Philippians 3:12

Paul denies having already arrived at perfection and instead presses on to lay hold of Christ's purpose for him. The Christian life is ongoing pursuit, not arrival.

Cross-references · 37

• 1 Tim 6:11–12But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
• 2 Pet 1:5–8For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
• Ps 138:8The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever—do not abandon the works of Your hands.
• Hos 6:3So let us know—let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.
• 1 Pet 3:11–13He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
• 2 Cor 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• Isa 51:1“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn.
• Heb 13:21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
• Eph 1:4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
• Phil 3:13–14Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
• Phil 3:16Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
• Heb 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
• Gal 5:17For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
• Jas 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
• 2 Pet 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
• Rom 7:19–24For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
• Ps 63:1–3A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.
• Job 17:9Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
• 1 Pet 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
• Ps 84:2My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
• Ps 63:8My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
• Ps 119:5Oh, that my ways were committed to keeping Your statutes!
• Eph 4:12to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
• 2 Cor 13:9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
• Prov 4:18The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
• 2 Th 2:13But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
• 1 Th 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
• 1 Cor 13:10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
• Ps 119:173–176May Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
• 1 Tim 6:19treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
• Acts 9:15“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel.
• Acts 9:3–6As Saul drew near to Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
• 1 Tim 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.
• Heb 12:23in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• Ps 94:15Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
• Ps 110:2–3The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
• Ps 42:1For the choirmaster. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.

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