Ph. 3:7-15
7-8) Following Spiritual Priority, Focus & Orientation;
9) Christocentric & Faith Based Righteousness;
10-11) Resulting (now) Knowing Him, His Resurrection Power, Fellowship of His Suffering & Conformed to His Death; (later) Raised in 1st Resurrection.
12-14) Not yet Glorified but Laying Hold of His Laying Hold of Me & Accepting His Invite.
15) Continue in Biblical Perfection.
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-15
(7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(12) 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.
(13) 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,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8
We are spiritual creatures. God designed us as body, soul and spirit. Most people prioritize on the material, focus on the temporal and are oriented toward the worldly. Christians are spiritual beings, who prioritize, focus and are oriented toward the spiritual, eternal and heavenly. It is a deliberate and reasoned change from the now to the forever. You cannot have the world and Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-15
(7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
(8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(9) And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
(10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
(11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(12) 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.
(13) 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,
(14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
(15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8
We are spiritual creatures. God designed us as body, soul and spirit. Most people prioritize on the material, focus on the temporal and are oriented toward the worldly. Christians are spiritual beings, who prioritize, focus and are oriented toward the spiritual, eternal and heavenly. It is a deliberate and reasoned change from the now to the forever. You cannot have the world and Christ.
1 John 2:15-17
(15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(17) And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.
PHILIPPIANS 3: 9
God requires His people to be righteous. It is real and personal righteousness imparted to us, not simply God “seeing us through Christ.” Our righteousness is not a self or works righteousness, but the very righteousness of Christ, obtained by faith. If we are not righteous, we are not in Christ. If we are not righteous, we do not have saving faith. Salvation does not make us, “look” righteous, salvation makes us righteous, even as He is righteous.
1 John 3:7
(7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
PHILIPPIANS 3:10
Righteousness by faith in Christ imparts to us a) Knowledge of Christ (here and now), b) the Power of His Resurrection (here and now), c) the Fellowship of His sufferings (here and now) by being Conformed to His Death (here and now).
PHILIPPIANS 3:11
We need the realities of verse 10 in order to attain to the Resurrection from among the dead. That is, being raised from among those who have died and will remain in the grave until the 2nd resurrection. We do not have to do anything to be raised from death, the grave, since everyone will be raised, whether saved or lost people. However, if we want to be raised in the 1st Resurrection we must believe on Christ and Follow Him.
PHILIPPIANS 3:12
The “Perfection” not yet realized is the Resurrection Perfection, which is the subject of this passage. None of us are Resurrected (Glorified), however, those of us who are saved should deliberately take hold of that which has taken hold of us.
While God initiates and offers salvation, He does not unilaterally and unconditionally choose anyone to salvation. He calls (invites) us to be holy and we become the elect through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:7
(7) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:4-6
(4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
(6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
(7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
(8) He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 6:11-12
(11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(12) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
2 Timothy 2:9-10
(9) Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
(10) Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:19
(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
1 Peter 1:14-16
(14) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
(15) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
(16) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1 Peter 2:21-22
(21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
(22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
1 Peter 5:10
(10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
2 Peter 1:3-4
(3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
(4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:10-11
(10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
(11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14
Paul did not claim Resurrection Perfection, but, having been accepted the transforming power of Christ into his life caused him to Leave the Past and Pursue the Future with all of his God enabled ability.
PHILIPPIANS 3:15
Believers who have received Biblical Perfection should not rest in what they have received, but move on in their salvation.
