Philippians 3:12 “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.”
Paul confessed that he, of himself, had not “already attained” sufficient “righteousness” to make himself fit for Eternal Heaven; but, in his faithful allegiance to the Lord, he continued to “follow after”; that is, continue to live and obey and serve as righteously as he possibly could. Because of his inherent human weaknesses, he could not “count” himself “to have apprehended” the perfect state of “righteousness”. However, to thwart discouragement and to remain faithful to his Lord, he was continuously “forgetting those things which are behind” and “reaching forth unto those things which are before”; that is, he strove to simply forget his past sins and ill behaviors and focus his attention on his life of service to his Lord, seeking ways to more and more completely obey and serve the Lord. He summarized his desire and quest for “righteousness” this way, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”. To “press toward” is to push past any obstacles in life that would hinder his quest for “righteous” obedience to his Lord. The objective of his “reaching forth” and pressing “toward” was “righteous” obedience to His Lord in every way. He knew that, as a man, he was not perfect, but he wanted to be to please His Lord. He also knew that, in an Eternal Sense, he had been “made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23) by His Lord’s merciful and gracious Sacrificial Death. Like Paul, we ought to, with all conviction and diligence “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”; that is, live and serve our Lord to the very best of our God-given ability.