Sermon for MHBC (7 November 2021). You can listen on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, or our website. Live at 11:00am on Sundays. Also available as a podcast here or by searching “Monument Heights Baptist Church” in your favorite podcast app.
I don’t usually do this, but I’m going to start with an illustration from sports. I’m not nearly into sports as much as I used to be, but I still watch West Virginia University basketball sometimes. A few years ago, they had this relentless full-court press that created chaos for their opponents. They were so successful at this relentless full-court press that they earned the nickname “Press Virginia.” Teams would throw the ball away constantly due to the high energy pressure. It’s that relentless tenacity that illustrates an aspect of the Christian life.
In our passage, Paul talks about a life that is aimed at pressing into Christ, growing in grace, being conformed more and more to Christ. The exhortation is simple: “Press On.” Press on to know Christ. Press on to grow in Christlikeness. Press on in your faith. Press on because our real treasure lies in Christ, so we must keep our eyes fixed on Him.
Verse 12: 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. Paul here speaks of pressing on or pursuing Christ. It is somewhat interesting that the word translated “press on” is the same word as Paul used back in v. 6 when he said he was a “persecutor” of the church. All the dogged determination he exhibited as a persecutor is now given to knowing Christ and being conformed to Him.
Notice how he explains this. He says, “I press on … because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” Paul is pursuing the one who originally pursued him. Now as some early commentators pointed out, if Paul, who is an exemplar of the Christian life, says he must press on, how much more ought we to press on.[1]
This is the command upon us this morning. Press on to know Christ. Remember the passage we read earlier in the service. Jesus says, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). That illustrates this passage so well. The Christian life is like getting behind a flow and keeping our eyes fixed on the line ahead, not looking behind, but pressing on.
Jesus has many hard sayings to illustrate this pursuit. He speaks of storing up treasures in heaven. And He tells us that where our treasure is there our heart is as well (Matt 6:19–21). The best things are yet to come, so it’s necessary to keep eyes fixed ahead, not deviating, not looking back.
Look at vv. 13–14: 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.
Paul has a target in view. What is that target? Knowing Christ. Being conformed to Christ. Growing into the image of Christ. That’s Paul’s goal. He hasn’t obtained it. He presses on so that he might grow in grace.
It’s really important to emphasize that Paul isn’t talking about earning his salvation. Remember he said in the previous section that righteousness comes exclusively through Christ. That’s how one becomes righteous. But now he’s speaking of pursuing Christ so that he might grow in righteousness, so that he might become more like Christ.
Before we move on notice his language. He says (1) he forgets what is behind and (2) strains toward what lies ahead. Imagine him stretching to reach something above him and you have the image. He’s not worried about what’s behind. He’s on his tip-toes, using every ounce of energy to reach forward.
This is an incredible image for the Christian life. It’s a straining and a pursuit to know Christ. Here’s a question for all of us to think about: Does that characterize your life as a Christian? Is Christ the singular target.
I believe it was Leonard Ravenhill who used the analogy of Olympians. They struggle and strive for what? A gold medal. But look what lies before us: Christ Himself.
So Paul uses this pursuit word again in v. 14. “I press on for the prize.” You might even think of tunnel vision. Paul’s pursuit is singular. And he urges all of us to the same pursuit. Look at vv. 15–16: 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. It’s a mark of maturity to pursue Christ. In fact, it is a mark of immaturity for this pursuit to be absent and Paul says, “God will correct this.” If there is no correction, there is great danger. I’ll come back to this warning later in the passage, but let’s just note how dangerous apathy and indifference are. In the best case, they are issues to be corrected. But they may reveal a failure to grasp the basics of the Christian faith. So he pushes his readers with this last part: “Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” He’s saying hold true to our faith. This is what we must do. We stay committed to the faith of the apostles that we find in the NT. It is the faith delivered to us as Jude says. Our line has been drawn and here we stand.
And now our obligation is to press on by fixing our mind and our lives on things above. Look at v. 17: Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. We have examples before us. We have the saints in the NT. We have faithful believers who have gone before us. They are patterns for us to follow. Their character, conduct, and habits provide us with examples. Imitate them. Keep your eyes on them.
This may seem off topic but bear with me. Have you ever seen a squirrel fall off something? They always land perfectly. Well, that’s because they do something that is essential for all good acrobats. If you watch a squirrel falling in slow motion, you’ll see that the very first thing they do is fix their eyes on a stable landing point. No matter how much they are spinning, they keep their eyes fixed on that spot and that’s the key to all their other adjustments.
The Christian life is about fixing our eyes on a target and making adjustments while keep our eyes fixed on that spot. This is precisely what Paul says in Colossians 3:1–2: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Fix your mind on things above
The practical question is what does it mean to fix our mind on things above? It seems the main these to talk about is how do we cultivate what we might call a heavenly mindset. We do this through studying the faith. Of course, this is primarily done through engagement with Scripture. We learn about our faith. All of this is the heartbeat of our formation plan. It is my desire for all of us to form such habits that our faith grows. I know everyone isn’t interested in some of the more philosophical aspects of theology and our goal isn’t just to teach you some facts. Our goal is to cultivate a heavenly mindset, to fill your head with the truths of our faith, for your growth and your enjoyment. I want you to mediate on the things of God so that your life becomes more conformed to Christ.
