Just Keep Swimming!
“Just Keep Swimming! Press On, Hold Fast, Beware and Believe, Stand Firm” – March 9th, 2025 (Philippians week 8)
If the Apostle Paul had been writing to a church full of fish, he might well have told us to “just keep swimming!” And since we know that Paul used every available way to remind us over and over of the most important things, he might have even sung these reminders, even if it meant getting a song stuck in our heads! We don’t know if he would have prescribed some vitamin sea, but he would have done whatever he could to kelp us to get of-fish-ally ready for whatever lies ahead. One thing’s for shore, as we read our Philippians passage today, we will discover four prescriptions from Paul. Let’s dive right in!
Philippians 3:12-4:1 (NRSV) – “12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. 16 Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. 17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.”
The Apostle Paul starts this part of his epistle of suffering matched by joy by assuring us that he has not yet arrived. None of us has reached the goal yet! We keep going because Christ Jesus has made us his own! Because we belong to Jesus, we need to see what’s going on around us, do something, get moving and make a difference. Remember, Paul keeps saying, “Imitate Jesus” and “Imitate me, as I imitate Jesus.” Paul’s reminders in this section include four prescriptions. Just as with medical prescriptions, it does nobody any good to just read the instructions. We have to actually follow the instructions if they are to be beneficial to us, personally, communally, and beyond.
Press On
The Apostle Paul’s first prescription is “press on.” “Press on” is the translation of the Greek verb diókó, which means to pursue, persecute, chase, press forward. Paul uses it twice in today’s passage, in verses 12 and 14. He also used it once earlier in the chapter, in the passage we looked at last week. “Press on” carries with it a sense of urgency and determination, motivated by earnestness and zeal. This corresponds to the Hebrew verb radaph, as in Psalm 23:6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life …” Just in case we have misunderstood this verse, goodness and mercy do not simply trail behind us passively like our shadows. God dispatches goodness and mercy to seek out God’s beloved image bearers, whoever and wherever we are, pursuing us with passion, intention, and intensity. There is nothing passive about God’s goodness and mercy following us. God’s goodness and mercy do not allow us to be passive either; they actually press us forward towards God’s shalom. They enable us to experience God’s highest and best in our lives, to the degree that we welcome and participate in God’s work in and through us.
We’ve all misplaced things. Last week Paul and I couldn’t find our traveling laundry hamper the day after a hotel stay. We searched for it for a few minutes before realizing we’d left it behind in the room. Maybe because the purpose of our trip was to get rid of a lot of clutter, to be honest, “searched” might be an exaggeration of how hard we looked. After all, we had only misplaced a few items in an old pillowcase. This is not what the Apostle Paul means by “press on.”
Recently, one of our children lost all of their identification documents. We are hoping that this will catalyze an epiphany along the lines of, “So, that’s why Dad and Mum told me to never carry all of these around together with me day-to-day!” Hope springs eternal! After receiving their SOS, I searched for an old passport of theirs, long expired, that I had put away many years ago for sentimental reasons. I wasn’t exactly sure where I had put it, but, thankfully, I was able to unearth it from the corner of a huge crate filled with photos and other mementos in a relatively short time. Even though I searched with great intention and intensity, this kind of pursuit, marked more by frustrated sighing than fervent seeking, is still not what the Apostle Paul means by “press on.”
More than two decades ago, Paul and I drove separate carloads of children to our Christmas Eve service at church. On the way home, I called him to ask him about our plans later that evening, as we each dropped off non-Sculley kids at various locations. It was during that call that we realized we were in a Home Alone kind of situation. I thought 5-year-old Michael was riding with him; he thought he was with me. My heart beat out of my chest as I probably did an illegal U-turn and broke speed limits to get back there as quickly as possible. I have no doubt that my prayers were not “breath prayers” but hyperventilating mummy-freak-out prayers. My mind, my heart, my prayers, my words, my cries, my actions were all marked by the utmost urgency, determination, earnestness, zeal, intention, and intensity. Relief flooded every part of me when I spotted Michael, who was having the best time admiring the large sparkly Christmas tree decorations in the foyer, where many people still milled about. I scooped him up and all was well in my world again. This kind of life-or-death pursuit, fueled by faith, hope, and love, is what the Apostle Paul means by “press on.” We are to have that kind of urgency, determination, earnestness, zeal, intention, and intensity in pressing on. In what direction? Toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. This heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus is the prize that is Paul’s lifelong passion which he is urging each of us to adopt as our own. Let us press on to know Jesus Christ as Lord and King, firsthand and personally; to embrace Christ and be embraced by him; to trust Christ, God’s righteousness; to experience Jesus’ resurrection power; to be a partner in Jesus’ suffering; to go all the way with Jesus to death itself; and to get in on the resurrection from the dead with Jesus!
Hold Fast
Paul’s second prescription, in verse 16, is “hold fast.” It is crucial that we realize that “hold fast” does not mean “hold onto.” It’s not about holding onto traditions, values, beliefs, rules, safeguards, possessions, or loved ones. The Greek word Paul uses here is stoicheó, which means to walk in line, to follow, to conform, to live according to. In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of stoicheó would have been understood in terms of military or civic order, where individuals were expected to align themselves with societal norms or regulations. But this is not what it means in context of early Christianity. Paul is here emphasizing the importance of living in harmony with the teachings of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul is reminding us that it is not about following legal codes or laws or rules or regulations. It is about following Jesus, and so we are to conform ourselves to the way of Jesus, which is the way of love.
