Phil. 3:13, 14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” 

    I want us to look today, as we enter into the New Year, at some of the benefits we have as a result of our salvation. The past is gone, with all its failures, sins, missed opportunities, and sufferings: and there is nothing we can do about it. Our salvation, on the other hand is a settled and eternal surety. There is therefore nothing in the past, in the present, nor in the future that can change our position in Christ. In I Timothy 1:12, Paul deals with this subject as he tells of all the suffering he was experiencing at the time. The verse tells us that our salvation was purchased by and is therefore secure in the hands of someone who has all power and he is able to keep us: “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Jesus himself said in John 10:28, 29, concerning our eternal salvation, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of m y hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Also, the apostle Peter verifies that our salvation is secure because we are kept by the power of God: 1 Peter 1;3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 

    Now back to our text verse in Phil. The scripture tells us what to do about the past; “forgetting those things which are behind.” I believe this is telling us to let not the past control, or ruin our future. Then, the apostle finishes the verse by saying, “and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” This tells us that the future is of more importance than the past because there is always hope in Christ. 

    January 1, 2025 can be a New Beginning!  As we consider this thought, I want to give a few things that I think can help us in the coming year. 

    The first thing is “To keep a faithful Profession,” which is accompanied by “changed affections.” Some of the things we have our affections on are mentioned in verses 7-14 in our text. The scripture calls them “things” and “all things,” no matter what they are. Notice verses 7, 8 in Phil. 3, as we close this article, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” 

To be continued!