Scripture Reference: Philippians 3 : 12

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 

¹³ Brothers and sisters, 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, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Paul qualifies what he has just previously talked about in the preceding verses by saying, “¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

It is important for us to understand that the wonderful goals Paul was seeking Christ to attain by faith were ongoing in his life! He admits that he had not already attained these goals completely. Our discipleship is an ongoing work in progress from conversion to glorification in the presence of Christ! It is prideful for any of us to feign completion in this life. Beware of any who talk as though they have already arrived or who rebuke you because you confess that God’s work is ongoing in you and you know you have not arrived. 

I have met with such people and I have rebuked them for their pride fullness claiming to have achieved in themselves that which the apostle Paul refused to claim! I have looked them in the eyes and told them they “are really something to have achieved that which not even the apostle claimed to attain” only to have such a person nod in agreement. 

However, I knew, you know, and most importantly God knows they had not arrived, in fact anyone claiming to have arrived reveals by saying such a thing that they have no idea what it means to arrive! I will say it again, we are all a work in progress and I thank God that He is still working on me!  How thankful we should be that God is not done with us! That even though we falter and we fail God loves us and continues His work of grace in us! 

So what then should we do in response to this? We ought to respond in the same way that the apostle responded, “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me”. Remember how Paul earlier talked about how we ought to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, 2:12?  This is how we do it! Yes! God is working in us and yes salvation is the work of God in us through Christ Jesus, but that truth in way negates our responsibility to “press on”!  

Paul also said, “¹³ Brothers and sisters, 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, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  Does that seem repetitive to you?  It is repetitive and it is for a very good reason! When we encounter such repetition in the Word of God we ought to pay special attention because God has placed it there for our benefit. Paul not only repeats himself, he expounds on what he has previously said! Study it, meditate on it, memorize it, feast on it and you will live it!