Gaining Christ By Pursuing Him
GAINING CHRIST BY PURSUING HIM
Scripture Reading: Phil. 3:12-14
NOT YET PERFECTED, BUT PURSUING
In Philippians 3:7-11 Paul gives us the way to experience Christ. In verses 12 through 14 Paul applies to himself the things presented in verses 7 through 11. In verse 12 he says, "Not that I have already obtained or am already per fected, but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus." The Greek word rendered "perfected" also means completed or matured in life. Paul's meaning here is that he was still growing, for he did not regard himself as one who had reached maturity. If Paul needed to say that he had not already obtained or was not already perfected, even though he had so much growth in life and so much experience of Christ, how much more should we have such an attitude about ourselves!
In verse 12 Paul says, "I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid