"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect....I count not myself to have apprehended - Phillipians 3:12-13
As Paul reviews his present position he utters this great threefold "not" - not obtained,(RSV) not perfect, not apprehended. I haven't arrived yet, he says; I am not perfect.
Why does he say that? Not I think in the grovelling way of self examination or introspection, which is not always the most helpful thing...but with a positive purpose. Take a reckoning of your present position, so as to be warned against complacency.
Paul has set before us here a remarkable picture of a man who is dedicated; who knows Christ as his Saviour. Who is obedient to the will of God. Look at it. "What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ v7: .........there is dedication.
"To be found in Him not having a righteousness of my own...but the righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God by faith v9. ....there is the knowledge of Christ the Saviour.
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. vv10-11 ....here is obedience to the will of God.
Yet over all these things he writes 'not, not, not' ......"
Not yet perfect, not yet obtained, not yet apprehended. He is warning us against complacency. We must face up to our present position and say, 'No we are not there yet'
Joshua as a young man was told to cross the Jordan and possess the land. Joshua as an old man now ....was told 'There is yet much land to be possessed'
A warning against complacency
As Paul reviews his present position he utters this great threefold "not" - not obtained,(RSV) not perfect, not apprehended. I haven't arrived yet, he says; I am not perfect.
Why does he say that? Not I think in the grovelling way of self examination or introspection, which is not always the most helpful thing...but with a positive purpose. Take a reckoning of your present position, so as to be warned against complacency.
Paul has set before us here a remarkable picture of a man who is dedicated; who knows Christ as his Saviour. Who is obedient to the will of God. Look at it. "What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ v7: .........there is dedication.
"To be found in Him not having a righteousness of my own...but the righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God by faith v9. ....there is the knowledge of Christ the Saviour.
"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings. vv10-11 ....here is obedience to the will of God.
Yet over all these things he writes 'not, not, not' ......"
Not yet perfect, not yet obtained, not yet apprehended. He is warning us against complacency. We must face up to our present position and say, 'No we are not there yet'
Joshua as a young man was told to cross the Jordan and possess the land. Joshua as an old man now ....was told 'There is yet much land to be possessed'
A warning against complacency
