Title Toward the goal/Philippians 3:12-16
Toward the goal of the content (Philippians 17)
Philippians 3:12-16
Paul told us his faith. He said that he had many things to boast about, but he gave up all of them and followed the Lord. He confidently said that he had lost everything and regarded it as excrement and harm. And he said that he only looked to the Lord and had the faith to be found in the Lord. He also said that the life of faith is a life of power that participates in the power of resurrection, and that it is a life of sharing in the sufferings of Christ.
From our point of view, Paul's faith looks like perfect faith to anyone. So, is Paul's present faith perfect? You may think that you are a complete believer when you see that you give up everything and look only at the Lord and confidently imitate yourself. However, Paul does not assert his perfection, but is talking about "what should be the attitude of a believer in life?"
1. Saints who fulfill the purpose of the calling and the will of salvation.
They chase after what has been caught by Jesus.
belief that it is still
① No, I already got it
This means that the complete resurrection of spirit and body, which is completed by the second coming of Christ, that is, the eschatological completion of union with Christ has not been achieved.
② It is not that I have achieved it
By referring to moral and spiritual perfection, we are not even saying that Paul was morally and spiritually sanctified.
Therefore, Paul said, "Brethren, I do not consider that I have yet taken hold. Paul was a good believer in the eyes of many, but he said that I had not yet achieved it. When he was living as a Pharisee, he thought that he had accomplished it by keeping the law. But Paul, who is now in Christ, has not yet been caught. Said it wasn't done. The saints are “yet” until they reach the kingdom of heaven at the time of the second coming of Christ. Only then will it be fully realized.
Or) Among the believers, there are those who say that I am enough.
But that is wrong.
In particular, the higher you go, the more you see it.
When you become an elder, you neglect to attend Bible studies or basic worship services.
You work hard until you are a Kwonsa, and you are given the position, so once you get the position, you do not show zeal as if everything has been completed.
Also, after a few years of teaching, I now have confidence in the Bible and teaching. So they neglect to learn and neglect.
What does it mean to be a leader? You have to study hard and keep learning. That is why the general society also says that there is no end to learning, and even calls it a 'university for the elderly', which burns the passion of learning.
Church leaders must also have this attitude. A “yet” attitude is required. I'm still far away Therefore, we must pray, we must learn, we must obey.
A life that fulfills the purpose of salvation
Paul said that he pursued his attitude of faith in order to seize what had been caught by Jesus. Being arrested by Jesus tells the story of Paul's encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul was converted there when he met the resurrected Christ, and the direction of his life changed. Being captured by Jesus means that Jesus became the master of his life.
When Paul says, "to seize the things that were taken away by Jesus," he means that he goes forth to fulfill the purpose of salvation, the purpose of his calling. Like Paul, we must become believers who live a life worthy of the purpose of the Lord's calling.
This is preaching the gospel. The purpose of the calling is to preach the gospel, clearly Jesus said. Also, the Lord has commanded us to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Paul devoted himself to the purpose of this very calling, and lived his life through regeneration. After receiving the Lord's call, Paul's life was preaching the gospel.
N. is to love
The purpose of God's calling is love. To love God and to love our neighbor is the greatest commandment, and it is God's will. Loving God is shown through devotion through faith, and loving our neighbor is only possible with devotion. Love is dedication. Paul was a man of love. He loved the Jews passionately. He loved them enough to lay down his life for their salvation. An apostle who tried to save the Jews who were persecuting and trying to kill him. He passionately loved the churches he had built. In particular, we see Paul's passionate love in his relationship with the Philippian church. Paul, who claims to be an apostle to the Gentiles, is an apostle who practices God's will of love.
Therefore, Paul said that faith, hope, love, if these three will always exist, the greatest of them is love.
c. reaching the perfection of Christ.
Jesus called his disciples to follow me, not believe me. Following Jesus is following the life, actions, and goals of Jesus Christ. Paul said that Christ lives in me. It is about living a life that shows Christ through his life, actions, words and attitudes.
