Press Toward the Mark

I. THE CALL TO ATTENTION (Philippians 3:1-11)

A. The Warning of External Troubles (Philippians 3:1-3)

1. The first of two finallies (Philippians 3:1)
a. Finally, rejoice in the Lord (Philippians 3:1)
b. Finally, think on these things (Philippians 4:8)
2. The first of two warnings (Philippians 3:2-3)
a. Warnings from without (Philippians 3:2)
1.) Dogs—likely unsaved Gentiles
2.) Evil workers—likely false apostles
3.) The concision—likely unsaved Jews
b. Introduction of warnings from within (Philippians 3:3)
1.) The spiritual circumcision
i. Worship God in the spirit
ii. Rejoice in Christ Jesus
iii. Have no confidence in the flesh
2.) The alluded attack

B. The Warning of Internal Troubles (Philippians 3:4-11)

1. The potential confidence (Philippians 3:4-6)
a. A Hebrew of the Hebrews (Philippians 3:5)
b. A Pharisee (Philippians 3:5)
c. Persecuting the church (Philippians 3:6)
d. Blameless (Philippians 3:6)
2. The greater choice (Philippians 3:7-11)
a. The choice—“what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8)
b. The consequences (Philippians 3:8-11)
1.) The excellency of the knowledge of Christ (Philippians 3:8)
2.) That I may win Christ (Philippians 3:8)
3.) That I may be found in Him (Philippians 3:9)
4.) That I may know Him (Philippians 3:10)
5.) That I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Philippians 3:11)

II. THE CALL TO CONSIDER (Philippians 3:12-14)

A. The Desire to Apprehend (Philippians 3:12)

1. The inadequacies presented
a. Not as though I had already attained
b. Not as though I was already perfect
2. The choice—“I follow after”
3. The possibility—“if that I may apprehend”

B. The Path to Apprehend (Philippians 3:13-14)

1. Forgetting those things which are behind (Philippians 3:13)
2. Reaching forth to those things which are before (Philippians 3:13-14)

III. THE CALL TO PRESS (Philippians 3:15-17)

A. The Recipients of the Call (Philippians 3:15)

1. The audience addressed
a. The inclusiveness of the apostle—“Let us”
b. The audience of the apostle—“as many as be perfect”
2. The challenge given—“BE THUS MINDED”
a. REACHING FORTH unto those things which are before (Philippians 3:13)
b. I PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14); to press means to push against
3. The confirmation given—“if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you”

B. The Accountability of the Call (Philippians 3:16)

1. The present growth—“Whereto we have already attained”
2. The responsibility
a. Let us walk by the same rule.
b. Let us mind the same thing.

C. The Example of the Call (Philippians 3:17)

1. The example to be followed—“be followers together of me”
2. The example to be marked
a. Compared against the example of Paul
b. Those who are enemies of the cross of Christ (see Philippians 3:18-19)