At Mission Church we like to remind one another that nobody is perfect.  This is important because our pride can so easily cloud judgment about ourselves and others, plus it can be discouraging if we think we should be “perfect” today.  When Paul uses the word perfect in this passage he is referring to being mature and blameless, as well as not lacking anything we really need.  

• In verse 12 he says he has not already “achieved these things”.  What has he not achieved (review 3:8-11)?

• In verse 13 Paul says he is “forgetting the past and looking forward”.  What past things might you need to confess, forgive, accept forgiveness for, and forget?

• Verse 15 includes the same word that was translated “perfect” in verse 12 but many Bibles translate it as “mature” here. Would Paul say that “nobody is perfect”?  Explain.  (You may also want to re-read Phil 1:6 and 2:12,13.)

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.