3:12Philippians 3:12

Not even Paul had already reached the goal or become perfect, but he kept pressing forward to lay hold of what Christ had taken hold of him to become, never resting as though the work were finished.8T 18.3+2 To follow after is to pursue with the whole heart the purpose for which Christ claimed and called the believer, in obedience to all that God requires.8T 18.3+2 That purpose is to know Christ, to share His sufferings, to know the power of His resurrection, and to attain the resurrection of the dead, counting all else as loss to be found in Him with the righteousness of God by faith.Lt 107, 1904, par. 7–14+3 Sanctification is the work of a lifetime of continual growth in grace, with no point in this life where self is fully subdued and temptation is finished, so no one is to assume he is already saved and perfect.RH May 6, 1862+3 The pursuit means forgetting what lies behind and reaching to what lies before, beholding Christ continually until changed into His likeness, and advancing daily in faith, holiness, and character toward perfection.Ms 109, 1894, par. 1+4

Not as though already attained or already perfect is the confession of Paul himself, and of every Christian after him, that the goal has not yet been fully reached and perfection has not yet been secured.8T 18.3+4 He had not yet reached the holiness he was pursuing nor become fully mature, and even with great spiritual experience, victories, and high honor from the Lord he humbly acknowledged that he had not attained perfection in the Christian life.BS 73.2+2 His words therefore forbid boasting of attainments or claiming to be without sin, and set forth a humble, ongoing pursuit of Christ rather than rest as though the work were finished.8T 18.3+2 Even after enduring God's refining test and gaining a purified character, when the furnace fire has consumed the dross and the true gold appears, a person has not already reached perfection but must keep pressing forward toward the high calling of God in Christ.16MR 275.2

To follow after, if that he may apprehend, is to keep pursuing and pressing on to take hold of and grasp the purpose for which Christ took hold of him, called him, and claimed him.8T 18.3+4 That purpose was the central aim of his life and service, to become complete in the knowledge and likeness of Christ, and this earnest pursuit belongs to sincere, wholehearted Christianity and obedience to all God's requirements rather than to doubt and perplexity.Lt 107, 1904, par. 7–14+2 It calls the believer not to suppose arrival or to boast of spiritual achievement, but to move steadily forward and seek clearer views of Jesus, by beholding whom the Christian is changed into His likeness.8T 18.3+2

These words came not from a human mind but are truths declared in vision to Paul, to whom God gave many revelations.Lt 187, 1903, par. 8–9 They are recorded for the benefit of all who desire to be sincere, earnest, wholehearted Christians, obedient to all God's requirements.Lt 187, 1903, par. 8–9 They are the fundamental principles of the law that declares the whole duty of man.Lt 187, 1903, par. 8–9

The purpose for which Christ took hold of Paul was that he might know Christ, share the fellowship of His sufferings, experience the power of His resurrection, and attain to the resurrection of the dead, and this pursuit was the central aim of his life and service.Lt 107, 1904, par. 7–14+2 He had not yet reached that goal nor become complete in the knowledge and likeness of Christ, but kept pressing on to grasp what Christ had called and claimed him for.Lt 107, 1904, par. 7–14+2 To do this he counted all earthly gain as loss for the excellency of knowing Christ, his former confidence in his own righteousness having become worthless.Lt 68, 1903, par. 4–6+1 He sought to be found in Him not with his own righteousness of the law but with the righteousness of God by faith.Lt 68, 1903, par. 4–6+1

The verse sets Christian perfection before the believer as the highest standard of character to be pursued throughout life, not as a state already arrived at.Ms 148, 1902, par. 4–5+1 That perfection is completeness in the knowledge and likeness of Christ, and godlikeness as God's ideal embracing all that is good and pure and noble.Lt 107, 1904, par. 7–14+2 It is not a journey left to doubt and perplexity, but constant growth in spirituality, righteousness and sanctification with increasing usefulness in every faculty.Ms 148, 1902, par. 4–5+1 The believer is to advance as far and as fast as possible in true knowledge, directing effort toward this high goal rather than toward selfish or temporary interests.Ms 94, 1902, par. 31–32+1

The goal is pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, forgetting what is behind and reaching forth to what is before.Lt 68, 1903, par. 4–6+3 It is to keep the perfection of Christ in view on the strait and narrow way to heaven, following Him in everything, conforming the life to His teachings, and loving God supremely and neighbor as self.Lt 68, 1903, par. 4–6 No one is to take for granted that he is saved and already perfect, for sanctification is the work of a lifetime.Ms 92a, 1898, par. 33–35 Those who would be perfect are to be thus minded, walking by the same rule and minding the same thing as far as they have attained and following together the faithful example.Ms 89, 1897, par. 1–5 Their citizenship is in heaven, from where they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change the vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body by His power to subdue all things, and therefore they stand fast in the Lord.Ms 89, 1897, par. 1–5

Even Paul, with all his spiritual experience and victories and though highly honored by the Lord, humbly acknowledged that he had not yet reached perfection in the Christian life and regarded his progress as incomplete.GW 143.2+3 He did not consider himself perfect but continued pressing onward rather than resting as though the work were finished.AA 561.3–562.2+2

Though he had received a vision of the third heaven and revelations of divine glory that he could not disclose, he called himself the chief of sinners.AAP 7.3 Even after being so greatly honored by God, he viewed himself humbly and did not exalt his own spiritual advancement.AAP 7.3+1

