THE SPIRITUAL RACE

Philippians 3:12-16

By Bro. Teody Galit

 

Determination and tenacity are requirements for success in almost any worthwhile endeavor. Note how a hungry cheetah dis­plays such single-mindedness when he chooses one specific ani­mal in a herd of deer or antelope and goes after it. Ignoring others less desirable, which might easily be caught, the swift predator has been clocked at nearly seventy miles per hour in its hot and unrelenting pursuit of its intended prey. Think of the many scientists who, in spite of discouraging setbacks and negative attitudes on the part of their fellow workers, have per­sisted year after year in carrying on research in order to find a vaccine for some specific disease. Such tenacity of purpose is highly commendable. What boy has not thrilled to the popular tale of the western rancher who, having set his mind upon cap­turing a certain wild stallion, did not give up until he had cor­ralled and trained the creature? To attain success, both deter­mination and perseverance are necessary.

 

In like manner, to live a victorious spiritual life, a steadfast resolve and a constancy of purpose are needed. The apostle Paul declared that a desire to experience the fullness of Christ's resur­rection power so gripped him that it became the controlling factor in his life. His words "I press toward the mark" describe a run­ner racing hard with his head forward, body bent and angled, and eyes on nothing but the final tape. Such was Paul's zealous attitude in reaching out toward the spiritual goals of service and blessing. If we would show the same oneness of purpose, we would likewise be filled with joy, experience victory over sin, and possess a deeper sense of God's constant presence.

Let us press toward "the prize of the high calling of God"!

I'm pressing on the upward way,

New heights I'm gaining everyday;

Still praying as I onward bound,

"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."

                                 —J. Oatman, Jr.

Sanctification is much like riding a bicycle — either you keep moving forward, or stop and lose your balance and fall. Paul uses the analogy of a runner to describe a Christian’s spiritual growth. The believer has not reached his goal of Christ-likeness, but like the runner in a race, he must continue to pursue it. Paul’s goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all that Christ had in mind. This goal absorbed all his energy.

 

This can be a good example for us Christians today. We should not let anything take our eyes off from our goal of knowing Christ more. With the same mind of every athlete in training, we must lay aside and forsake anything that may distract us from growing and becoming effective Christians. What are the things that usually holding us back to pursue and reach our goal in our Christian life? Philippians 3:12-16 gives us three rules in our spiritual race.

 

Rule #1: Forget (v. 13)

 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

 

The first step of preparation to run the race requires that the runners strip off every weight that might slow them down. The same thing for us Christians, we must be spiritually trim to be able to run the race that God has set before us. We should trim off all the unnecessary weight that could hold us back, weights such as sins, pride, and care of this world.

 

Paul describes in verse 12 & 13 that the Christian life is a process, and it all begins with sense of honesty and dissatisfaction. While we can consider Paul as a nearly perfect Christian, but for him he considered that, he had not yet achieved the perfect knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrection or sharing of His suffering and death. All of these were part of the process of sanctification: of working towards the day when we can be all that Christ Jesus saves us to be and wants us to be.

 

Paul did not consider that he achieved spiritual maturity; he did not boast who he is in terms of his relationship and service to the Lord. Like Paul our focus is on one goal to achieve perfection. Paul presses on to lay hold on this goal of perfection, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

 

Our past should not be a barrier to the future, or an excuse for dropping out, or for avoiding proper spiritual conduct in our relationship with God and with others. Paul forgets his past even all his credentials, accomplishments, and sins, and like a runner in a race he press on to reach the finish line and achieve his goal.

 

Luke 9:62

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

 

The picture of a person putting a hand to the plow and looking back can be compared with Elijah’s call of Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21. Elisha was called to be a prophet right in the middle of plowing a field—and he never looked back. In fact, he slaughtered the oxen so that there would be no temptation to return. Elisha then moved wholeheartedly into the ministry to which he had been called.

 

Jesus explained that service in the Kingdom of God was of such vital importance that his followers must make it their top priority. They must step out in faith to serve him, without looking back.

 

Rule # 2: Reach (v. 13)

 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

 

Jesus is our example, He perfectly finished His race; He stands at the finished line waiting for us. We Christians should focus our eyes to Jesus, and not look at any distractions and options. Our faith must defend on Him from the start to finish. He set the course of faith, ran the race first and now waits for us to join Him at the end and He encourages us all the way in our race. Like Jesus, we should persevere in times of suffering, and looking to Him as our model and concentrating on our heavenly destination.

 

Forgetting our past plays an important role on how we can reach forward on our Christian race, once we continue to hold on to our past there is no way that we can reach forward. Who we are and what we are before should be completely deleted and not be part of our Christian race. We cannot remain to be the same as whom and what we are before, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, changes should be seen on our life. Jesus forgets Who He was just to fulfill His goal of reaching us.

 

 

Hebrew 6:1

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from the dead works and of faith towards God.”

 

This verse urged us to go beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity. Once we continue to stay and reviewed the fundamentals about Christ would only have left us where we were. This verse also suggests “radical surgery” to pull us forward in reaching our goal of maturity.

 

Rule # 3: Press On (v.14)

 

 

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus         

 

As runners press on toward the finish line, Paul encouraged Christians to press on to reach the end of the race and received the prize. Even though Paul did not identify the prize, it seems the prize that he wants us to get is having the full knowledge of Christ. Jesus is calling us up to heaven; the heavenly call is the summons for us to win the victor’s prize of salvation.

 

At the end of each race, officials had to call and proclaim the winner and call him up to receive his prize. In Paul’s metaphor, the prize is the full revelation of Christ at the resurrection.

