Onward and Upward
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton
Text: Philippians 3:12-17
I. Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitates Christ - I Corinthians 11:1
A. Paul taught us in practical terms how to live as followers of Christ while he did so in his own life.
B. Paul had numerous accomplishments in his past - Philippians 3:4-6
1. Paul wasn’t a common Jew, prior to his conversion
2. In Judaism what mattered was your birth (and circumcision), your lineage (pure Israel vs. mixed blood), your tribe (some tribes were better than others in the Jew’s mind), your devotion, and your zeal.
3. Paul was the best of the best. He had everything a Jew sought.
4. And he gave it all up.
C. His accomplishments were insignificant compared to his life in Christ and the reward it brings - Philippians 3:7-11
1. Which is better? The esteem of men or eternal life?
2. Paul clearly saw his intended goal
II. The Value of Repetition - Philippians 3:2
A. We need reminders because we so easily forget.
B. It is a way to keep ideas firmly established - II Peter 1:12-15
C. It is a way to stir up our minds - II Peter 3:1
III. Pressing On
A. “The whole passage is full of movement, onward and upward.” [Marvin Vincent]
B. This simple thing is what each Christian must do.
1. We can’t drift into heaven
2. We can’t expect God to do all the work while we sit back
3. We get up and press forward
C. Will I press on when the way gets difficult? No matter how hard it gets, will I continue the effort?
D. Life isn’t always easy. There are stresses, pressures, temptations, and disappointments, but the Christian presses on anyway - Proverbs 24:16
E. It is an effort – a fight - I Timothy 6:12
1. Can you imagine a soldier in the middle of battle deciding it is too much and giving up?
2. Neither should we consider the hardships – we know it is hard – but the commitment to press forward
IV. Forgetting the Past
A. The older you get, the more annoying it is to forget.
B. But here Paul considers forgetting valuable
1. The word “forget” translates a Greek word (epilanthomai) which carries the idea of overlooking or neglecting something.
a. For example, the disciples forgot to bring bread - Matthew 16:5
b. And as Christians, we are not to forget or neglect doing good - Hebrews 13:16
C. Once you done something, what are your options?
1. If you’ve done something wrong, you can recognize your mistakes, repent of it, and ask for forgiveness.
a. You can be thankful that God forgives - I John 1:9
b. But continuing to dwell on the past doesn’t change it. It doesn’t pull you forward (instead, it holds you back).
c. You can’t get more forgiven that the forgiveness you’ve already received.
2. If you’ve done something right, you can remember the pleasure in your accomplishment
a. But dwelling on the past doesn’t improve your future.
D. If someone has done something to you
1. You can take up the matter with the offender - Ephesians 4:25-27
2. But then we need to let it go. “Love keeps no record of wrongs” - I Corinthians 13:5
E. We cannot allow the pain of the past to keep us from today’s duties
1. We need to overlook or neglect thinking about the past
2. Take care of problems and then let them go
3. We have more important things to focus on
V. Reaching Forward
A. A rock climber has to reach his next grip, but he must also let go of his past one. Otherwise, he will not make any progress.
B. In any relationship, the only way to heal problems is to reach for the next improvement and let go of the past.
1. When trust is broken, when damage is done, or when feelings are hurt
2. If all involved would find the humility to admit their mistakes, apologize, and do more than expected
3. Then forget it. Get over it. Reach forward to the things that lie ahead.
4. Matthew 5:23-25
a. Make amends and then move forward in worship
b. Make friends quickly (not eventually)
c. All that the Lord has taught about dealing with problems, reconciling, forgiving, and making amends
d. All that he taught about humility, lowliness of mind, patience, longsuffering, and avoiding resentment
e. It requires of everyone to forget what is behind and reach forward
C. Notice that there is no limit on our reaching.
1. “I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet” - Philippians 3:13
2. There is always room for further growth
3. However, impressive our past growth was, we must press on and reach forward
VI. Keep Living by the Same Standard
A. The idea of moving continues in Philippians 3:17 when Paul talks about those who walk according to the pattern.
1. Walking is an action taken toward a destination.
2. It is a figure of speech that Paul uses frequently - Romans 4:12; 6:4; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 2:6-7
B. In Philippians 3:16, some translations have “living”
1. The word stoichein originally meant to march in a line, as soldiers. Its use was extended to mean “to be in line with, to hold to, to agree, or to follow.” [Complete Biblical Library]. It is “to walk” but in the sense of following a leader.
2. The emphasis is on the rule or standard by which we walk. We are to walk by the same rule: the pattern God has given.
a. You can’t win a competition unless you compete by the rules - II Timothy 2:5
b. Obedient to that form of teaching - Romans 6:17-18
c. Do all by Jesus’ authority - Colossians 3:17
C. We can’t make progress, we can’t move onward and upward, unless we walk by the same rule. God has defined the direction we must take to that we arrive at the destination He has offered us.
Based on an article by Warren E. Berkley