Paul lived a life of following to the point of being crucified in order to attain the perfection of Christ. Today, we are living in an age where there are church members but no Christians, and in an age where the church believes but does not believe in Jesus.
I hope that you will become saints who can show the image of Christ every day.
The word “chasing” is used by hounds when they are chasing earthenware. This is a word used when talking about chasing desperately without talking about chasing behind or following. It means working hard and working hard to get the job done.
I hope that you will become saints who are zealous to fulfill the purpose of your calling and the purpose of salvation.
2. Life moving towards the goal.
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we have a multitude of witnesses surrounding us like a cloud, let us lay aside every burden and the sin that so easily entangles us, and with endurance run the race set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
The target is Jesus Christ.
The racer must look at the mark.
When drawing a line on the ground, it is not easy to draw it correctly and straight.
Some people look at the ground and draw a line. There are friends who just look at the ground and work hard and then hit their head against a pillar. But there is an easy way to draw. If you draw a line while looking at the target in front of you, you can draw straight without looking at the ground. If you set your goals right, you have nothing to worry about or worry about. If you only look at the goal and move forward, you will be able to draw a line correctly. You need to set your goals right. And believe that you will win if you just look at that goal and move forward.
What is our goal today?
Isn't the material becoming the goal or goal? Didn't President Roh's material become the target and then fail?
Is honor the purpose?
Is knowledge the purpose?
Is success the purpose?
Please set your target right.
If the bullet flies towards the target, it becomes a robber or a murderer, and if the bullet flies at the target, it becomes a sports player or a winner. So I hope your goals are set right. May your target be Jesus Christ. Because that alone is the way, the truth, and the life.
There is something called a missile. This is a formidable weapon that once a target has been set it will continue to follow it towards it and detonate it. That is, we should become saints like the missile that Jesus is targeting. We must become saints who only go toward Jesus Christ, and who are devoted and faithful only for Jesus Christ.
For that we
① Forget the things behind - I was told not to cling to the past.
There is a song called 'Oh, it's been a while'. People miss the past. The past should be a memory, not an obsession.
Paul said that as a Jew he had left everything he had in the past.
There are also many achievements that have been accomplished as Christians since then. It refers to a posture that does not promote or boast about it. Because these things can get in the way of the race of faith.
When a runner on the playground looks at things behind him, he is bound to be behind at that moment when he looks at people behind him. In order to be number one on the playground, you have to run hard, not looking back, but looking forward.
The race of faith is bound to fail when we look at someone's faith.
② to receive the reward of the calling
The prize Paul is talking about here is not a laurel wreath. It's not a blessing from the earth, it's not an honor from the earth, it's not about what you get from the earth.
It is the reward of God's above calling. It is going to heaven. It is to gain eternal life. It is the crown of life
1 Corinthians 9:25 "Everyone who competes for the victory is temperate in all things, for they seek the corruptible crown, but we the incorruptible."
James 1:12 "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for after being approved in this he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him."
I hope that you will become victorious saints by running toward Jesus Christ without looking back to receive God's reward.
Our goal is Jesus Christ. I hope you will become a saint who runs towards you.
3. Do it exactly where you are.
Each person's beliefs may vary. Paul acknowledged it and said that it was not important, but that each of us would be faithful and faithful to Christ from our position of faith.
It doesn't matter how much of your faith you have right now, but I hope that you will do your best to fulfill the purpose of your calling in your current position, and I hope that you will become a saint who runs while looking only at the goal, Jesus Christ.
It doesn't matter what my position is or how much faith I have, it's about being obedient, loyal, and serving in my position.
I hope that you will become a victorious saint by faith, no matter where you are now.
Saints who work hard to fulfill the purpose of their calling
I hope that you will become saints who run after only Jesus as their goal.
Prayer)
God of love and grace.
Today we review our beliefs.
Help me to become a saint who fulfills the purpose of my calling.
Let us see only Jesus Christ, the goal, and run to victory.
Help me to become a saint who receives the reward of calling.
May we advance daily toward the perfection of Christ.
I pray in the name of Jesus. - Amen -