Still Pressing On?

By Rev (Dr) Jeffrey Khoo

“Pressing on” describes the basic thrust of Paul’s epistle to the Philippians. In every chapter, there is a verse or two of exhortation to push ahead in the Christian faith. Consider the following verses: (1) 1:12, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance (prokopen, from prokopto, “to drive forward”) of the gospel;” (2) 1:27, “that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together (sunathleo, “to contend together with,” “to exert oneself with”) for the faith of the gospel;” (3) 2:12, “work out (katergazomai, “to carry out a task until it is finished”) your own salvation with fear and trembling; (4) 2:16, “Holding forth (epecho, “to hold onto tightly”) the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain;” (5) 3:14, “I press (dioko, “to pursue relentlessly”) toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus;” and (6) 4:9, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do (prasso, “to practise repeatedly, continually, habitually”): and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Paul’s tone expresses urgency. Time is not on our side. Death can come at any moment. Christ is coming back very soon. There is thus no time to waste. Paul exhibited the work ethic of Christ, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).

Pressing On in Preaching the Gospel

Paul wrote his epistle to the Philippians in prison. Although Paul was chained up, the gospel was not. God had allowed Paul to be imprisoned so that the gospel could reach even the heart of the Roman Empire (Acts 23:11)—even the “palace” (Phil 1:13). The “palace” here refers to the praetorian guards. These were the imperial guards stationed in Caesar’s palace. They were an elite troop
(equivalent to our commandos), 10,000 strong, and highly trained. Roman citizens who appealed to Caesar for trial would be guarded by them (cf Acts 22:25-29; 25:10-12).

Paul did not feel sorry for himself when he was imprisoned. He understood the will of God. He preached the gospel to those imperial soldiers who took turns to watch over him. Not only was the gospel preached to the praetorian guards, but also to the Jewish community in Rome (Acts 28:17-24), and we know that at least one Gentile—Onesimus—was saved during Paul’s imprisonment (Philem 10).

Paul set an example. His imprisonment for the sake of Christ and His Word had instilled courage in many Roman Christians to evangelise openly. Instead of going into hiding, the believers did the exact opposite. This open show of courage was not some fleeting enthusiasm; they kept on speaking the Word publiclywithout fear.

Pressing On in Defending the Faith

As the Roman army conquered the world as a united force, so should the Christian church steadfastly battle against her enemies with one spirit and one mind. Paul enjoined all Christians to unite in thought and action. It goes without saying that Christian unity must find its basis on the Truth of God’s Word. Christians are to contend hand in hand for “the faith of the gospel” (Phil 1: 27 cf Jude 3). This “faith” is the objective faith (ie the Christian Faith as found in the forever infallible and inerrant Word of God). Unity is strength. The Church would be much more effective in proclaiming the gospel and defending the faith if they did so as a united army of Christ grounded on His Truth.

Paul encouraged the believers not to be afraid of their enemies. Their foes are defeated foes. In Christ victory is already won. The holy courage displayed by believers in the midst of suffering and persecution proves their truly regenerate state. Their enemies may kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. God will one day resurrect the bodies of the saints. The enemies of Christ appear victorious, but their victory is indeed hollow. Their rebellion against Christ points to their ultimate destruction by His hands on the day of judgement. Knowing that the victory is already won, let us then press on to “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).

Pressing On in Living a Christlike Life

Paul wanted to know experientially the resurrection power of Christ (Phil 3:10). The power of Christ’s resurrection operates in every believer’s life presently. It is the power that enables the believer to “walk in the newness of life” (Rom 6:4). This same power that changes believers spiritually to be more like Christ will one day change them physically when they receive their glorified bodies at the time of the rapture/resurrection. This resurrection power, Christ obtained for His saints through His life sufferings (ie, His active obedience, see Gal 4:4-5), and by His sacrificial death (ie, His passive obedience). Christ lived, died, and lived again to save His people from their sins. Christ is the all-sufficient Saviour. So to obtain the life that is eternal and abundant, a man must both die to self (Rom 6:4-11) and die with Christ (Gal 2:20, Col 2:20). He cannot trust himself nor anyone else, but Christ alone.

