Stand Firm for Our Future Hope
October 5, 2025
Preached by Ron Smith
Scripture Reading
Philippians 3:12-4:1
3:12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 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. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
What do you think about this statement? “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.” Agree or Disagree? What would you respond. Are people good by nature? Well, according to a recent national survey on what Americans believe about God, salvation, the Bible, and human nature, it will come as no surprise that the overwhelming majority think that, yes, most people are good by nature.[1] And to drive the point home even more, even those who proclaim to be evangelical - that is those who believe that the Bible is the highest authority, only Jesus’ death on the cross can take away our sins, and that Jesus is the only way of salvation – even a majority of those who believe those things say that most people are good by nature.
We want to believe that we are better than what we are. The problem is that we don’t see ourselves accurately. In the extreme case, we think that we are perfect. We have made it. But even if we do acknowledge that we are not perfect, we are ok with not being perfect and see no reason to change. We think that we are just fine the way we are. Which in effect, is basically the same thing as thinking, “I’m perfect.”
Thinking that we are better than we actually are leaves us blind to the real transformation that needs to take place in our life. We become complacent – satisfied with something that is far inferior to what Jesus offers.
But this passage pushes us out of our complacency offering us a prize that is out of this world.
Let’s pray…
Paul sums up our passage for us in 4:1. And honestly, it is not what I would have said.
1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
I just said that this passage pushes us out of our complacency, but standing firm seems to say the opposite. “Don’t do anything, just stand there.” But of course, that’s not the case.
What does Paul mean when he says stand firm? How do we stand firm? I would like to point out three ways we can stand firm: pressing on, imitating, being a citizen. Now this does bring up a whole bunch of other questions: pressing on to what? Imitating who? Being a citizen of what country? We will answer those questions too as we consider each of these ways to stand firm.
Pressing On
Let’s look first at pressing on.
3:12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul wants the Philippians to know that he does not think that he has reached perfection. That he has already obtained the complete spiritual maturity he was just talking about in the verses we looked at last week – fully knowing Christ, sharing in his sufferings, and ultimately attaining the resurrection of the dead. Paul has not “arrived.”
There is still progress in his walk with the Lord that needs to be made. So, twice he says, “I press on.” He presses on to make this spiritual maturity that he longs for his. The image that he is using here is that of a race.
In running towards this prize, he says there is a certain way he runs. On the one hand, he forgets what lies behind. This means all the things he could be proud of as well as the things he was ashamed of. Essentially what he says is that all the accolades, all the accomplishments, and all the good things he has done in this life that he could be proud of if he wanted to, he forgets it all. This is opposite of what we would naturally think. Think about applying for a job. You list everything you can think of on your resume. All of the awards, the degrees, the experience. And it helps you land the job. But when it comes to spiritual maturity, clinging to the things we have done in our own power will not help us.
Paul also forgets the things he was ashamed of. The word “press on” in verses 12 and 14, is the same Greek word for “persecute.” Back up in verse 6 as he was listing all of his accomplishments, he slips in, “as to zeal, a persecutor of the church.” We know from other passages that this is not something Paul was proud of (1 Corinthians 15:9). Even those shameful events, those shameful ways of living, need to be forgotten.
And here, I am sure we can all resonate. We have treated others in shameful ways. Perhaps friendships have been lost because of it. The way you have treated your spouse at times brings you great regret. Parenting mistakes along the way – you just want to crawl under a rock when you remember some of them. Old life styles that you don’t want anyone finding out about. Anything from depraved sexual exploits to simply handling conflicts with people in a way that makes you cringe with embarrassment. All these shameful things need to be forgotten. For Paul, where he once “pressed on” to capture Christians and do them harm, he now presses on to capture the goal that the Lord has set for him.
The idea of forgetting doesn’t mean that we never remember these things. Rather it means that we don’t allow the past to have a present influence on our life. The reality is that these things are weights. They hold us back. They have an impact on the way we run the race because they turn our dependence from God to our own abilities. Paul is saying that he is going to let past achievements and failures remain in the past.
