Yes but Not Yet

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected…
(Philippians 3:12 – ESV)

Paul was saying that he hadn’t attained the fullness of the resurrection power; he wasn’t walking around like a ghost, like some do, all spooky spiritual when they think they are being super spiritual. This speaks against sinless perfectionism. Paul does not here or anywhere else in his letters speak of obtaining perfection by any single crisis experience. Too many speak of being sanctified when they are only sanctimonious.

Martin Luther said, “This life, therefore, is not righteousness but growth in righteousness, not health but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be but we are growing toward it. The process is not yet finished but it is going on. This is not the end but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory but all is being purified.”

George Muller said, “Just as a little child is a perfect human being, but still is far from perfect in all his development as man, so the true child of God is also perfect in all parts, although not yet perfect in all the stages of his development in faith.”

“Already but not yet” is a theme echoed throughout the New Testament. It is a looking for the consummated fullness – Jesus has won the victory, He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Colossians 2:15), but we still fight battles, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12), and we must continue in the process, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).

Jesus’ suffering for us paid our debt in full, And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:13-14), but we still suffer for Him, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church (Colossians 1:24), and it bears fruit, In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Jesus’ is already reigning, For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him (Colossians 1:16-17), and yet we are to pray that His kingdom will come, in fullness, He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©