Citius, Altius, Fortius! (Philippians 3:12 - 4:1)

We are preempting our regularly scheduled series on Acts for this timely Olympic-themed message. With the Christian testimonies of many of the athletes and the graphic of the open-armed statue of Christ calling out to the city of Rio being viewed around the world, how could we not?

“Citius, Altius, Fortius” is the motto of the Olympic Games and how it applies to this passage in Philippians 3 will become obvious shortly. But first, let's ask how this passage fits within the message of the entire letter. Paul was writing to a church that was birthed in persecution and intended to give them a heavenly perspective even in the midst of their earthly suffering. In this passage we see the theme of the letter coming through loud and clear: “Living like a citizen of heaven while on earth… because Christ Jesus has made me his own!” Paul models a mature, focused effort to be everything that God has called him to be. He shows an intentional example of spiritual formation and exhortations as one chosen ... that we might do likewise.

Today’s passage contains several sports metaphors, which is not unusual for Paul often used sports imagery. He would have been aware of the Olympics (Athens) and may have viewed various Greek games with some regularity. At the very least, he knew how well his Greek audience understood his athletic references. Off the top of your head, can you think of any sports metaphors Paul might have used?

Here are just a few:

• Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” (NIV)
• 1 Cor. 9:24, 26 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it… So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air." (ESV)
• Galatians 2:2 "I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain." (NIV)
• Galatians 5:7 "You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?"
• Ephesians 6:12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…"
• 1 Timothy 4:7 "Rather train yourself for godliness..." (ESV); "exercise thyself unto godliness" (KJV).
• 2 Timothy 2:5 "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." (ESV); "And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strives lawfully." (KJV)
• 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (ESV)
• Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…" (ESV)

Now, as we jump into our text starting at verse 12, I recommend that you at least read the first eleven verses of this chapter to place this passage in context. Just as a runner can’t start halfway through a race and expect to win, so also reading and teaching the Bible requires an understanding of context (literary and when possible, historical-cultural).

Paul was humble but motivated (v. 12-13a)

         Not that I have already obtained this

                       or am already perfect,

                                         but I press on to make it  my own,

                       because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

      Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.

While he was a spiritual father to the Philippians, Paul showed his humility, and yet his determination to live like a citizen of heaven and encourages the Philippians to do so also. This is a gripping revelation of the heart of Paul, a "citizen of no mean city" (Rome) choosing to live as a citizen of heaven even while in prison. How can he do it? He knew Jesus had chosen him.

When I was in Middle School, I was not very athletic, handsome, or popular. In a boys’ gym class with 50-60 kids and captains were appointed to pick teams for some game there were times that I might have been picked in the last three. No one wants to be picked last. However, there was one person who to the surprise of the class picked me in the second round. Boy was I motivated to not let him down for showing me the honor of picking me early. I became a dominant dodgeball player. Likewise, in Paul’s case, he was not trying to earn a place on Jesus’ team but had already been picked by Christ. As a result, he was determined to live into this honor by seeking to know Christ with all that was in him. In his humility, Paul was essentially saying, “I'm on the team, but I haven't crossed the finish line yet!”

For the rest of this study, I will use the motto of the Olympic Games, “Citius, Altius, Fortius” as the outline.

1) Citius [Swifter/Faster] (v. 13b)

But one thing I do: forgetting                what lies behind and

                               straining forward to what lies ahead,

Paul’s imagery is that of a runner who continues to run hard for the finish line…the way he/she has trained in agonizingly difficult challenges. I think of watching Olympic athletes come out before the crowd at the venue and approach their lane for the start of the race. Then they take off their sweats and headphones, anything that might slow them down or hold them back. Even their uniforms are designed for the least amount of friction or drag.

At least one commentator has suggested that this section refers to a charioteer rather than a runner. It is possible that they may be right, but in either case, the image is that of a race that requires maximum effort directed forward.

What does it mean to “forget”? How can we do that? Expositor’s Bible Commentary addresses this question, “'Forgetting’ did not mean obliterating the memory of the past (Paul has just recalled some of these things in v. 5-7), but a conscious refusal to let them absorb his attention and impede his progress.” Paul was cutting the ties to anything that would slow him down in pursuing the knowledge of Christ.  But what was it that was "behind" for Paul?

If we review v. 1-11 we will see that to which he was referring. In church last Sunday, I had a bag with seven boards in it to illustrate the message. On each board, I wrote one of Paul’s resume items that would have given him confidence in his flesh and handed them to a teenage volunteer.

1. Circumcised on the eighth day,
2. Of the people of Israel,     
3. Of the tribe of Benjamin,    
4. A Hebrew of Hebrews;
5. As to the law, a Pharisee;       
6. As to zeal, a persecutor of the church;  
7. As to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Carrying these seven “plaques” of privilege would certainly not help my young volunteer if I challenged him to a race around the church! Which I did.

Why does Paul count these as a loss? Because he didn’t want to come before God in his own righteousness, but in the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ (v.9). Our own righteousness, like Paul's, is at best a Jenga-esque wobbly pile of scrap boards with some scribbling on them. Likewise, our patting ourselves on the back will only slow us down in the race we have been chosen to run.

Swifter...

As we follow Jesus and grow spiritually what should we come to do more quickly?

May I suggest a few things that might not be what we expect? As the Spirit of the Lord does his work in us...

• We will become swift to confess—for we are being healed of our blind spots and having the scales of self-deception removed from our eyes. 
• We should be quick to pray for we learn that we are not designed to be independent of God’s help. 
• We will become swift to trust God’s Word in the midst of crisis and turmoil, having learned that far from being given a heavenly hall pass to avoid problems, Jesus will see us through them for, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:18-19)
• Finally, we should become quick to love others, not because they deserve it, but simply because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:8). 

