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You can turn in your Bibles to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3, we've seen the conversion of the Apostle Paul, remember he highlights his pre-Christ life in verses 4 to 6, and then he mentions his conversion to Christ, the contrast in verses 7 and 8, and then the explanation in verse 9, justification by faith alone, and then he lives the life of sanctification according to verse 10 with that prospect of future glory we call glorification in verse 11. So we've seen that under the title, the conversion of the Apostle Paul. 

Tonight we're going to look at the Christian life of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3, 12 to 16. So I'll read that section and then pray. 

Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, for getting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us, for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and I'll tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things. 

for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Amen. 

Well, let us pray. Our Father, we thank You for the Word, we thank You for this section in Philippians 3, and for the caution with reference to Judaizing. We know that this isn't confined to the first century. We know there are those in the 21st century that teach a faith plus works in order for salvation acceptance. We pray that You would guard our hearts and minds, cause us to celebrate, to rejoice in, and to be ever thankful for justification by faith alone, for the finished work of the Savior, for His active and passive obedience. We thank you for that and that wonderful blessing. And Lord God, help us as well to navigate the life of sanctification, to be faithful by the Spirit, to do those things pleasing in your sight. And again, forgive us that we fall short in this. Cleanse us in the blood of the Lamb and guide us now by your Spirit. And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 

So a polemic section where the apostle cautions the people of God against the Judaizing tendency or error that was rampant at the early church. He speaks of them specifically in verse two, beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation. And then he highlights or contrasts with the people of God. For we are the true circumcision. We worship God in the spirit. We boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. 

So then Paul ponies up his own example. If there was ever anyone who could have confidence in the flesh, it would be the Apostle Paul. And he gives that religious resume or that pedigree specifically in verses 5 and 6. "...circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church, concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." Again, the argument is simple. If ever anyone could be accepted by God based on works then it would be the Apostle Paul. But he learned by that Damascus Road experience, his conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ, what he says in verses 7 and 8. But what things were gained to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. 

And then as I said, he explains that in verse 9 by emphasizing justification by faith alone. So now, in verses 12 to 14 especially, he is speaking about that period of time between sanctification and glorification. He sort of amplifies. Notice at the end of verse 11, he says, "...if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead," and then in verse 12, "...not that I have already attained." In other words, there is this prospect of future glory, reigning with Jesus Christ, receiving the crown of righteousness, and entering into that eternal state. But in verse 12, he indicates, not that I've already attained. And I mentioned last week that an understanding of glorification and what is ours in the future should serve as an impetus in the present to pursue holiness. I cited 1 John. 1 John 3, 2 and 3. Beloved now, we are children of God. And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. 

So Paul is doing that same thing here, specifically in verses 12 to 14. How do we live in light of that future prospect of glorification? Well, that's verses 12 to 14. But interestingly, we see another theological doctrine wedged I kind of like that word, wedged between sanctification and glorification. And we call that the perseverance of the saints. And I think that's what Paul's emphasis is, specifically here in verses 12 to 14. 

So I want to look first at the perseverance of the saints in verses 12 to 14. Paul, remember, as a model, an example, he says as much in verse 17, join in following my example. and note those who so walk. So the perseverance of the saints, verses 12 to 14, and then the unity of the saints in verses 15 and 16. Essentially what he wants is that everybody be thinking the same way regarding these particular things. 

But with reference to the perseverance of the saints, I want to notice first the position of perseverance. Again, notice the conversion of the Apostle Paul indicated for us in verses 7 to 11. The apostle was justified freely by God's grace. The apostle then entered into the life of sanctification, which he had described in verse 10, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death. And then he underscores the doctrine of the glorification in verse 11. 

So with reference to the Apostle Paul and perseverance, the position is simple. It's sanctification or a subset of sanctification prior to glorification. And then notice the way that he speaks in verse 12. He says, not that I have already attained or am already perfected. You perhaps have heard a reference to the already and not yet. If this was more of a Sunday school class, I'd ask you to raise your hand here, but the already, not yet. It's an eschatological, that means the doctrine of last things, sort of a motif. We've already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. We already possess all that, but it's not yet been fully entered into. 

