Philippians 3:16 “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
Whatever level of knowledge of Christ “we have already attained”, we are to apply it in our lives to live by it and be guided by it and be faithful to it. Paul had just acknowledged that everyone does not have adequate knowledge and understanding of the Doctrine of Christ; so here, he exhorts us to tailor our lives to whatever level of knowledge and understanding we have. Implied in the phrase, “we have already attained”, is understanding that to have any knowledge of the Lord is to hunger for even more knowledge and understanding of Christ and His Biblical Teachings. Peter exhorts us to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18). What “we have already attained” is to be a foundation from which we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. Peter described this growing process this way: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (II Peter 1:5-7). Then, he reveals the benefits of this blessed growth: “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:8). Then, he also tells us what our state is if we do not grow: “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” (II Peter 1:9). And then he exhorts us again: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure [“sure” in your understanding]: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:10-11); that is, the Lord’s Church-Kingdom while we live on this earth. Our Lord punctuates this exhortation this way, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17). Therefore, to grow, we prayerfully read and study the Word of God, go to and be a part of the Lord’s Church-Kingdom, actively listen to the Preaching and Teaching of the Word of God, and then we diligently transform our lives to live and behave according to the Word of God!