that would inhibit our ability to run our race well. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1–2)

This morning, we want to trust in Jesus Christ alone. Through faith, we want God’s righteousness, the power of Christ’s resurrection, and the hope of the resurrection from the dead. 

Yet, we also want to see that we are not yet what we will be; the Christian life is less like a promotion we receive in this life and more like a marathon in which we press on toward the prize of God in Christ Jesus. 

We press on because Christ has made us his own. We press on for the prize of God in Christ. We press on holding true to what we have already attained in Christ. 

I.) Press on because Christ has made us his own (Phil. 3:12) 

Mature Christians rightly acknowledge the grace they have received in Jesus Christ, how far that grace has brought them, and how far they have yet to go. Without minimizing God’s gracious work in salvation, Paul acknowledges and embraces his imperfection. He knows he has not attained all that it means to be in Christ Jesus. 

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. (Php 3:12)

Thinking of the Christian life as a marathon protects us from despairing over our imperfections and how far we have yet to go. There is little doubt in my mind there are believers here in the Lord who are deeply discouraged by how far they have to go. You love the Lord, and you’re saved by grace through faith, but you’re hyper-aware of just how far you have to go to be more like Jesus Christ. 

No one looks at someone in the middle of a marathon and condemns them for not having crossed the finish line yet. The important thing is that they are running in the race. 

For those of us who have been saved by God’s grace and baptized in the name of the triune God, we have started our race. We know that a long journey lies ahead and that we have not fully attained all that it means to be in Christ Jesus, but the essential point is that, by God’s grace, we are in the race. 

That is how Paul sees his life. He isn’t ashamed to admit that he hasn’t achieved perfection yet because his life is always heading in that direction; he just hasn’t crossed the finish line yet. 

This awareness signifies spiritual maturity. When you mistakenly believe that you have arrived, that you have crossed the finish line, you cease running and stop pressing on. 

There was an unfortunate demonstration of this on national television this year when a young player for the New York Jets repeated one of football’s greatest mistakes. Malachi Corley, a rookie wide receiver, ran 18 yards right into the endzone. It would have been his first career touchdown in the NFL, except that he celebrated too early, and at the one-yard line, he dropped the football. His body crossed the goal line, but the football did not. It was an 18-yard run and fumble. 

Overestimating your spiritual position has far greater consequences than the outcome of a football game. Stopping this race will harm your soul. 

The Christian life is a marathon that we keep running because we are aware that we are not yet perfected in Christ. So we press on; we keep running because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. 

To press on means “to move rapidly and decisively toward an object.”

It is the same word that Paul uses to describe his persecution of the church in 3:6,as to zeal, a persecutor of the church (Php 3:6)

What an incredible image! Paul is transformed from rapidly and decisively persecuting the church to rapidly and decisively moving toward his savior, Jesus Christ. 

Don’t miss what is fueling this persistence! It is because Christ Jesus has made Paul his own. Christ is Paul’s life. He says so clearly in Galatians 2:20,I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Ga 2:20)

The motivation for pressing on in the Christian life, running our marathon with purpose and intent, is that Christ has made us his own, and we now belong to him.

This morning, I cannot unpack the doctrine of salvation from election to glorification. However, a few passages capture quite well what it means for God to make us his own through Christ. 

¹² remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:12–13)

We once had no hope and were without God, but He made us his own through the blood of Jesus Christ. When we placed our faith in Christ, our sins were forgiven, we were reconciled to God, and given access to all the promises to all the promises that come in the gospel. 

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Pe 2:9–10)

By God’s grace, the church is the people of God. If you’re in Christ, that is who you are. You belong to God in Christ and are a member of God’s very own people. 

Paul, writing to Titus, says that Jesus gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Tt 2:14)

What a glorious phrase! We are a people for Christ’s own possession. 

Just as Paul can say, Christ Jesus has made me his own; all who in Christ can say that Christ Jesus has made us his own. 

Beloved, we press on in the faith not because we long to be accepted by God, but because God has already accepted us in Christ. 

We press on not to earn God’s love but because we have known it abundantly in Jesus Christ.  

In one sense, we run our Christian race because of what God has already done for us in Christ. In another sense, we run our Christian race because of the prize that awaits us. Look with me at verses 13-14. 

II.) Press on for the prize of God in Christ (Phil. 3:13-14) 

¹³ 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, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:13–14)

The priority of Paul’s life is to continue straining forward to what lies ahead of him. He presses toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

The word “call” here is worth noting because it is another reminder that all Christian life is fueled and sustained by God’s grace. We press on because God has called us by his grace to a glorious, upward prize. 

In order to faithfully run this race, we cannot be content with we far we have come. This is what I think Paul means when he says, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13) 

It means he does not expect his past progress and current status to bring him to the finish line. He is not satisfied with basking in his accomplishments; he presses on for something greater and more rewarding that lies ahead. 