Instead, the way he runs is by straining forward to what lies ahead. What lies ahead? The goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Any runner running a race has a goal. They want to win or break some record. They want the prize that is waiting on them. In this case, in the spiritual race, the prize is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
It is upward. It is not of this world. As I was preparing this message, I received a text from an Italian friend who sends me Bible verses a few times a week. Thursday, he sent this: Aspirate alle cose di lassù, non a quelle che sono sulla terra (Col 3:2). I suppose that doesn’t help you much, but it is Colossians 3:2. It fits in perfectly with what we are talking about. Let me read it in English. Colossians 3:1-2.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
The prize we seek, that we pursue is a heavenly prize. It is of the heavenly kingdom. That’s why we need to forget the earthly things we leave behind. You may have heard Christians being accused of being too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. And certainly, there is a way to be in la la land with no understanding of the world around us. But interestingly, when we are focused on the things above, on what the Lord has in store for us, we find ourselves more aware than ever of the current realities that surround us. We find a more sober way of interpreting what is happening. All because our eyes and our minds are focused on the Lord. He gives meaning to all things.
The pressing on to the upward call of God is done right here on earth with our boots on the ground. Paul is not trying to escape present realities. Rather, by focusing on the upward heavenly call, he is grounded and he can stand firm.
This prize is upward, and it is the very call of God. In this case, it is probably best to understand the call of God as the full unmeasured blessings of salvation that awaits us. It is the realization of all that God has in store for us.
The big idea here is that we need to strain forward. And going forward for the Christian is looking upward as we wait for the future blessings. We are looking for what is still to come. We don’t expect perfection in this life. But that doesn’t stop us from our pursuing it. We know it is in the future, but that impacts the way we live our life now in the present.
Are you pressing on, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward? Or have you sat down and grown complacent in your spiritual life? Don’t let your past accomplishments give you a false sense that you have arrived; that you are good the way you are. Don’t let your past failures cause you to give up. Look upward. Look towards that prize that the Lord has for you.
Well, how do we stand firm in the Lord? One way is by pressing on toward the prize that God has in store for us. A second way is by imitating those who have set a godly example for us.
Imitating
Look with me again at verse 17
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
This is nothing new for Paul. In other letters to other churches, he calls on them to imitate him. Of course, the context of this imitation is Jesus. He wants them to imitate him as he shows them what it means to follow Jesus. He is merely a tool the Lord is using to help others grow in their faith as he points them to Jesus.
But, he’s not the only tool. The second part of the verse shows there are others besides Paul that they should be looking to as an example. He commands them, “Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” There are those in their own congregation that Paul says to fix their eyes on. There are other Christians who are living their life that is in keeping with the gospel. They are worth imitating. The message to us is that we need each other in our pursuit of spiritual maturity.
Let this sink in. There are two things we should draw from this. Within the church we need to look for people that will show the way to live our life in light of the cross. Paul is not limiting our imitation to the super elite. Not popular authors, historical figures, etc. It’s hard to see if they “walk according to the example” that Paul is talking about here. We need people within this church to imitate. And don’t forget the context. The people we need to imitate are not perfect. Paul says explicitly that he has not been made perfect and now he is saying imitate me. So, people may let us down. They may mess up. But seeing them confess their sin and ask forgiveness, we learn what true repentance looks like. Look for people to imitate within the church. (Proactive)
Second thing we draw from this that we need to be examples for others to imitate. We need to unashamedly be examples for others to imitate. Are you ready to say with the apostle Paul, imitate me? Most of us would say no because it can certainly sound arrogant. And we may say no out of heart attitude of humility. “Don’t imitate me, imitate Jesus.” But remember, Paul is not being arrogant here. He is calling people to imitate Jesus by looking at his life as an example. If you are genuinely following Christ, imitating Christ, you should feel free to call others to imitate you. Regardless of rather or not you literally call people to imitate you, be an example that others can follow. We need each other in our pursuit of spiritual maturity. (many of you are examples!)
Now, having said all of that, there are some people we don’t need to follow. There are those of whom we need to be aware. Look again at verses 18-19.
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. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
We don’t know 100% for sure who this group of people is that Paul is referring to. It could be anyone who directly opposes the gospel or anyone who distorts the gospel. It could be those he refers to in the earlier part of the chapter who were seeking to add works to Jesus. As Pastor Noah explained last week, there was a group of people “who believed and taught that in order to really be saved, you don’t just need Jesus, you need Jesus PLUS all the Jewish laws and customs.”