So Paul understands that tension. Paul understands that place in the timeline. And he says, not that I've already attained or am already perfected. He's justified by God's grace through faith in Jesus. Verse 9, he's being sanctified by the power of the Spirit in accordance with what Christ has done in verse 10. He has the prospect of future glory according to verse 11, but he understands that he is not there. There is this framework, the already and the not yet. Those effectually called and justified by God are then sanctified by the Spirit and have the promise of glorification at the resurrection of the dead. 

So what happens between sanctification and glorification? Obviously, perseverance. And that's the emphasis in verses 12 to 14. 

Now secondly, in terms of the nature of perseverance, I think our confession, as often is the case, summarizing biblical truth and articulating it in careful sentences, It describes perseverance. So in 17.1, this is a bit lengthy, but I know that you've heard it before, so I hope it resonates with you. Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, affectionately called and sanctified by his spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace. But shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which source He still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality. And though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, Yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon. Notwithstanding, through unbelief in the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them. Yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession. They being engraved upon the palm of His hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity." 

Again, it's lengthy, but it's packed. It's lengthy, but it's representative of what Scripture teaches. Those whom God predestined, He called. Those He called, He justified. The ones He justified, He will glorify. So between justification and glorification there in Romans 8.30 is sanctification, just like it is here in Philippians chapter 3. But with reference to sanctification and glorification, we see wedged in there perseverance. This idea that is communicated by Paul in verse 12, I press on. Notice in verse 14, I press toward. Notice in verse 13, but one thing I do. That's the language of perseverance.

And he's not doing this in order that he may be saved. He's not doing this in order that he may complete the justification that was started. He's doing this as a consequence of his having been justified by God's grace through faith in Jesus according to verse 9. It's a done deal. He is justified. Therefore, he's declared righteous in the sight of God only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to him and received by faith alone. All his sins are forgiven.

Sanctification is inevitable, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, being conformed to His death, the fellowship of His sufferings and conformity to His death, and then this reality of glorification. But in that interim period, what do we do? We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We press on. We go for that one thing.

So notice the apostolic declaration, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. So it's the life lived between the already and the not yet. Scripture is very clear, very helpful, and very pointed with reference to how are we supposed to function as those justified freely by God's grace according to 3.9. Well, the way Paul did in Philippians chapter 3, verses 12 to 14, the life lived now between the already and the not yet.

And that life is not idle. Again, note the language. I press on. One thing I do. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. So idleness or laziness has no place in this tension period between the already and the not yet. Perseverance seems to assume some measure of striving. In fact, Paul's statement, as we consider in the rest of the section, he forgets about the things that are behind, but he reaches forward to those things which are ahead.

And the particular image that Paul is employing here, he does so in 1 Corinthians 9, he does so in 1 Timothy 6, and then again in Hebrews 1. It's a race. It is a running race. You don't run a race by being lazy. You don't run a race by lying on your couch. You don't run a race by being idle, but you run a race by being earnest.

The life lived is not sinful. Now, there is remaining corruption according to Paul in Romans 7 and Galatians 5, but there isn't reigning corruption. In other words, we don't give vent to all of our sins and lawlessness and unrighteousness. We don't just say, well, you know, this is part and parcel of who I am, so I'm just going to do whatever. No, we put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit so that we may live.

And as well, based on what I mentioned this morning, the life lived is not unique. We're not delicate little snowflakes. We're men. We're women. We're husbands. We're wives. We're fathers. We're mothers. We're children to our parents. We're workers in whatever place God has us. We're not called out of the world to go live on a mountain and just be holy. That's not what we see in Scripture.

The people of God don't withdraw themselves from normal society. Now, there are in the history of the church those who have been a bit more off. And not just off there, but sometimes off a little there too. But for the most part, most of us are normal, ordinary, regular people. The Christian gospel does not deliver us from this present evil age, but it calls us to live faithfully in this present evil age.

So whatever your task, whatever your vocation, whatever your duty or responsibilities are, you're not unique. You're just like everybody else, but you're blood-bought and you have the Spirit. As well, the life lived is not optional. We all must press on. because we've been justified by God's grace in verse 9. And I will not stop saying this. This is consequential. It isn't causal. It's not the case that we, because we press on, we're going to be justified. No, we're justified by God's grace as saved men and women.