You know it’s actually quite amazing, but some recent studies have demonstrated that the sorts of things we fill our minds with remap our brains. Meditating on the character and attributes of God shapes the brain’s response to be more compassionate and kinder. Meditating on who Christ is will shape us to be more like Christ. Christians have long known this. Set your minds on things that are above.
I might share a personal confession here. As a leader, I get so fixed on leading and pushing changes that I believe are necessary and healthy. I stand by that aspect. But the problem is that I can so fixate on those things that I lose sight of what is most important. It’s the story of Mary and Martha, remember? Martha is distracted with much serving, but her sister, Mary, is sitting at Jesus’s feet, learning. Martha huffs and puffs until she finally says, “Jesus, tell Mary to help me.” But Jesus teaches her a lesson in priorities and heavenly-mindedness. He says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).
For me as your pastor and as a follower of Christ, there’s a priority that must take precedent. More important than my leadership skills or vision-casting or even my preaching or teaching is my devotion to Christ. I must keep my eyes fixed on Him. Pressing on to know Him and be conformed to Him.
Perhaps you also have distractions. Listen to how the text calls us to prioritize heavenly-mindedness. We fix our eyes on Christ.
Now why is this so important? It is important because, as I mentioned earlier, there is danger. There is danger that we might be led away from the faith. There is danger that we might be like those plants that are choked out by the cares of this world. There is danger that we will not be conformed to Christ and His cross, but rather we might become enemies of Christ and His cross.
Look at v. 18: For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Notice Paul speaks with tears. Tears may indicate one of two things. It may mean that these people were part of the community and they have left. They have abandoned the faith. This breaks his heart. Or it could mean that he grieves over the fact that these enemies can mislead believers he cares deeply about. Either way he warns that there is danger. Keeping our eyes fixed is paramount because there are enemies who would distract us. Keeping our eyes fixed is necessary because the road is narrow.
And their behavior, their priorities, points to a serious situation. Look at v. 19: Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Notice the urgency here. This is a serious matter. Why? Because their minds are set on earthly things. Do you see the contrast? There are those who fix their eyes on earthly things and there are those who fix their mind on heavenly things. The former have made their desires or their appetites, what the text calls their belly, their god.
In a sermon, the early church father, John Chrysostom said the following: “Let us build houses: where? On earth. Let us procure fields: on earth again. Let us get power: on earth again. Let us get glory: on earth again. Let us be rich: always on earth. These are the ones ‘whose god is their belly.’”[2] It’s the same thing Jesus teaches when he says that a person cannot serve two masters.
So what is the remedy for earthly mindedness? The remedy is realizing our place as citizens of heaven. The remedy is fixing our eyes on Christ. Look at v. 20: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He does not say, “Our citizenship will be in heaven.” That’s not really the Christian hope. As we will see in the next verse and as we saw last week, the Christian hope is the resurrection of the body when Christ returns and renews all of creation. Heaven is shorthand for the place where God’s rule is currently in full effect. Paul says, “That’s where our citizenship is now.” We don’t belong to the kingdoms of this world. To quote another church father, we live as strangers and expatriates in the world. Christianity isn’t linked to any earthly nation or government. And a Christian’s primary identity is not in this world.
But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea and think that I’m saying we all float off to heaven without bodies. That’s not what the text says. That’s not the Christian faith. Look at v. 21: 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. Transformation will take place as we share in the resurrection. Bodies will be raised. And Christ is able to do this because all things will be put under Him as King. That’s our hope and that’s where we must fix our eyes.
Let me close with a couple of words of application. First, we have a month during our Sunday School time to practice setting our minds on things above. Why would we do that? Because we are called to press on. Sitting back and saying, “We already know all the stuff we need to know,” is not only immature, it is dangerous, and it breaks my heart that some have been so bold to say those things. Don’t be led astray by that. Look at this text. It is so clear. Press on. So, I hope you will engage this month. What a gift and privilege we have. Christians around the world travel hours just to get access to a few verses of the Bible. We really have no excuse to ignore the privileges before us. I hope this text will serve as a sobering wakeup call from complacency.
Second, the Christian year is upon us. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the first Sunday in the Christian calendar. We are in a time of year that is full of potential for pressing into our faith. Set the intention that this holiday season you are going to press on.
Third, I am available to help you come up with a plan. An aspect of my job is pastoral counsel and direction. I can help you come up with a plan for your growth.
Our privilege as believers is to pursue our Lord who called us out of this world into His kingdom. What a tremendous privilege it is. May the Lord grant us the grace, endurance, and steadfastness to pursue Him with a relentless zeal.
[1] Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, 8:259–60.
[2] Ancient Christian Commentary, 8:263–64, from Homily on Philippians 14.3.18-21.