Christ is the goal. Scripture reveals what he's like. The Spirit of God is the power to move you into his image.

Paul has given you a path to follow. The church is to put flesh and blood leadership in your view that you can observe very closely in order to see how to walk. Welcome to Grace to you with the Bible teaching of John

MacArthur. I'm your host, Phil Johnson. To finish the 26.2 miles of a marathon, you definitely need some serious training.

Imagine then what it takes to run the race that Philippians Chapter 3 describes,

a race that's going to last the rest of your life.

Today on Grace to You, John MacArthur shows you how to strengthen your spiritual muscles,

how to build endurance,

how to run to win no matter what obstacles you might face. John's current series is called

Reaching for the Prize. So if you have your Bible, turn to Philippians chapter three as John

begins today's lesson. Philippians chapter 3, verses 17 to 21.

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern

you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping,

that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

whose end is destruction, whose God is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame,

who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior,

the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with

the body of his glory, by the exertion of the power that he has, even to subject all things to himself.

Now, this great and thrilling passage, as I said, continues the theme of pursuing the prize.

It focuses us back on that which we discussed in detail in our last message, and that is that

the goal of the Christian life is to be like Jesus Christ.

And if I might remind you of that very simple and basic truth, you might say to yourself,

that seems basic enough, is it necessary for us even to be reminded?

...