We then, as a consequence to that, we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We press on. We have that one thing we do. We have that pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. And the life lived in this tension between the already and the not yet is necessary in that it brings glory to God. It's an expression of our gratitude to God.

Those of you brought up or reared on the Heidelberg Catechism knows it breaks down into three sections, guilt, grace, gratitude. Guilt, we are wretched. Grace, God delivers us. What's the response? Gratitude. Well, that's the Christian life. We're supposed to bring glory to God. And when people see us and the differences in us, and again, it's probably not going to be night and day. It's probably not going to, you know, we were born again and we're Paul the next day. That's usually not how it goes. I mean, I wish it was, but usually it's not that way. But people are going to see that. They're going to recognize this isn't because of him or her, because of the grace of God. So gratitude.

But as well, before we move on from verse 12, notice the language. Not that I have already attained or am already perfected. Again, he's understanding of that already, not yet. He knows he's not in glorification. He knows he's not in heaven. He knows he's not surrounded by angelic hosts. He knows he's not in the presence of the Son of God enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high. He knows that.

Not that I've already attained or am already perfected, but I press on. Notice, for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. There's that whole consequent thing. He's only laying hold because Christ has already laid hold of him. It's not that Paul is seeking this particular thing in the hopes that he may attain it. No, Christ has already saved him and Christ is now empowering him by the Spirit to do this pressing on, as he puts it.

But I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. For the Apostle Paul, sovereign grace is always there. For the Apostle Paul, election and predestination are always there. For the Apostle Paul, he has to state things this way, Christ has laid hold of me.

1 Corinthians chapter 1, but of him you are in Christ Jesus. In him, Ephesians 1.4, 1.3, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. And then he says in verse four, just as he chose us, what? In him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame. And then he says, in love, having predestined us unto adoption as sons.

For Paul, he doesn't say I press on, at any possible threat of persons thinking that it's all up to him. No. He presses on because Christ has already laid hold of them. He presses on because Christ has already conquered him. He presses on because he's already been forgiven and given this righteousness which avails with God. He presses on because that's what justified by faith believers do. They press on. They do what God calls them to do. They let their conduct be worthy of the gospel. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27.

Again, imperfectly, even Paul. I mean, look at verse 12. What an admission. Not that I've already attained glory or am already perfected. He's not just saying, I don't have my harp and my wings in that heavenly place where I'm surrounded by, he's not perfected. What does that mean? It means he's got the remaining corruption he talks about in Romans chapter seven. He's got the remaining corruption he talks about in Galatians chapter five.

I think we at times just see Paul as this theology machine. He's penning letters under the power of the spirit and just, you know, getting everything in order in the church. And he is that for sure. But he was a brother like us. I mean, probably a lot better than me, but he was a brother like us in that the good that I wish to do, I don't do. The evil I don't want to do, I find myself doing.

Brethren, he was a real man, saved by real grace, living the life of sanctification, which necessarily entails perseverance. pressing on, going forward, running the race.

So we've seen the position of perseverance with reference to Paul's salvation. We've seen the nature of perseverance. Let's look at the manner of perseverance in verses 13 and 14.

Notice assessment. Again, brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. There's no doctrine of perfectionism in the scriptures. I mean, there has in the history of the church been those who've wandered off into this idea that we can achieve perfection on this side of glory. John Wesley had views sympathetic toward that. That, you know, it's just not going to happen. I mean, I don't know what better proof there is than looking in the mirror every morning that would argue against the doctrine of perfectionism. I really don't.

or just a moment's reflection upon your thought life, a moment's reflection upon the five minutes you're laying in bed before you get up, unless you're loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and unless you're planning to jump out of bed and serve your wife and kids and do so without any bitterness or complaint or whining or whatever, you're not perfect. You're just not. And the Apostle Paul understood that there is no such thing as Christian perfection on this side of glory.

So in terms of his assessment, brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. Christ, according to verse 12, had apprehended him or laid hold of him for glory, but he understands that he hasn't apprehended that glory yet. He's in the life of sanctification. He's in the life of perseverance. He's in the life of putting off sin, putting on righteousness, living in a manner that is consistent with his high calling in our Lord Jesus Christ. So his assessment, open, honest, and obviously accurate. 

