Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 3:12

"Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus." — Philippians 3:12 (ASV)

But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

"I want to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of me.

He has grasped me in order to make me perfect, and I want to grasp that perfection. He has laid hold of me to rid me of my sin, and I want to lay hold of a clean riddance of sin, apprehending that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:

He does not say that anybody has been perfect, but he does say that he was not so himself; and I should think that any man who believed himself to be better than Paul would thereby prove at once that he was not perfect, for he must be sadly lacking in humility.

But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

"All that Christ meant me to be, I want to be. All that Christ meant to give me, I want to have. All that he meant me to do, I want to do; to apprehend, to lay hold of that for which I am laid hold of by Christ Jesus."