Philippians 3:12-21

Last week, Paul reminded us to rejoice in the Lord (don’t always make being a Christian so difficult). To also worship God in the Spirit and have no confidence in the flesh. For we must choose Christ over all things, because our righteousness can only come from God, through faith in Christ.

Philippians 3:12 I haven’t attained perfection, but I march forward to possess the perfection that first possessed me, in Jesus Christ!
v13-14 For I (Paul), do not think that I “have arrived at perfection,” but the one thing I DO, forgetting the past and pressing toward the prize (or goal) of the high calling of Jesus Christ!
v15 Let us be mature and have this same mindset. God will reveal it to you, if you think differently.
v16 To the degree of your understanding, walk by this rule (mentioned in v13-14) and have the same mind-set as Paul.
v17 Follow my example in this thinking and doing.
v18-19 Many walk, whose end is destruction, whose glory is in pleasing themselves. Their glory is their shame, for they are minded of earthly things.
v20-21 Our citizenship is in heaven and we wait for the return of our savior Jesus Christ. He will transform our earthly bodies into His heavenly body. He will use the same power to accomplish this as He will use to subdue all things.

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,[b] let us be of the same mind.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

• We must realize we are not perfect, yet we yearn for perfection in Christ Jesus.
• Forget the past, you are all ready forgiven!
• Striving for the mark, the calling of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• We must have this mindset, for there are those who seek to please themselves (though they appear to be Christians), whose end is destruction because they only consider earthly things.
• Our citizenship is in heaven and we will be conformed to His image.