NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED IT: Ouch hoti ede elabon (1SAAI): (Php 3:13-note; Php 3:16-note; Psalms 119:5,173, 174, 175, 176; Ro 7:19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24- notes; Gal 5:17- note; 1Ti 6:12; James 3:2)

Not that (ouch hoti) is a phrase that warns against misconception. The Greek word for "not" signifies absolute negation. Paul wants to make certain that he is not misunderstood.

Paul's willingness to acknowledge that he had not yet "arrived" at the zenith spiritually, indicates he is still in need of progress and prepares one for his statements that follow. As Wiersbe explains it...

A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress. (Be Joyful)

It should be noted that commentators have interpreted what the "it" is that Paul had not already obtained in various ways...

Some suggest that it is all that is included in verses 8–11 (Ed: Seems to be the most common interpretation), while others believe that Paul is referring to his resurrection from the dead in verse 11; still others interpret the object as the prize referred to in verse 14 (cf. 1 Cor 9.24–25). (The United Bible Societies' New Testament Handbook Series or Logos)

Jamieson feels that Paul is denying he had obtained...

a perfect knowledge of Christ, and of the power of His death, and fellowship of His sufferings, and a conformity to His death. (Philippians 3 Commentary)

Robert P. Lightner agrees writing...

he wanted them to know that he had not yet attained the goals stated in verse 10. He was still actively pressing on toward them. He had by no means reached the final stage of his sanctification. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., et al: The Bible Knowledge Commentary. 1985. Victor or Logos)

Matthew Poole explains that...

by an elegant anticipation and correction, lest any should conclude from what he had written, as if he were now arrived at the height he aimed at in the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, and a full and perfect stature in that body, or almost at the very pitch, he doth here make a modest confession of his not attainment, (whatever false apostles might pretend to), 2Co 10:12, 12:6, 7; but of his earnest desire and utmost endeavor to be raised to the complete holiness he was designed to, “in heavenly places in Christ” “:Jesus,” Eph 2:6. (Matthew Poole's Commentary on the New Testament)

Kenneth Wuest explains that obtained (lambano)...

"in this verse is from a different Greek word than that in the preceding verse ("that I may attain [katantao]" ). In the latter instance, we found that it meant “to arrive at, as at a goal.” Here the Greek verb (lambano) speaks of an active appropriation.

That which Paul says he has not yet appropriated in an absolute sense, he mentions in Philippians 3:10. He has come to experience in some degree at least, the power of God surging through his being. He has entered into a joint-participation with Christ in suffering for righteousness’ sake. The stoning at Lystra (Acts 14:19, 20, 21, 22) is an example of that. He has been brought to the place in his experience where he radiates to some degree the self-lessness, the self-abnegation of the Lord Jesus. But he has not appropriated these, laid hold upon these, in the fullest measure. There is room for much improvement and advance in these respects." (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) (Bolding and references added)

EBC adds that...

Having stated that his conversion brought about a new assessment of his goals and gave him the overwhelming desire to know Christ ever more fully, Paul then explains how his present life is a pursuit in this new direction.

But he does not want to be misunderstood. He is not claiming that his conversion has already brought him to his final goal. He has not already received all he longs for nor has he been brought to that perfect completeness to which he has aspired. Perhaps there were perfectionists in Philippi who had resisted the Judaizers with their emphasis on works and ceremonies by going to the extreme of claiming to have acquired already the consummation of spiritual blessings. Paul understands clearly that he has a continuing responsibility to pursue the purposes Christ had chosen him for. Spiritual progress is ever the imperative Christians must follow. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing) (Bolding added)

OR HAVE ALREADY BECOME PERFECT: e ede teteleiomai (1SRPI): (Job 17:9; Ps 138:8; Pr 4:18; 1 Cor 13:10; 2 Cor 7:1; 13:9; Eph 4:12 - note; Heb12:23 - note; Heb 13:21 - note; 1 Pet 5:10 - note; 2Pet 1:5, 6, 7, 8  - note; 2Peter 3:18  - note)

Become perfect (5048) (teleioo [word study] related to teleios from telos = an end, a purpose, an aim, a goal, consummate soundness, idea of being whole) means to accomplish or bring to an end or to the intended goal (telos). It means to be or become complete, mature, fully developed, fully grown, brought to the end (goal), finished, wanting nothing necessary for completeness or that which assures it will be in good working order. It does not mean simply to terminate something but to carry it out to the full finish which is picked up in the translation "perfected".

In sum the fundamental idea of telioo is the bringing of a person or thing to the goal fixed by God.

In the present verse Paul uses telioo not to signify sinless or flawless but to picture his goal (and his desire for all saints - Col 1:28, 29-see notes Col 1:28; 29) of spiritually maturity.

The implication is that Paul would one day "become perfect". That day for all of us will be when we receive our glorified bodies. Paul states that he has not come to the place in his Christian life where his growth in spiritual maturity has been completed (i.e., he is not yet glorified) and beyond which there is no room for further improvement.

Marvin Vincent comments that in the two verbs (have obtained...become perfect)...

There is a change of tenses which may be intentional; the aorist "attained" (obtained) pointing to the definite period of his conversion, the perfect tense, "am made perfect" referring to his present state, Neither when I became Christ’s did I attain, nor, up to this time, have I been perfected. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 3, Page 1-449)

Spurgeon introduces his sermon Onward! writing...

SO far as his acceptance with God is concerned a Christian is complete in Christ as soon as he believes. Those who have trusted themselves in the hands of the Lord Jesus are saved: and they may enjoy holy confidence upon the matter, for they have a divine warrant for so doing. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." (see note Romans 8:1) To this salvation the apostle had attained.

But while the work of Christ for us is perfect, and it were presumption to think of adding to it, the work of the Holy Spirit in us is not perfect, it is continually carried on from day to day, and will need to be continued throughout the whole of our lives. (Ed: cp progressive sanctification). We are being "conformed to the image of Christ," (Ro 8:29-note) and that process is in operation, as we advance towards glory.

The condition in which a believer should always be found is that of progress: his motto must be,

"Onward and upward!"

Nearly every figure by which Christians are described in the Bible implies this. We are plants of the Lord's field, but we are sown that we may grow - "First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." (Mark 4:28)

We are born into the family of God; but there are babes, little children, young men, and fathers in Christ Jesus; yea, and there are a few who are perfect or fully developed men in Christ Jesus. It is a growth evermore.

Is the Christian described as a pilgrim? He is no pilgrim who sits down as if rooted to the place. "They go from strength to strength." (Ps 84:7)

The Christian is compared to a warrior, a wrestler, a competitor in the games: these figures are the very opposite of a condition in which nothing more is to be done. They imply energy, the gathering up of strength, and the concentration of forces, in order to the overthrowing of adversaries.

The Christian is also likened to a runner in a race, and that is the figure now before us in the text. It is clear that a man cannot be a runner who merely holds his ground, contented with his position: he only runs aright who each moment nears the mark.

Progress is the healthy condition
of every Christian man

Progress is the healthy condition of every Christian man; and he only realizes his best estate while he is growing in grace, "adding to his faith virtue," "following on to know the Lord," and daily receiving grace upon grace out of the fullness which is treasured up in Christ Jesus.

Now, to this progress the apostle exhorts us - nay, he does more than exhort, he allures us. He stands among us; he does not lecture us ex cathedra, standing like a learned master far above his disciples, but he puts himself on our level, and though not a whit behind the very chief of the apostles, he says, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended."

He does not give us the details of his own imperfections and deficiencies, but in one word he confesses them in the gross, and then declares that he burned with eager desire for perfection, so that it was the one passion of his soul to press onward towards the great goal of his hopes, the prize of his high calling in Christ Jesus.

We cannot desire to have a better instructor than a man who sympathises with us because he humbly considers himself to be of the same rank as ourselves.

Teaching us to run, the apostle himself runs; wishing to fire our holy ambition, he bears testimony to that same ambition flaming within his own spirit. I desire so to speak from this text that every believer may want for progress in the divine life....

...My observation of personal character has been somewhat wide, and I cannot help bearing my testimony that I am greatly afraid of men who make loud professions of superior sanctity. I have had the misfortune to have known, on one or two occasions, superfine brethren, who were, in their own ideas, far above the rest of us, and almost free from human frailties. I confess to have felt very much humbled by their eminent goodness until I found them out: they talked of complete sanctification, of a faith which never staggered, of an old nature entirely dead, until I wondered at them; but I wondered more when I found that all the while they were rotten at the core, were negligent of common duties while boasting of the loftiest spirituality, and were even immoral while they condemned others for comparative trifles. I have now become very suspicious of all who cry up their own wares. I had rather have a humble, timid, fearful, watchful, self-depreciating Christian to be my companion, than any of the religious exquisites who crave our admiration. These great-winged eagles who fly so loftily will, I fear, turn out to be unclean birds. The excessive verdure of a superfinely flourishing religiousness often covers a horrible bog of hypocrisy.

The Christian soldier
has to fight with sins every day

Let me add, once more, that whatever shape self-satisfaction may assume - and it bears a great many - it is at bottom nothing but a shirking of the hardship of Christian soldierhood. The Christian soldier has to fight with sins every day, and if he be a man of God, and God's Spirit is in him, he will find he wants all the strength he has, and a great deal more, to maintain his ground and make progress in the divine life.

Now, self-contentment is a shirking of the battle, I do not care how it is come by. Some people shirk watchfulness, repentance, and holy care, by believing that the only sanctification they need is already theirs by imputation. They use the work of the Lord Jesus for them as though it could thrust away the necessity of the Spirit's work in them. Personal holiness they will not hear of: it is legal. If they come across such a text as "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord;" (see note Hebrews 12:14) or, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap," they straightway force another meaning upon it, or else forget it altogether.

Another class believe that they have perfection in the flesh, while a third attain to the same complacent condition by the notion that they have overcome all their sins by believing that they have done so; as if believing your battles to be won was the same thing as winning them. This, which they call faith, I take the liberty to call a lazy, self-conceited presumption, and though they persuade themselves that their sins are dead, it is certain that their carnal security is vigorous enough, and highly probable that the rest of their sins are only keeping out of the way to let their pride have room to develop itself to ruinous proportions.

