Philippians 3:12

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.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 2^nd & 3^rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

This section of our study has special applicability to graduates. Perhaps graduation looks like the supreme goal, already attained, when in fact, whole new worlds are opening up for our graduates, and those worlds present their own goals and their own attainments.

 
Christian experience see the goal as always lying ahead, and not yet attained. Paul turns to that explanation in what follows. Paul's desire to "know Christ" may appear to his Philippian audience as a grandiose claim. Can anyone actually become "like Christ"? Recall how Paul appealed to the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus in the previous chapter to convince the Philippians that ordinary human beings can live the life of self-less service which promotes unity? In the present case, Paul does something similar: he denies that he has yet "arrived" at the place where he completely mirrors the experience of Jesus. His Greek is instructive: ouch hoti ede elabon e ede teteleiomai: "not that already I have grasped or already have been made perfect" (2:12).  [BN, 12]

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* Saturday 6:00pm
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