The Believer’s Quest (Philippians 3:12-16)

blog

MPS: The life of a believer is a quest. It isn’t about the speed in which you reach the destination, but that Christ is your treasure along the way.

The believer’s quest is a life-changing pursuit of Christ. (12-14)

“12 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. 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.”

Paul recognizes his own need to grow and is eagerly seeking to grow in Christ. In verse 12, Paul wants to make sure that the Philippians don’t misunderstand him. He isn’t suggesting that he has mastered the Christian life, nor could anyone. There is not a multi-tiered system of the Christian faith. There are certainly mature Christians as mentioned in verse 15, but we are all growing collectively and individually in Christ.

This quest is likened to a race “straining forward”. In this race Paul is looking forward to the goal and the next step in reaching that goal. There is no good in looking at his previous steps. As impressive as Paul’s resume’ is to the Philippian Church, the Jews, and us today, it isn’t impressive when compared to the surpassing glory of Christ.

Paul has already received Christ. He has been redeemed. He has been justified, he is being sanctified, and will be glorified. In his pursuit of Christ he will increasingly realize these realities. As he realizes these truths, Christ’s glory abounds in his heart. As Christ’s glory abounds in his heart, the things of this world fades away. That’s what it means for Christ to be our greatest treasure.

“Press on” means to pursue. Paul is actively pursuing Christ. Many might consider following Christ as a passive activity. Following Jesus is something you do in your spare time, on Sundays, or when God urges you to pursue Him. Paul’s use of “διώκω/ dioko (dee oh kho)”, indicates that our role in the Christian quest of following Jesus is to actively seek Christ.

The Christian quest is not one where we sit back and wait to grow. We are actively crucifying the flesh, counting the cost, and seeking to know Jesus. Jesus consumes our thoughts, He affects our decisions, careers, relationships, and how we recreate. The Christian quest doesn’t end until Christ returns. Until that moment we will see Him increasingly grow as our greatest treasure and greatest joy. Our life will increasingly be shaped by Christ rather than our life shaping our perception of Christ.

The believer’s quest is one of growth in truth. (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.”

To actively pursue Christ in the manner that Paul describes is the response of a maturing Christian. A maturing Christian will increasingly realize their life in Christ. They will count Christ as more important than themselves. The maruting Christian will be active in their walk with Christ. Their faith will not remain dormant like a disease waiting to overtake its host. No, their faith will be one that is active.

Psalm 119:9 tells us that to walk in the ways of God we must know the ways of God, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” How is a maturing Christian to know the ways of God apart from learning those ways? And how are we to know the way of God, but by studying the Word of God.

The Word of God teaches us how to pray. The Word teaches how to live. The Word of God most importantly teaches us who God is. The Word reveals Christ. The Word reveals our need for Him. The Word is God’s self-revelation.

Through the Word we hear our Savior tell us to “count the cost”. We hear from His Word the call to “follow me”. It is from God’s Word that we are called to “crucify our flesh”. It is through the Word that we find the comfort of the Spirit and of Christ as we come to Him to confess. From the Word we hear Christ calling us to believe in Him.

If this sounds foreign. If it sounds daunting and unattainable, then Paul gives us encouragement by saying that these things will be revealed to those who have yet to “think this way”. Yet to think this way you will need the help of your fellow believers. As brothers and sisters we are to encourage one another in the faith. We are to continually point each other to Christ. We are to spur one another on in Christlikeness.

Paul exhorts the Philippians to orthodoxy and steadfastness. Orthodoxy refers to right belief while steadfastness means to be unwavering. In saying that the Philippians are to “hold true to what we have attained”, he is instructing them to grow in the truth of Christ. 

We are to be continual learner of Christ. He has saved us by His blood and now we spend the rest of our lives on a quest to realize the implications of this gift that has been given to us. In order for us to come to grips with the gift of Christ we must count the things of this world as rubbish. The importance of our personal accomplishment fades away into the background of obscurity as we behold the truth of God and treasure our Savior.

Ask yourself these questions:

How am I actively pursuing Christ?

What do I think about or treasure more than Christ?

When is the last time I actively put sin to death?

Do my beliefs change based on God’s truth or do I try and change God’s truth to fit my beliefs?