B (5:43)

Going back to verse 10, the words he uses to describe when he expands on the power of his resurrection, he says the fellowship of his sufferings and conform to his death. Those are things that won't occur to us once we've been resurrected. Once we have resurrected bodies, then we won't need to experience suffering and we can't experience death. So that's clearly referring to this life.

C (6:04)

Yes.

B (6:05)

So then when he goes on to say I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, I think you're absolutely right. This is attained to the same kind of power that Christ. By that power Christ was able to resurrect from the dead. So then when he's talking about pressing towards the goal for the prize, the upward call of God, it's clearly related to or it's conditioned on being conformed to the image of Christ, sharing in his sufferings, being conformed to his death. And then we're in verse 12 he says, not that I've already attained or am already perfected, but pressing on. So it's clearly he's not saying I'm already perfected and that's why I'm doing this. He's saying that's the goal is I'm striving towards being more like Christ, being perfected. And that's where the prize lies.

C (6:51)

That's a good point. In fact, the pressing on reminds me of the First Corinthians 9, 24, 27 passage where he says all those who run in a race run, but only one receives the prize. And then he says run that you may obtain it. And he says they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown.

A (7:10)

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C (7:45)

the end of Paul's life in 2 Timothy 4, 6, 8, he says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. And then he says, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me, and not to me only, but to all who have loved his appearing. I think this verse that you're citing here about him pressing on basically is similar to what 1st Corinthians 9, 24:27 says and 2nd Timothy 4, 6, 8, except in 2 Timothy 4, 6, 8. He doesn't need to press on anymore because he's going to be martyred the next day or very soon. He's going to be martyred. And he knows the Lord has revealed to him that he has finished the race. He has kept the faith, he has fought the good fight. And I think I understand now where Cal is coming from, because you could see how a lordship salvation person would read this passage completely differently. They would say Paul was striving so that he might make it into the kingdom. Right?

B (8:55)

Right. They'd read verse 11, as if by any means. I surely, really, really hope I'll attain to the resurrection of the dead or something like that in the future at

C (9:03)

the end of my life. And they would see this as the resurrection of believers, but they would say, man, I really hope I'm going to get into Christ's kingdom and I'm not going to be condemned to the lake of fire. But that's not at all what's going on. Paul, of course, knew he had everlasting life. Paul knew he was born again. He knew he was secure. He knew his name was in the book of life. He. This isn't really talking about what is called the first resurrection. This is metaphorically talking about resurrection in terms of the power, the resurrection power of Christ. We get something similar in Romans chapter 5, where he says, we shall be saved from wrath through his life. The shall be saved by his life. There is not talking about saved from eternal condemnation. It means that we would be empowered to experience his resurrection life here and now. It's basically Romans 5 through 8 is about sanctification.

B (10:07)

Yeah. And I think it's important to put these verses in the context of Philippians, which, if I'm not mistaken, a lot of this letter is about church unity and the disagreements and the arguments that they're having. And we're getting close to the end of the book and, and Philippians chapter four, one of my favorite passages. But there's a lot in there about being united and being prayerful and leaning on God. But before we get there, right after verse 14, verse 15 he says, Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. So this is what he was just talking about is not being physically resurrected right now, but having the mind of sharing in Christ's suffering, sharing in his death, all the things we just listed. So let us, as a collective body of believers, have this mind and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal this even to you, then verse 16 nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained. So that goes back to his verse 12 that says, not that I've already attained or I'm already perfected. So to the degree that we've already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind. So so the reason Paul's writing these things to them is not just to tell them where he's at in his walk. Not to just tell them the things he's hopeful for, but it's to encourage them. Have this mind. All of us together if we're all pressing toward the goal of the prize, of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, then not only are we each individually striving for that prize and becoming more like Christ, but the church as a whole becomes more and more the body of Christ instead of being a dismembered body.

C (11:48)

Yeah, that's a good point. We have some articles dealing with the day of Christ Jesus in philippians@faithalone.org it appears in the first chapter and also in chapter two and throughout the book. In fact, you mentioned chapter four 417 talks about the fact that he doesn't seek their financial gift, but he seeks the fruit that abounds. To your account. We all have a kind of an eternal retirement account. We can lay up fruit toward that account as we are giving toward our local church and toward missionaries. And if we are giving to brothers and sisters in need, as we are loving one another, as we are sharing our faith, as we are discipling people, etc. So anyway, Cal, great question. I would encourage you to study this passage. It makes a great Bible study or Sunday school class. Philippians 4. You could do 10 through 14 or 7 through 14, but it's a wonderful passage. Well Sam, let's all keep grace in focus.

A (12:55)

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B (13:45)

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A (13:47)

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