Unpacking Philippians 3:15-16: Keep Growing in Faith

Living the Journey of Growth

These verses come near the end of Paul’s joyful but urgent letter to the church in Philippi, where he’s been urging believers to live in unity and humility, focused on Christ alone.

The Philippian church faced pressure from some Jewish-Christian teachers who insisted that following Jewish laws was necessary for salvation - a view Paul strongly opposes throughout this chapter. He warns against legalism in verses like 3:2, where he says, 'Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh,' making it clear that true faith is about trusting Christ, not checking religious boxes. So when Paul speaks of the 'mature' thinking this way, he’s not talking about perfection, but about those who understand that our relationship with God is built on grace, not rules.

His call to 'hold true to what we have attained' is an encouragement to stand firm in the truth we’ve already received, trusting that God will keep guiding us forward as we walk with Him.

What True Maturity in Christ Looks Like

When Paul says 'let those of us who are mature think this way,' he’s not talking about people who have arrived at moral or spiritual perfection, but those who understand that growth in faith is a journey shaped by grace, not rule-keeping.

The Greek word *teleioi* - translated as 'mature' - doesn’t mean sinless or flawless, but rather those who are growing into the fullness of life in Christ. Paul already made this clear in verse 12, where he says, 'Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own,' showing that maturity is about direction, not completion. This lines up with Hebrews 5:14, which describes mature believers as those 'trained by practice to discern good and evil,' not those who never struggle.

God’s guidance is central; Paul says that God will also reveal this to you, pointing to the Holy Spirit’s quiet, ongoing work, as 1 Corinthians 2:10 states, 'God has revealed to us through the Spirit.' For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.'

So spiritual maturity isn’t about having every answer or never being wrong. It’s about staying open to God’s leading while standing firm in the truth we’ve already received, ready to grow without fear.

Standing Together in the Journey

True maturity in the Christian life means growing in grace while staying united in truth, as Paul urges in Philippians 1:27: 'Only let us live as citizens worthy of the gospel, standing side by side with one spirit, striving together for the faith of the gospel.'

Back then, this was a fresh and needed reminder - many believers were being pulled into arguing over rules, but Paul says what matters is moving forward together in what we’ve already understood. Jesus prayed for this unity before His death, quoting John 17:21: 'That they may all be one, Father, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe you sent me.'

So instead of judging others who aren’t where we are, we keep walking in what God has shown us, trusting Him to guide us all forward.

Growing Together in God's Plan

The journey of maturity Paul describes in Philippians isn’t meant to be walked alone, and other New Testament letters show us this is a consistent pattern in the Christian life.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul describes believers as infants in Christ who need milk, not solid food, showing that growth occurs step by step, as Hebrews 6:1 urges us to 'press on to maturity' beyond basic faith. These verses together remind us that God meets us where we are, but He doesn’t leave us there.

Spiritual growth isn’t about leaping to perfection overnight, but about trusting God to deepen our understanding as we stay faithful to what we’ve already learned.

For everyday believers, this means being patient with ourselves and others - church groups should feel like safe places where people can grow without shame, where newer believers aren’t pressured and long-time followers aren’t proud. When we all embrace this steady, shared journey, our communities become living proof of God’s grace in action.

Application