In Philippians 3:11-16, Paul spoke of his constant struggle to glorify Christ in his life. The Christian life is something that must be “worked out” until the day of resurrection (Phil 2:12). The believer has not yet attained perfection but must always strive towards it. In the Christian struggle towards perfection, divine sovereignty and human responsibility are at work. This is the teaching of the 5th point of Calvinism—the perseverance and preservation of the saints. The believer perseveres in his faith because God preserves him right till the end. As Calvin said, “Paul was apprehended by Christ that he might apprehend Christ; that is, that he did nothing save by Christ’s influence and guidance” (Phil 3:12-13).

Though pilgrims on earth, we should live like citizens of heaven. If Christians possess a heavenly citizenship, then they should bear a heavenly and not earthly conduct. As the song goes, “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing through” (cf Heb 11:13, 1 Pet 2:11). Christians as heavenly citizens should model their conduct after their heavenly King—the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pressing On in Building Strong Relationships

Paul exhorted the brethren to stand firm in the Lord (Phil 4:1). Standing firm in Christ involves having “the same mind in the Lord” (Phil 4:2). Paul pleaded with two sisters— Euodias (meaning “prosperous journey”) and Syntyche (meaning “fortunate”)—to be likeminded. These two ladies had assisted Paul in the gospel ministry (Phil 4:3). Probably, they had been good friends and partners, and extremely effective as a pair in doing God’s work. Evidently, they were now angry at each other for reasons not revealed. It appears that the problem had nothing to do with doctrine. If it were doctrine, Paul would have addressed and corrected it. It probably has to do with attitude. For some personal reason, they were not on speaking terms. Perhaps they disagreed strongly with each other on how certain things ought to be done. So Paul urged them literally “to think the same thing in the Lord”—which was the same injunction previously given in 3:16 (see also Phil 1:27, 28; 2:2-4; 2:14-16; 3:1). In light of their eternal salvation, Paul exhorted all Christians to be doubly happy in the Lord. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil 4:4). Perhaps Paul used the word “rejoice” twice as a direct application to Euodias and Syntyche. A grouchy spirit does not help a sour relationship. But a merry heart can be therapeutic. Proverbs 17:22 says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Surely if only Euodias and Syntyche can start to smile at each other, their relationship would improve.

Pressing on for Christ is an uphill task. It demands great discipline, devotion, and determination. Let us not fall back, but press on. Remember, the mountain is already conquered, and the race is already won by the Author and Finisher of our Faith—the Captain of our Salvation—the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is our Reason to press on. Let us therefore press on for Jesus and for His glory. God bless you all!

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THE GOSPEL OF LIFE: Chapter 21

John 21:15-17
Between Jesus and Peter

Many commentators say that the reason why Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him is in his three denials. And the reason why Jesus wants an answer to each question is to find out how much Peter loves his Lord.

James Stalker in Christian World Pulpit mentions three “storeys” of Peter’s love for the Saviour. In the house of Life of each of us there are three storeys – the basement, the middle storey, the top floor.

The basement represents our feelings. There are in us many feelings of very different kinds that all pass by the general name of love. Among all the kinds of love that your heart has known, has love to Christ been one?

From the basement, Christ comes up the middle storey which is Intelligence. He wants our choice of Him to spring not only from emotion, but from judgement as well. Knowledge deepens our love of Christ. It increases our gratitude to Him.

From the middle storey of Intellect He ascends the top floor of Will. Now there are two types of love in this world, the love that receives and the love that gives. The love that receives absorbs its object and enjoys it. The love that gives is absorbed in its object and forgets itself. Our love to Christ must be submitted to the test. Does our love to Christ entail disadvantage and self-denial? If we love Him are we willing to take up the cross and follow Him? To be nothing that He may be All in all?

Why does our Lord demand such love? Because He first loved us, to the extent of dying on the cross for our sins. The utmost demand from our Lord on Peter reflects Jesus’ greater love for him, and for us. And if we truly love Him, we must feed His lambs and sheep as He commands. If we love Him, we must serve Him in His Church. J. C. Ryle: “True love to Christ is chiefly to be seen in usefulness to others, in doing as Christ did, in walking in His steps, in labouring to do good in this bad world. He that talks of loving Christ, and idles through life, never trying to do good to others, is deceiving himself, and will find at length that he had better never been born.”

Jesus calls us: by Thy mercies,
Saviour, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thy obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.