You can reach self-complacency by a great many roads. I have known enthusiasts reach it by sheer intoxication of excitement, while Antinomians come at it by imagining that the law is abolished, and that what is sin in others is not sin in saints. There are theories which afford an evil peace to the mind by throwing all blame of sin upon fate, and others which lower the standard of God's demands so as to make them reachable by fallen humanity. Some dream that a mere dead faith in Jesus will save them, let them live as they list; and others that they are already as good as need be.

Many have fallen into the same condition by another error, for they have said, "Well, we cannot conquer all sin, and therefore we need not aim at it. Some of our sins are constitutional, and will never be got rid of." Under these evil impressions they sit down and say, "It is well, O soul, thou art in an excellent condition; sit still and take thine ease, there is little more to be done, there is no need to attempt more." All this is evil to the last degree.

The Lord calls us to this high calling of
contending with sin
within and without until we die

I have used few theological terms, because it does not matter how we get to be self-satisfied, whether by an orthodox or a heterodox mode of reasoning; it is a mischievous thing in any case. The fact is, my brother, the Lord calls us to this high calling of contending with sin within and without until we die; and it is of no use our mincing the matter, we must fight if we would reign; our sins will have to be contended till our dying day, and probably we shall have to fight upon our death-bed.

Therefore, every day we are bound to be upon our watch-tower against sin around and with us. It is of no use our deluding ourselves with pretty theories, which act only as spiritual opium to cause unhealthy dreams. Sin is a real thing with each one of us, and must be daily wrestled with; there is an evil heart of unbelief within us, and the devil without us, and we must watch, and pray, and cry mightily, and strive, and struggle, and own that we have not yet apprehended. If we dream that we are at the goal already, we shall stop short of the prize. The full soul loathes the honeycomb; a man full of self, cares for nothing more. Shake off these slothful bands, my brethren; quit you like men - be strong. You are as weak as others, and as likely to sin; watch, therefore, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

What is it, at bottom, that makes men contented with themselves? It may be, first of all, a forgetfulness of the awful holiness of the law of God. If the law of the ten commandments is to be read only as its letter runs, I could imagine a man's judging himself and saying, "I have apprehended; "but when we know that the law is spiritual, how can we be self-complacent? My dear brother, if thou thinkest thou hast reached its perfect height, I ask thee to hear these words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself." Canst thou say, in the sight of a heart-searching God, "I have fulfilled all that"? If you can, I am staggered at you, and think you the victim of a strong delusion, which leads you to believe a lie.

The least sin is
a desperate evil

Brethren who can take delight in themselves must have lost sight of the heinousness of sin. The least sin is a desperate evil, an assault upon the throne of God, an insult to the majesty of heaven. The simple act of plucking the forbidden fruit cost us Paradise. There is a bottomless pit of sin in every transgression, a hell in every iniquity. If we keep clear of sins of action, and if our tongue be so bridled that we avoid every hasty and unadvised speech, yet do we not know that our thoughts and imaginations, our looks and longings of heart, have in them an infinity of evil? If, after having learned that sin can only be washed out by the death of the Son of God, and that even the flames of hell cannot make atonement for a single sin, a man can then say, "I am content with myself," it is to be feared that he has made a fatal mistake as to his own character.

Is there not a failure, in such cases, to understand the highest standard of Christian living? If we measure ourselves among ourselves, there are many believers here who might be pretty well satisfied. You are as generous as other Christians are, considering your income. You are as prayerful as most other professors, and as earnest in doing good as any of your neighbors; if you are worldly, yet not more worldly than most professors, nowadays, and so you judge yourself not to be far below the standard. But what a standard! Let us seek a better. Brethren, it is a very healthy thing for us who are ministers to read a biography like that of M'Cheyne. Read that through, if you are a minister, and it will burst many of your wind-bags. You will find yourselves collapse most terribly. Take the life of Brainerd amongst the Indians, or of Baxter in our own land. Think of the holiness of George Herbert, the devoutness of Fletcher, or the zeal of Whitfield. Where do you find yourself after reading their lives? Might you not peep about to find a hiding-place for your insignificance?

In the presence of giants
we become dwarfs

When we mix with dwarfs we think ourselves giants, but in the presence of giants we become dwarfs. When we think of the saints departed, and remember their patience in suffering, their diligence in labor, their ardor, their self-denial, their humility, their tears, their prayers, their midnight cries, their intercession for the souls of others, their pouring out their hearts before God for the glory of Christ, why, we shrink into less than nothing, and find no word of boasting on our tongue. If we survey the life of the only perfect One, our dear Lord and Master, the sight of his beauty covers our whole countenance with a blush. He is the lily, and we are the thorns. He is the sun, and we are as the night. He is all good, and we are all ill. In his presence we bow in the dust, we confess our sin, and count ourselves unworthy to unloose his shoelatchets.

It is to be feared that there is springing up in some parts of the Christian church a deceitful form of self-righteousness, which leads even good people to think too highly of themselves. It is a fashionable form of fanaticism, very pleasing to the flesh, very fascinating, and very deadly. Many, I fear, are not really living so near to God as they think they are, neither are they as holy as they dream. It is very easy to frequent Bible readings, and conferences, and excited public meetings, and to fill one's self with the gas of self-esteem. A little pious talk with a sort of Christians who always walk on high stilts will soon tempt you to use the stilts yourself; but indeed, dear brother, you are a poor, unworthy worm and a nobody, and if you get one inch above the ground, you get just that inch too high. Remember, you may think yourself to be very strong in a certain direction, because you do not happen to be tried on that point. Many of us are exceedingly good tempered when nobody provokes us. Some are wonderfully patient, because they have a sound constitution, and have no racking pains to endure; and others are exceedingly generous, because they have more money than they want.

A ship's seaworthiness is never quite certain till she has been out at sea. The grand thing will be to be sound before the living God in the day of trial. I pray every believer here to get off the high horse, and to remember that he is, "naked and poor and miserable" apart from Christ, and only in Jesus Christ is he anything, and that if he thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself, but does not deceive God. (Philippians 3:13,14 Onward!)

Paul Billheimer in Overcomers Through The Cross,  reminds us that just as God takes many years to produce an oak tree, He also takes a life time to mature a saint. Christian growth is a process that takes time. Billheimer reminds us that

An unripe apple is not fit to eat, but we should not therefore condemn it. It is not yet ready for eating because God is not done making it. It is a phase of its career and good in its place.

There are no shortcuts
To spiritual maturity

John Walvoord explains that...

One of the by-products of Judaizing legalism was the thought of the possibility of attaining perfection through human works. This, however, Paul definitely disclaims. Even though he is perfectly satisfied in Christ, he recognizes there is much yet to attain in Christian experience. This he states in verses twelve through fourteen: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but 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.”

In this statement the apostle definitely puts behind him the idea that perfection is something that can be reached before we see our Lord at the rapture of the church. Perfection in an absolute sense is not for this life. The Scripture teaches that it is possible for the Christian to be filled with the Spirit and to have victory over sin. Christians should grow in grace and increase in maturity and experience holiness. All of these are proper goals. In spite of all God’s wonderful provision, however, no one reaches the stage of sinless perfection.

No possibility is recognized in the Scripture of eradicating sin or of reaching the point in spiritual maturity where it is impossible to sin any more. There are always more goals to be reached. The word perfect in verse twelve (Gr. teleleiomai) does not mean perfection in the absolute sense. It is rather the word for reaching an ultimate goal. This Paul declares to be the “prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus,” as stated in verse fourteen. This future goal is when Paul leaves earth and flesh behind and enters into the presence of the Lord, either through death or translation. His present task is not perfection, but is rather to lay hold on the purposes of God for his life, to wit, to fulfill his apostleship and God’s purpose for him to grow in grace. (Philippians 3 We Look for the Savior)

C H Spurgeon writes that Paul says...

“I count,” as if he had taken stock, made a careful estimate, and had come to a conclusion. The conclusion was dissatisfaction; nor was this to be regretted: it was a sign of true grace. And yet he was vastly superior to any of us. Shame then on us poor dwarfs if we are so vain as to account ourselves as having apprehended. Yet there are those who prate of having reached a higher life than this. But self-complacency is the mother of spiritual declension. We have observed —

1. That the best of men do not talk of their attainments. Their tone is self-depreciation, not self-content. Everybody could see their beauty of character but themselves. Shallow streams brawl and bubble, but deep waters flow on in silence.

2. That we, in our holiest moments, do not feel self-complacent. Job spoke up for his innocence till the Lord revealed Himself. We shall never see the beauty of Christ without perceiving our own deformity.

3. That whatever shape self-satisfaction may assume it is a shirking of the hardships of Christian soldier hood. Some shirk watchfulness and repentance by believing that the only sanctification they need is already theirs by imputation. Personal holiness, they say, is legal. Others believe they have perfection in the flesh, and others yet attain complacency by the notion that they have overcome all their sins by believing they have done so, as if believing a battle won could win it.

4. That complacency can be reached by many roads.

(1) Enthusiasts reach it by sheer intoxication of excitement.

(2) Antinomians by imagining that the law is abolished, and that sin is not sin in the saints.

(3) Cowards, who say we cannot conquer all sin, and, therefore, we need not aim at it.

5. That complacency has its root in forgetfulness of the awful holiness of God’s law, and the heinousness of sin.

M. R. DeHaan says

Self-satisfaction is the death of progress. Dissatisfaction with past accomplishments is the mother of invention. Because man was dissatisfied with carrying and lifting loads upon his shoulders, he invented vehicles to ride in. Pity the man who is content with his own progress and feels he has [arrived]. This is all the more true in the Christian life. Nothing here is as deadly as self-satisfaction. The most boring people I ever meet are the ones who take up my lime telling me what they have done, when they ought to be doing more.

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Room For Advancement - After Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States, issued his famous "I do not choose to run" statement, he was besieged by reporters wanting details. One persistent journalist kept asking, "Exactly why don't you want to be president again?" "Because," Coolidge replied, "there's no chance for advancement!"

Although spoken with humor, his answer hints at the letdown that often follows high attainment. When a goal is reached, the anticipation associated with it is gone.

Even though we experience letdowns in the Christian life, we never come to the place where there's no room for growth. The apostle Paul described himself as spiritually mature (Phil. 3:15), yet he also declared that he wasn't perfect (v.12). He was aiming for the goal of being like Christ in all of life's varied experiences, whether he was enjoying prosperity or enduring adversity. He knew that attaining the goal of Christ-likeness takes a lifetime.

Oh, to have that same restless contentment! Our soul's deepest longings are satisfied when we know Jesus as our Savior, but we must keep pressing on to know Him better and to become more like Him! That's the mark of a growing Christian. There's always room for advancement. --D J De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Room for improvement
is the largest room in the world.

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BUT I PRESS ON: dioko (1SPAI) de: (Phil 3:14; Ps 42:1; 63:1, 2, 3,8; 84:2; 94:15; Isa 51:1; Hos 6:3; 1Thes 5:15; 1Ti 5:10; 6:11; Heb 12:14; 1Pet 3:11, 12, 13)

It's difficult to go forward when you keep looking back. What is true physically, is even more true spiritually!

But - This marks a change of direction in the passage (see contrast).

Press on (1377) (dioko from dío = pursue, prosecute, persecute or pursue in good sense) means to follow or press hard after, pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain or go after with the desire of obtaining.

Dioko - 45x in 44v - Matt 5:10ff, 44; 10:23; 23:34; Luke 11:49; 17:23; 21:12; John 5:16; 15:20; Acts 7:52; 9:4f; 22:4, 7f; 26:11, 14f; Rom 9:30f; 12:13f; 14:19; 1 Cor 4:12; 14:1; 15:9; 2 Cor 4:9; Gal 1:13, 23; 4:29; 5:11; 6:12; Phil 3:6, 12, 14; 1 Thess 5:15; 1 Tim 6:11; 2 Tim 2:22; 3:12; Heb 12:14; 1 Pet 3:11; Rev 12:13. NAS = persecute(10), persecuted(13), persecuting(7), persecutor(1), practicing(1), press(2), pursue(7), pursuing(2), run after(1), seek after(1).

Dioko means to move quickly and energetically toward some objective and thus literally pictures vigorous activity. Paul's figurative use emphasizes the necessity for each of us (active voice = our choice, we are not puppets) to vigorously, uncompromisingly, continually as the habit of our life (dioko = present tense) work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Paul (who we are to imitate) continually exerts effort to forge ahead. He has in mind the image of a Greek runner streaking down the race course. He is keeping up the chase. He is pressing on toward a fixed goal. Paul pursued sanctification with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle to win the prize.

Paul's previous misdirected zeal and drive were now harnessed by the Holy Spirit to achieve the purpose for which God had taken hold of him.

In the spiritual life, direction makes all the difference. True believers aren’t in heaven yet, but they continually aim their steps in that direction.

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Keep Pressing On - Many years ago, a promising Greek artist named Timanthes was under the instruction of a well-known tutor. After several years, the young painter created an exquisite portrait. He was so thrilled with what he had painted that he sat day after day gazing at his work.

One morning, however, he was horrified to discover that his teacher had deliberately ruined his painting. Angry and in tears, Timanthes ran to him and asked why he had destroyed his cherished possession. The wise man replied, "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. It was an excellent piece of art, but it was not perfect. Start again and see if you can do even better." The student took his advice and produced a masterpiece called "Sacrifice of Iphigenia," regarded by some as one of the finest paintings of antiquity.

God never wants us to be content with our accomplishments. He wants us to reach even higher plateaus of service and Christ-likeness. Paul recognized this, for even though he was a godly man and accomplished much, he admitted that he still needed to advance in holiness (Phil. 3:12, 13, 14).

Child of God, don't be satisfied with your spiritual attainments. With His help, keep pressing on! --H G Bosch (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

When you've reached a plateau,
And your strength's almost gone,
But the Lord still says, "Go,"
That's the time to press on. --Hess

If you think you've arrived,
think again.

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Keep Pressing On - Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the challenges of living for Christ? You're not alone. Even Paul felt that way. In 2 Corinthians 1:8, he honestly admitted that the troubles he and Timothy endured in Asia had taxed them beyond measure, and they feared for their lives. But Paul said they learned this lesson: "We should not trust in ourselves but in God" (v.9).

In Philippians 3:12, 13, 14, Paul again wrote honestly about his Christian walk, admitting that he hadn't attained perfection: "I press toward the goal for the prize." He identified this lifelong pilgrimage as "the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Years ago, a group of Englishmen tried to conquer Mt. Everest. They pressed on against cold, wind, blizzards, and avalanches. When they came within 2,000 feet of the peak, they set up camp. Two men, Mallory and Irvine, eagerly pressed on, expecting to return in about 16 hours. They never came back. The official record said simply: "When last seen, they were heading toward the summit."

Whatever the obstacles, let's keep pressing on in the upward call of God, trusting in Him and not ourselves. At life's end, may it be said of us, "When last seen, they were heading toward the summit!" — Joanie Yoder (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

When the pathway seems long,
When temptation is strong,
When your strength's almost gone—
That's the time to press on. —Hess

When the pressure is on, press on!

IN ORDER THAT I MAY LAY HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH ALSO I WAS LAID HOLD OF BY CHRIST JESUS: de ei kai katalabo, (1SAAS) eph' o kai katelemphthen (1SAPI) hupo Christou [Iesou]: (Phil 3:14- note; 1Ti 6:12, Ps 110:2,3; Acts 9:3-6,15; Eph 1:4 -note; 2Th 2:13)

Literally this section reads

if also I may lay hold (katalambano) of that for which also I was laid hold (katalambano) of by the Christ Jesus

In order that - This phrase introduces a purpose. When you see similar phrases always take a moment and ask what purpose? why this purpose?, etc.

Laid hold of (2638) (katalambano [word study] from katá = down + lambáno = take) means to take eagerly; to seize, to possess or to attain. It can picture seizing one with a hostile intent. Here Paul uses it figuratively to describe taking a firm grasp to the point that it is it has been made one's possession. Paul wants to catch hold of it and pull it down, like a football player who not only wants to catch his man, but wants to bring him down and make him his own (and receive credit for the tackle!). Paul wants to appropriate and make his own that for which Christ caught Paul and made him His own. What was that? To be perfect as His heavenly Father is perfect. To be fully mature. It was Christlikeness that Paul was pursuing after. It is absolute Christlikeness that he says that he has not yet captured and pulled down so as to make his own.

Paul is going back to the Damascus Road, where, when he met Jesus Christ, he said, “Lord, what shall I do?” (cp Acts 22:10, 9:15, Eph 2:10-note) A message came to Paul through Ananias in a short time as to what the Lord wanted him to do. The Lord set Paul apart (saint = a set apart one) to be a minister to the Gentiles, to bear witness to His Name before Gentiles and before kings. It became Paul’s goal from that moment on to obedient to His Lord's commands. May his tribe increase!

Marvin Vincent comments that...

Paul’s meaning is, “I would grasp that for which Christ grasped me. Paul’s conversion was literally of the nature of a seizure. That for which Christ laid hold of him was indeed his mission to the Gentiles, but it was also his personal salvation, and it is of this that the context treats. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament. Vol. 3, Page 1-450)

C H Spurgeon gives an illustration of how we should go about laying hold of that for which we were laid hold of by Christ Jesus:

A neighbour near my study persists in practising upon the flute. He bores my ears as with an augur, and renders it almost an impossibility to think. Up and down the scale he remorselessly runs, until even the calamity of temporary deafness would almost be welcome to me. Yet he teaches me that I must practise if I would be perfect; must exercise myself unto godliness if I would be skilful; must, in fact, make myself familiar with the Word of God, with holy living, and saintly dying. Such practice, moreover, will be as charming as my neighbour’s flute is intolerable.

Olford writes that as Paul looks...

Looking back to that moment when Christ took hold of him on that Damascus road, he recalls the purpose of it all, namely, conformity to Christ. Ro 8:28, 29 (notes) states it this way: “We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Any doctrine of holiness which does not fulfill this purpose is un-Christian and unbiblical. (Olford, S. F. Vol. 2: Institutes of Biblical preaching)

Brethren (80) (adelphos from a = denoting unity + delphus = womb) means literally those derived from the same womb, in this case all the children of God, those who have been born from above. This seems to be added at this juncture to arrest the reader's attention and draw them into the "moment".

Expositor's Greek NT says

This direct appeal to them shows that he is approaching a matter which is of serious concern both to him and to them. (Ego emauton - "I...myself") Why such strong personal emphasis? Is it not a clear hint that there were people at Philippi who prided themselves on having grasped the prized of the Christian calling already?...he must assume the lowly position of one who is still a learner. (Ed: A good principle for all saints at all stages of spiritual maturity!).

Regard (3049) (logizomai from lógos = reason, word, account) means to reckon, compute, calculate, to take into account, to deliberate, and to weigh.  Logizomai refers to a process of careful study or reasoning which results in the arriving at a conclusion. Logizomai conveys the idea of calculating or estimating.

Paul uses it often to look back on the process of a discussion and calmly draw a conclusion. This is Paul's deliberately formed opinion.

Logizomai has the force of looking back upon the process of a discussion and calmly drawing a conclusion. Paul had after much deliberation and consideration arrived at the conclusions which he stated in verse twelve. Paul's conclusion does not represent a spur of the moment decision but the result of serious thought, especially "calculation" of eternal values, which parenthetically will always serve to keep the Christian "runner's" perspective rightly oriented.

AS HAVING LAID HOLD OF IT YET: kateilephenai (RAN):

Laid hold of (2638) (katalambano [word study] from katá = intensifies the meaning or preposition prefixed in its local force meaning “down.” + lambáno = take) means to take eagerly; to seize, to possess or to attain. It can picture seizing one with a hostile intent. Here Paul uses it figuratively to describe taking a firm grasp to the point that it is it has been made one's possession.

Paul's declaration seems to imply that some of the Philippian saints felt that they "had arrived".  They may have held to the erroneous teaching of sinless perfection. Paul is saying that he isn’t perfect yet and he knows it, an admission which should put an end to all speculation that believers can ever attain sinless perfection in this life. Paul doesn't hesitate to admit "I’m not there yet.”  So, beloved, if you think you've arrived spiritually you haven't!

Paul's use of perfect tense speaks of a past completed process with present results, and was his strong way of stating the fact that should settle the question. He himself had not completely grasped that for which the Lord Jesus had grasped him.

Muller writes that...

Just as a little child is a perfect human being, but still is far from perfect in all his development as man, so the true child of God is also perfect in all parts (Ed: positionally "made complete in Him", in Christ - Col 2:10-note), although not yet perfect in all the stages of his development in faith.

BUT ONE THING I DO: en (heis = one) de:

Literally without a verb the phrase is even more emphatic! - But one thing! Compare Jesus' words to Martha in Luke 10:42, context - Lk 10:38, 39, 40, 41 - the picture of Mary "listening" is vivid for Luke uses the imperfect tense. The picture is "over and over" she was listening. Jesus would say a word and like a "baby bird" she would "gobble" it up and be ready for His next word. Also the phrase "seated at His feet" presents a precious picture - the verb is parakathizo from para = beside + kathizo = sit down, settle, meaning to sit beside [para] and the entire phrase [pros tous podas ton Kurion] pictures Mary right in front of the feet of Jesus. A good place for all of to abide [compare Paul's "one thing"].

Vine writes that...

the words “but one thing” are almost exclamatory, and what follows is a summing up of the one great object in thought and act.

But (1161) (de) is a term of contrast. What is Paul contrasting?

Paul had not arrived, but that did not deter him, for here we see his contrasting attitude. Note first that "I do" is not in the original Greek text but has been added by the translators. The literal Greek reads “but one thing,” which dramatically sums up Paul's Christian conduct and purpose (cf Lk 9:62, Ps 27:4).

Paul was a man of single purpose.
Paul had one aim and one  ambition.

This single minded focus of Paul is like the Olympic runner who has but one goal in mind after the gun goes off. To excel in any area of life, a person must say, “This one thing...,” not “These 20 things.” Single-minded focus will win a great reward (1Cor 9:26-see discussion of 1Cor 9:26)

A fierce fighting for focus and concentration is implicit in Paul's declaration "One thing".

So many believers tend to feel they can try to walk the way of discipline while making daily excursions into "Egypt" to pick up a few "leeks" (cp Nu 11:5, remembering Jer 17:9 and 1Co 10:6, 11!). But the narrow way leading to fullness of life heads in one direction; i.e., the path Jesus trod. It is the course that we must take - one thing.

Before the tragedy of the Chicago fire in 1871, D. L. Moody was involved in Sunday School promotion, YMCA work, evangelistic meetings, and many other activities; but after the fire, he determined to devote himself exclusively to evangelism. "One thing I do" became a reality to him. As a result, millions of people subsequently heard the Gospel (A reasonable illustration of the truth of Ro 8:28-note).

Illustration - A child stood gazing at a freshly opened box of chocolate candies—lips pressed together, concentrating fully upon the decision at hand. The role was “Only one, no more than one, but any one you want.” Should it be the biggest one, or would the small round one be the favorite peppermint cream? Then again, the long one might last longer. Which to choose? And how to decide? Perhaps a child’s decisions seen trivial to us as adults. Oh, we recognize that they are important to the child, but we have a broader perspective. That is the question in making choices, isn’t it? To have an eternal perspective on life and its decisions is to know how to choose. (Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. 1982, 1985, 1989 by Michael P. Green Grand Rapids: Baker Book House)

Alexander Maclaren writing of the one thing I do says...

What a noble thing any life becomes that has driven through it the strength of a uniting single purpose, like a strong shaft of iron bolting together the two tottering walls, of some old building!

Spurgeon gives an illustration of a man intent on "this one thing"...

That was a grand action of old Jerome when he laid all his pressing engagements aside to achieve a purpose to which he felt a call from heaven. He had a large congregation — as large a one as any of us need want; but he said to his people, “Now, it is of necessity that the New Testament should be translated; you must find another preacher. The translation must be made; I am bound for the wilderness, and shall not return till my task is finished.” Away he went with his manuscripts, and prayed and labored, and produced a work — the Latin Vulgate — which will last as long as the world stands; on the whole, a most wonderful translation of Holy Scripture.

John Eadie writes regarding "this one thing" that...

The picture is that of a racer in his agony of struggle and hope. You see him! — every muscle strained and every vein starting — the quick and short heaving of his chest — the big drops gathered on his brow — his body bending forward, as if with frantic gesture he already clutched the goal — his eye, now glancing aside with a momentary sparkle at objects so rapidly disappearing behind him, and then fixing itself on the garland in eager anticipation. The apostle is not leaving, he is forgetting the things behind; he is not merely looking, he is reaching forth unto the things before; not only does he run, he presses toward the mark; nor was he occupied, weakened, or delayed by a variety of pursuits — “This one thing I do.”

Ray Pritchard gives the following illustration of a man with this one thing mindset writing...

One hundred years ago a young man from a wealthy family entered Yale University. His family intended that after completing his degree he would enter a suitable career in America. But God gripped his heart with the needs of China and he volunteered to go to that country with the gospel, much to the dismay of his family and friends. He left America but never made it to China, succumbing to a disease before reaching that distant shore. After his death, a note was found in his effects that summarized his life:

No reserve
No retreat
No regrets

Pastor Pritchard then adds "I wonder how many of us could say the same thing?'" (Go for the Gold)

Dr. Torrey M. Johnson, one of the founders of Youth for Christ said

Son, find that one thing you do that God blesses,
and stick with it!

This single minded focus is necessary if one is to be a great athlete. Totally focused people succeed in life. Click for more in depth discussion of the metaphor of the "Christian Athlete".

David prayed to Jehovah

Unite my heart to fear Thy Name (Ps 86:11)

Spurgeon (Ref) commenting on David's prayer for God to unite his heart writes...

"Having taught me one way, give me one heart to walk therein, for too often I feel a heart and a heart, two natures contending, two principles struggling for sovereignty. Our minds are apt to be divided between a variety of objects, like trickling streamlets which waste their force in a hundred runnels (rivulets or small streams); our great desire should be to have all our life floods poured into one channel and to have that channel directed towards the Lord Alone. A man of divided heart is weak, the man of one object is the man. God who created the bands of our nature can draw them together, tighten, strengthen, and fasten them, and so braced and inwardly knit by his uniting grace, we shall be powerful for good, but not otherwise. To fear God is both the beginning, the growth, and the maturity of wisdom, therefore should we be undividedly given up to it, heart, and soul."

James warned against double-mindedness writing...

the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-note; Jas 1:7, 8-note).

Paul's one focus was pursuing the prize in the next verse. John Macarthur's grandfather used to tell him

Just do one thing right in your life and you'll be way ahead of most people.

When your life has one driving compulsion and that is to be like Christ, you're moving in the right direction.

David Guzik writes that...

Paul was focused on one thing, and would not let those things which are behind distract him from it. The one thing was the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We often let those things which are behind distract us, whether they be "good" things or "bad" things, we may let them keep us from what God has in front of us. Satan wants us to live either in the past or in the future; God wants us to press on in the present, because the present is where eternity touches us now. Paul knows that a race is won only in the present, not in the past or in the future. (Notes)

Spurgeon observes that "This one thing I do," speaks...

as if he had given up all else, and addicted himself to one sole object - to aim to be like Jesus Christ. There were many other things Paul might have attempted, but he says, "this one thing I do." Probably Paul was a poor speaker: why did not he try to make himself a rhetorician? No; he came not with excellency of speech. But you tell me Paul was busy with his tentmaking I know he was; what with tent-making, preaching, and visiting, and watching night and day, he had more than enough to do, but all these were a part of his pursuit of the one thing, he was laboring perfectly to serve his Master, and to render himself up as a whole burnt-offering unto God.

Cultivate a passion for grace and
an intense longing after holiness

I invite every soul that has been saved by the precious blood of Christ, to gather up all its strength for this one thing, to cultivate a passion for grace, and an intense longing after holiness. Ah, if we could but serve God as God should be served, and be such manner of people as we ought to be in all holy conversation and godliness, we should see a new era in the church. The greatest want of the church at this day is holiness.

Why did Paul pursue holiness with such concentrated purpose? Because he felt God had called him to it. He aimed at the prize of his high calling. God had elected Paul to be a champion against sin. Selected to be Jehovah's champion, he felt that he must play the man. Moreover, it was "God in Christ Jesus" who the choice, and as the apostle looked up and saw the mild face of the Redeemer, and marked the thorn-crown of the King of Sorrows, he felt he must overcome sin, he could not let a single evil live within him; and, though he had not yet apprehended, yet he felt he must press forward till he had apprehended that to which God in Christ had called him.

Moreover, the apostle saw his crown, the crown of life that fadeth not away, hanging bright before his eyes. What, said he, shall tempt me from that path of which yon crown is the end? Let the golden apples be thrown in my way; I cannot even look at them, nor stay to spurn them with my feet. Let the sirens sing on either side, and seek to charm me with their evil beauty, to leave the holy road; but I must not, and I will not. Heaven! Heaven! Heaven! is not this enough to make a man dash forward in the road thither? The end is glorious, what if the running be laborious? When there is such a prize to be had, who will grudge a struggle? Paul pressed forward towards the mark for the prize of his high calling in Christ Jesus. He felt he was a saved man, and he meant through the same grace to be a holy man. He longed to grasp the crown, and hear the "Well done, good and faithful servant," which his Master would award him at the end of his course.

