The High Calling Of God
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 30th August service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
The High Calling Of God
The Apostle Paul has warned the Philippian church, ‘Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision’ (3:2). It is likely Paul was referring to Judaisers posing as Christian ministers while trying to unite and blend the new, vibrant faith of Jesus Christ with the old religion of the Jews and its rigorous legal duties. It seems clear, however, that all forms of freewill, works-righteousness can be understood by this phrase and Paul’s warning applies to every age of the church.
A better righteousness
The Judaisers claimed to have attained a level of perfection, a degree of holiness and high status by their religious dedication and God-pleasing works. They wished to impose their brand of religion on the young churches yet their message was without merit. Paul speaks from personal experience. He had once possessed all that these false teachers were boasting about but he knew it to be a vain goal. Paul had freely received a better righteousness and he counted his own works as dross for the blessedness of having won the Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal glory by Him.
Labouring still
And yet, lest any imagine the Apostle was now passive and self-satisfied in having gained Christ he tells us he still has much to learn and much to accomplish in his Christian life. He had not yet attained the glory that awaits. He did not yet enjoy all the blessed perfections that lay ahead for him. Paul did indeed know much of God’s grace in Christ. He possessed gifts such as righteousness, forgiveness, faith and adoption into the family of God but he was still a follower of Christ.
Christ’s disciples
Like Paul, believers in this world are called to be students and followers of the Lord Jesus until He brings them more immediately into His presence in His Father’s house. Christ had apprehended Paul on the road to Damascus. He had captured Paul’s affections and converted his heart. He had called him into His service. Now Paul sought to apprehend Christ by following His lead, serving His cause and living for Him in all his ways. Paul tells us he is committed to following Jesus Christ; single-mindedly reaching for the things of Christ that lie before him.
An Olympic runner
Paul’s language suggests an athlete in the Olympic games who presses towards the mark by focusing on the finishing line and the prize that awaits. He calls this prize, ‘the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’. The elect are united with Christ in God’s eternal decrees and conformed to Him in time that they might reign with Him in everlasting glory. This is our high calling. As God’s chosen people we rejoice in the grace granted to us in Jesus Christ as we press towards the happiness laid up for us in heaven.
Focusing on the mark
In verse 15 Paul broadens his view to include all believers. Perhaps his reference to, ‘as many as be perfect’, is spoken ironically of the Judaisers. All true believers fix their gaze upon the Saviour. They press toward the mark to cross the finishing line in their earthly race. Their passion is to apprehend Christ. They refuse to be distracted by the worldly things they have left behind. The strictures and duties of the Judaisers are unimportant. Such things cannot speed us to glory, they do not enhance our service, they cannot contribute to pleasing God.
Our patient Teacher
There is a very precious comfort in the apostle’s next words, ‘if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you’. Here Paul makes an allowance for weak and untaught believers who are confused by the false teaching of legalistic preachers. Full gospel liberty and Christ’s sufficiency is not grasped all at once, this is especially so when ministers mystify the truth. Yet, here, too God’s patience extends to His elect people. God will reveal the truth (John 8:32). His Holy Spirit will lead God’s children to grow in knowledge of Jesus Christ and His all-sufficient grace.
Walk in the light
This ought to be of great encouragement to feeble saints and a motivation to faithful preachers to continue declaring the sufficiency of Christ’s righteousness and the blessedness of free grace. It is our privilege and responsibility to walk in the light we have been given and celebrate the gospel liberty granted to us by the Lord Jesus.
Viewing Christ’s glory
We have not yet attained the crown of righteousness, we have not yet come to perfect knowledge or, while in this flesh, to perfect holiness. Nevertheless, to the extent we have learned about Christ’s all-sufficient righteousness we should live according to this gospel, walking by this same rule, minding the same thing. It is as we deepen our understanding of God’s grace that our lives are conformed to the image of Christ’s glory.
Amen
Hymn 302
Pressing to Jesus through the Crowd. Phil. 3. 12-14
J. Berridge 8.8.6.
1
If unto Jesus thou art bound,
A crowd about him will be found,
Attending day and night;
A worldly crowd to din thy ears,
And crowds of unbelieving fears,
To hide him from thy sight.
2
Yet all the vain and noisy crowd
Is but a thin and lowering cloud,
A mist before thy eyes;
If thou press on, the crowds will fly,
Or if thou faint, to Jesus cry,
And he will send supplies.
3
This only way can pilgrims go,
And all complain, as thou wilt do,
Of crowds that daily come;
Yet though beset by crafty foes,
And passing through a thousand woes,
They get securely home.
4
But such as seem to run the race,
And meet no crowd to check their pace,
Are only rambling still;
Not fairly entered on the list,
The gate and narrow way they missed,
Which lead to Zion’s hill.
5
O Lord, a cheering look bestow,
Or lend a hand to help me through,
And draw me up to thee;
And when, through fear, I only creep,
Or dare not move a single step,
Yet thou canst come to me.
Hymn 303
Tempted; but Flying to Christ the Refuge. Ps. 57. 1
C. Wesley 7s
1
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the raging billows roll,
While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last!
2
Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone;
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed;
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
3
Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
All in all in thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name;
I am all unrighteousness;
Vile and full of sin I am;
Thou art full of truth and grace;
4
Plenteous grace with thee is found;
Grace to pardon all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the Fountain art;
Freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
The Apostle Paul is eager to stress the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and the complete sufficiency of that work for His people’s full salvation. However, Paul does not wish to appear complacent or self-satisfied so as to rest on his laurels. He has a race to run, a prize to receive, a glory to obtain and he presses on to follow Christ according to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.