Consider the apostle Paul. Rather than being satisfied with what he had achieved, he said in his letter to the Philippians: “Not that I have already received it or am already made perfect, but I am pursuing to see if I may also lay hold on that for which I have also been laid hold on by Christ Jesus.”​—Philippians 3:12.

4. What “goal” was the apostle Paul pursuing?

⁴ Clearly, Paul was not talking about attaining maturity, for there was no question but that he already was a mature Christian. Yet he said he was “pursuing” something that he had not yet “received.”

6. Comparing Philippians 3:12 with Php 3:15, what can be said about making advancement?

⁶ With this possibility in mind, Paul continued: “Let us, then, as many of us as are mature, be of this mental attitude; and if you are mentally inclined otherwise in any respect, God will reveal the above attitude to you.” (Philippians 3:15) Earlier, in Php 3 verse 12, Paul indicated that he did not consider himself as “already made perfect.” Yet here he said “as many of us as are mature,” or, “perfect ones.” (Kingdom Interlinear) This is not a contradiction. Rather, it only makes the point that even mature Christians such as Paul must bear in mind that they have not yet reached the ultimate goal, and they must continue to make advancement in order to reach it.