Brethren and sisters, I wish I could stir myself and stir you to a passionate longing after a gracious, consistent, godly life, yea, for an eminently, solidly, thoroughly devoted and consecrated life. You will grieve the Spirit if you walk inconsistently; you will dishonor the Lord that bought you; you will weaken the church; you will bring shame upon yourself. Even though you be "saved so as by fire," it will be an evil and a bitter thing to have in any measure departed from God.

But to be always going onward, to be never self-satisfied, to be always laboring to be better Christians, to be aiming at the rarest sanctity, this shall be your honored the church's comfort, and the glory of God. May the Lord help you to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Amen. (Philippians 3:13,14 Onward!)

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SINGLE-MINDEDNESS -  Vladimir Lenin was the fanatical architect of the former USSR. A colleague once said of him,

"Lenin thinks about nothing but revolution. He talks about nothing but revolution. He eats and drinks revolution. And if he dreams at night, he must dream about revolution."

No matter how much we deplore Lenin's fanaticism and all the evil that came from it, we must recognize that his single-minded passion not only helped him accomplish his goals but affected the entire course of history. What is our ruling passion? Is there some cause, some sport, some hobby, some project that fills us with enthusiasm, focuses our energies, and commands the untiring investment of our time and thought and money? In light of what God says has eternal significance, what value does our passion really possess? The apostle Paul expressed a worthy goal when he wrote,

"None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24, cp Acts 20:32). 

To know Jesus Christ, to trust Him, to love Him, and to serve Him--that is a passion with eternal value. --V C Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calv'ry my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading, and give Him my all. --Chisholm

Without a heart aflame for God,
we cannot shine for Jesus.

FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND: ta men opiso epilanthanomenos (PMPMSN): (Ps 45:10; Lk 9:62; 2 Cor 5:16; Heb 6:1 - note)

Focused concentration is clearly implied by the phrase "one thing", in context the result of first a negative action (forgetting) and then a positive one (reaching).

Forgetting (1950) (epilanthanomai from epí = in or upon - intensifies meaning of following verb + lantháno = lie hidden or concealed)  conveys 2 basic nuances in the NT, to forget (not recall information concerning something) or to neglect (give little attention to, to omit by carelessness or design).

The epi- preposition intensifies the meaning as noted and thus the idea is not just forgetting but "completely forgetting." The present tense indicates that this is to be the Spirit filled believer's continual exercise - forget and forget completely!

Paul makes a conscious (Spirit empowered) choice to not recall information concerning things in his past that would only encumber his running with endurance.

Paul uses an illustration of a Greek runner completely forgetting his opponents he is leading in a race (see Related Resource - Athletic Metaphor). Paul knew if the runner began to think of the men behind him, the pounding of their pace, his speed might slacken. So Paul presses home the lesson that when a child of God remembers his past failures, the things he should have done and failed to do, the things he did which he should not have done -- all of these have the potential to impede or hinder our forward progress in the Christian life. When a Christian has confessed and sought the gift of repentance and made things "right" with God and his fellow-man, the next step is to completely forget them.

As Wuest explains if we focus backward as those who are marching onward to Zion our...

onward progress is hindered should he dwell on the past full of failures and sins, full of heartaches and discouragements, full of disappointments and thwarted hopes and plans. As long as a Christian has made things right with God and man, he should completely forget the past. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)

Epilanthanomai is used 8 times in the NT and about 98 in the Septuagint (LXX) (Sept - note especially the uses in the Psalms which makes an interesting and sad study to see who and what was forgotten. Gen. 27:45; 40:23; 41:30, 51; Deut. 4:9, 23, 31; 6:12; 8:11, 14, 19; 9:7; 24:19; 25:19; 26:13; 31:21; 32:18; Jdg. 3:7; 1 Sam. 12:9; 2Ki. 17:38; Job 8:13; 9:27; 11:16; 19:14; 28:4; 39:15;

Ps. 9:12, 17, 18; 10:11, 12; 13:1; 31:12; 42:9; 44:17, 20, 24; 45:10; 50:22; 59:11; 74:19, 23; 77:9; 78:7, 11; 88:12; 102:4; 103:2; 106:13, 21; 119:16, 30, 61, 83, 93, 109, 139, 141, 153, 176; 137:5;

Pr. 2:17; 3:1; 4:5; 31:5, 7; Eccl. 2:16; 9:5; Isa. 23:16; 44:21; 49:14f; 51:13; 54:4; 65:11, 16; Jer. 2:32; 3:21; 13:25; 14:9; 18:15; 20:11; 23:27, 40; 30:14; 44:9; 50:5f; Lam. 2:6; 3:17; 5:20; Ezek. 22:12; 23:35; Hos. 2:13; 4:6; 8:14; 13:6; Amos 8:7)

Here are the 8 NT uses of epilanthanomai...

Matthew 16:5 And the disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.

Mark 8:14 And they had forgotten to take bread; and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.

Luke 12:6 "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? And yet not one of them is forgotten before God.

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Hebrews 6:10 (note) For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

Hebrews 13:2 (note) Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:16 (note) And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

James 1:24 (note) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
 

We may need to renew our minds and refresh our thinking on the nature of God's "memory" regarding our past confessed sins, failures, rebellious acts, etc. Take a moment and meditate prayerfully and thankfully on the truth in the following glorious Scriptures (and then beloved...press on):

"Who is a God like Thee, Who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant (refers to Jews who believe in Messiah - click for more on "the remnant") ) of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love (His motive for His unchanging forgiveness). He will again have compassion on us (the literal interpretation refers to the Jews who place their faith in Messiah, but the principle is applicable to all believers who confess and repent as are the other OT passages quoted below). He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19 ) (And all God's people shouted "Hallelujah!"

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

(King Hezekiah speaking in the days when he had become mortally ill and sought Jehovah) "Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness. It is Thou Who hast kept my soul from the pit of nothingness, for Thou hast cast all (how many?) my sins behind Thy back. (Isaiah 38:17)

"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43:25)

"If we walk in the light (which will expose darkness or unconfessed sins) as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1John 1:7) (See also the booklet The Forgiveness of God)

Forgetting is in the present tense indicating that he was continually forgetting. This was his pattern. Not perfection but direction is the idea! Forgetting is also in the middle voice which means that the "runner" initiates & participates in benefits thereof. Paul is saying in essence that to keep one's focus "Don't look back." How many times we've watched in dismay as a lead runner looks back over their shoulder only to get passed on the other side or to slow them just enough to allow the opponent to pass them by. Don't look back dear saint. Make a break with the past. Nothing is happening back there is relevant. Yes it's fine and biblical to make memorial stones of remembrance but avoid making the stumbling stones of past memories. To grow toward Christlikeness, face up to your failures, then focus on Christ for the future.

Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that...

Forgetting did not mean obliterating the memory of the past (Paul has just recalled some of these things in Php 3:5, 6, 7), but a conscious refusal to let them absorb his attention and impede his progress. He never allowed his Jewish heritage (Php 3:5, 6, 7) nor his previous Christian attainments (Php 3:9, 10, 11, 12) to obstruct his running of the race. No present attainment could lull him into thinking he already possessed all Christ desired for him. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)

Albert Barnes has a lengthy comment writing that...

There is an allusion here undoubtedly to the Grecian races. One running to secure the prize would not stop to look behind him to see how much ground he had run over, or who of his competitors had fallen or lingered in the way. He would keep his eye steadily on the prize, and strain every nerve that he might obtain it. If his attention was diverted for a moment from that, it would hinder his flight, and might be the means of his losing the crown. So the apostle says it was with him. He looked onward to the prize. He fixed the eye intently on that. It was the single object in his view, and he did not allow his mind to be diverted from that by anything--not even by the contemplation of the past. He did not stop to think of the difficulties which he had overcome, or the troubles which he had met, but he thought of what was yet to be accomplished. This does not mean that he would not have regarded a proper contemplation of the past life as useful and profitable for a Christian, (Ep 2:11-note) but that he would not allow any reference to the past to interfere with the one great effort to win the prize.

It may be, and is, profitable for a Christian to look over the past mercies of God to his soul, in order to awaken emotions of gratitude in the heart, and to think of his shortcomings and errors, to produce penitence and humility. But none of these things should be allowed, for one moment, to divert the mind from the purpose to win the incorruptible crown. And it may be remarked in general, that a Christian will make more rapid advances in piety by looking forward than by looking backward.

Forward, we see everything to cheer and animate us--the crown of victory, the joys of heaven, the society of the blessed-- the Saviour beckoning to us, and encouraging us.

Backward, we see everything to dishearten and to humble. Our own unfaithfulness; our coldness, deadness, and dullness; the little zeal and ardour which we have, all are fitted to humble and discourage.

He is the most cheerful Christian who looks onward, and who keeps heaven always in view. He who is accustomed much to dwell on fine past, though he may be a true Christian, will be likely to be melancholy and dispirited, to be a recluse rather than a warm-hearted and active friend of the Saviour. Or if he looks backward to contemplate what he has done--the space that he has run over --the difficulties which he has surmounted--and his own rapidity in the race, he will be likely to become self-complacent and self-satisfied. He will trust in his past endeavours, and feel that the prize is now secure, and will relax his future efforts. Let us, then, look onward. Let us not spend our time either in pondering the gloomy past, and our own unfaithfulness, or in thinking of what we have done, and thus becoming puffed up with self-complacency; but let us keep the eye steadily on the prize, and run the race as though we had just commenced it. (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary)

Illustration - Those inventive people, the Italians, have a custom. As midnight on New Year’s Eve approaches, the streets are dear. There is no traffic; there are no pedestrians; even the policemen take cover. Then, at the stroke of 12, the windows of the houses fly open. To the sound of laughter, music and fireworks, each member of the family pitches out old crockery, detested ornaments, hated furniture and a whole catalogue of personal possessions which remind them of something in the past year they are determined to wipe out of their minds” (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations).

Illustration - The Oriental shepherd was always ahead of his sheep. He was in front. Any attempt upon them had to take him into account. Now God is down in front. He is in the tomorrows. It is tomorrow that fills men with dread. But God is there already, and all tomorrows of our life have to pass Him before they can get to us (F B. Meyer, from 1000 New Illustrations by Al Bryant, Zondervan).

