Toward the title sign Philippians 3:1-16
Contents
Toward the goal Philippians 3:1-16
The book of Philippians, which contains the text, is an epistle written by Paul in prison. It can be said that today's text is to convey the word of God's revelation in a letter about his overflowing faith toward the Philippian church members because he was unable to move freely in prison.
Even in prison, Paul was able to overcome the tribulation and persecution that was difficult to bear with unwavering joy and thanksgiving because he had solid faith and a goal for the mission God gave him. That goal became the target and I was able to run without wavering. I hope you will be of grace when I speak today under the title Towards the Target.
1. A noble goal must be the goal. (Philippians 3:8-9)
(Philippians 3:8-9) And I count all things as loss because of the noblest knowledge of my Lord Christ Jesus. For his sake I lose everything, and count it as excrement, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Righteousness does not come from the law, but comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God through faith).
For the Apostle Paul, he is a man who has many things that others do not have. Studied noble philosophy. Gamaliel's cultural life. of Hebrew descent. He also had Roman citizenship.
It would be great to have just one of these, but Paul had them all.
But Paul met the resurrected Jesus Christ.
(Acts 9:3-5) As Saul was walking and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. *He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? “Who are you, Lord?” he said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
From then on, the apostle Paul had the right knowledge of Jesus Christ. Everything he thought was the noblest met Christ and looked like a barrel of excrement. I threw it all away. Because the knowledge of Christ is too noble. The knowledge of Christ and the sharing of the gospel became the goal of his life and the goal, and he ran without wavering.
2. The charm of Christ Jesus became the target. (Philippians 3:12)(4-7)
(Philippians 3:12) Not that I have already obtained it, nor that it has been perfected, but I am pursuing that for which I was captured by Christ Jesus.)
In short, after meeting Jesus Christ, resurrecting and knowing Jesus, who is an eternal being, Paul found a great attraction in the Christ he fell in love with, who could not endure without following him.
No matter how great his charm, he is not afraid of tribulation, persecution, or even death, and if it is for Jesus Christ, we will meet Paul, who can follow even the poorest of all.
(Philippians 3:4-7 ) But I also have confidence in the flesh, especially if anyone thinks that anyone else has confidence in the flesh. *I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, of the Hebrews. A Hebrew, as to the law a Pharisee, *with zeal, persecuting the church, as for righteousness under the law, blameless*, but whatever things that were useful to me, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
He said that everything he had could be counted as harm for the sake of Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, if you want to have perfect and right faith, you must be able to discover the charm of Paul in Jesus Christ. Just like a bee, a butterfly, smelling a flower and running 4 to 5 km away, you must smell the fragrance of Christ and discover its charm, so that you can follow the path no matter how difficult it is.
3. The way to the goal is to forget what lies behind. (Philippians 3:13)
(Philippians 3:13) Brethren, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it yet; I have only done one thing: forgetting what is behind and grasping what is ahead.)
Said.
You have to forget everything that Paul did in the past and all that he had, and chase after the target to catch what is in front of you.
You cannot put on the new person without putting off the old one. Yes)
I've seen eggs come out of hatcheries as chicks. But the one who couldn't take off the shell quickly saw him die. We must take off the old shell as soon as possible to become a chick with new life, but just as we die because we cannot take it off, we too cannot put on the eternal new spiritual person unless we quickly put off the old physical person.
Therefore, if we often think about what is behind and give up on the world behind us, it will be a major obstacle to our faith life.
( Luke 9:62 ) Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
4. The sign of faith is to pursue the reward of God's call from above (Philippians 3:14).
(Philippians 3:14) I am pursuing the goal for the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.)
Paul was able to overcome tribulation and temptation while thinking about the reward of the crown prepared in the kingdom of God.
Prepared reward Because the prepared crown became the goal and goal of Paul's life, he was able to overcome the tribulation test with joy and thanksgiving.
(Romans 8:18) I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.)
Please believe that if you suffer, curse, toil, and work hard for the Lord, a reward that cannot be compared with the difficulties awaits you.