Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith
Philippians 3:4-9
Paul, a man in prison writing to the church in the city of Philippi. A church Paul himself started. He spends chapter 2 warning his audience, as well talking about the rough states he is in, the hard times their brothers and sisters are going through. Chapter 3 Paul attempts to warn them once again against those who would try to teach the people different things, new doctrines, or those who seek to divide the church both in Philippi and in general. Just before our opening passage Paul is telling them to have confidence, knowing who they are in Christ.
And if any one in this scenario should have confidence, it is Paul himself. Using this to go into his pedigree, who Paul the apostle is. It may seem like pride to say, but understanding the character, along with how Paul feels on his own reason for confidence. This man had every reason for confidence in the context. An Israelite by ethnicity, a Pharisee by identity or how he used to interpret the law, (the ones who essentially ran the culture and religion of Jews at this period). A killer of Christian’s, an evil thing, yet showed his dedication to God and truth to his community.
A Roman citizen, something generally reserved for the elite or those born Roman or Greek culturally. A man well educated, a disciple under Gamaliel, a popular teacher; same as how Jesus was a rabbi and had his own disciples. Meaning Paul was chosen by Gamaliel, having the training to be able to know his words and the Old Testament inside and out, expected to be able to quote scripture and know the teachings of their teacher. It’s good to note the stark contrast, how he was living the complete opposite of his identity.
But now, a heretic, a Christian leader in prison, writing letters to persecuted people. Despite that, to him, all that pedigree, all those things which meant so much at one time, his old life, the sins, and accomplishments; it all was nothing. It’s a loss compared to knowing Christ. Every gain, all losses. To his new life, nothing. Even the good that came from the law it’s nothing to the faith they now have in Christ. Christ, who is now helping make them good and righteous people. This righteousness is so much better.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
Our main passage, what I want you to remember is this portion, as we built up to this point in Paul’s letter. He doesn’t think that even he himself has reached this righteousness, or goodness in God’s faith that he wants to. So, he needs to keep moving forward. He wants his hearers to do the same. In verse 13 he references those things from earlier in the chapter. He wants them to do as he is trying to do, he’s not prioritizing those old things. He asks them to forget, or could be said neglect, put out of sight. And to press or strain.
The connotation being related to hunting your prey, or even running a race, or pushing an object in a desired direction. Think about how they hunted, not like how we will hunt in a deer blind, but instead hunting at that time and region involved chasing your prey until they were in range to bow or until they were too tired to move. So Paul, he’s telling his crowd, don’t look back, press forward. Continually persist after the goal and put what’s behind behind.
I, as many others here have tree planted. An awful job I wouldn’t wish on anyone. When I first started a few years ago my buddy decided to give me some advice for the days when we worked in the pouring rain. And out there in the rain it doesn’t matter at all how covered you were, you’d get soaking wet. So his advice was once you get out of the truck to put your head down and work, no matter what, don’t go back to the truck. Don’t even look at the truck, don’t even think about it.
Because once you get a little warm and dry, you’ll never want to go back in. So to get a good day you have to remove it from your mind. So, Paul says to the church in Philippi. You’ve come so far, refuse to give up. Don’t look at the truck, don’t think about it. Starting it all in your mind as Paul says, so neglect what life once was. It may feel so tempting. You tell yourself I’m not perfect like Paul, so I might as well go back in some ways. Give in a little bit.
It seemed so much better when I wasn’t trying to live right, the right things. I might as well go back. Maybe you’re running through the routine, just going through and being a Christian. All the while your eyes are focused on those temporary things which are meant to be behind or beside. All the while you’re slipping. You believe you’re focused on God but your direction is all on yourself. Both good and bad, or the things that others like to define as important. You’re not pressing towards the objective.
Maybe all you can focus on is past hurts or mistakes. They keep you bound, feeling like you can never move on. Your sins are too much for you to feel like you can overcome, but those sins aren’t what defines you, even if it was yesterday or this morning, your past is not your identity, Christ is. Possibly it’s the hurts, while it’s not easy to just forget and move on, I know God wants to help you move on from your past hurts. He’s here to bring that peace, and if you focus on Him everything can change. He can heal you.
It’s no coincidence that God brought us here today, He has influenced and ordered our steps. So hound after the goal, to be more like Christ, to make it home with Him. Our new life with Christ is all the gain we need, let’s not have our mind on the loss of the past.
