Pressing Forward Toward Christlikeness and Heaven

Paul takes the picture of a race and gives Philippians a clear game plan for the Christian life. Paul does not claim that he has already arrived or that he has obtained full Christlikeness. Paul, with all his resume, ministry, knowledge, and experience, still says, “I press on.” Christ has made him His own, and that grace becomes the reason Paul keeps pursuing Christ every day.

Sanctification is not a quick race. Sanctification is low and slow, like a tough piece of brisket becoming tender over time. Christ takes those who were the low of the lowest and works in them patiently through His Word, shaping them day by day. The past, whether good, bad, or ugly, can keep a believer from moving forward when it becomes the main focus. Paul calls the church to forget what lies behind, strain toward what lies ahead, and keep eyes on the goal.

Paul also calls believers to get in line and stay in line. Christ is the true Leader, and Paul invites the church to imitate him only as he imitates Christ. The church cannot run this race alone. God provides brothers and sisters who encourage, challenge, pray, and give accountability when somebody feels like giving up. Paul also gives a warning with tears: not every example should be followed. Enemies of the cross may use Christian words while holding onto a false gospel without repentance, conversion, or real change.

The contrast is clear. Earthly-minded people make their belly their god, glory in what should bring shame, and live for self-satisfaction. Christ, however, denied Himself, obeyed the Father, and gave Himself as a sacrifice. Christlikeness cannot mean simply feeling good, staying the same, or trusting in works and traditions. Christlikeness means coming under the Word, being exposed by it, being changed by it, and pressing forward in holiness.

Paul finally lifts the church’s eyes to heaven. Philippi took pride in Roman citizenship, but Paul says that the believer’s true citizenship is in heaven. Heaven is home, Christ is the Savior being awaited, and glorification is the prize at the end of the race. Christ will transform lowly bodies to be like His glorious body by His own power. Paul ends with a loving command: stand firm, keep pressing forward, imitate Christ, and stay focused on the eternal.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Press on toward Christlikeness daily. Paul’s dissatisfaction was not hopelessness or guilt. Paul knew that Christ had made him His own, so he kept pursuing the One who had already taken hold of him. Sanctification grows where hunger for Christ replaces satisfaction with the minimum. [40:49]
• 2. Leave the past behind you. Paul does not limit the past to obvious sins and failures. Past achievements, old wounds, trauma, and even spiritual victories can distract the heart from what Christ is doing today. The race requires forward eyes because looking behind can make a believer lose focus and balance. [47:28]
• 3. Get in line behind Christ. Paul invites believers to follow faithful examples because nobody was meant to run alone. Christian maturity grows through encouragement, challenge, prayer, and accountability among believers who are all looking toward the same Leader. Christ remains the Captain, and every human example must point back to Him. [56:26]
• 4. Reject gospels without repentance. Paul weeps over those who appear religious while opposing the cross through their lives and false doctrine. Grace never gives permission to remain unchanged, because Christ meets sinners in order to transform them. The Word of God both encourages and crushes the pride that wants to keep sin comfortable. [63:18]
• 5. Live as citizens of heaven. Paul grounds identity not in earthly belonging, success, or comfort, but in heaven. Heavenly citizenship creates expectation because Christ is coming to finish what He began in His people. Glorification will turn present hope into eternal reality through the power of the risen Lord.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [31:02] - Honoring Pastor Steve
• [31:59] - The Sports Illustration
• [34:15] - Reading Philippians 3:12 to 4:1
• [36:22] - Paul’s Game Plan for Holiness
• [37:10] - Pressing Forward Toward Christlikeness
• [42:27] - Sanctification Is Low and Slow
• [45:37] - Forgetting What Lies Behind
• [52:20] - Get in Line and Imitate Christ
• [58:23] - Warning Against Enemies of the Cross
• [64:35] - Citizens of Heaven
• [69:29] - Awaiting Christ and Glorification
• [72:50] - Stand Firm in the Lord

Bible Reading

Philippians 3:12-4:1
“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. 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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” [34:15]

Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” [41:32]

1 Timothy 1:15
“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” [49:54]

Observation questions

1. In Philippians 3:12–14, what does Paul say he has not yet attained, and what reason does he give for continuing to press on? [40:49]
2. What three actions does Paul describe in the race image: regarding what lies behind, what lies ahead, and the goal?
3. In Philippians 3:17–19, what marks the examples Paul tells believers to follow, and what marks the “enemies of the cross”?
4. According to Philippians 3:20–4:1, where is the believer’s citizenship, what is the church awaiting, and what final command does Paul give? [01:13:45]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul says he presses on because Christ Jesus has made him His own. How does this keep the pursuit of holiness from becoming an attempt to earn salvation? [40:52]
2. What does it mean to “forget what lies behind”? How can both past sin and past achievements become distractions from present faithfulness to Christ? [46:50]
3. Why does Paul invite believers to imitate faithful examples while also warning them to watch out for harmful examples? What does this show about the importance of Christian community? [56:26]
4. Paul contrasts minds set on earthly things with citizenship in heaven. How should the promise that Christ will return and transform His people shape their priorities now? [01:09:34]

Application questions

1. Where have you been tempted to settle for the minimum in your walk with Christ—perhaps relying only on church attendance, Bible study, or past spiritual experiences? What might it look like to seek Christ daily this week? [39:34]
2. Is there something behind you—sin, regret, hurt, trauma, or even a past success—that regularly pulls your attention away from what Christ is doing today? What would it look like to bring that honestly before the Lord and keep moving forward? [47:09]
3. Sanctification is often “low and slow,” not quick or easy. Where do you most need patience with the Lord’s ongoing work in your life, while still refusing to give up? [44:26]
4. Who is a faithful believer whose example helps you follow Christ? Is there a person you could ask for prayer, encouragement, or accountability in a specific area of growth? [57:11]
5. What voices, habits, or messages encourage a version of grace that leaves sin comfortable and unchanged? How can you make sure you are listening to the Word of God rather than an earthly-minded message? [01:02:46]
6. What earthly identity, comfort, success, or concern most competes with your identity as a citizen of heaven? How could remembering that heaven is home change one decision you make this week? [01:07:43]
7. When life feels difficult or the race feels long, how does Christ’s promised return and the future transformation of your body give you hope to stand firm today? [01:10:42]