The Pursuit of Spiritual Maturity
Bob Yandian
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 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.
Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.” Philippians 3:12-17
The Christian life begins with the basics of the Word of God, but God never intended for us to stop there. After Paul spent the first part of Philippians laying out foundational doctrines, he turned his attention to another important subject: how mature believers should handle areas where sincere Christians disagree.
Paul begins with an amazing confession: "Not that I have already attained or am already perfected."
If anyone could have claimed to have arrived spiritually, it would have been the apostle Paul. He had received revelation directly from the Lord Jesus Christ and wrote much of the New Testament. He had planted churches throughout the known world. Yet Paul openly admitted that he still had room to grow. That's one of the greatest marks of maturity.
The more you know, the more you realize how much you still don't know. Knowledge doesn't make you feel like you've reached the finish line. Real knowledge shows you just how much farther there is to go. No believer in this lifetime will ever know everything. In fact, I think throughout all eternity we will still be learning. God is infinite, and we will spend eternity discovering more about His greatness.
Paul simply got honest with the Philippian church. He was saying, "Don't put more on me than I can handle. Don't look at me like I know everything." That attitude should characterize every believer.
Keep Pressing Forward
Paul continued by saying: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended... but one thing I do."
Then he explained what that one thing was. He forgot the things that were behind. He reached for the things ahead. He pressed toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul wasn't denying his past. He simply refused to live there. He had made mistakes. He had persecuted the Church. He had failed in different areas. But every time he failed, he confessed it, received God's forgiveness, got back on his feet, and kept moving forward. That's how every believer grows. If you sin, confess it. If you get off track, repent. Then keep walking. Don't spend your life reliving yesterday's failures. Keep pressing toward the goal God has placed before you.
Don't Change What Has Been Working
Paul then gives another important principle: "To the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule."
If the Word of God has brought you this far, stay with the Word. If walking by faith has brought growth into your life, keep walking by faith. If fellowship with the Lord has produced spiritual maturity, don't suddenly begin looking for some new formula.
People are constantly searching for the newest method or the latest spiritual fad. Paul reminds us that if God's principles have brought us to this point, they'll continue to take us where God wants us to go. Keep doing what works. Keep walking in the Word. Keep depending on the Holy Spirit.
Mature Christians Handle Differences Differently
Verse 15 says, "Let us therefore, as many as are mature, have this mind."
This is where Paul shifts the discussion. Mature believers understand something that immature believers often miss. There are major doctrines worth defending. There are also secondary issues that should never divide the body of Christ. Paul wasn't talking about compromising truth. He wasn't talking about ignoring false doctrine. He was talking about the many smaller issues Christians often elevate to a level God never intended.
He even says, "If in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." What confidence! Instead of arguing endlessly over every disagreement, Paul trusted the Holy Spirit to reveal truth over time. Sometimes God reveals it to me. Sometimes He reveals it to you. Sometimes we both grow.
Know the Difference Between Essentials and Opinions
There are some truths we cannot compromise. If someone says Jesus is not the only way to heaven, we have a problem. If someone teaches there are many ways to God, we have a problem. If someone denies salvation by grace through faith, we have a problem.
Those are foundational doctrines that are worth defending. But once you move beyond those essential truths, there are many areas where sincere believers may see things differently. Paul tells us not to become "otherwise minded." Don't allow one area of disagreement to become the lens through which you see everything another believer teaches. Too many Christians do exactly that.
They hear one thing they disagree with, and from that moment forward they can't hear anything else. Every sermon is filtered through that disagreement. Paul says that's not maturity. Maturity trusts the Holy Spirit to bring understanding while continuing to walk together in fellowship.
Agree on the Fundamentals
One of the greatest keys to unity in the body of Christ is learning to distinguish between the fundamentals of the faith and secondary doctrines. Paul was not saying that doctrine doesn't matter. Quite the opposite. The basic doctrines of the Word of God are non-negotiable. They are the foundation upon which our Christian life is built. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." That is not open for discussion.
Salvation is by grace through faith. It is not by works. It is not by church membership. It is not by water baptism. It is not by tithing. It is not by any human effort. The thief on the cross never had an opportunity to be baptized. He never joined a church. He never gave an offering. Yet Jesus said, "Today you will be with Me in Paradise." Those are the essentials and worth standing for. But after those fundamentals have been established, there are many areas where sincere believers can disagree without breaking fellowship.
