Philippians 3:12-21
10/7/22
Scripture
Preach
Questions
Is our salvation already complete [vv12-14]? Why does Paul uses terms like “press on” and “straining”? Do we have to work at our salvation [2:12; 3:10-11]? Is this your experience? Are you trying hard enough? How does this sit with Ephesians 2:8–10?
Is the “upward call” [v14] getting to heaven or bringing heaven down [Revelation 21:1-4]? Are there any scripture proofs for “going to heaven” as the culmination or completion of all that God has promised?
What is Paul’s attitude toward those who believe we can have complete salvation now [v15]? Why is his attitude to the “dogs” who are teaching “mutilation” [3:2-4] so different? How do you think Paul distinguishes between false teachers and those who have not understood certain truths? What should our attitude towards those with whom we disagree within the church? Is there a type of person teaching false things the leaders should be firm with? [Hint “teaching”.]
Rather than disputes and getting stuck over things on which we are not all clear or agreed where should our focus be [v16]? What have we achieved as a church? Who do you look to as an example?
Do you think “the enemies of the cross of Christ” are the “dogs” [3:2] or are other false teachers? It is hard to be certain. Perhaps, Paul is talking about false teachers in general. What characterises their lives? What is their end? Did you notice how Paul has wept over these false teachers? Do we take a similar stand?
We are waiting for a saviour [v20]? What happens to our bodies when the salvation of all things is complete [v20]? Are we looking forward to just heaven or a new creation? How might that effect our behaviour in the here and now.
Paul says that the Christ will subject all things to himself [v21] but in other places [e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28] he writes that God will subject all thing to Jesus. What is Paul saying about Jesus and assuming his hearers will understand?
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Completing the race
Paul uses sports analogies here. In v14, as Pastor Dave said, the “prize” in a race would have been a laurel wreath whereas Paul’s prize will be “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. The end of race, the finish line, was the τέλος [telos]. Paul has been talking about perfection, or completing the race. In v12 he uses the verb form of τέλος, i.e. τελελείωμαι [teleleiomai] I am finished. In v15, the “perfect” are the τέλειοι [teleioi], the ones who have finished. It gets very messy in English but I wanted to dig out the metaphor running through and that the way Paul is using “perfect” is like completing a race, getting to the end.