F W Robertson has an interesting thought on "forgetting" writing that...

It is not by regretting what is irreparable that true work is to be done, but by making the best of what we are. It is not by complaining that we have not the right tools, but by using well the tools we have. What we are, and where we are is God's providential arrange-ment—God's doing, though it may be man's misdoing. Life is a series of mistakes, and he is not the best Christian who makes the fewest false steps. He is the best who wins the most splendid victories by the retrieval of mistakes.

Stephen Olford writes that...

When Sir Winston Churchill visited the United States during World War II he was heard to say that “if the present quarrels with the past there can be no future.” The point he was making was that we have to accept the past as unalterable and move on from there. To stay and quarrel with it, or be preoccupied with it, is to ruin the future...

In one of his earlier diaries, David Livingstone penned these words: “I have found that I have no unusual endowments of intellect, but I this day resolved that I would be an uncommon Christian” (adapted from Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations)...

One of the subtle devices the Enemy uses to slow us up in our Christian life, is to keep us preoccupied with past failures or successes. If we are going to live lives of holiness and victory, we must forget all that is past; we must leave it behind. Paul had a stunning and, at the same time, deplorable past, but he realized that if he were preoccupied with his past, he would not be able to give his full energy to his present calling. (Olford, S. F. Vol. 2: Institutes of Biblical preaching)

Dwight Pentecost comments on forgetting writing that...

Paul has left behind him across the Roman world a string of established churches shining as lights in the darkness. The Roman world has the light of the Gospel through these believers, who stretch from Jerusalem all the way westward to Spain. Paul could become complacent, feeling his work is done because of the churches that have been established. Paul could look at that which he has suffered and conclude that he has suffered enough. The saints would agree with him. Over and over again companies of saints waited upon the Apostle Paul as he journeyed toward Jerusalem and urged him not to go to Jerusalem because they knew it would involve physical suffering. But Paul pressed on. Paul could look back on everything he has experienced and say, “It is enough. I will withdraw from the race.” But Paul says, “I must forget the things that are behind.” Sometimes the blessing of God could lull us into complacency and indifference. We feel that we have earned our right to take our ease and to turn over to others the running of the race. We view ourselves as competitors in a mile relay, in which we are called upon to run a part of the distance and then turn the baton over to someone else and let him continue. Paul’s concept is that he is in the race until the Lord Jesus Christ brings him to Himself. Then and only then will the goal be reached. We must beware lest accomplishments and blessings cause us to withdraw from the race.

It is also true that, if we are to reach the goal, we must forget failures that may be in the past. Failures can discourage. We start out to run and then trip and fall, and so we give up. We conclude we are not cut out for the race and are content to let someone else run. Failures can bring preoccupation with self just as much as blessings or attainments can. Preoccupation with self can bring discouragement that would cause us to retire before the race is finished. The apostle says, “I must forget those things that are behind.” (Pentecost, J. D. . The joy of living : A study of Philippians. Page 149. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications)

C H Spurgeon (in the Biblical Illustrator) explains that by saying forgetting Paul...

1. Does not mean —

(a) That He forgot the mercy of God he had enjoyed.

(b) That he forgot the sins he had committed.

2. We must follow out his figure. If a racer were to pass most of his fellows, and then look round and rejoice over the distance covered he must lose the race. His only hope is to forget all behind.

(a) So must it be with past sins overcome. Perhaps at this moment you can honestly say, “I have overcome a fierce temper,” “I have bestirred a naturally indolent spirit.” Stop long enough to say, “Thank God for that”; but do not pause to congratulate yourselves, or it may be soon undone. The easiest way to give resurrection to old corruptions is to erect a trophy over their graves. Yonder friend is very humble, but if he were to boast of it there would be an end of it.

(b) So with all the work we have done. Some people have good memories as to their performances. They used to serve God wonderfully when they were young. In middle life they wrought marvels, but now they rest on their oars. As long as you are in the world forget what you have done, and go forward — individuals, churches, denominations. (Bolding added)

In his painting "An Allegory of Prudence," the 16th-century Venetian artist Titian portrayed Prudence as a man with three heads. One head was of a youth facing the future, another of a mature man eyeing the present, and the third, a wise old man gazing at the past. Over their heads Titian wrote a Latin phrase that means, "From the example of the past, the man of the present acts prudently so as not to imperil the future." We need that kind of wisdom to overcome the anxiety created by our past failures and the fear of repeating them in the future--an anxiety that can keep us from enjoying life to the fullest right now. Never let a bleak past cloud our bright future which is grounded in Christ Jesus. (adapted from Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

The well-known preacher Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) speaking of the beginning of a new year declared:

"We have passed through one more year. One more long stage in the journey of life, with its ascents and descents and dust and mud and rocks and thorns and burdens that wear the shoulders, is done. The old year is dead. Roll it away. Let it go. God, in His providence, has brought us out of it. It is gone; . . . its evil is gone; its good remains. The evil has perished, and the good survives."

Alexander Maclaren has an interesting view of what to "forget" writing that...

You find some certain type of Christian character, or exercise of Christian grace, that is easy and natural to you, and you come to know how to do it. It becomes your special habit, which is all right, but it also tends to become your limit, which is wrong. Habits are like fences, very good to guard the soul from sudden incursions of trespassers, but very bad when the trunk has grown up and presses against their stubborn rings. And many of us simply keep on doing the narrow round of things that we fancy we can do well, or have always been in the way of doing, like barrel organs, grinding our poor little set of tunes, without any notion of the great sea of music that stretches all round about us, and which is not pegged out upon our cylinders at all.

This is what Paul is saying believers are to do. Those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior can let go of the past and move ahead with assurance because Jesus provides forgiveness and hope. Having confessed our sins, we can confidently press on into the future.  Remembering God's faithfulness and forgetting past mistakes can make pressing on a time of joyous anticipation.

Look not back on yesterday
So full of failure and regret;
Look ahead and seek God's way–
All sin confessed you must forget. –DJD

Never let a dark past
cloud a bright future.
 

Behind (3694) (opiso from opis = a looking back) means backwards and can apply to place and time. 

What are “the things which are behind”?  What is Paul referring to? In short, everything that is passing away, everything that when "struck" lacks to ring of eternity, the "good" things, the great human achievements (eg those "religious" achievements Paul described earlier in this chapter), the virtuous deeds, etc. In short all those things the world seeks after and so futilely cling to as if these things give their lives temporal and eternal meaning, purpose and significance. What is it that is in your grip and God has been gently "prying" your fingers so that you might release it?

What else? Forget the bad things too - the sins, the failures, the disasters. Why? Because it has nothing to do with our glorious future. Now Paul is not saying that if we have unresolved conflicts, broken relationships, unconfessed sins, etc, that we should not deal with them! That is not his point. In fact take a moment and pray Psalm 139:23,24 (noting carefully there are six commands!) and then do business with God...

Search (a command - yes, God is inviting us and privileging us to "command" Him!) me, O God, and know (also a command) my heart (the secret place of my life). Try (a command) me and know (also a command) my anxious (word study) thoughts; and see (a command) if there be any hurtful (wicked) way in me, and lead (a command) me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24) (See Spurgeon's note v23; Verse 24)

Paul's point is that on one hand the saint cannot live on past victories. On the other hand, he or she should never be debilitated by past (confessed) sins. And yet so many believers are so distracted by the past that they are weighed down and encumbered to the point that they can barely run for the future (see note on lay aside every encumbrance Hebrews 12:1). Paul is saying that the saint who would run to win must completely forget those things which encumber. Picture for a moment , a runner moving forward and at the same time looking backward! It is not an effective way to run for the goal ("gold") beloved! Let us all run that when we break the tape we hear the Judge say "Well, done." Why "well done"? Because we have been faithful (in the "big and small" things).

The runner who takes his eyes off the goal is in danger of losing direction and motivation. He or she must not be distracted by the crowds cheers or their jeers and must not let other runners distract them from the course and the focus...one thing. And so...When the devil brings up your past, remind yourself of your future!

W P Insley (The Biblical Illustrator)  sums up Christian progress:
 

I. THE THINGS BEHIND WHICH ARE TO BE FORGOTTEN.

1. Past sinful pleasures.
2. Past evil acquaintances.
3. Past good works.

II. THE THINGS BEFORE.

1. Increased holiness.
2. The prize of eternal glory.

Grantland Rice gives an interesting illustration of forgetting (in The Tumult and the Shouting) writing that...

Because golf expresses the flaws of the human swing—a basically simple maneuver—it causes more self-torture than any game short of Russian roulette. The quicker the average golfer can forget the shot he has dubbed or knocked off line—and concentrate on the next shot—the sooner he begins to improve and enjoy golf. Little good comes from brooding about the mistakes we've made. The next shot, in golf or in life, is the big one.

Paul is giving essentially the same advice in this verse, emphasizing that the key to forward movement in the Christian race is to set our eyes on the goal and keep looking ahead, because when we look back to our past sin, we open the door to discouragement. What do you do when the past begins to "slow you down"? When past sin gets you down, when you find yourself brooding about it, or when you become discouraged because of a specific failure, if you've not yet done so, then confess it to God (He already knows and is waiting to hear you humble yourself and accept responsibility), claim His complete, "no strings attached" forgiveness, and put it behind. In our race toward the goal of every increasing Christlikeness, as in golf, the next shot is the big one. And as a corollary, it's always too soon to quit.

Steven Cole says that in regard to our attitude toward past events, sins, failures, etc, we should just "Leave them where they are "In the past." Pastor Cole notes that

the picture is of a runner who does not make the mistake of looking over his shoulder. His eyes are fixed on the goal. If he made mistakes earlier in the race, he doesn’t kick himself by replaying them in his mind. If he did well, he doesn’t gloat about it. He leaves the past behind and keeps moving on toward the finish line.

Many Christians today are being told that to experience healing from their difficult pasts, they need to delve into their pasts and relive the hurtful things that happened to them. This approach has come into the church from the world, not from the Word. It would be wrong to say that verse 13 is all that the Bible says about the past. Even earlier in the chapter, Paul has mentioned his own past life in Judaism.