I know I remind us of the way of love very often – it’s so simple to state and so difficult to put into practice. I plan to keep repeating these things because we are all constantly bombarded with messages that oppose the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many well-meaning but misguided messages that oppose the good news. And there are also many downright lies that oppose the good news. And so, we all need continual reminders about the most important things on the way of Jesus, which he told us in several places, including Matthew 22:37-39 – “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Paul is again saying, “Walk like me, as I walk like Jesus.” “Follow me, as I follow Jesus, on the way of love.”
I want to introduce us to someone who walked like Jesus on the way of love. This hero of the faith saw something and did something about it. She realized what was going on, got moving, and made a difference, in the name of Jesus, and for the greater glory of God and the good of many people.
Katharine Drexel was born in 1858 into a very wealthy family. Tragically, her mother died a few weeks after she was born. Her father remarried, and during her teen years, Katharine also lost her stepmother to a long and painful battle with terminal cancer. Through it all, her family remained active in doing charitable works, distributing food, clothing, and money from their home twice a week. As a young adult, during a family trip to the Western U.S., Katharine was awakened to the plight of indigenous American people. Sadly, tragedy visited her again the following year, when her father also passed away.
Katharine and her sisters inherited a vast fortune. She could have lived a very comfortable life and still accomplished much good in the world. Yet, Katharine surrendered her life to the way of Jesus and submitted to wise counsel from those whom the Lord sent to speak into her life: she chose to devote both her life and her fortune to God. In 1889 she embraced the monastic life, which included a vow of poverty, and she became a missionary to both indigenous and African-American communities. Her heart was especially drawn to providing educational opportunities to these groups who had been largely denied access previously.
By the time of her death, she had given more than $12 million of her inheritance (over $142 million today) towards charitable and apostolic missions, among indigenous and African-American people. She is credited with establishing and endowing 51 monastic communities with over 500 members in Columbus, Chicago, Boston, and NYC; 49 elementary schools and 12 high schools in New Mexico, Viriginia, Arizona, and Tennessee; and Xavier University in New Orleans.
That was Katharine’s story. God is writing a unique story in your life and in mine. As with any authentic story, there are twists and turns, parts we like, parts we don’t like. We don’t know how the next pages in our stories will unfold. Our stories are not over yet. Hold fast to the way of Jesus, the way of love. Keep walking as Jesus walked. Keep loving as Jesus loved. Keep doing what you can, keep moving, keep making a difference, in the name of Jesus, and for the greater glory of God and the good of people!
Beware and Believe
Paul’s third prescription comes in two parts. The first part is another kind of warning like the “bewares” we looked at last week. Verses 18-19 – “For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.” We must be very watchful, alert, perceptive, and understanding about the many who live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Paul provides four specific clues so we can recognize and be prepared to resist these enemies:
- Their end is destruction: Beware of people who claim to be Christians but whose lifestyle is totally opposed to the redemptive work of the cross.
- Their god is the belly: Beware of people who only live to please themselves.
- Their glory is in their shame: Beware of people who seek glory for themselves.
- Their minds are set on earthly things: Beware of people who do not produce the fruit of the kingdom – love, joy, peace, etc.
The second part of Paul’s third prescription is in the form of an encouragement to “believe.” In verses 20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” Paul is encouraging us to also be very watchful, alert, perceptive, and understanding about four specific truths:
- Our citizenship is in heaven: Believe that you are now living your present life in the already-not-yet kingdom of God.
- It is from heaven that we are expecting a Savior: Believe that Jesus has already saved us, is saving us, and will save us to the uttermost, because Jesus is Lord of all.
- Jesus will transform: Believe that because Jesus has already gained glory through his humiliation, he will, on the last day, transform us (even our bodies, even our humiliation) into his likeness (even the likeness of his glory).
- Jesus is making all things subject to himself: Believe that Jesus has absolute sovereignty over all things, including all people, all authorities, life, death, all of creation, all.
Stand Firm
Paul’s fourth and final prescription, in Philippians 4:1 is “stand firm.” The Greek word used is stékó, which means to be steadfast, to endure, to persevere. This kind of steadfastness was seen as a virtue, reflecting both personal integrity and communal solidarity. As we looked at back in Philippians chapter 1, Paul is again referring to the way that Roman soldiers lined up in very tight ranks and locked their shields together. Doing this enabled them to remain steady in a way that far surpassed the strength or stability of an individual. Paul is again encouraging us to stand firm in the face of whatever unfolds, whatever lies in our future, whether persecution or peace, whether trials or thanksgivings.
In what ways are we to stand firm? We see at least seven specific places in which we are instructed to stékó, to stand firm, in the New Testament:
We are to stand firm in prayer and in forgiveness, both personally and communally. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)
We are to stand firm in the traditions, customs, and practices of the faith, both personally and communally. We believe those to be found in historical, biblical, orthodox Christian beliefs with the Bible as our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)
We are to stand firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, both personally and communally. “Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents.” (Philippians 1:27-28a)
We are to stand firm in the faith, with vigilance, bravery, and fortitude, both personally and communally. “Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
We are to stand firm in freedom, both personally and communally. “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
We are to stand firm in the Lord, enabling others to live and to thrive, both personally and communally. “For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 3:8)
We are to stand firm in the Lord as beloved brothers and sisters, both personally and communally. “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.” (Philippians 4:1)
Beloved sisters and brothers in Christ, let this song be always stuck in our heads, to just keep swimming: press on, hold fast, beware and believe, stand firm! Come, Holy Spirit!
