The Goal Of God’S Heavenly Calling
THE GOAL OF GOD'S HEAVENLY CALLING
In Philippians 3:10-14 Paul emphasizes the out-resurrection. Verse 11 says, "If by any means I may attain to the out-resurrection from among the dead." Paul's endeavor was to attain to this outstanding resurrection. In verse 12 he goes on to say, "Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if also I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus." Here Paul admits that he had not yet attained the out-resurrection, but he continued to pursue that he might lay hold of it. For this out-resurrection, Christ had laid hold of him, and now Paul's desire was to lay hold of the out-resurrection. The purpose of Christ in laying hold of him was that he might obtain the out-resurrection. Hence, in verses 11 and 12 the out-resurrection is Paul's goal, the object of his pursuit.
In verses 13 and 14 Paul continues, "Brothers, I do not yet reckon myself to have laid hold, but one thing—forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are