See the previous articles in this series:
“Press on Toward the Goal”
“Why Did Paul Press On?”
“Forget What Lies Behind”
“Keep Your Eyes on the Prize”
“Imitate the Godly”
“The Believer’s Future Glorification”
In Philippians 3, the apostle Paul gives a clarion call for Christians to pursue being like Jesus with a single-minded focus. He uses language that is reminiscent of a runner straining their body with all of their might to win a prize. After talking about this need to press on in Philippians 3:12-21, he makes a rather surprising statement in Philippians 4:1: “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” Let’s look at this verse to see how we can reconcile the seemingly contradictory commands to press on and stand firm.
Paul had just spent a lot of time talking about moving forward and pressing on. Now he’s telling the Philippians to stay put? What gives? Paul is certainly not contradicting himself. The Philippians should still press forward like they were seeking to win a race. However, he’s switching gears and changing his metaphors. The concept of standing firm is evoking military imagery. If your enemy is attacking you and trying to overpower you, you need to hold your ground. He’s basically saying: you need to remain, or endure, or persevere. Don’t backslide. Don’t fall backwards. Don’t retreat. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t surrender.
Maybe you’re at a place in your life where you feel like giving up. Life is too hard. The pain is too great. Listen to Paul. Don’t give up. Hold your ground in Christ. Christ is the key to this command. He’s not telling them to hold their ground in their own strength. He says to stand firm in the Lord. If you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, you’re united with him. He is holding on to you and won’t let you go. Hold your ground in Christ because he’s holding you. Stand firm in Jesus.
As we wrap up this section, we should talk about how Paul finished his race. Paul continued to suffer greatly for the name of Christ and he was ultimately martyred for Jesus. But he never gave up. He stood firm in Christ. He shared with Christ in his sufferings. He obeyed God, trusted God, and glorified God. He kept pressing on in Christ. He says this in 2 Timothy 4:7-8:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
He pressed on and was fast approaching the finish line where he would receive the prize: the crown of Christ’s righteousness. This is the reward that Jesus himself will give all of us who have placed our faith in him.
Conclusion to this Series
In this series, we’ve explored Paul’s exhortation to press on in our pursuit of being like Jesus with a single-minded focus. While this is always a relevant focus, it perhaps resonates with us in a more significant way now as we’ve recently closed out one year and welcomed a new year. The changing of years is mostly symbolic. There’s nothing different about you from New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day. However, this is often a time of reflection. As people consider the past year and look ahead to the new year, they evaluate their lives and make resolutions as they think about the future.
Maybe this past year was the best year you’ve ever had. Maybe you got serious about your health this year and you’re in the best shape of your life. Maybe you got married this year. Maybe you had a baby this year. Maybe your kids are thriving. Maybe you got a new job or a promotion. Maybe you came to faith in Christ this year and got saved. Maybe you had an incredibly productive year in ministry for the Lord. Maybe you grew significantly in your walk with Jesus.
Or maybe this past year was the worst year you’ve ever experienced. Maybe you received a very serious diagnosis for your health this year. Maybe your marriage hit a rough patch. Maybe you faced another year of trying to conceive a baby without success. Maybe your kids are struggling. Maybe you lost your job and can’t find a new one. Maybe you experienced the passing of a loved one. Maybe you fell into serious sin. Maybe you feel like your faith is wavering.
Resolve to look to Jesus and press on in your pursuit of Christlikeness. Forget the past–don’t dwell on what happened last year. Resolve to move forward and press on towards the prize right now. Keep a single-minded devotion to pursuing Jesus. Focus on eternity and the joy you will experience when you are glorified with Christ. No more pain, no more sorrow, and no more sin. You will only know perfect joy and peace forever with Jesus.
Maybe you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus. If that’s the case, the honest truth is you’re not even in the race of the Christian life. You’re on the path to destruction. Maybe you’ve placed your faith in your own good works. “I’m a good person – I’ve never killed anyone.”
The Bible tells us that every single person has sinned by breaking God’s law. God is perfectly holy and just, so one sin against him is enough to send a person to hell forever in punishment. However, God in his great love and mercy sent a rescuer for us. He sent Jesus Christ, his only son, to earth as a man. Because Jesus was fully God and fully man, he lived a perfect life. He never once sinned and he lived in perfect obedience to God by performing righteous deeds. He came to die on the cross, where he bore the wrath of God for the sins of all who would place their faith in him. God was satisfied with Christ’s death on the cross as evidenced by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on the third day.
If you turn from your sins and your own self-righteousness and cry out to Jesus to save you, he will. All of your sins will be forgiven and you will receive the righteousness of Christ that Paul talked about. You will enter the race and you can press on in Christ. He will begin to conform you to the image of Jesus. You can receive the promise of a future glorification of your body and your soul.