Philippians 3:12-21 - Reaching Forward To God's Goal

¹² [It is] not that I have already arrived at the goal [of spiritual maturity], or have already been made perfectly [righteous], but I am pushing onward in order to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for [i.e., to receive all that Christ intended for me]. ¹³ Brothers, I consider that I, myself, have not yet taken hold [of Christ's ultimate purpose for me]. But there is one thing that I am doing; I am forgetting about my past [See verses 5-7], and reaching forward to what lies ahead. ¹⁴ I am pushing onward toward the goal for the prize of the upward call [i.e., to heaven] from God in [fellowship with] Christ. ¹⁵ So, all of us who are mature [Christians] should think this way. And if you people think differently about anything, God will reveal that to you also. ¹⁶ So, we should continue living by the same [standard] that we have [already] attained. ¹⁷ Brothers, you people should join together in imitating me, and take note of those who are following my example. ¹⁸ For I have often told you before, and am telling you again with tears in my eyes, that many people are living as the enemies of the cross of Christ [i.e., their lives oppose the purpose of Christ's death]. ¹⁹ Their [ultimate] end is [spiritual] destruction; their god is their appetite; they boast of what they ought to be ashamed of, and they [constantly] think about worldly things. ²⁰ But we are [really] citizens of heaven and we are waiting for a Savior [to return] from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will change our lowly [physical] bodies and make them like His glorious body. [He will do this] according to the power that enables Him even to bring everything into submission to Himself.