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, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
• 2 Pet 1:5–8Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;
• Ps 138:8Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands.
• Hos 6:3Let us acknowledge Yahweh. Let us press on to know Yahweh. As surely as the sun rises, Yahweh will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
• 1 Pet 3:11–13Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
• 2 Cor 7:1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• Isa 51:1“Listen to me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek Yahweh: look to the rock you were cut from, and to the quarry you were dug from.
• Heb 13:21make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
• Eph 1:4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;
• Phil 3:13–14Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
• Phil 3:16Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind.
• Heb 12:14Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
• Gal 5:17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
• Jas 3:2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
• 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 forever. Amen.
• Rom 7:19–24For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice.
• Ps 63:1–3A Psalm by David, when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I will earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My flesh longs for you, in a dry and weary land, where there is no water.
• Job 17:9Yet shall the righteous hold on his way. He who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.
• 1 Pet 5:10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
• Ps 84:2My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
• Ps 63:8My soul stays close to you. Your right hand holds me up.
• Ps 119:5Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey your statutes!
• Eph 4:12for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;
• 2 Cor 13:9For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.
• Prov 4:18But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light, that shines more and more until the perfect day.
• 2 Th 2:13But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
• 1 Th 5:15See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
• 1 Cor 13:10but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
• Ps 119:173–176Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
• 1 Tim 6:19laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.
• Acts 9:15But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
• Acts 9:3–6As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.
• 1 Tim 5:10being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work.
• Heb 12:23to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
• Ps 94:15For judgment will return to righteousness. All the upright in heart shall follow it.
• Ps 110:2–3Yahweh will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule among your enemies.
• Ps 42:1For the Chief Musician. A contemplation by the sons of Korah. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God.

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