 

 

2 Timothy 4:7, 8    I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

 

It is important to note that Paul made no claim to having won the race; he was content with having finished it. Marathon runners know the exhilaration of finishing the grueling miles of that race—they are thankful just to cross the finish line. Completion is a significant accomplishment revealing incredible endurance and determination. Paul had remained faithful to the message that had been entrusted to him; this also had been entrusted to Timothy. Paul had never wavered in his faith and trusted that soon he would experience all the promises on which he had based his life and ministry.

 

Conclusion Vv. 15-16

 

¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even these to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

 After Paul described his spiritual goals, he explained to the Philippians that all mature Christians should agree on these things. That is, they too ought to be pressing on toward the goal. As a mature believers we should understand that we could not gain perfection and acceptance by God by our own humanity; yet because of our love for Christ, and willingness to pressed on to follow His examples in order to become more like Him in life.

Paul made it clear that those who were truly mature were those who realized their dependence on God. We pressed on, not to make ourselves good enough or to gain credentials by our accomplishments; rather, we pressed on to know our Savior better. Christian maturity involves acting on the guidance that we have already received. The believers were in different stages, but everyone needed to obey the truth that we had learned already.

As we press on toward the goal, we should not use our lack of complete knowledge as an excuse for taking lightly what we knew or being side tracked. We should continue to learn and grow, while at the same time governing our lives by the light we had already received. In all we do, live our lives full out for Jesus, today in prayer, let us praise the Lord for our life, and ask for strength to endure during hard times and bring glory to Him.

 

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it to glory.” William Barclay

STAND, RUN, WALK

Galatians 5:1-25

 by: Pastor Edward Vincent Barcial

 

Watchman Nee (1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. He once told about a new convert who came in deep distress to see him. "No matter how much I pray, no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to be faithful to my Lord. I think I'm losing my salvation."

 

Nee said, "Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my kingdom? Not my dog; my son is my heir. You are Jesus Christ's heir because it is for you that He died." We are Christ's heirs, not through our perfection but by means of His grace.

 

Many young believers fall into the trap of good works as a means of salvation whereas we are already free by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.  The Church in Galatia was troubled by some Judaizers who insisted in keeping the Old Testament law of circumcision according to Moses in order to be saved. Paul wrote this letter to assure them of the truth that they were no longer under the law but under grace.  To remain free we must follow 3 important points.

 

1.       STAND FAST IN FREEDOM (Perseverance)

 

Gal 5:1a (NKJV) 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free

 

The word Paul used in the Greek was   στήκω   (stēkō). It literally meant to be stationary, that is, (figuratively) to persevere. God calls us to stand fast or persevere in our faith based on grace not on works for our salvation. Many will oppose our freedom in Christ and will impose rules and regulation to bring us back into bondage.  Let us stand fast or persevere to remain free.  To stand here does not mean to stand idly but actively resisting anything that will keep us from falling from grace.

 

Two things Paul pointed out to stand fast:

 

a.       Do Not Be Entangled By The Law

Gal 5:1b (NKJV) …..and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

 

To be “entangled again” means to repeatedly wrestle or be ensnared all over again by keeping the old law to justify ourselves. We are called to be free and not to bondage again, and again and again. We struggle to be pleasing to God in the hope we are accepted by Him whereas we have been adopted as sons and daughters by His grace.

 

b.      Do Not Be Estranged By The Law

Gal 5:4 NKJV) 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

 

The word estranged came from the Greek word Καταργέω  (katargeo) which means to be (or render) entirely idle (useless). Christ is of no use to us and we are of no use to Christ if we think that we are justified through good works for our salvation. For by faith we have been saved (Ephesians 2:8,9)

 

2.       RUN WELL IN OBEYING THE TRUTH

Gal 5:7-15 (NKJV) 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

 

We must run well in obeying the truth.  The truth that Paul emphasized here is to use the freedom to love and serve on another.

 

8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

 

3.      WALK IN THE SPIRIT

Gal 5:16-25 (NKJV) 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

 

The word “Walk” in this verse in the Greek is  περιπατέω (peripateō ) which means to tread (or trample) all around. Our walk should be an aggressive walk when we trample the flesh under our feet. We aggressively destroy the flesh through our obedience to the Spirit.  God promised that He will crush satan under our feet shortly (Romans 16:20).  Verses 18 to 21 tells us what we should be trampling as we are led by the Spirit:

 

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

As we walk in the Spirit, we must bear fruit by crucifying the flesh.

 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who areChrist's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 

Fruit in the Greek is   “καρπός   (karpos)” It is not a fruit that is just hanging from a branch. It is actually a “plucked” fruit that was taken by force.  Again it is an aggressive action word. Our fruit must not remain with us but they are to be shared for all to enjoy. A fruit left hanging from a tree is totally useless. It must be harvested and eaten.  Our fruit therefore must benefit others and not just ourselves.

 

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

In This verse the word “walk” used by Paul in the Greek is different from the one before (verse 16).  The Greek word for Walk   here is   “στοιχέω”  ( stoicheō) which means “to march in military rank (keep step), that is, (figuratively) to conform to virtue and piety or to  walk (orderly).

 

We are to keep in step with God at all times. Not before, not after but alongside with Him. We are a disciplined army doing His will and not our own agenda. We must walk in holiness to remain free from sin and from our own strength to be saved until the end.

 

Conclusion:

24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit

 

Living a crucified life means denying one self and living only for Him and Him alone.  We are dead to the flesh and sin and alive in Christ.  Let us stand, run and walk in faith in freedom in Jesus’ name, amen!