Resting or Pursuing, what should our mindset be?
Are we to rest in the finished work of Christ or give all diligence to lay hold of Christ? Are these two aspects of faith in contradiction to one another? If both of these aspects of faith are true, then they must be mutually embraced and never pitted one against the other. Can we find an example of this in the letters of the New Testament? Yes, in the life and writing of the apostle where both of these aspects of faith are well documented.
No one questions whether Paul fully understood the grace of Christ and the righteousness of faith. He boldly calls upon other believers to hold to the teachings that he passed on to them and to follow his own example in character and conduct. If we are to see how to hold both resting in the finished work of Christ and pursuing to lay hold of Jesus Christ in their beautiful harmony, we will see it in Paul.
If you know his writings well, you already know where to look ”“ Philippians chapter 3. After setting forth all his natural qualifications that he had rights to boast in as a devout Jew, Paul begins:
"but whatever things were gain to me I have considered loss because of Christ. But therefore, I also consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, because of Whom I have lost all things, also I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ.” In this last statement there is a gem to behold; Paul uses κεÏδήσω ”“ the aorist, active, subjunctive of κεÏδαίνω (to gain, to acquire). The use of the subjunctive rather than the indicative must not be overlooked. The subjunctive looks ahead to the possibility, whereas the indicative would have looked back at the reality of what had already been obtained. Paul is not looking back at what he has already obtained, but looking ahead to what he still seeks to obtain.
Paul continues: "and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, that which is from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God based upon faith.” Once again, Paul uses the aorist, passive, subjunctive - εὑÏεθῶ. If Paul had chosen the indicative form, he would have been looking back at what he HAD already found in reality, but instead he chooses the subjunctive to make it clear he is looking ahead to what lay before him as a possibility.
He continues: "to know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings; being conformed unto His death, if by some means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.” Again Paul continues with his intentional use of the subjunctive of καταντήσω. Rather than using the indicative form that he has arrived, he chooses the subjunctive form to say that the arrival is the possibility that still awaits.
Then to underscore his intentional use of the subjunctive, he turns in contrast to the indicative and makes a concrete statement: "not that I have already laid hold, or have already been perfected…” Both laid hold (ἔλαβον) and have been perfected (τετελείωμαι) are in the indicative. By this Paul is saying neither of the two has become an actual reality yet. This sets up the next dynamic contrast between his use of the subjunctive and the indicative.
"but I am pursuing if also I may lay hold upon that for which I was laid hold upon by Christ Jesus.” Paul uses the indicative διώκω (I am in actual pursuit now) in contrast with the subjunctive καταλάβω (that I may fully lay hold of some time ahead) to underscore his present reality of pursuit towards a future possibility of attainment.
Like a trained Hebrew, Paul then doubles down to drive this home: "brothers, I myself do not consider to have taken hold of it. However, one thing ”“ the things behind forgetting, now the things ahead straining forward to reach.” Both forgetting and straining forward to reach are in the indicative because Paul is doing them now ”“ they are his concrete reality in the present. And he will add to this statement the following ”“ "I press on towards the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul again uses the indicative διώκω (I am now pressing on) to describe his present reality.
The dynamic use of the subjunctive and indicative grammar provides a clear picture into Paul’s mind. In his mind, full attainment is the possibility that lies ahead and now, in the present reality, he is actively pursuing to make the future possibility a concrete reality. Now, the main reason that Paul goes to such length to describe his own pursuit is revealed in the following statement.
"Therefore, as many as are mature (perfect) should be of this mind - φÏονῶμεν”. Paul uses the present subjunctive of φÏονÎω ”“ a favorite word of his to describe the inward perspective that regulates all outward behavior. Paul has shown by externalizing his own mindset how every mature believer should be regulated in thought.
I am fully aware that I have limited this article to the "pursuit” aspect of spiritual truth. Many others have wonderfully articulated the "resting” aspect of spiritual truth. However we choose to express "resting in the finished work of Christ”, that expression needs to be held arm in arm with the mindset of the same apostle from whom that rest is also understood.
We need to rest in the finished work of Christ and follow the example of Paul who not only looked back at what Christ Jesus had done for him, but strained forward looking ahead to what was still to be obtained by faith.
Emphasis upon either aspect of these two spiritual realities to the exclusion of the other is not healthy; even worse, is the carnal division into camps who pit one against the other.
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