How God Works

For Those About To Give Up Philippians 3:4–

Pastor Sam Sutter  ·  January 5, 2025

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For Those About To Give Up Philippians 3:4–

In this powerful sermon, we explore how to move forward from moments of regret and guilt to a life of purpose and progress. Through the example of Paul's story in Philippians 3, we discover the surpassing worth of knowing Christ and the life-changing truth of imputed righteousness. Learn how to press on towards the goal, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, as you close the gap between your actions and Jesus' example. Be inspired to move from regret to redemption, motivated by gratitude rather than guilt, and become more like Christ in the process.

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For Those About to Give Up

Philippians 3:12–16 · Bible Study Notes

Introduction

Looking back on our lives over a New Year can lead to regret, guilt, and missed opportunities. How can we move forward powerfully from these moments?

Paul’s Story: From Regret to Redemption

Paul’s background and accomplishments:

Philippians 3:4b–6 (NIV)
“If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”

Knowing Christ: The Surpassing Worth

Philippians 3:8b-9 (NIV)
“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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”
  • God doesn’t just erase our regrets; He gives us Jesus’ reputation.
  • Imputed righteousness: From sinner to saint.

Pressing On: Forgetting What Is Behind and Straining Toward What Is Ahead

Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
  • The danger of contentment: Resting in forgiveness without change.
  • Pressing on: Closing the gap between our actions and Jesus’ example.
  • Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Practical Application: Moving from Regret to Progress

  • Honest evaluation and confession.
  • Asking different questions: How can I close the gap between my actions and Jesus’ example?
  • Pressing on with gratitude, not guilt, as motivation.

Conclusion

Like Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire, we must forget what’s behind, strain every nerve to go after what’s ahead, and chase on towards the finishing line, becoming more like Christ in the process.

📖 BBCC Verse of the Week
Lamentations 3:22–23 — “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Study & Discussion Guide

On Philippians 3:6ff

As an adult, Paul continues, he chose a religious lifestyle that left no doubt with regard to his commitments. Significantly, the matters he brings up in this context parallel clearly his claims in Gal. 1:13–14, where the Judaizing opposition forms the backdrop for Paul’s comments (though in that passage the precise point is different). Here in Philippians he first indicates that the particular approach he chose for his interpretation of the law was that of the Pharisees. This perspective, which emphasized the “ancestral traditions” (Gal. 1:14; this phrase corresponds to the rabbinic oral law), was widely perceived as the one most faithful to Scripture; the Judaizers, at any rate, could not have asked for anything more impressive. (Cf. Acts 22:3; 23:6; 26:5, see also the additional notes on 3:6.) In the second place, Paul proves the sincerity and intensity of his prior religious commitment by using “an expression of intense irony, condemning while he seems to exalt his former self: ‘. . . I persecuted, imprisoned, slew these infatuated Christians; this was my great claim to God’s favor’” (Lightfoot). The language in Gal. 1:13 is more forceful: “I used to persecute intensely the church of God and tried to destroy it.”

— Moises Silva

Preparation for Communion

A Prayer of Confession

Minister: (So brothers and sisters, I want to ask you to) first think about our faith. We all confess the truth of God as taught by Scripture and summarized in the creeds of the church. By this faith we take to ourselves Christ and all his benefits, so that for us to live is Christ.

All: Lord God, author and finisher of all true believing, confirm our faith as we prepare for the holy sacrament.

Minister: Let us, further, think about our hope. All Christian hope rests upon the finished work of Christ as Savior. God’s children rely wholly upon the merits of Christ, find in him their strength and victory, and confidently expect his return in glory.

All: Most merciful Father, fill us with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.

Minister: Let us also examine our love, both for God and our neighbours. Remember the great and first commandment to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Do we unselfishly live for the welfare of others? Do our lives reflect the godly virtues of obedience, fidelity, integrity, justice, humility, and contentment? Do we seek reconciliation with our neighbours in all cases of offense?

All: Dear Father, daily increase in us the greatest gift of all, our Christian love.

Minister: If these marks of spiritual life are not evident in us, we may not presume to approach his table. Those, therefore, who live in self-righteousness, who hope in works or virtues of their own, and who do not show love to God and neighbor, have no true place at the Lord’s supper. Yet we should not be deterred by any sin lingering within against our will. As we find faith, hope, and love within us, we ought gladly to obey our Lord’s command and come with full expectation to God’s open house of mercy.

All: Gracious God, we love and adore you in Christ our Lord. We thank you for reconciling us to yourself in him. We rejoice in being received as your children. Prepare us by your Holy Spirit for the sacrament. Help us to come in the assurance that by it we shall be spiritually revived, and strengthened in faith, hope, and love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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