Philippians 3:11 is one of the most significant of all the verses of Scripture because it identifies the goal, the "mark" toward which the program of salvation leads. The Christian salvation is not a plan whereby the untransformed person can escape Hell and go to Heaven when he dies. Rather, the Christian redemption is a change in the individual so he can have fellowship with God. Fellowship with God brings immortality to man and eventually leads him into Paradise.

The expression "I might attain unto" may be rendered "I may arrive at."

The Greek term for resurrection used in the above verse sets forth the concept of an out-resurrection, or first resurrection. It is the ordinary word for resurrection with a prefix added that suggests a resurrection out from among the ranks of the dead.

That Paul was not speaking only of a moral resurrection, of spiritual maturity, but of the actual physical resurrection of the dead, is indicated by the fact that the last verse of the same chapter speaks of the change in our body that will take place when the Lord appears from Heaven. Philippians 3:21 is in the context of thought of 3:11, revealing that Paul's mind was on the actual bodily resurrection.

Who shall change our vile body [the body of our humbling], that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)

Philippians 3:11 truly is one of the most significant of all the verses of Scripture.

Philippians 3:11 is of special importance because it identifies the goal, the "mark" toward which the program of salvation leads. It is extraordinary also because we would not expect the Apostle Paul toward the end of his life to be attempting to attain the resurrection from the dead.

One reason Philippians 3:11 is incomprehensible to us Christians is that we have changed the scriptural goal of eternal life into eternal residence in Heaven. However, Paul stated that the redemption of our mortal body is a major goal of redemption:

And not only they [the material creation], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23)

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (II Corinthians 5:4)

It is important in any undertaking to understand clearly the goal of the program. If we do not understand the goal we cannot make effective use of energy, time, or resources. We do not know where we are going, toward what we are striving. In this case it is difficult to distinguish among what is important, what is an unessential detail, and what is going in the wrong direction and destroying the endeavor.

Today we are shooting at the wrong target. We are stressing dying and going to Heaven as the goal of the salvation that is in Christ. Also, we emphasize that by receiving Jesus we escape Hell. To be saved, according to contemporary preaching, is to escape Hell and go to Heaven.

To be continued.