Don't Let Minor Issues Divide the Body of Christ
One of Satan's greatest weapons is division over things that are not heaven-or-hell issues.
Christians have divided over questions such as:
Is the believer eternally secure?
Must every believer speak in tongues?
Is there a pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation rapture?
Should believers confess daily sins?
Is healing for today?
How old is the earth?
Who were the giants in Genesis 6?
People have argued over these questions for generations. Paul's point is not that these subjects are unimportant. His point is that they should never become more important than the mission God has given us. If we spend all our time arguing over secondary issues, who is preaching the gospel? Who is making disciples? Who is reaching the lost? Life is simply too short to divide ourselves over every difference of opinion.
Stay Open to Growth
One of the marks of maturity is remaining teachable. I've changed my mind on different subjects through the years because I continued studying the Word of God. There were things I believed early in my Christian life that I no longer believe today. Not because the Bible changed. Because I changed.
Sometimes another minister opened a verse I had read many times and suddenly I saw something I had never seen before. Sometimes an author from another denomination challenged my thinking. Sometimes the Holy Spirit simply illuminated a passage I had overlooked for years. That's how spiritual growth works. None of us has perfect understanding. We are all still learning.
Let the Lord Reveal the Truth
Paul's instructions are remarkably simple. "If in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you." Trust the Holy Spirit. If I'm wrong, He can correct me. If you're wrong, He can correct you. If neither of us fully understands, He will eventually reveal the truth. And if He doesn't reveal it during this lifetime, we'll certainly understand it when we stand before the Lord.
One day every unanswered question will be answered. Every difficult passage will become clear. Every doctrinal puzzle will be solved. Jesus Himself will straighten out all our theology. Until then, we don't have to divide over every difference.
Walk in the Bond of Peace
Throughout his letters, Paul continually emphasized the unity of the body of Christ. We are to strive for the unity of the faith in the bond of peace. Notice he didn't say uniformity. Unity does not require every believer to agree on every secondary doctrine. Unity means we keep our eyes on the One who saved us. Unity means we recognize that every member of the body of Christ is valuable. Unity means we refuse to allow minor disagreements to become major divisions. There is only one person who has ever walked this earth with perfect understanding. Jesus Christ.
The theme of the book of Philippians is first joy and secondly, partnership. Paul had a vision in Troas of a man from Macedonia calling him to come and preach the gospel. Paul began this ministry in the Roman colony of Philippi. He expresses his thanks and appreciation to the people in Philippi who stood by him as partners with their prayers and financial support.
This verse-by verse teaching through the book of Philippians from the personal study notes of Bob Yandian will give you great insight into the church at Philippi and the topic of God’s joy, which is the strength of our Christian life.
87 Pages
Previously published as: Ephesians Blueprint for Maturity
Although the city of Ephesus is famous for its reckless living and idol worship, the Ephesian church is deeply spiritual. And so Ephesians, unlike other epistles written to correct doctrinal error, reveals to mature believers the positional truth of who they are in Christ. It also expounds on practical applications of this positional revelation to marriage, family, and everyday life.
By tying together Greek word studies and outside scriptural references, Bob Yandian teaches, verse-by-verse, God’s empowering grace and the believer’s unprecedented authority. Like Paul, Yandian’s focus is not only the revelation, but the application of these amazing truths. Yandian exhorts believers not only to learn but to live as the body of Christ in the earth.
143 Pages
Deepen Your Understanding of Scripture
Unlock fresh insight into God’s Word with the New Testament Commentary Bundle from Pastor Bob Yandian — a comprehensive collection of verse-by-verse commentaries on ten foundational New Testament books. Carefully crafted from years of pastoral teaching and study, this bundle equips believers, students, and church leaders with clear explanation, practical application, and spiritual depth.
Purchase this book bundle and save! This bundle includes one of each of Bob Yandian's New Testament Commentary books listed below.
Acts Commentary
Romans Commentary
Galatians Commentary
Ephesians Commentary
Philippians Commentary
Colossians Commentary
James Commentary
Hebrews Commentary
Epistles of John Commentary
New! Thessalonians Commentary