Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church-Friedheim
Celebrating our 167^th Year

A 21^st Century Parish with a 1^st Century Faith
Acts 2:42

Pentecost 20
October 2, 2005
Philippians 3:12-21
Pressing forward

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INTRODUCTION: If there is nothing to strive for, no goal to achieve, life becomes drab and aimless. We all need something toward which to strive. In our text Paul describes the pressing on that characterizes our life as Christians.

I.                    We press on by crucifying the flesh.

A.     We are not yet perfect or sinless.

12        Not that I have already obtained {it} or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

13                Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of {it} yet; but one thing {I do}  forgetting what {lies} behind and reaching forward to what {lies} ahead,” - Philippians 3:12-13

1.        The sinful flesh asserts itself by enticing us to mind earthly things.

18        For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, {that they are} enemies of the cross of Christ,

19                whose end is destruction, whose god is {their} appetite, and {whose} glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. - Philippians 3:18-19

2.        The sinful flesh, if habitually indulged, can eventually lead to our eternal destruction.

B.     We can crucify the flesh because Christ has made us His own. (See v. 12)

1.      His resurrection power working in us energizes our new nature that says no to sin.

2.      His resurrection power is available to us in the Word of the Gospel, Baptism and Communion.

II.                 We press on by anticipating the prize

A.     The prize or perfection awaits us.

1.      This perfection is heaven.

20                For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;  -Philippians 3:20

2.      This perfection consists in our having a glorious body.

21                who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. - Philippians 3:21

B.     We can overcome what causes us to lose sight of the prize.

1.   The memory of past sins can cause us to lose sight of the prize.  What happens when our past comes crashing in on our present?  Satan would desire for us to give up in despair. Yet we don’t have to dwell on those sins because Christ’s resurrection proves He atoned for all sin. (see v.21)

2.      The world around us can so allure us that we forget all about the prize. Yet we can become heavenly instead of earthly minded by pondering the ultimate purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection – to subject all things to Himself and to bring us into His eternal kingdom.

CONCLUSION: Pressing on is what the Christian life is all about. It’s a daily struggle against sin and a daily looking forward to the final victory.

+ Soli Deo Gloria +