OUR FATHER WHO REVEALS THINGS OF THE SPIRITUAL REALM TO US

The Apostle Paulˋs letter to the Phillippians reaches a crescendo in chapter 3 verses 12 - 21 in which he urges them to follow his example and press ahead relentlessly towards the goal of reaching the prize. This incalculably valuable prize is the eternal call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Paul intimates to his readers that he had not attained the level yet and that he had not been perfected yet but nevertheless he pressed forward straining with all his might to accomplish the task for which Christ had acquired him to do. At the time of the writing his letter, Paul did not consider his task completed but he nevertheless forgot what was behind and surged forward towards the things that were available to grasp.

Addressing those who were mature christians, Paul concedes that there were those who disagreed with him over his characterizations of the Christian directives but he believed that God would reveal the truth to them. In any case, even if his readers did not believe that there were higher plateaus to aspire to in their walk with God, Paul encouraged the mature Christians to at least preserve  the levels of spiritual growth they had already attained.

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

The apostle tells the Phillippians to follow after the patterns of spiritual pursuits they had seen in his life and in the lives of others like him. He tearfully warned them to be aware that there were enemies of the cross of Christ in their midst whose aims and aspirations were strictly earthly and who were headed for destruction.

Paul reminds the Phillippians and believers in general that our citizenship is in heaven and it is for that kingdom that we eagerly await when our saviour the Lord Jesus Christ will transmorgrify us from our temporal humble bodies into the glorious bodies that are like the eternal body of Christ which will be capable of the dominion over all things in creation like Christˋs does.

Amen.

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