But whoever precisely this group was, he comes out harsh. He calls them enemies of the cross of Christ. He doesn’t say it defiantly or gloating over them. Rather it’s with tears in his eyes. It brings him no pleasure. He wanted them to be friends of the cross, fellow believers who follow Jesus. I think we should stop and ask ourselves how we respond to those who promote a false gospel. If we are following Paul’s example, we should be firm. We should call a spade a spade. And we should do it with broken hearts that these are people who rejecting Jesus.
They are on the way to destruction. Ultimate, final destruction. The destruction of the soul at the judgement of God. They follow their own appetites, that is, whatever will gratify their sinful heart. They glory in their shame instead of glorying in God. Ultimately, they have their minds set on earthly things.
We need to look out for the enemies of the cross. They will lead us astray. Instead let’s stand firm by imitating those who have set a godly example for us.
We can stand firm in the Lord by pressing on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, and by imitating those who have set a godly example for us. Finally, we can stand firm being a citizen of heaven.
Being a Citizen
Let’s read verses 20-21.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.
Philippi was colony of Rome. As such, the citizens of Philippi enjoyed the privileges of being citizens of the Roman Empire. Although Rome was distant from them, the Roman laws and the Roman way of life reached them.
So, when Paul tells them that the Christian’s citizenship is heaven, I think they would have understood. This does not mean they should not consider themselves Roman citizens. But rather their ultimate citizenship, their ultimate loyalties reside in heaven.
The Christian is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. It is not a kingdom with land borders. Jesus taught that it is not a kingdom that can be observed. You can’t point to it as a physical location. And yet, it is in our midst (Luke 17:20-21). The laws and the way of life of the kingdom of heaven reach us. And as citizens of that kingdom, we are called to live in way that is in keeping with those laws. We participate in the kingdom as we live according to the values and the will of our King, King Jesus.
And as we do that, there is created in us a longing. A longing for that day when the kingdom will be established in all of its glory. We long for that day because we see all the brokenness around us and in us. We recognize the need to be completely transformed. To be made perfect.
So, we wait with eagerness. Knowing that Jesus, our Savior, will come. And when he comes, he will transform our lowly bodies. Our bodies that are ravaged with both physical and spiritual weakness, and sickness, and imperfection. And he will transform our bodies to be like his glorious body. Complete. Perfect. Spiritually whole.
The citizen of heaven has caught a glimpse of what Jesus offers. And they want it. They recognize that they are not perfect and they actively pursue the transformation that Jesus offers. They press on each and every day through the difficulties of this life forgetting all of the things they have done and straining forward to the prize of the upward call of God. They keep their eyes on those live according to the example of Jesus. They live as citizens who are governed by the way of life of the heavenly kingdom.
And yet, as they move towards full spiritual maturity, they recognize it is only Jesus who can produce it in them. Jesus is their only hope. While Jesus will do some of the work while they remain on this earth, they eagerly wait for that day when Jesus comes and he finishes the work he began. That ushers in the perfection our hearts long for.
How are you getting ready for that day? How are you getting ready for a place where there is no sin? Do you see yourself accurately? Or do you think you are good enough and fine just the way you are?
There is no neutral stance. You are either on the way to glorious transformation by Jesus or on the way to ultimate destruction. If you are putting your hope in anything besides Jesus or even Jesus plus something else, you will not be prepared.
If you are standing firm in Jesus, and Jesus alone, you will be prepared. But not because you have done ‘your part.’ It is precisely because you realize that there is nothing you can do that would be adequate enough that you are prepared. You know that it is only Jesus who can work in you today to prepare you for the perfection he has for you when he returns. This mindset is all through this passage.
Vs 12 I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Vs 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
And vs 21 it is Jesus who will transform us, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Stand firm thus in the Lord! Let’s press on toward the prize of the upward call. Let’s imitate those around us who set the example the living Jesus. Let’s be citizens of heaven who are committed to living according to the way of heaven. All because Jesus has made us his own.
[1] https://thestateoftheology.com/ statements 12 and 15