The Resurrection Driven Life (Phil. 3:7-21)

Wayne Galloway
02/12/13 - N/A

Series: Resurrection

Introduction:

1.  The people of God are on an earthly pilgrimage.

a.  We sing, “This world is not my home I’m just a passing through.  My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.”

b.  Of Abraham and the patriarchs it is said that they “confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13).

2.  It is obvious from such statements that the people have God have a unique perspective that affects how they live.  It controls them.  It is the determining factor dominating their values.  It might even be said that it drives them.  What is it that could be so important as to control, dominate and drive one’s life? 3.  I believe the answer is found in Phil. 3 in the resurrection of the dead.  Read with me as Paul reflects on the power the resurrection has on his life (7-21).

Discussion:

I.  The final resurrection acts as a lighthouse shining its light back into history.  It is the beacon to which Christians look for direction in their journey.

A.  It is primary that we “know Him and the power of His resurrection.”

1.  For Paul this knowledge had transformed him from putting confidence in the flesh to putting confidence in Christ (2-9).

2.  The resurrection was the dominating value in his life.

B.  This had lead him into conformity with Christ’s death and therefore into suffering.

1.  Being conformed to the death of Christ involves sacrifice.

2.  Sin must be laid aside.

a.  This is Paul’s argument in Rom. 6.  Namely that we have been united with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection in baptism and now we cannot let sin reign (vs. 3-14).

b.  Similar argument in Col. 3:1ff.

3.  But there is more.  New life must be embraced.

a.  “Walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).

b.  “Put on a heart of compassion, gentleness and patience . . . “ (Col. 3:12ff).

C.  It is not a matter of convenience.

1.  Some, not knowing Him or the power of His resurrection, regard Christianity as a matter of convenience.

2.  For them it is not a matter of sacrifice (cf. Heb. 11:17-19).

a.  They worship if it is convenient.   The Super Bowl is their beacon.  Entertainment, money, work, pleasure are the lights that draw them like a mosquito to a bug zapper.

b.  Instead of sacrificing for the Lord they sacrifice the Lord.  Such is the religion of betrayal not loyalty.  Such is the religion of conformity to the world and not conformity to His death.  It is the religion of the couch not the cross.

D.  When your life is driven by the resurrection all other things are but rubbish.

II.  Paul says he had not yet attained to the resurrection, but he pressed on in order to lay hold of it (Phil. 3:11-14).

A.  The image of a runner appears to be in the background.

1.  There are many things that become distracting—pain and exhaustion.  You may want to look back.  Heb. 11:15 says of the patriarchs, “If they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.”

2.  But when the resurrection is calling you you must press forward.  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God (cf. Heb. 12:1-2).

B.  Let us have this attitude (Phil. 3:15-16).

1.  We must run is such a way that we may win (1 Cor. 9:24-27).

2.  The prize that we are running for is the resurrection of the dead.  Will anything hinder us from our race to possess the resurrection body?

III.  We need to walk according to the pattern that we have in Paul (Phil. 3:17-21).

A.  Many walk in a pattern that reflects enmity with the cross of Christ.

1.  They are those directed by beacons other than the resurrection.

a.  Their appetites.

b.  They set their minds on earthly things.

2.  Their end is destruction.

3.  Paul grieved over their circumstance.

B.   These stand in contrast to those driven by the resurrection (3:20-21).

1.  Those driven by the resurrection are waiting for a Savior.

2.  The Savior will “transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.”

C.  Paul therefore admonishes them to stand firm (4:1).

Conclusion:

1.  Is the resurrection driving your life? 2.  Do you count all things as rubbish? 3.  Is the resurrection controlling you?