God's Gracious Shepherding (Philippians 3:12-20; LD 22)

Introduction

The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that Christ's care for His people extends beyond this life. If God only shepherded us through our earthly journey, death would continue to threaten us. But Christ's resurrection changes everything. Because he lives, his people have the sure hope that he will lead them safely through death into everlasting life.

We are left with an important issue. You see, if Christ has already secured our future, what motivates us to keep pressing forward today? Philippians 3 answers that question. The answer is simple. It is because Christ has made us his own that we press on in confidence. We are not conforming to Christ to make ourselves worthy, but because we have been made worthy in Christ Jesus.

Christ Raises Us Body and Soul

If only our souls went to heaven, that is still more than we deserve. However, this would make redemption only half complete. Christ would not have redeemed us as whole humans. We were created body and soul. Christ cannot claim full redemption if he fails to redeem our bodies fully. We are assured that Christ redeems the whole person. Just as Christ rose bodily from the grave, so his people will one day be raised in glorified bodies fit for the new creation. We will be souls in Christ’s presence when we die, but when he comes again we will be clothed in our glorified bodies.

We can see this promise when Christ says to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Christ gives the assurance that the thief will dwell with him today in paradise. We think of the souls under the altar asking when Christ is going to bring this creation to glory (Revelation 6:9-11). We think of Paul’s promise that we will be raised in the flesh that is fit for heaven. (I Corinthians 15:35-49). Paul gives the rich assurance that we will be raised and even transformed (I Cor 15:51; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Paul's imprisonment reminds us that this life is not guaranteed to be easy. However, as Paul waits for his verdict during his house arrest, he rests in the comfort that his citizenship was already secured in heaven. His identity is not defined by his past. He knows that his life is secured in Jesus Christ. It is in Christ Jesus that he presses forward. Ultimately, Paul is assured that our Shepherd will not abandon us in death but will safely bring us home.

Today I Taste the Beginning of Eternal Joy

The joy of eternal life is not something reserved only for heaven. Believers already begin to taste the life that is to come through the Spirit.

This does not mean the Christian life is free from hardship. David cried out under oppression. Paul wrote Philippians while chained to a Roman guard. Yet both rested in God's steadfast faithfulness. Joy is found, not in comfortable circumstances, but in belonging to Christ.

Paul urges believers to imitate him. We might think that Paul is some sort of elitist who has the secrets to the successful Christian life. However, Paul is not telling us to copy his accomplishments, but to follow in his mindset. He forgets what lies behind because his identity is no longer found in his failures or successes. Christ has made him his own. That same grace empowers us to keep pushing forward. It frees us to press forward in the Lord’s sanctifying mercy.

Christian maturity is not pretending we have arrived. How many times do Christians want people to think they are really dialed in? No, we recognize that we need Christ. We know that this journey is never completed in this life. It is growing in the humility to see that we need Christ all the time.

Tomorrow I Will Experience the Fullness of Joy

The joy we taste now is only the beginning. One day Chris