Life often feels like an uphill battle. Just when we think we’ve reached the crest of the hill, we discover there’s more climbing ahead. The early Christians in Philippi understood this struggle all too well, facing severe poverty and persecution for their faith.
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In Philippians 3:1-14, Paul addresses these struggling believers with powerful insights about what truly matters in our spiritual journey.
What does Paul mean by “confidence in the flesh”?
Paul begins this passage with a stark warning: “Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.” He’s addressing a serious problem in the early church where some were teaching that Gentile believers needed to become Jewish first—getting circumcised and following Old Testament laws—before they could truly follow Christ.
Paul counters this argument by listing his own impressive religious credentials:
- Circumcised on the eighth day
- From the people of Israel, tribe of Benjamin
- A “Hebrew of Hebrews”
- A Pharisee regarding the law
- Zealous to the point of persecuting the church
- Faultless in legalistic righteousness
If anyone could claim spiritual achievement through religious performance, it was Paul. He was the poster child for religious accomplishment.
Why does Paul consider his achievements as “garbage”?
Despite his impressive religious resume, Paul makes a shocking statement: “Whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ… I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ.”
Paul recognized that a thousand times out of a thousand, the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ is infinitely superior to the best human righteousness we could ever achieve. His own accomplishments, impressive as they were, couldn’t compare to what Christ freely offers.
What is the true goal of our spiritual journey?
This is where Paul reveals something profound. He writes: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul shows us a progression in spiritual growth:
- He begins by rejecting works-based righteousness
- He embraces salvation through faith in Christ
- But he doesn’t stop there—salvation is just the starting line
- His ultimate goal is to know Christ deeply and become like Him
Paul is clear: “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.”
How do we press on toward the goal?
Paul uses athletic language to describe the Christian life: “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.”
Like a runner in a race, Paul keeps his eyes fixed forward. Looking back or to the side would only slow him down or cause him to veer off course. Similarly, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, taking one step at a time toward becoming more like Him.
This journey isn’t a sprint—it’s more like a long-distance bike ride where we can see towns (milestones) in the distance, but we must keep pedaling one stroke at a time to reach them.
Why is it encouraging that Paul hadn’t “arrived” yet?
Paul, one of the greatest apostles, admits he hasn’t reached spiritual perfection: “Not that I have already obtained all this or have already arrived at my goal.” If Paul still had room to grow, we shouldn’t be discouraged about our own spiritual journey.
The Christian life is about incremental progress—becoming a little more like Jesus each day. It’s a journey that makes a 60-mile bike ride look short by comparison. But each small step matters.
What happens when Jesus becomes our true goal?
When Jesus truly becomes our goal—not just our salvation, not just our ticket to heaven, but our purpose and model—everything changes. We stop focusing on:
- What’s in it for me
- Comparing ourselves to others
- Our preferences and comfort
- Past failures or achievements
Instead, we focus solely on becoming more like Jesus and helping others do the same. Imagine the impact this would have on our neighborhoods, communities, and world if our singular goal was Jesus Himself.
Life Application
The message isn’t simply “be more like Jesus” as if we could jump ahead to the finish line. Rather, it’s about taking one small step closer to Him each day.
This week, commit to starting each day with this simple prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I want you to be my goal and my purpose. I want to be like you. Please show me how.”
Say this prayer first thing each morning—before checking your phone, before making coffee, as soon as your feet hit the floor. It’s one small step toward making Jesus your true goal.
Ask yourself:
- What would change in my life if Jesus truly became my goal?
- How might my priorities shift if I focused on becoming more like Jesus?
- What one step can I take today to know Christ better?
- Who around me might be drawn to Jesus if I made Him my singular focus?
Remember, the Christian journey isn’t about reaching the top of the hill quickly—it’s about faithfully taking one step after another toward becoming like Christ, with our eyes fixed firmly on Him as our ultimate goal.