These things are the heart of obedience!

2) Altius [Higher] (v. 14-15)

"I press on toward the goal

                  for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

    Let those of us who are mature think this way,

                   and if in anything you think otherwise,

                                                                    God will reveal that also to you.”

God's call is upward. We do not climb the ladder of spiritual maturity in a demonstration of our worthiness in an effort to get up to God. We simply respond to his gracious call inviting us to himself. However, some things must be left behind if we are to dwell in the presence of God! Our pride must be left behind. Our efforts to raise ourselves are weights that hold us down! Did you ever have “flying dreams” when you were young? Times when you had that triumphant flying dream, but something or someone kept pulling you back down? As we grow in grace we come to the realization that we are that person. All our posturing and platforming of our own efforts are of no use in trying to know Christ and his resurrection. For the knowledge of the resurrection, there must be a crucifixion. We will run, jump, and fight no longer using the world’s standards and methods.

Are we headed in the right direction? Mature thinking is upward rather than backward. The ESV Study Bible makes an insightful observation, “Thus, Paul is saying, in effect, ‘If you are really perfect/mature, you will realize you are not yet perfect/mature!’”

• We must stay humble—counter-intuitively, we go down to go up.
• We must remain teachable—coachable, never thinking we have already arrived.

Will I be higher [relationally closer to Jesus] next year than I am now? What will it take?

As we practice trusting and obeying him we will be overwhelmed with his presence and care for us and those we come in contact with.

3) Fortius [Stronger] (v. 16-19)

           Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

    Brothers, join in imitating me,

                        and keep your eyes on those who

                                                               walk according to the example you have in us.

 For many,

            of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears,

                           walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

                                                Their end is destruction,

                                                 their god is their belly, and

                                                 they glory in their shame,

                                                            with minds set on earthly things.

When v. 16 says, "Only let us hold true to what we have attained." it is Paul making a powerful suggestion (Infinitive as an imperative) to "hold true" literally, to “keep in step.” There are many Olympic sports that require contestants to keep in step—so far we have seen synchronized diving, rowing, kayaking, and pursuit cycling. In the winter games, there are events like ice dancing, pairs figure skating, and even bobsledding. Any of these is disastrous for the contestants if they cannot work together precisely. We are not designed to be "Lone Rangers" for Jesus, but to work together as part of what the Bible calls the “body of Christ.” 

Where do we get the strength to keep up? Who do we watch? Who do they watch? Who is in it with me? How consistent am I in this life? Watch those who faithfully follow Jesus!

Don't be like those who have become enemies of the cross! In this passage, it is unclear if Paul was referring to the Judaizers (those who insisted that Gentile believers must become Jews) or Antinomians (who insisted that grace allowed believers to live like pagans). It could be both. What is clear is that there are some who don't press on, strain ahead, live up to their citizenship, nor do they look up with expectation. Remember the faith that pleases God—believes that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him (Heb. 11:6).

Note Paul's swift attitude towards those who were living as enemies, “I weep over them!” How do we respond? Do we cry out in anger and rage—ranting against their failures or do we weep with broken hearts for them?

Notice the phrase in v.19c "with minds set on earthly things," which shows that our focus can strengthen or weaken us. Upon what or to whom have we set our minds? It makes a difference! Have we become...

• Disinterested?
• Disheartened?
• Disqualified?

I pray that we are walking in daily dependence on the grace of God, thus walking/living up to the maturity we have attained. I picture the old post-style truck jacks where the hook moves up the post one click at a time without sliding back down. Whatever maturity we have in Christ, lock it in, and then let him show you one more click.

4) Standius [Longer] (3:20-4:1)

     But our citizenship is in heaven,

                                    and from it we await a Savior,

                                                                     the Lord Jesus Christ,

    who will transform our lowly     body

                  to be like his glorious body,

                     by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

    Therefore,

            my brothers, whom I love and long for,

            my joy and crown,

                              stand firm thus in the Lord,

            my beloved.             

OK, I confess that this is not really a Latin word. I just made it up to go with the other three! It sounds good though, doesn’t it? The verb used here is stekete, the present active indicative form of steko. It means to be stationary, to persevere.

We live in a world filled with change, some good and some bad. This command to stand firm is in regard to our citizenship in heaven. We are not to give up our faith in Christ, nor allow our love to grow cold, no matter what waves of persecution might come.

How should we stand firm? How can we stand?

• Like citizens (v. 20). We must not forget our citizenship. In the Olympics, the opening ceremony climaxes with the parade of nations. I am thankful for the country in which I live and for the rights and privileges it provides. However, that is superseded by my citizenship in the Kingdom of God. So when we parade through life, for whom do we compete? Whose uniform do we wear?
• Like loved teammates (v.1). We are not alone but have been chosen for a team that is to be known for its love and care for each other. Paul encouraged the Philippians to partner with him by thinking this way (v. 15), holding true (v. 16), "Let us..." (v.17), keeping their eyes on good examples (v. 17), awaiting the Savior (v. 20), and standing firm. (4:1). Two other texts on standing firm should be noted here:
• Eph. 6:13-14 Having done all to stand, stand therefore.
• 1 Cor. 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
• Like a winner, like He has saved us, like He will transform us, finally! Why? Because Jesus has already won the war! He has captured us but treats us not as spoil, but as precious sons and daughters!
• Like He made me his own (v.12). Why? Because Christ Jesus has made us His own! He chose us! He qualified us! This fact alone should transform our hearts and motivate us like the best athletes

Think how the coming year might be different if we lived as though we believed this truth!