PHILIPPIANS 3:12-17 KEEP PRESSING ON

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 ¶ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 17 ¶ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

In this great section of Scripture Paul is exhorting the Philippians to keep at it and not to quit. He lets them know that even though he had all of these great human accomplishments they meant nothing to him now that He knows Christ. That they are actually something that hold him down in life and are excess baggage and even as worthless as dung. He tells them that even though he was all these things in the world’s eyes, that he is still not perfect, that he has not attained the pinnacle of Christ likeness, he still has work to do. He does this so they won’t get discouraged and give up since none of us will ever achieve perfection in this life and we will still mess up and sin. Finally he says we are to keep our eyes fixed on the goal of being like Christ and our prize is that one day when we get to heaven we get to finally be like Him