It can be helpful to reflect on what happened to us in the past in order to understand where we’re at in the present and where we need to grow. There is a biblical case for self examination, which means evaluating things that have happened in the past, both good and bad, as a means of growing now. But our text shows that there needs to be a balance. Paul means here that we should not be controlled by the past. Someone has used the analogy of a car’s rear view mirror. You don’t drive by looking in the mirror. You drive by looking ahead out of the windshield. But it’s helpful to take occasional glances in your mirror and use the information to make decisions about how to drive safely in the present and future. But if you spend too much time looking in your mirror, you’ll probably crash because you’re not paying attention to the present. In the same way, we need to take periodic glances backward, but we also need to put the past (good and bad) behind us, accept God’s grace and enabling for the present, and move on with what He is calling us to do now. (Philippians 3:12-16 Christian Growth Process)

Theodore Epp writes the following advice on Dealing With Your Past...

We can do nothing about the past except make necessary confession. And when confession is made, the Bible promises: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

By confession, sin is placed under the cleansing blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and when it is under the blood, it does not condemn any longer.

Unless the past is dealt with, one is not prepared to live in the present nor to go on into the future. Unless the past is dealt with, it becomes a haunting memory that saps the strength of the believer so he is unable to honor Christ in his daily life.

What God does with sin when it is confessed is explained in various passages. Isaiah 44:22 says,

I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you (NASB).

Hebrews 8:12 (note) says

FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE" (NASB)

Someone has said,

The present must forget the past by correction, or else the past will become a moral and spiritual liability for the future.

Consider some items that need to be forgotten: failures--they keep our faith from advancing; successes--they create pride (see Pr 16:18); losses--they drag us down so we cannot serve the Lord the way we should; grievances--they produce false attitudes (see 1Cor 13:6); sorrows--God can heal all heartaches; discouragements--we need to remember Christ, not disappointments, thwarted hopes and plans.

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more (He 10:17-note) (Back to the Bible) (Copyright Back to the Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved)

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Seeing Or Remembering - There's a story about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After an examination, the doctor said that an operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve might be severed, causing total blindness.

"What would you rather have," asked the surgeon, "your sight or your memory?"

The man pondered the question for a few moments and then replied,

"My sight, because I would rather see where I am going than remember where I have been."

In Philippians 3 the apostle Paul made the same choice spiritually. His past, with its success and its shame, he chose to forget. What mattered to him most was keeping his eyes on the goal of gaining Christ's approval. That kind of mindset is one sure mark of Christian maturity. It's what God is working to develop in our lives (Phil. 3:13-15). We can't forget our past, of course, but we don't have to live in it. Any good we may have done is from God, so we can only be thankful. When we confess our sins, they are buried in the deepest sea. Let's not keep dredging them up.

What do you choose? To see or to remember? --D J De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Onward and upward your course plan today,
Seeking new heights as you walk Jesus' way;
Heed not past failures, but strive for the prize,
Aiming for goals fit for His holy eyes. --Brandt

If you keep looking back,
you can't make spiritual progress.

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A Time To Forget - The end of one year and the dawning of a new one provides an excellent opportunity to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start. The well-known preacher Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) said: "We have passed through one more year. One more long stage in the journey of life, with its ascents and descents and dust and mud and rocks and thorns and burdens that wear the shoulders, is done. The old year is dead. Roll it away. Let it go. God, in His providence, has brought us out of it. It is gone; . . . its evil is gone; its good remains. The evil has perished, and the good survives."

Those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior can let go of the past and move ahead with assurance because Jesus provides forgiveness and hope. Having confessed their sin, "forgetting those things which are behind," they can confidently face the future, "reaching forward to those things which are ahead" (Phil. 3:13). Remembering God's faithfulness and forgetting past mistakes will make entering the new year a time of joyous anticipation.

Yes, we can leave the sins and failures of this past year behind us, accept His forgiveness, and press on to higher ground. As far as our shortcomings are concerned, we can make the beginning of the new year a time to forget. — Richard De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Look not back on yesterday
So full of failure and regret;
Look ahead and seek God's way—
All sin confessed you must forget. —DJD

Never let a dark past cloud a bright future.

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Look Back Or Ahead? -  The great American baseball player Satchel Paige once said in jest, "Don't look back—something may be gaining on you." In contrast, George Santayana, a Spanish thinker and writer, noted in 1905, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

So which is it? Do we move on, never looking back, or do we dwell on our past errors to avoid making them again?

Scripture seems to indicate that we should do a little of both. We do need to think back on our lives and learn from our mistakes. That's part of the process when we confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness. We need to think about our disobedience long enough to seek God's mercy and then choose to "go and sin no more" (John 8:11). Forgiveness is God's way of clearing the slate, but it's our responsibility to depend on the strength of the Holy Spirit who lives within us to avoid repeating the errors of the past. The apostle Paul, for example, acknowledged his past mistakes, drew upon God's mercy, and then focused on becoming more like Christ (Philippians 3:13,14).

So, is it best for us to look back or to look ahead? We would be wise to do a little of both: We need to look back for forgiveness, then look ahead to make progress. — Dave Branon (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

More like the Master I would live and grow,
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be. —Gabriel

To grow spiritually, face up to your failures,
then focus on Christ for the future.

AND REACHING FORWARD: tois de emprosthen epekteinomenos (PMPMSN): (Php 2:12 - note; Ro 15:23-29 - note; 1Co 9:24, 25, 26, 27 - note; Heb 12:1,2  - note)

Reaching forward (1901) (epekteino from epi = into, upon + ekteino = to extend, stretch out <> ek = out + teino = to stretch) means literally to overextend oneself. Epekteino found only here in all of Scripture means to stretch one's muscles to their limit, attempting energetically to attain a state or condition. This verb was used to describe a runner who stretches out his neck and whose “eye outstrips and draws onward the hand, and the hand the foot.” (Wuest)

Eadie notes that epekteino present a vivid image of...

the keen attitude of the racer stretching his body out = ek and toward epi = the goal.

The present tense describes this "overextending" as Paul's habitual practice and calls for this to also be our lifelong attitude. The apostle is in a race and he is sparing nothing. Every fiber of his body, every bit of strength that he can draw from a breath of air is being put into the pursuit of a goal.

Expositor's Bible Commentary describes this as...

the relentless centering of his energies and interests on the course that is ahead of him. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary 6-Volume New Testament. Zondervan Publishing)

The picture is of a foot race, in which the runner's head, shoulders and chest are bent forward and his eye fixed upon the goal, the tape at the end of the race so as to be the first one across the goal. Often a race is decided by a fraction of an inch, and the runner who is able to throw himself across the finish line by extending himself may be crowned the victor.

Paul is calling for an extreme effort, stretching one's self to the limit.

How are you doing? Do you have the focused attention that Paul is describing in your spiritual race? Or to ask it another way - What is your primary focus in life? What drives you? Where do you invest your time and energy and talent?

See related expositions...

Running with endurance the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1)
Fixing our eyes steadfastly on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2)

Alexander Maclaren explains Paul's figure of "reaching forward", writing that...

The idea is that of a man stretching himself out towards something as a runner does, with his body straining forward, the hand and the eye drawn onward towards the goal. He does not think of the furlongs that he has passed, he heeds not the nature of the ground over which he runs. The sharp stones in the path do not stay him, nor the flowerets in the grass catch his glance. The white faces of the crowd around the course are seen as in a flash as he rushes past them to the winning post, and the parsley garland that hangs there is all that he is conscious of. “They do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.” Let us, with eye and hand flung forward, “stretch out towards the things that are before,” and imitate that example — not in the fierce whirl of excitement, indeed, but in fixed regard to, and concentrated desire of, the mark and the prize.

Spurgeon asks in regard to reaching forward...

Does he not here give us the picture of a runner? He reaches forth. The man, as he speeds, throws himself forward, almost out of the perpendicular. His eye is at the goal already. His hand is far in advance of his feet, the whole body is leaning forward; he runs as though he would project himself to the end of the journey before his legs can carry him there. That is how the Christian should be; always throwing himself forward alter something more than he has yet reached, not satisfied with the rate at which he advances, his soul always going at twenty times the pace of the flesh. John Bunyan gives us a little parable of the man on horseback. He is bidden by his master to ride in a hurry to fetch the physician. But the horse is a sorry jade. "Well," saith Bunyan, "but if his master sees that the man on the horse's back is whipping and spurring, and pulling the bridle, and struggling with all his might, he judges that the man would go if he could." That is how the Christian should always be, not only as devout, earnest, and useful as he can be, but panting to be a great deal more so, spurting this old flesh and striving against this laggard spirit if perchance he can do more. Brethren, we ought to be reaching forward to be like Jesus. Never may we say, "I am like so-and-so, and that is enough." Am I like Jesus, perfectly like Jesus? If not, away, away, away from everything I am or have been; I cannot rest until I am like my Lord. The aim of the Christian is to be perfect: if he seeks to be anything less than perfect, he aims at an object lower than that which God has placed before him. To master every sin, and to have and possess and exhibit every virtue, - this is the Christian's ambition. He who would be a great artist must not follow low models. The artist must have a perfect model to copy; if he does not reach to it, he will reach far further than if he had an inferior model to work by. When a man once realises his own ideal, it is all over with him. A great painter once had finished a picture, and he said to his wife with tears in his eyes, "It is all over with me, I shall never paint again, I am a ruined man." She enquired, "Why?" "Because," he says, "that painting contents and satisfies me; it realises my idea of what painting ought to be, and therefore I am sure my power is gone, for that power lies in having ideals which I cannot reach, something yet beyond me which I am striving after." May none of us ever say, "I have reached my ideal, now I am what I ought to be, there is nothing beyond me." Perfection, brethren, absolute perfection, may God help us to strive after it! That is the model, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." "Shall we ever reach it?" says one. Thousands and millions have reached it, there they are before the throne of God, their robes are washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, and we shall possess the same, only let us be struggling after it by God's good help. Let every believer be striving, that in the details of common life, in every thought, in every word, in every action, he may glorify God. This ought to be our object; if we do not reach it, it is that which we must press for, - that from morning light to evening shade we shall live unto God. Whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we should do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. This is what we are to seek after, praying always in the Holy Ghost to be sanctified wholly, spirit, soul, and body. "It is a wonderfully high standard," says one. Would you like me to lower it, brother? I should be very sorry to have it lowered for myself. If the highest degree of holiness were denied to any one of us, it would be a heavy calamity. Is it not the joy of a Christian to be perfectly like his Lord? Who would wish to stop short of it? To be obliged to live under the power of even the least sin for ever, would be a horrible thing! No, we never can be content short of perfection; we will reach forward towards that which is before. (Philippians 3:13,14 Onward!)

