Philippians 3 bible commentary matthew henry complete. His desire was to faithfully run the christian racecourse in total consecration to his heavenly father. Published 1871 probably best older commentary on prophetic passages as it tends to interpret more literally. He played a part in the stoning of stephen, and he could have let guilt and shame cripple him for that. We should learn from lifes injuries, not be held captive by them.
If you dont know where you are going, it doesnt really matter which way you go. Paul looks toward the goal line, greek skopos, from a root meaning to look into the distance. Heres the sermon im preaching tomorrow, sunday, october 5, 2008. His eye is upon the goal and he presses through every difficulty to reach it. The word press meaning i pursue, i chase it, i run after it. Its a call to pursue the goal, the prize which is spiritual perfection. Forgetting what lies behind and pressing toward what lies ahead, paul says, i press on toward the goal of knowing christ more fully and completely, and living the life christ calls me to live vv. The apostle paul was laserfocused on the race, the goal, the finish line. He knows that he has not won the race but, he counts himself still in the race trying to obtain the prize.
Much of our christian life calls for a balance between extremes. He says, i press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of god in. As we follow the example of the apostle paul and echo his words of this one thing i do. A prison letter, it contains a christological hymn about christs humility and exaltation, a glimpse into pauls passion to know christ, and a reflection on prayer and the peace it brings in the midst of stress, conflict, and opponents. Again we see the runner at the end of the marathon, as he rounds the corner, he can see the tape stretched across the road, and the crowd is cheering him on. Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward god, 2 of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. This is the prize offered to those in the high calling of the saints in christ. Now, remember, paul was saul who persecuted the church violently.
The individual that stretches toward the mark refuses to be dissuaded by. Mantey, a manual grammar of the greek new testament toronto. Answers to bible study for volume 2 issues 17 the responsibility to live a holy life growth through purging please read john 15. He is aware that there are other runners nearby who are all pressing toward that goal, he digs deep for that extra kick that might win the race. Esv 14 i press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of god in christ jesus. Now, the basic thrust of the passage then is a call to pursue the prize. Believers need to spend time with god every day to grow in faith and understanding.
I pray these pressing on scriptures are a blessing and encouragement to you as you press on in faith every day. Maybe your doing okay, but does there still seem a. According to the apostle paul, its an ongoing process that will never end in this life. Discipleship lessons inductive bible study questions 4 2. Can death be viewed in any other way than as a defeat. Mustard seed lesson for august 15, 2010 jesus is all. Bible study available in pdf, kindle, and paperback formats. For the prize of the high calling of god in christ jesus. After salvation, every christian begins the process of spiritual growth, with the intent to become spiritually mature. James rosscup this is a helpful old set of 1863 for laypeople and pastors to have because it usually comments at least to some degree on problems. Forgetting is often the prerequisite to going forward. Alford barnes bengel benson bi calvin cambridge chrysostom.
We are to give our whole life to this, thats what hes saying in verse 14. I press toward the mark as he who was running a race did. He did this with wholehearted sincerity and effort, that he might receive the most wonderful prize of the. Pressing toward the mark written by jack hayford brethren, i count not myself to have apprehended. Forgetting the past and pressing forward ministry127. His lifelong aspiration was the smile of jesus christ at their meeting in heaven. What does it mean to press on toward the high calling in. The ultimate reward of the christian is to receive eternal life in gods presence in heaven.
The mark means properly the object set up at a distance at which one looks or aims, and hence the goal, or post which was set up at the end of a racecourse, and which was to be reached in order that the prize might be won. While stretching forward involves affection and focus, pressing also involves moral effort and progress. Inner aches and pains that just dont seem to go away. Pressing on for the prize philippians 3 the past few weeks we have been learning about the importance of having a daily quiet time with god. This is the high calling to which paul is referring in this verse. However, we must not press the image of the church as a bride. I press towards the mark, for the prize of the high calling of god in christ jesus, v. Paul was saying, im pressing on the upward way, new heights im gaining everyday. I want your hearts to talk over this first part of the sermon. Pressing on in the study of the new testament and in the study of all the bible, we may be tempted to develop an appetite that is limited to what we classify as the deep teachings of scripture. Forgetting past hurts, offenses, problems, and failures is necessary in order to genuinely press toward the mark of christlikeness. Again we see the runner at the end of the marathon, as he rounds the corner, he. Bible sermons online, outline of sermon preached by 1 maurice roberts, inverness. The christian life is especially like the longer races where the runner must sustain.
Pauls desire to know christ is an ongoing, daily journey of letting go of the past and coming to know his lord in new ways. Pressing toward the mark not as though i had already attained, either were already perfect. Here it is the distant mark looked at, the goal or end one has in view. Paul is talking about pressing toward a goal, or winning a race. I press toward the mark the allusion is to the white line, or mark, which the runners in the olympic games made up to, and to which he that came first received the prize. Last week we talked about getting ready to have our time with god.
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of god in christ jesus. One area where this is needed is the balance between striving and allowing god to act in our lives. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of god in christ jesus. Spiritual maturity is achieved through becoming more like jesus christ. I press toward the goal press toward expresses the idea of pursue after or follow earnestly. Macarthur new testament commentary set moody publishers. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which god has called me heavenward in christ jesus. Like an olympian runner, he would not look back at his failures. Most all of us know what its like to suffer from them but too few of us.
Mark tells us that when jesus, peter, andrew, james, and john arrived at. Do you ever consider the christian walk to be difficult, like it is always an uphill climb. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of god in christ. The pressing, violent spirit confronts his initiative with vigor. Nobody remembers who named the book, but for me it was the beginning of three decades of intensive bible study as i wrote additional commentaries, all of them falling under the new be series.