In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul pens the famous verses, “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
What is this “upward call”? Is it the “resurrection from the dead” that Paul mentions in verse 11? Or is it a call to remain faithful here on earth? Yes. I believe it is both an exhortation to “strain forward” in the earthly life of faith we’ve been given, while also looking upward to that glorious Day when “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20). The imagery that Paul gives here is very active; he’s “straining forward” and “pressing on.” I think Paul knew more than any of us that the Christian life requires bold, continuous action! It’s not, “Oh I got saved! Time to wait for heaven and do whatever I want in the meantime.” We are to strain and press forward, “working out our salvation with fear and trembling.”(Phil. 2:12). Notice we’re not working FOR our salvation (shoutout to my friend Jules for pointing this out). “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” God is working out His will in our lives for our good and His Glory. He does the work. But we have to be obedient to it, the “obedience of faith” that Paul talks about in Romans 16:26.
Paul continues in 3:17:
“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. 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.”
This passage, like so many of Paul’s letters, is both a warning and an exhortation. The first part is an exhortation for the body of Christ to “join in imitating me.” Why is Paul telling others to imitate him? He’s just explained the “upward call” of Christianity; how he formerly had confidence in his flesh to produce righteousness, but now, he depends on “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ…” Phil. 3:9. He exhorts the Church to continue in that walk of faith.
But it comes with a painful warning — not all who are in the Church are to be imitated. Some, in fact, “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.” What?! Is Paul really saying you can be a church member and be an enemy of the Cross? Apparently, he is. He goes on to describe these people as destined to destruction because of their earthly focus on pleasure (‘their god is their belly’) and they aren’t even ashamed about it (‘they glory in their shame’).
Because of these people and their influence, Paul ends with another exhortation to the Philippians, and to us, to “stand firm in the Lord.” We can do that today, with confidence, because “our citizenship is in heaven” and our Savior will soon “transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Thank You, Jesus, that you will soon transform us from this body of sin and death into a glorified body where we will worship You forever!