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but then notice his resolve. His resolve there in verse 13, but one thing I do. One thing I do, so again, the language in verses 12, 13, and 14 all bespeak a running race, something that Paul himself would be familiar with. I mean, he uses that kind of illustration in 1 Corinthians 9, as I mentioned, Hebrews chapter 12. If we take Pauline authorship of the book of Hebrews, I mean, the amphitheater with all the witnesses and the games going on down below, it's a running race. 

And I've often thought, at least a few times, as a tent maker. Where could he sell his trade? At the Olympics or at the games. It'd be smart for him to be somewhat connected to that industry of entertaining people through sport when he's a tent maker. It just seems to make sense. So he seems to have some familiarity with the athletic games. He has some familiarity such with soldiering, with athletic. In other words, he was a real guy. He wasn't some delicate weirdo sitting off in his ivory tower that didn't know what was happening amongst the ebb and flow of life. Of course he knew. Of course he knew. 

So he's using that language. But notice when he says, one thing I do, he's speaking there of priority. There needs to be a priority in the life of perseverance. There needs to be a priority to obedience to the Master's Word. There needs to be priority as we continue on in this sachet in terms of forgetting what's behind and reaching forward to what's ahead. Priority is necessary for the Christian life. Priority is necessary for perseverance in the faith. Priority is commended by our King, Matthew 6, 33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

Priority is exemplified by Mary in Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 10. Remember Mary and Martha? and Martha complains that Mary isn't helping? And what does Jesus say to Martha? Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. Priority. It's very important in order to persevere we've got to have our priorities straight. We've got to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. We've got to value the holiness that is commended to us in the Christian message. We need to value the reality that we are heading toward glory. And we need to value the reality that we have been justified freely by God's grace, we're in the life of sanctification by the Spirit, and God is purposeful with reference to conforming us under the image of His Son. 

This mindset of priority is demonstrated by the psalmist in a not unparalleled passage. Psalm 27, 4, So Paul's in good company in terms of priority. When Paul says, but one thing I do, I don't believe I've apprehended. I know I'm not perfected. I know I'm not in that state of future glory. I understand that. My assessment is bang on. But my resolve is thus. One thing I do, I have a priority structure in my head, I have a commitment in my heart to do what God has called me to do faithfully. 

And perhaps at times in our striving against sin, we fail at this very point. Again, look at 127, only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. How do we do that in the home? Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. How do we do that in the home? Wives, be submissive to your own husbands as to the Lord. Parents, do not bring up, do not exasperate your children, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Children, honor your parents, honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with promise. It's not vague. It's not mysticism. It's not ethereal. Sometimes people approach the Christian life that way. Well, I'm just not sure. Why aren't you sure? I mentioned this morning, we are great at overly complicating things. Fishing, in principle, very simple. The function of the church, in principle, very simple. Make disciples and teach them. Well, what about the bands? What about the ponies? What about the puppets? Make them and teach them. 

Brethren, it's at this place of priority. Maybe we really don't want to let our conduct be worthy of the gospel. And we're just not honest enough to admit it. You see, you cannot say, I want my conduct to be worthy of the gospel, and then treat your wife like garbage. You can't say, I want my conduct to be worthy of the gospel, then treat your husband like garbage. You can't do that. Those things just don't jive. They don't gel. They don't kind of hang out together. 

So Paul's priority, that mindset, but one thing I do. Maybe that's where we're failing. We don't have that commitment. We don't have that mindset. We are saved by grace. We'll affirm that according to verse nine. Yeah, we know something of Christ. We know a bit of the power of his resurrection. We know a little bit of suffering because, you know, somebody got mad at me when I prayed at Tim Hortons. We know something about conformity to his death because we know that people hate Christians.

But brethren, are we single focused on pursuing the things that God has called us to? And here I change to we, I'm not you brethren, you're all messed up. If Paul's conversion, verses six to 11, are sort of paradigmatic in terms of our acceptance by God through faith in Jesus Christ, then Paul's Christian life in verses 12 to 14 should be paradigmatic, should be a pattern. And again, he says in verse 17, follow my example. In other words, we ought to be single-minded with reference to pursuing the things that God has called us to.