This past Friday, I had the privilege of visiting our sister, Shirley Jennings, with Jack and David on a pastoral visit. It was both sweet and sad. 

I couldn’t help but watch closely and be encouraged by Jack, who exemplified pastoral presence and care. Here is a man in his eighties who has spent decades in ministry. In moments like these, I see no contentment in coasting on successful years in the past but a pastor who is pressing on, even now, toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Friends, I praise God for your progress in the faith and rejoice in all of your good works and acts of devotion. But let us not be content with the spiritual growth that is behind us. Let us, with joy, look only ahead, with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, who is our very prize at the end of our Christian lives. 

Of course, the prize refers to a reward. A similar idea is discussed in 1 Corinthians 9:24. 

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable (1 Co 9:24–25)

Christians should not dismiss the idea that a reward or prize awaits them in heaven. The New Testament uses the promise of a heavenly reward to motivate believers to keep the faith and live in greater obedience to Jesus Christ. 

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt 6:19–21)

What is the nature of this prize? Paul simply says it is the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. God in Christ is the prize. Remember, this is the same man who referred to life as Christ and dying as gain.

Paul views Christ as his heavenly reward. In glory, Paul will come to know Christ free from any constraint or limitation. He will share in his resurrection, know him truly, and commune with him forever. 

There is no greater prize or reward than the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, but that doesn’t mean everyone experiences heaven equally. Our intimacy and communion with God now will determine the measure of our heavenly rewards. 

“..we should think of rewards as varying degrees of capacity for heavenly glory…Although all of the redeemed will see God’s face, some will enjoy deeper intimacy with God. I believe all the redeemed in heaven will be perfectly happy, but not all will be equally happy. Rewards are an increased capacity for absorbing and comprehending the glory of God.” (Andrew M. Davis, The Glory Now Revealed)

If this sounds odd at first, let me encourage you to think about two Christians in the Bible: the thief on the cross and the apostle Paul. 

The thief knew Jesus a very short time before death. Paul walked with Christ through suffering, missionary journeys, thorns in the flesh, church planting, etc. Paul’s communion with God in Christ was simply deeper than the thief on the cross. Both are now perfectly satisfied in heaven, but Paul most certainly has a great capacity for heavenly glory. 

What’s the point? Run your Christian race, pressing on to make your capacity as great as possible now so that it will be of great capacity in heaven. 

Confess sin and kill it, pray intimately with God, immerse yourself in Holy Scripture, gather with the church and worship God through ordinary means of grace, and commit yourself to good works as commanded in Scripture. Do all of this in faith, hope, and love, pressing on toward God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 

Let’s seek as much of God in Christ now, to get much of God in Christ then. 

With a pastoral heart, Paul acknowledges that this vision of the Christian life is a mark of maturity and that not all believers have such a Christ-centered view of life.

Notice how gracious Paul is with these weaker and more immature saints. He doesn’t belittle them, he affirms them and expects God to reveal this to them in time. This confidence echoes the glorious truth of Philippians 1:6,And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Php 1:6)

That said, he does give them particular encouragement. Look with me at verses 15-16. 

III.) Press on holding true to what we have already attained in Christ (Phil. 3:15-16)

¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Php 3:15–16)

All true Christians grow, but they don’t all grow at the same rate or to the same degree. Paul recognizes this and extends grace to believers still growing up in maturity in the Lord. 

We should seek to make Waldo a gracious and patient place where new believers and immature saints can grow in Christ. 

The important thing is they hold true to what they have already attained,Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Phil. 3:16) 

In other words, realize the grace you’ve received and what God has done for you in Christ. You may be a baby in the Lord, but hold true to what you’ve attained. They all already have a vision for life in Christ and how to walk with him faithfully. Paul is saying to stay true to that. 

Some of you in the room may have trusted in Christ and truly want to follow him, but there is so much you don’t understand or a level of maturity you have yet to reach. Friend, that is ok and expected. 

Paul’s encouragement to you is to stay true and faithful to what you’ve already attained. God will bring growth; you simply must be a good steward of what you’ve been given. 

Conclusion 

The Christian life is a marathon in which we press on toward the prize of God in Christ Jesus. We press on because Christ has made us his own, for the prize that awaits us in Christ Jesus, and by holding true to what we have attained. 

I will pray here in a moment. After that, Aaron will lead us in a hymn of response. For most of you, your response should be reflective. Are you thinking maturely about the Christian life? Is there anything hindering your ability to run and press on at full speed? How might you pray this morning to follow Paul’s example?

For others of you, I implore you to ask if Christ has made you his own. Do you have confidence that you belong to God, your sins have been forgiven, and you are reconciled to God? We are here99 to serve you, talk with you, and tell you more about the gospel of grace. Come, trust Christ, and be saved.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

Let’s pray.