PRESS ON

Philippians 3:12-16 “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”

Pastor JJ continued this Sunday in His verse-by-verse study of the book of Philippians, explaining the three stages of Christian life in Justification (past), Sanctification (present), & Glorification (future). Justification takes place one time, the moment that we first believe. We are justified by the grace of God, through faith in the atoning death, resurrection & ascension of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ in our place and our sins are forgiven. Glorification is when the Believer passes from this life to eternity in heaven with our glorified bodies to be with the Lord. But Sanctification is the here & now process of walking in the Spirit and growing into the likeness of Christ, by the refining work of God in our life to shape us (Jeremiah 18), and trim off the unfruitful parts of our life (John 15), and teach us (John 6:45). We never get to the place where we think that we’ve “made it”. We haven’t perfection and don’t measure up, so God has more work in perfecting the saints. God isn’t done with us yet. Don’t miss out on this process and direction that the Lord is taking us in personal relationship as we press on heavenward to reach the goal and receive our prize. We are never out of the race. This life-long process is conditioning us for eternity and we need to keep that prospective in view to guide our stride and path. Enjoy the true pursuit of happiness and cherish how far you’ve come. Heaven is just up ahead, on the horizon. Press on.

Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

In Christ, Brian