Notice, with reference to his resolve, he not only highlights the priority, but he speaks concerning the past. He says, forgetting those things which are behind me. What does that mean? If you ask the question, what does he mean by forgetting those things which are behind? Seriously, what does that mean? Well, the commentators come up with a few. Pre-conversion accomplishments, the stuff of verses 5 and 6, stock of Israel, tribe of Benjamin, circumcised the eighth day. I forget all about that. Sins, past sins that we've been forgiven of. I mean, I don't know that we'll ever really forget all of the sins that we've been forgiven of, and I'm not sure we need to necessarily, because when I remember past sins, it makes me afresh praise God for grace. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. The only way Newton could append those words is by not having forgotten the wretchedness of which he was, or what he was.

Some suggest his post-conversion work. So as a justified, sanctified man, he's done good things. I don't think it means that. Now having said that, I don't think it's a bad thing for us to not obsess on pre-conversion good works, or past sins, or post-conversion good. It's probably okay to forget that stuff.

But in a running race, and I speak with utter authority here, because I'm just an avid racer, just like a fisherman. You don't dwell on the past checkpoints. Remember when I passed the 50 yard? No. Remember priority? He's going to get to the future in a moment. You're not looking back. You're going forward. The life of sanctification and perseverance by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit is one of going forward. You're not looking back. You're not dwelling in the past. You're not reflecting on the progress that you've made. Hey, did you see how I rounded the corner back there? You don't care about that. You're about going forward. You're going to heaven.

And then notice he speaks to the future. forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. Again, focus is highlighted here and so is a strenuous effort, a strenuous effort. You've probably seen the footage or you've seen the end of a race. These people look like they're about to die. And they're reaching forward, veins popping out, sweat covered all over them because they're straining, because they're focused. They want to win. That's the all-consuming thought. Every fiber of their being is reaching forward because they want the prize. That's the picture that Paul is presenting of perseverance. That's the picture, not sluggishness, not, oh, I gotta read my Bible, oh, I gotta go to church, oh, I gotta pray. You don't get one whiff of that from Paul. You get forgetting what's behind, one thing I'm doing, and I'm reaching forward until I seize it. And whatever aids and assists me in that running race, I'm going to use it.

O'Brien says, with reference to the language, this is a vivid word drawn from the games, and it pictures a runner with his eyes fixed on the goal, his hands stretching out towards it, and his body bent forward as he enters the last and decisive stages of the race. And again, this isn't so that we can enter in. We're gonna enter in based on verse 9. This is what runners do based on verse 9. This is what Paul did, and this is why Paul says, join in following my example. Don't be dead weight. Don't lounge around. Don't be lazy. Don't be idle. Don't give vent to your sin. Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel. Philippians 1.27. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2.12. Why? Because it's God who's at work in you. 2.13. Both to will and to do according to his good pleasure. In other words, it's not, run thus so that you get. No, run thus because you've gotten. God's blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Run the race that is set before you, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. And of course, verse 14 points to the prize. It points to the finish line. These poor guys are running mile after mile after mile after mile. Their veins are popping out. Their bodies are quivering. They're about to dry-heave themselves into a state of non-existence. Why? Well, in this context, to get theater tickets and a garland wreath for their head.

What do we got? We got Emmanuel's land, brethren. The constant pursuit in the life of sanctification. Notice again, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The glory of heaven with the Lord Jesus. So you see how sanctification and glorification relate to one another. And you see how perseverance is a at least subset with reference to sanctification in this pursuit. And you see that it's all predicated on what Christ has already done according to verse 9.

So then verses 15 and 16, the unity of the saints. Remember Jesus prays for unity in his high priestly prayer. Paul gets real practical in terms of the church in Philippi and wants us or wants them to be mature. But it's interesting. He speaks concerning the mature mind in verse 15. It's intriguing to me that Paul understood that there were both mature and immature people in the church. That's intriguing. He doesn't say, well, I don't want to offend anybody. Everybody's the same. No, there's mature and there's immature. He speaks of that in Romans chapter 14. The weak thinks he can only eat vegetables. The strong knows he can eat vegetables and meat. It's just the reality. As well, in Ephesians chapter 4, what's one of the purpose for the gospel ministry? To bring the people of God to maturity.

