Philippians 3:13, 14 - The Goal and Prize Above All Others.
Phil. 3:13, 14: The Goal and Prize Above All Others.
Phil. 3:13, 14 (NLT) No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still
not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I
strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which
God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.
Phil. 3:13, 14 (CWR) I certainly don't consider myself as
having reached perfection. However, this one thing I do: I forget the
things of the past and press toward the goal to win the heavenly prize
God is calling me to receive through Jesus Christ.
The word "perfect," as the Bible uses it of men, does not refer
to sinless perfection. Old Testament characters described as
"perfect," or "wholly devoted" were obviously not sinless (cp. Gen 6:9; 1
Ki 15:14; 2 Ki 20:3; 1 Chr 12:38; Job 1:1,8; Ps 37:37). Although a
number of Hebrew and Greek words are translated "perfect," the thought
is usually either or or . Three stages of perfection are revealed:
(1) Positional perfection, already possessed by every believer in
Christ (Heb 10:14). (2) Relative perfection, i.e. spiritual maturity
(Phil 3:15), especially in such aspects as the will of God (Col 4:12),
love (1 John 4:17 - 18), holiness (2 Cor 7:1), patience (James 1:4),
"every good work" (Heb 13:21). Maturity is achieved progressively, as
in 2 Cor 7:1, "perfecting holiness," and Gal 3:3, lit., "are ye now
being made perfect?" and is accomplished through gifts of ministry
bestowed to "for the perfecting of the saints" (Eph 4:12). And (3)
ultimate perfection, i.e. perfection in soul, spirit, and body, which
Paul denies he has attained (Phil 3:12) but which will be realized at
the time of the resurrection of the dead (Phil 3:11). [Scofield SB]
Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with
God. [In His Time; My Utmost For His Highest]?
Our most important goal should be getting to know Christ better.
Paul says that his goal is to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to
be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbs all Paul's
energy. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything
take our eyes off our goal--knowing Christ. With the
single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside
everything harmful
and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective
Christians. [Life Application SB]
Christians are like runners who refuse to look around or look
back but keep running with their eyes on the goal. Tb look back at
past successes or failures, or to look around to see what others are
doing or saying, is to invite defeat. Heed Hebrews 12:1-2.... Paul
looked up and eagerly anticipated the return of the Lord. Christ had
taken care of his past (v. 13), and He would also take care of his
future. And as for Paul's present, his confidence was knowing that "He
is able!" (v. 21). [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren
Wiersbe]
The Scriptures plainly show that the work of sanctification is
progressive. When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the
blood of the atonement, the Christian life has but just begun. Now he
is to "go on unto perfection;" to grow up "unto the measure of the
stature of the fullness of Christ." Says the apostle Paul: "This one
thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians
3:13, 14. And Peter sets before us the steps by which Bible
sanctification is to be attained: "Giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to
temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly
kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. . . . If ye do these things,
ye shall never fall." 2 Peter 1:5-10. {GC 470.1}
Paul carried with him the atmosphere of heaven. All who
associated with him felt the influence of his union with Christ. The fact
that his own life exemplified the truth he proclaimed, gave
convincing power to his preaching. Here lies the power of the truth. The
unstudied, unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing
sermon that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when
unanswerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a power
that it is impossible wholly to resist. {GW 59.1}
As he that hath called you is holy, so must you be holy. If you
are living in sin, you are not called, but if you are truly
Christ's, you can say, "Nothing pains me so much as sin; I desire to be
rid of it; Lord, help me to be holy." Is this the panting of thy
heart? Is this the tenor of thy life towards God, and his divine will?
Again, in Philippians, 3:13, 14, we are told of "The high calling of
God in Christ Jesus." Is then your calling a high calling? Has it
ennobled your heart, and set it upon heavenly things? Has it elevated
your hopes, your tastes, your desires? Has it upraised the constant
tenor of your life, so that you spend it with God and for God?...
Unless thou art a stranger here, and heaven thy home, thou hast not
been called with a heavenly calling; for those who have been so
called, declare that they look for a city which hath foundations, whose
builder and maker is God, and they themselves are strangers and pilgrims
upon the earth. Is thy calling thus holy, high, heavenly? Then,
beloved, thou hast been called of God, for such is the calling wherewith
God doth call his people. [Morning and Evening by Charles H.
Spurgeon]
We may never perfectly express Christ to others; but as we rely
completely on Him to work through us, and as we commit ourselves to do
God's will, we will experience something of resurrection power and joy
in our lives today. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
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