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Reaching Forward

Reaching Forward. Past. Present. Future. Past, Present, Future. Challenge of the Christian life: To think rightly about all three. Philippians 3:13,14.

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Reaching Forward

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  1. Reaching Forward

  2. Past Present Future Past, Present, Future Challenge of the Christian life: To think rightly about all three

  3. Philippians 3:13,14 . . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. New King James Version

  4. Lesson Topics • What life in Christ is primarily about • Forgetting what is behind • Reaching forward to what is ahead • The mind of the mature Christian • The prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus • Pressing toward the goal

  5. What Life in ChristIs Primarily About Reaching Forward – 1

  6. In the Gospel, Where Is the Emphasis? Already Not Yet OR A very different answer is given today!

  7. Historic Shift Modern Christianity, in a dramatic reversal of its biblical form, promises to relieve the pain of living in a fallen world . . . the promise of bliss is for NOW! Larry Crabb, Inside Out

  8. Where Did PaulPut the Emphasis? • 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 • Absent from the body, present with the Lord • 2 Timothy 4:8 • Crown of righteousness • Loved His appearing • Philippians 3:12,13 • Not yet attained • Not yet perfected • Not yet apprehended (taken hold of it)

  9. Historic Shift Heaven > Happiness Now Today’s Emphasis Is aMisplaced Emphasis • Are We Guilty? • Misunderstand the gospel? • Misrepresent to others?

  10. We Tend to Go to Extremes The goal isimpossible We’ve alreadyarrived The Goalof Christianity Discouragement Complacency Either outlook will impede your progress

  11. Mistakes . . . Discouragement • Expect too much GROWTH right now • Expect too much HAPPINESS right now 1 Peter 5:10

  12. Mistakes . . . Complacency • Get too comfortable here • Think we’re farther along than we are 2 Peter 1:10,11

  13. What About “Groaning”? In this body, we groan 2 Corinthians 5:1,2 - Romans 8:22 The more we groan, the better 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 The purpose of Christianity is not to take the groaning out of this life, but to put it there!

  14. Contentment (Already) Yearning (Not Yet) Creative Tension

  15. Joyful Longing Longing doesn’t have to be miserable! Genesis 29:10 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her 2 Timothy 4:8 . . . all those who have loved His appearing

  16. The Main Thing The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing . . . and the main thing is heaven! 1 Peter 1:13

  17. Works in Progress Right now, we are works in progress Shouldn’t see ourselves as any more . . . or any less!

  18. Incomplete In this world,our fellowship with Godis incomplete Job19:25-27

  19. The Point of Being a Christian To be found in Christ at the resurrection Philippians 3:7-11

  20. The Goal Is Still Ahead We haven’t yet received the thingthat life in Christ is primarily about Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

  21. Reaching Forward

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