Phil. 3:15-4:1, The Upward Call

1.     3:1-7: The (negative) nature of Paul’s passion (no confidence in the flesh).

2.     3:8-9: The reason for Paul’s passion (excellency of knowing Christ).

3.     3:10-11: The (positive) nature of Paul’s passion (I want to know Christ).

4.     3:12-14: The goal of Paul’s passion (the upward call of God in Christ Jesus).

  We thought about this in our last post.  The goal is our likeness to Christ, requiring that we conform to His death so that His resurrection life is manifested in us.  The goal is to be holy and blameless before the God who has chosen us as His people (Eph. 1:4).  It is becoming partakers of the divine nature (2 Pt. 1:4) until we are filled with the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19).  Thus we rejoice in our tribulations (Rom. 5:1-4) because we know that it is through these that we reach this goal.


There are a couple other “nuggets” found in these verses.  First, Paul says he presses toward the goal.  Did you know that the Greek word for “press” or “pursue” is the same word translated “persecuting” in Phil. 3:6?  That is interesting.  It tells us Paul was always a man with passion.  Previously it involved imprisoning and killing Christians.  After his conversion that same passion now was aimed at learning Christ.


We need to think about this.  You may claim to be a “laid back sort of person,” and that your relationship with Christ fits that laid back approach.  I say “you may claim.”  Is that really the case?  Is there nothing in your life that excites you?  Nothing that you would get up early or stay up late to accomplish?  Nothing that causes you to cheer enthusiastically?  Nothing you have ever obsessed with?  I would find that hard to believe; that’s not the way we are made.  We ought to consider: am I laid back about Christ or am I lazy about Christ?  We ought to ask God to give us the same enthusiasm and sacrificial attitude towards learning Christ as we have in any other area of life.


Here’s another interesting thought from 3:14.  Paul says he presses toward the goal.  That word “goal” in Greek is skopus.  It refers to the “mark” that a runner would set his eyes on, the finish line if you will.  If you have ever had the joy of visiting Israel you may remember that one of the mountains of Jerusalem is Mt. Scopus.  It is north of the old city, just west of the north end of the Mount of Olives.  It is believed to have gotten the name from the Jews after the destruction of Jerusalem.  They were not allowed by the Romans to enter the city so the best they could do was to come up the backside of Mt. Scopus and there they had a view of their beloved city.


Paul’s use of this word is perfect because in the matter of learning Christ the Word of God repeatedly tells us to set our eyes on the goal.  The goal is Christ.  Thus we are to set our minds on things above where Christ is seated (Col. 3:1-4).  We are looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).  We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor. 3:18). 

Keep your eye on the mark!  Pursue the mark with zeal!