His example teaches Christ's followers to strive toward the heavenly prize without boasting of their attainments or claiming sinlessness.AA 561.3–562.2+1 The Christian has not already attained perfection and should not boast of spiritual achievement, but should keep pressing forward to grasp the purpose for which Christ has taken hold of him, a pursuit that includes seeking clearer views of Jesus, by beholding whom the Christian is changed into His likeness.Ms 109, 1894, par. 1 Those who would be perfect are to be thus minded, not counting themselves to have apprehended or to be already perfect but forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is before and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, walking by the same rule and minding the same thing as far as they have attained and following together the faithful example.Ms 89, 1897, par. 1–5 With weeping warning they are not to give encouragement to enemies of the cross of Christ, who put on garments of light and whose god is their belly and who mind earthly things and whose end is destruction, but holding their citizenship in heaven they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change the vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body by His power to subdue all things, and therefore they stand fast in the Lord.Ms 89, 1897, par. 1–5

Sanctification is continual growth in grace and the work of a lifetime, with no point in this life at which the struggle to subdue self and overcome temptation is finished.RH May 6, 1862+3 No one is to take for granted that he is saved and already perfect, but must keep pressing on to grasp what Christ has called him to, forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is before and pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.RH May 6, 1862+2 As Christ's image is fully reflected in His people they are made perfect and holy, prepared for translation.RH May 6, 1862

As long as Satan reigns, self must be subdued and temptations overcome, so believers need ongoing help and strength from God.1T 339.8–340.4 This growth is a lifelong process of obedience involving continual resistance to sin and self and continual obedience, rather than a brief or intermittent effort or a passing feeling.1T 339.8–340.4+1 Even after enduring God's refining test and gaining a purified character, when the furnace fire has consumed the dross and the true gold of a purified character appears, a person has not already reached perfection but must keep pressing forward toward the purpose for which Christ has claimed them and the high calling of God in Christ.16MR 275.2+1 These words can only be rightly spoken when the believer has stood the test of God in the refining, purifying process.Ms 92a, 1898, par. 33–35

The chapter containing the verse holds lessons to be carefully studied and practiced.STB 647.3–5 Its lesson is that Christian growth continues, for through a new nature and Christ's life within, the soul is enabled to rise higher and higher rather than treating its spiritual work as finished.STB 647.3–5 The work of forming character continues during probation, and there is no point at which responsibility may be set aside and advancing stopped.5T 556.3+1 God has provided what is needed for this growth, and those who receive His word are to use their abilities to keep learning and gaining spiritual fervor and power, continuing to grow in faith and knowledge of Christ and developing a steadfast religious character.Lt 54, 1894, par. 4 They are to keep learning from Christ, follow the light they have received, compare their lives with Christ's character and God's holy law, recognize where they fall short, and keep striving toward perfection.5T 556.3+1

To live out the verse is to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies before, pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.Ms 89, 1897, par. 1–5+2 It is to put every power to the tax to become all that Christ designed through His grace, growing toward purity of heart that shall see God.Lt 42, 1892, par. 12–14 The conflict is not over, and no one is to take for granted that he is saved and already perfect.Lt 42, 1892, par. 12–14+1

Going forth to the conflict expecting defeat is forbidden, for according to faith it shall be done, and those standing under Christ's banner are to be hopeful, brave soldiers in no hopeless enterprise.Lt 42, 1892, par. 12–14 The Christian life is a continuing lawful struggle in which believers seek piety and moral excellence day by day, lay aside every weight and besetting sin, and press toward perfection in Christ.4MR 273.1–274.2+1 They run the race with patience for a crown of glory that fadeth not away.4MR 273.1–274.2

Pressing on includes seeking clearer views of Jesus and constantly beholding Christ as the Pattern.Ms 109, 1894, par. 1+2 By beholding Him, looking to Him, abiding in Him, and cooperating with Him, the believer is changed into His likeness and image by the Spirit and forms perfection of character.Ms 109, 1894, par. 1+3 This continued progress is part of walking in the light, which means deliberately choosing to represent Christ in character and advancing in faith, holiness, and spiritual attainments.Lt 98, 1902, par. 26–29+2 It never rests satisfied with merely saying I am a child of God.4MR 273.1–274.2

Walking in the light requires resolve, exercised thought, exerted will power, and earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character, putting away all gloom.4MR 273.1–274.2 It means to walk uprightly, to walk in the way of the Lord, to walk by faith, to walk in the Spirit, to walk in the truth, to walk in love, and to walk in newness of life, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.4MR 273.1–274.2 Character building is not yet finished: by using every ray of light God has given and walking in it, people learn from Christ, compare their lives with His character and God's holy law, recognize where they fall short, and seek perfection in their own sphere as God is perfect in His.Lt 34a, 1886, par. 39+1

The verse calls for constant advancement, improvement, and reformation rather than settling into fixed ways and habits.Lt 14, 1887, par. 9–10+3 Defective traits of character contracted in younger years may be overcome, and character may become symmetrical, well balanced, and increasingly useful in every faculty.Lt 14, 1887, par. 9–10+4 Missionary workers must ask what they are and what they ought to be and do, recognizing they cannot give to others what they do not possess themselves.Lt 14, 1887, par. 9–10+1 They must constantly seek higher attainments in every way, including improvement of manners and habits, or they will greatly hinder one another's work.Lt 14, 1887, par. 9–10+1

The true penitent presses on toward perfection of Christian character while constantly guarding against the wiles of a corrupt heart.Ms 35, 1903, par. 9 Pressing on means resisting temptation to glorify self, enduring trial by letting humility appear, and manifesting heavenly kindness, charity, patience, forgiveness of supposed injuries, and contrition of soul.Ms 35, 1903, par. 9 This pursuit is not a journey left to doubt and perplexity but the duty of all to press toward the light, following Christ in everything and conforming life to His teachings.Lt 68, 1903, par. 4–6+1 Believers are to advance as far and as fast as possible in true knowledge, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, directing effort toward this high goal rather than selfish or temporary interests.Lt 68, 1903, par. 4–6+2