Okay, so Paul recognizes there's mature and there's immature. Paul also assumes a risk by doing this. What do you think people might be tempted to say? Is he suggesting? Is he saying that some of us might not be mature? How dare him? See, it was a different culture back then, one. But two, Paul's just speaking truth. You've got to be very careful today to possibly suggest that little Johnny may not be the president someday because he's a moron. You've got to be very sensitive with the people of God or anybody because you don't want to make them feel bad. That's the big crime today is making people feel bad. It's not being immature and needing to get mature. It's being told you're immature. That's the bigger problem. No, buck up and get mature.

And notice the exhortation that Paul gives here. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. And again, what's he speaking about here? He's speaking about the things he's discoursing on. He's speaking about the things that I'm trying to bring out. Sanctification, glorification, that interim, that already not yet sort of tension, perseverance. Paul's okay with us being at disagreement with tertiary doctrines, but on primary matters, justification by faith alone, the place of perseverance in the faith, the place of glorification, the place of sanctification, he wants the people of God to think like-mindedly on these things. We can disagree on some stuff. We can't disagree on the triunity of God, we can't disagree on the Christology presented to us in the scripture, and we can't disagree on justification by faith alone. If we disagree on that, we are either A, right, or B, wrong. There's just no, well, it's kind of like this. No, it's either this or not. And so Paul wants the church to have this mind.

But then notice, again, discernment, or realism, rather, with the end of verse 15. And if in anything you think otherwise, Paul understands, you know, not everybody's there yet. Not everybody's got that maturity. Not everybody can accept these things, but he understands that God will reveal even this to you. In other words, the Spirit of God is at work in the people of God, and He is maturing them, and He is sanctifying them, and it's a process. Beautiful. Remember what he says? Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all what? Long suffering. Why? Because sometimes, again, this may be a shock to you, but it takes sometimes, some people longer, to get things. Have you ever had that experience? Or is it just me? Oh, wow, now I get it, after 20 plus. Oh, yeah, wow, you should have known that 20 minutes in, not 20 years later in. So Paul gets that.

And then notice, specifically in verse 16, And by attained, obviously it doesn't mean future glory. It means the attainment of the blessings that have been conveyed to us by God through His Son in His Spirit. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, justification, sanctification, glorification. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind. Again, there's going to be some differences of opinion with us in terms of preference, in terms of things not explicitly commanded, but with reference to the cardinal truths of the Christian faith, there can be no deviation. That's why a confession of faith is very helpful because we all know the page that we're supposed to be singing off of. Now in conclusion, the blessings given to the saints. So in Ephesians 1.3, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. He then sets it in a threefold or triune shape, election and predestination from the Father, redemption in the Son, sealing and guarantee by the Spirit. So here, he's very specific. Justification, sanctification, glorification. He doesn't say perseverance. He doesn't say, now I'm discoursing on the perseverance of the saints. But every bit of language that he's using is perseverance of the saints language.

One thing I do, but I press on, I press toward. All that is what we are supposed to be doing. as justified by faith believers. Secondly, in terms of the doctrine of perseverance, again, 17 in our confession, but paragraph 2, much shorter, this perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election. flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father, upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, and union with Him, the oath of God, the abiding of the Spirit, and the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace, from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof." So it sets it in its biblical theological context. Perseverance isn't you earning. It is you living out God's purpose in your life. It is you living out that for which Christ has already obtained or apprehended you.

So the foundation is the triune God and the recognition of our own imperfect state. Brethren, there's freedom in verses 12 and 11, not that I have already attained or I'm already perfected. Verse 13, brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. Some suggest that behind the Judaizers, or at least the super-apostles in 2 Corinthians, was an already sort of expectation, or a not-yet expectation brought into the already. In other words, it was over-realized eschatology. That means taking things from glory and putting them in the earthly sphere. So if that's behind the scenes to some degree, Paul's admission on two places right here in this passage would be a big rebuke to these Judaizers or to anybody that would suggest that we can achieve perfection, or to anybody that would suggest that we've already apprehended. No, no, we've already apprehended in terms of the blessings that have been conveyed to us through our Lord Jesus, but they're not yet fully experienced. And again, behind 1, especially 1 Corinthians 15, I think there's an over-realized eschatology there, definitely. So I think there's some merit to that.

