Philippians 3:12-16
Not That I Have Obtained It
Read the passage
12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.
16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Paul has just described his desire to know Christ and attain the resurrection. He makes clear that he has not yet reached the goal or been made perfect. He continues to press on because Christ Jesus has taken hold of him.
Christ's action comes first. Paul pursues the purpose for which he belongs to his Lord. His effort is vigorous, but its foundation is the grace that brought him to Christ.
He describes himself as a runner straining forward toward the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. Forgetting what lies behind does not mean erasing memory; he has just recalled his past in detail. He refuses to rest in past achievements or let his former life set the direction of his pursuit. The goal before him claims his attention.
Paul calls mature believers to share this outlook. Maturity includes recognizing that growth is still needed. Where they think differently, he trusts God to bring understanding, while insisting that they live up to what they have already attained.
There is work to do now, even while understanding remains incomplete. Believers can obey what they know, seek further understanding and continue toward the life to which God has called them in Christ.
Questions
1 What does Paul deny about his present condition?
AnswerHe denies that he has reached the goal or been made perfect. He has made progress, but he still presses forward.
2 Why does Paul press on to take hold of the goal?
AnswerChrist Jesus has already taken hold of him. Paul's effort responds to Christ's grace and pursues His purpose.
3 What does forgetting what is behind mean in this setting?
AnswerPaul directs his pursuit toward God's heavenly calling rather than resting in his old achievements or allowing his past to determine his future.
4 What must believers do while they continue to grow in understanding?
AnswerThey must live up to what they have already attained, obeying what they know while trusting God to give further understanding.
What This Means for Us
An old success can make us complacent, and an old failure can make us feel that further obedience is pointless. Paul's attention is on Christ's call. We can confess what needs forgiveness, thank God for past grace and take the next faithful step.
Choose something you already know the Lord asks of you but have put off doing. Ask His help and begin. You do not need complete understanding of every question before obeying what is clear.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for taking hold of Your people. Keep us from complacency and despair, and help us press on in faithful obedience toward the life You have called us to share. Amen.