Letting Go for Treasure in Christ – Proclamation! Online Magazine

MOSES DRAKE LUSWATA

“Not that I have already attained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).

The mystery of the gospel was completely revealed to Paul, and he knew that Jesus had laid hold of him so that he could also lay hold of the gospel and its promises. Paul was convinced that the gospel was the most valuable treasure of all, and it was worth everything he had loved to be able to embrace it.

Paul discovered a secret which many of us have not yet discovered: he had to empty himself of what he had loved and cherished in his former religion (Philippians 3:7-9). Paul discovered that he couldn’t hold onto Judaism and at the same time hold onto what Jesus Christ revealed to him. His beloved Judaism was incompatible with the gospel of the finished work of Christ—Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection which fulfilled the law.

This separation Paul experienced from everything he had known and loved is evidenced in verse 13: “Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before…”

Paul had said in verses 1–8 that his past accomplishments in Judaism had been his identity, his pride. Now he says he is forgetting those things which are behind him so that he can keep focused on an even greater treasure—the things that now lie ahead of him for which Christ has laid hold of him.

…he was sure that even though he had not yet attained his goal, Christ had already attained it for him.

Paul was not superstitious in his convictions. Even though he had not yet attained the treasures Christ promised were his, and even though he was not yet “made perfect”, he was sure that even though he had not yet attained his goal, Christ had already attained it for him.

Because of that conviction, in verse 14, Paul says that “I press on toward the goal …” This perseverance toward a guaranteed future reminds me of what Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.”

Paul pressed on, keeping the faith and never wavering as he reached towards the goal. He knew that he himself couldn’t attain the righteousness which is from God. In fact, he stated this fact in Philippians 3:8,9 as he was explaining why he suffered the loss of his beloved Judaism. Letting go of his past was necessary so that he could “gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”

In spite of his own inability to become righteous, Paul knew that the Lord had already prepared his eternal reward of righteousness because of his faith in Christ. He explained his confidence to his spiritual son, Timothy, in 2 Timothy 4:8:

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

Paul knew that his pressing on towards the goal was not in vain because he had put his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul trusted Him and believed that since Christ had laid hold of him, he himself would also attain the eternal prize because he was held securely in Jesus.

In conclusion, the apostle Paul is sharing his experience of knowing Christ, of experiencing the power of His resurrection, of sharing His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death and ultimately attaining the resurrection from the dead as a result of emptying himself for the sake of Christ. Paul continually stretches himself forward in his commitment to the gospel because he never forgets his ultimate goal: the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul charges all of us who have believed and trusted in Christ with these reassuring words. If we are to stay focused on our goal of attaining to the crown of righteousness and our eternal treasure in Christ, his words from Philippians 3:15,16 are for us:

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

God Himself will lead us and reveal to us the things He wants us to entrust to Him. Our gospel treasure in Christ is the living Spirit of God in us convicting, teaching, reassuring, and empowering us to keep our eyes on our eternal goal. Jesus gives us the strength to let go of our past identity—our Adventism or other false gospel—and He holds us fast and shows us how to walk faithfully in Him.

He will never let us go, and our eternity is secure. †