The Christian Marathon

Order of Service

• Announcements
• Hymn — Holy God, We Praise Your Name
• Call to Worship — Psalm 148
• Hymn — Holy God, We Praise Your Name
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
• Scripture Reading — Ruth 4:13–22
• Hymn — I Will Sing of My Redeemer
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Preparation
• Sermon
• Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
• Benediction — 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24

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Sermon Title: The Christian Marathon

Scripture: Philippians 3:12–16

I. The Christian Marathon Involves the Pursuit of a High and Holy Goal

A. Paul presses on toward a goal he has not yet attained — the resurrection glory that Christ currently possesses (Philippians 3:12)

1. The "it" Paul seeks to obtain refers back to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:11)
2. The goal is nothing less than conformity to the perfected, glorified Son of God
3. Christ makes us his own and calls us to be conformed into his image through union and communion with him

B. The standard is perfection — Matthew 5:48: "You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect"

1. We are to be conformed into the image of the Son, who perfectly images the Father
2. We aim for perfection in every sphere of life — 1 Corinthians 10:31: whatever you do, do it to the glory of God

C. Illustration: The "goats" of sport (Jordan, Woods, Brady) never reached perfection but always strove for it

1. When they failed, they went back to the drawing board and plugged up the holes
2. So the Christian, when missing the mark, identifies the path that led to sin and obstructs it
3. Striving for perfection produces growth in godliness, holiness, and maturity

II. The Christian Marathon Involves the Possession of a High and Holy God

A. Christ has made Paul his own — the Christian is possessed by Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:12, 14)

1. The "upward call of God in Christ Jesus" is the effectual call upon the elect (Romans 8:30)
2. God does not command the race without first giving the ability to run — he gives his Son and his Spirit

B. Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward (Philippians 3:13)

1. Paul likely refers back to his Jewish credentials in Philippians 3:4–6 — running in the arena of works righteousness moves one away from the finish line
2. Paul's lament in Romans 7: "Wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of death?" — Romans 7:24
3. Illustration: Tiger Woods had a short memory — a bad hole did not derail him; contrast with golfers who "blow up" after one mistake
4. Running in the arena of works righteousness means every failure causes collapse; all depends on personal performance

C. Running in the arena of grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone

1. When we fall, the Spirit assures us that right standing before God is found only in Christ's imputed righteousness
2. 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
3. The gospel frees us from obsession over yesterday's failures and empowers us to run today
4. Luther's pre-Reformation crisis — "Love God, hate God" — resolved when the gospel pierced his heart
5. Application: If you are exhausted and have lost energy to run, hear the call of the gospel — today is the day of salvation; confess, receive assurance of pardon, and run

D. Philippians 2:12–13: "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure"

1. God gives the ability (his Son, his Spirit) and then commands: run
2. The combination of God's empowering gifts and intense effort toward the glory of Christ produces a mature and holy Christian

III. The Christian Marathon Involves the Promise of a High and Holy Guide

A. Philippians 3:15: "If in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you"

1. The Greek word for "reveal" is the root of our word apocalypse — to uncover, unmask, or unveil
2. It is synonymous with God's divine self-revelation given to us in Holy Scripture

B. The guide for the race is the Word of God — 2 Timothy 3:17: Scripture trains us in righteousness and equips us for every good work

1. Illustration: Great athletes study their playbooks, film, and the opposing team before game day
2. The Christian studies the Word to be equipped to strive after excellence in every sphere of life
3. In Scripture we read of saints' successes and failures, learn the schemes of the devil, and receive God's directives for defeating him in Christ

C. God guarantees fruit when his Word is studied (Philippians 3:15)

1. We all have blind spots this side of Heaven, but God promises to reveal them through his Word
2. Illustration: A teacher does not say "you might do well" — she says "you will do well" to the gifted student who applies himself
3. God, our Rabbi, speaks to his Spirit-gifted pupils: study my Word and you will become more like my Son
4. Luther: "I would not want to be in Paradise if the Word were not there with me, but if the Word were with me I could make my home in Hell itself"
5. Application: Hear Augustine's call — "pick up and read"; the assurance of God through his Spirit is that immersion in the Word will bear fruit in godliness and holiness