Knowing Jesus > Reliving the Past
November 5/6, 2022
Keith Taylor

We must recognize that knowing Jesus Christ today is the most important pursuit of all. This is the one thing that drives, compels, and motivates the Apostle Paul.

Knowing Jesus means that we make that our single greatest aim, which involves:

1. Be Realistic: Live with an honest self-perception

· “12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it…” (Philippians 3:12-13a CSB)

"On the one hand, discontent with one's spiritual life can bring discouragement and unnecessary resignation to spiritual defeat. On the other hand, in overestimating one's spiritual attainments, it is easy to become complacent with the measure of transformation which has taken place. Either alternative is falling short of the scriptural standard. What Paul is teaching in this section is that absolute perfection, such as exists in heaven, or attainment of spiritual victory which makes defeat impossible, is never achieved in this life. But there is the possibility of a high plateau of victory in Christ, of joy in the Spirit, and of the satisfaction of having served the Lord well." Walvoord

2. Be Forgetful: Live with your back to the past

· But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead….( Philippians 3:13b CSB)

· There are some things that are important to remember, and some things to forget about:
o Remember the wondrous works he has done!! I Chronicles 16:15
o Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. Revelation 3:3

· We are more often called to remember, but what at those things that we need to put behind us?
o Our mindset should be oriented to the future, not to live in the past….

3. Be Focused: Live with a worthwhile Goal

· I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus… (Philippians 3:14 CSB)

· We know that all things work together for the good(Romans 8:28-29 CSB)

· God’s goal is not to just get us to save us, to get us into heaven; it is to transform us. To move us towards Christ-likeness. We are to become more and more like Jesus.

4. Be Devoted: Live with a passionate pursuit.

· … I make every effort to take hold of it…(Philippians 3:12b CSB)

· Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (I Corinthians 9:24-27 CSB)

· "…The time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing." (Timothy 4:6b-8 CSB)