Philippians 3:11-14

Philippians 3:11: “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.”

This is not as difficult a passage as it seems. Paul is not saying that it is a sin to believe that you are saved, or that it is wrong to believe in “once saved always saved”. Even Paul said “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” Paul taught extensively (especially in Galatians) that salvation is through grace, not works.

What he is saying here is that as Christians we are running a race and we need to finish it. We shouldn’t say “Oh, I’m saved, so my work is done,” and then just sit down and do nothing for the rest of our lives. We need to keep working, keep going, keep serving, and keep striving. God saved us and gave us life so we could do things, not so we could just sit idly and watch the world go by.

The key to interpreting passages like this is to take the whole Bible into account. The New Testament talks a great deal about salvation, grace, and works. Once all of its teachings are taken together it becomes possible to see what verses like this are actually saying. You have to look at the whole because looking at a single verse can be very deceiving. After all, look at what Philippians says just two verses later: “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Notice how Paul admits that “we have already attained” – confirming what he said in many other places.

So, let us run the race with perseverance, redeeming the time and making the most of our lives. We should cast aside everything that distracts us and focus on just one thing: advancing the kingdom of God, and preaching the gospel to every creature. The world is full of people who are dying without Jesus, and yet so many Christians are far more concerned about the size of their house or the status of their bank account. If we do not preach the gospel then who will?