Paul, by doing this, is not only highlighting something true of himself, but he's shutting the mouths of heretics. And then the empowerment, or rather, the empowerment is by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believers.

I feel like I already went heavy this morning and heavy tonight, but I just want to mention the use of Paul's words in verses 12 and 13, I press on, 12 to 14, I press on, one thing I do, I press toward the goal. This really at some point, brethren, has to get into our fiber, into our being when it comes to the means that God's ordained. It just does.

I mean, imagine you're a medical doctor and somebody comes to you and says, yeah, I don't eat right, I don't exercise, and I can't believe that I'm not losing weight. If you're a doctor, you're gonna say, well, I can believe it. I know exactly why. It's pretty simple. The realm of natural light of nature. You eat too much and you don't exercise, you don't lose weight. And yet, as Christians, I don't know why I'm not growing. I don't know why I'm struggling. Do you read your Bible? No. Do you pray? No. Are you regular at the means of grace offered by the church? Well, no. Why would you expect to grow?

Again, I'm not trying to be Dr. Phil here or Dr. Jim or Dr. whoever. It's just we overly complicate everything. Well, you just don't understand my situation. Okay, I guess I don't. Couldn't be that I have a situation that you may possibly not understand or that Paul had a situation that we may not possibly understand. I don't know what it's like to be schlepped up before the civil government and ultimately end up in jail, not once but twice like Paul.

Brethren, there's no magic. There's no mystery. There's no secret cheat code for sanctification or perseverance. One thing I do, I press on. I get up in the morning, I read my Bible, I pray. When church is open, I show up. I'm there. When the supper is passed out, I eat it. When baptisms happen, I watch them. When psalms and hymns are sung, I sing them. When the word is preached, I listen. It's not magic. This isn't a mystery religion. We don't tune out. We don't let go and let God. That's Baalism. We worship God in spirit and in truth. We worship God in a way that is informed by God. Again, very simple, use the means.

And for those who say, well, you know, I've tried them, but it didn't work. I was thinking about this recently. It came up when we were studying the death penalty in our Wednesday night study, Sixth Commandment. The question comes up, is the death penalty a deterrent? My response is always, it doesn't matter if it is or not. It's retributive justice. You punish the criminal offender. Whether there's a deterrent effect or not, that's not the point. The point is this guy murdered someone, so you execute him.

But let's just extend it. It always deters him, for sure. but we've never seen it practiced consistently to be able to determine experientially, or what's the word, scientifically, if there is a deterred effect, right? If you knew that chances were better than good that you committed a capital crime, you were gonna be executed? I think I'd be deterred. I use the illustration, driving into Rosedale, that little corner, it's a speed trap, isn't it? Right by the railroad tracks. I don't slow down there out of virtue. I slow down because I don't want a ticket. Because the application of penalty is pretty consistent and regular. It's sort of a risk-reward thing.

So for people that say, you know what, I tried using the means and then it didn't seem to work. I've yet to witness that person. The people that I witness that use the means are usually the people that speak well of the means, yeah. And it's not it works in some formulaic, put in your quarter and out pops the soda pop. It's over a life of faithfulness that God uses these things to further conform us onto the image of his beloved son.

So there's your lecture, there's your scolding, now go out and be holy.

But if we meditate upon passages like these, we will see that God is good. He not only justifies us freely by his grace, he calls us to the life of sanctification, but he doesn't leave us in it to ourselves. He has the Spirit, he sends the Spirit who empowers and enables us, and he gives us the means that are necessary as the things that the Spirit uses to bring that conformity unto Jesus.

Well, let us pray.

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you for what Paul says here in Philippians chapter 3 in terms of his own experience, not only in terms of his conversion to Christ, but his Christian life in Christ. I pray for all of us that we would be this way, that we would be single-minded and prioritized. that one thing I do mentality and that we would pursue those things that are pleasing in the sight of our gracious God. Go with us, watch over us in this coming week and be glorified in each of our lives and we pray in Jesus name, amen.