Dwight Pentecost tells the following story illustrating the picture Paul is painting for us...

When I was in London, I found my way to several of the art museums and galleries of that city. I wanted to see some of the famous paintings I had become familiar with through books of art. It was a delightful experience to walk through those corridors. I was particularly struck with one painting. Two chariots were racing at breakneck speed. Their wheels were just a blur of motion. The charioteers, with whip in hand, were lashing their horses to the expenditure of every ounce of energy they had. Intensity was written in their eyes, in their faces, in the set of their bodies. The horses were straining themselves, it seemed, to the point of collapse. Their eyes wild, their nostrils distended, they gulped great breaths of air as they pressed toward the goal. With the goal before them, they were giving themselves unreservedly to the race. Those who had not so extended themselves had been left behind and were an insignificant part of the background of the painting. The attention of the viewer was focused upon the two charioteers who strained toward the goal. (Pentecost, J. D. The Joy of living: A study of Philippians. Page 144. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications)

Adam Clarke has an interesting quote...

When it was said to Diogenes, the cynic, "Thou art now an old man, rest from thy labours;" to this he answered: "If I have run long in the race, will it become me to slacken my pace when come near the end; should I not rather stretch forward?" Diog. Laert., lib. vi. cap. 2. sec. 6.

Stephen Olford writes...

 Most people are afraid of the future. Uncertainty and insecurity about the days that lie ahead fill the heart with fear and foreboding. But for the Christian, there need be no fear. In the language of the old hymn, he can say with Edward H. Bickersteth:

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.
(Play Hymn)

There is nothing that can ever happen which is not already foreknown and included within the permissive will of God. There is a sense that through trust in the living God we can foresee the things which are before us. The eventualities of life need neither terrify nor disturb us. (Olford, S. F. (2002). Vol. 2: Institutes of Biblical preaching: Volume two)

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This devotional illustrates the importance of not looking back but instead continually looking forward - Winning the Race - On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister became the first man in history to run a mile in less than 4 minutes. Within 2 months, John Landy eclipsed the record by 1.4 seconds. On August 7, 1954, the two met together for a historic race. As they moved into the last lap, Landy held the lead. It looked as if he would win, but as he neared the finish he was haunted by the question, "Where is Bannister?" As he turned to look, Bannister took the lead. Landy later told a Time magazine reporter, "If I hadn't looked back, I would have won!"

One of the most descriptive pictures of the Christian life in the Bible is of an athlete competing in a race. 1Cor 9:24-27 (note) tells us that discipline is the key to winning. In Heb 12:1, 2 (notes - 12:1, 12:2)  we are encouraged to lay aside anything that might hinder our spiritual advancement and to stay focused on Christ. And in Philippians 3:12, 13, the apostle Paul said,

"I press on...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."

Lord, give us endurance as we run this race of life. Help us not to wallow in past failures, but to be disciplined and to shun sinful ways. May we fix our eyes on the eternal goal set before us and keep looking unto Jesus. -H G Bosch (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Run the straight race through God's good grace,
Lift up thine eyes and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the path and Christ the prize. -Monsell

You can't make spiritual progress
by looking back.

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TO WHAT LIES AHEAD: tois de emprosthen:

Literally "the things before"

What lies ahead (1715) (tois...emprosthen from en = in, + prósthen = in front of, before) refers to the things that are before or in front of, or ahead of us.

In his painting "An Allegory of Prudence," the 16th-century Venetian artist Titian portrayed Prudence as a man with three heads. One head was of a youth facing the future, another of a mature man eyeing the present, and the third, a wise old man gazing at the past. Over their heads Titian wrote a Latin phrase that means,

"From the example of the past, the man of the present acts prudently so as not to imperil the future."

We need that kind of wisdom to overcome the anxiety created by our past failures and the fear of repeating them in the future--an anxiety that can keep us from enjoying life to the fullest right now. Paul was able to "forget" his past and anticipate his future. This doesn't mean that his memory was erased, but it does mean that because God had forgiven him, Paul had a clean conscience and was free of any guilt or pride he may have felt from his past. As he lived in daily fellowship with Christ, trials became God's tools to gradually chisel him into conformity to Christ Jesus his Lord. Thus Paul's driving passion was to know Christ better. As we close the chapter of each year of our life, let's rededicate ourselves (not legalistically but under grace and in complete dependence on His Spirit) to follow Paul's example. The Spirit of Christ will enable us to live fully in the present as we gain wisdom from the past and face the future with courage. Refuse to let a bleak past cloud your bright future (see notes regarding exulting in our hope and in tribulations in Ro 5:2, 3 (notes = Ro 5:2 ; 5:3)

David Guzik writes...

Because Paul realizes that he has not "arrived," there is only one option open for him. He must press on. There is no turning back for Him.

When Spain led the world (in the 15th century), their coins reflected their national arrogance and were inscribed Ne Plus Ultra which meant "Nothing Further" - meaning that Spain was the ultimate in all the world. After the discovery of the New World, they realized that they were not the "end of the world" - they changed the inscription on their coinage to Plus Ultra - meaning "More Beyond."

Which motto better expresses your Christian life - "Nothing Further" or "More Beyond"?

This is where child-like faith meets real maturity. A child can't wait to be bigger, and always wants to be more mature. Paul has put his hand to the plow and will not look back (Luke 9:62). (Notes)

Tozer rightly observes that in the Christian life...

The normal Bible direction is not backward, it is always forward. Jacob returned to the altar, but in doing so he did not go back, he went forward. The Prodigal Son did not say, "I will go back"; he said, "I will arise and go to my father."

From where he was, going to his father's house was a forward step in his moral activities. It represented no retreat, but a distinct advance over his previous conduct.

The will of God is always the proper goal for every one of us. Where God is must be the place of desire. Any motion toward God is a forward motion. Even repentance is not a retreat toward the past but a decided march into a more glorious future. Restitution is not a return to yesterday but a step into a blessed tomorrow....

If we find that we have gone back, then we should immediately reverse the direction and again go forward. (The Next Chapter After the Last)

C H Spurgeon writes that...

Paul having put the past and present in their proper places goes on to the FUTURE, ASPIRING EAGERLY TO MAKE IT GLORIOUS. We ought to be reaching forward, to be like Jesus. He who would be a great artist must not follow low models. (see note Hebrews 12:2) “Be ye perfect.” Shall we ever reach it. Millions have who are before the throne, and we shall too by God’s good help.

PUTTING FORTH ALL HIS EXERTIONS TO REACH THAT WHICH HE DESIRES.

1. “This one thing I do.” He might have attempted other things, and did, but all with reference to this one purpose.

2. Why? Because he felt God had called him to it.

3. Moreover he saw the crown.

Alexander Maclaren writes...

I. First, we may take this as the advice commended to us in the example here taught us: Live in the future.

Our highest condition in this world is not the attainment of perfection, but the recognition of heights above us which are as yet unreached. From generation to generation, for the individual and the species, the condition of our progress is a distance beckoning us, and a feeling that we have not already attained, neither are already perfect.

II. Let the bright, certain, infinite future dwarf for us the narrow and stained past: "forgetting the things that are behind."

(1) Forget past failures; they are apt to weaken you.

(2) Be sure to forget past attainments; they are apt to become food for complacency, for every vain confidence.

(3) Forget your past circumstances, whether they be sorrows or joys; the one are not without remedy, the other not perfect. "Forget the things that are behind."

III. Let hopes for the future and lessons from the past alike lead to strenuous work in the present.

"This one thing I do." Be the past what it may, be the future what it may, I know that I cannot reach the one nor forget the other, except by setting myself with all my might and main to present duties, and by reducing all duties to various forms of one great life-purpose. Concentration of all our strength on a single aim, and that aim pursued through all our days, with their varying occupations—what a grand ideal of life that is! We shall work hard and heartily at various tasks, and yet the good part shall not be taken away from us by outward activity, any more than our possession of it will sequester us from vigorous service of God and man. (Living in the Future)

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What Is My Purpose? -  In Daniel Schaeffer's book on Esther, Dancing With A Shadow, he summarizes with a single sentence the lives of each of the main characters in that wonderful Old Testament book. For Ahasuerus, the powerful warrior king of Persia, it was: "Success in life is all in the planning." For the faithful Mordecai: "The price of obedience is never too high." And for Queen Esther: "What I am is more important than what I have." She proved it when she risked her crown (and life) to intercede with Ahasuerus on her people's behalf.

I was discussing these one-line descriptions with some co-workers who were also reading Schaeffer's book. Someone wondered how we might summarize in a single statement our purpose for living. One woman candidly admitted, "My only goal in life is to catch up." Sound familiar? For others it might be, "To have as little trouble in life as I can." Or you may say with Haman, "You can never have too much."

But as followers of Jesus Christ, we should be able to say with the apostle Paul,

"One thing I do, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Php 3:13-14).

Is that the purpose of your life? --D C Egner (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Do you pursue a life of wealth and fame?
A mocking epitaph is all you'll claim;
Let God replace your vain and selfish aim
With lasting goals that glorify His name. --Gustafson

We fulfill our purpose
when we serve our Creator

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In his devotional "Our Daily Walk" F B Meyer has this devotional on Philippians 3:13-14, entitled "The Christian Ideal":