GENTRY — “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.” Philippians 3:12 (Read 1-21)

Why did Christ Jesus come into the world and suffer and die on the cross for our sins? Why did He give us His Holy Spirit and bring us to know and trust in Him? Why has He “apprehended” and saved you and me?

We are not saved by our own righteousness under the law, for even our best righteousness does not measure up. As Scripture says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23; cf. Isa. 64:6).

That is why the apostle Paul, even though he more than anyone else could boast of his righteousness under the law, ceased trying to be counted righteous by his own works and placed his confidence in the perfect righteousness of Christ and in Christ’s atoning sacrifice upon the cross for the sins of the entire world.

He wrote: “If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 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, 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” (Phil. 3:4-9).

Though Paul placed no confidence in his own works for salvation, he knew that Christ had apprehended and saved him that he might live for Christ in accord with God’s perfect will (cf. 2 Cor. 5:15; Eph. 2:8-10). And so, he sought to live for Christ - to strive after the holy and sinless life for which Christ redeemed him and which he will attain in the resurrection.

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect,” he wrote, “but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

Paul had a goal in mind. Christ died for his sins that He might walk in fellowship with God and do that which is pleasing in God’s sight. Paul knew his failures and shortcomings and trusted in Christ Jesus, his perfect Savior. But Paul also sought to live for Christ and walk in righteousness and holiness in this world. Why? Because that is the reason for which Christ apprehended him and saved him from sin and the eternal torments of hell.

Rather than dwell on his sins and failures, Paul left them at the cross of Jesus and moved forward in living for his Savior. He pressed on toward his goal of being like Christ.

“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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

O Lord Jesus Christ, let us be found clothed in Your perfect righteousness, but also move us to live for You and seek to apprehend that for which You have apprehended us. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible]

For The Record, Pages 4 on 03/24/2010