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.

Not that I have already obtained ... Paul never viewed the Christian prize of eternal salvation as being something that one might "get" in any final and irrevocable act. The Pauline view, in evidence here, was that the Christian life was a race to be won, a life to be lived, a course to he completed, and that no one ever had it made until the probation of life was completed. There was no lack of confidence in Paul, as evidenced by these words; but this was merely his way of saying that he was still running the Christian race.

Or am already made perfect ... There are two different uses of "perfect," here and in Philippians 3:15, the word being the same in both cases. In the 12th verse, Paul is speaking of that personal and individual perfection which God will give to every Christian on the last day; but in Philippians 3:15 he is claiming, not merely for himself but also for all of the Philippians (or at least the majority of them) the full attainment of that same perfection; but in this instance the reference is to the perfection of Christ which rightfully belongs to every Christian.

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus laid down the law that underlies eternal salvation, the law of absolute perfection, "even as God is perfect." No one ever attained such perfection in his own right, except the Lord; but every Christian enjoys that status as a result of his being baptized "into Christ," identified with Christ, and in a sense, being Christ! It was to that status which Paul referred in Philippians 3:15; but in this verse (Philippians 3:12) Paul referred to every Christian's final perfection in heaven (see under Colossians 1:28). Also see article on "perfection" under Ephesians 1:4.