“…what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I ALSO COUNT ALL THINGS LOSS FOR THE EXCELLENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS MY LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I MAY GAIN CHRIST AND BE FOUND IN HIM, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION…” (Phil. 3:7-11) Paul was passionately pursuing the excellent treasure of personally and intimately knowing Jesus Christ, the creator and maker of all things.
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, FORGETTING those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I PRESS TOWARD THE GOAL FOR THE PRIZE OF THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.” (Phil. 3:13-14) The allusion is to the goal line, which the runners in the Olympic games sought, and the one crossing the line first received the prize. Paul stated that he was forgetting his past and stretching toward the excellent and awesome prize of,
THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS…
-Bill Stockham