Supplementary to Phil.3:12-16 and 4:4

The last two sermons focused on Phil.3:12-16 and 4:4, respectively. This write-up is to help you understand these two passages. 

Phil.3:12-16. Many believers may be puzzled over this passage. Think about it. Saint Paul had done a great deal to spread the gospel and established many churches. How is it possible that Paul considered himself had not taken hold of it? What is IT?  From the context, IT means the crown that the Lord has prepared for Paul. 

God chose each one of us for some special purpose. Thus, each of us has a job to do. In John 21, Jesus talked to John and Peter, both his beloved and closest disciples. In verse 22 Jesus told that John and Peter would have different paths in front of them. And they did. The point is that He is the Lord and we should seek His will. Remember the Lord’s prayer (also Matthew 6:33), seeking his kingdom first. Do not worry about what your reward is. Remember Mark 9:41. Whatever you do for the kingdom of God, God will reward you. 

3:15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. This verse needs some explanation. First, mature Christians should have the same altitude as Paul. There are Christians who think once saved and baptized you need not to do more work and can just wait to go to heaven. Here Paul said that you should not think this way but should imitate Paul. In other words, “ I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” If at some point you think differently, God will make it clear to you. Thus, Paul did not quote some law or rule, but God will let you know. In other words, not through laws but God will remind you of your mission. 

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! The key word here is in. If you know that you are in Christ, Christ has risen and has won the battle (Eph.1). Earlier Paul wrote 3:7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, … If we value our name in the Book of Life, worldly things are not valuable. Once we know that we are in Christ, we rejoice because of this.