1) Paul acknowledges that he has not yet reached perfection in his spiritual growth, but is continually pressing on toward the goal. 2) He focuses on forgetting past failures and straining toward what is ahead, pressing on toward the prize of living in accordance with God's calling. 3) Spiritual growth is a lifelong pursuit of striving to become more holy and Christlike, rather than a final achievement reached in this life. Believers should continuously press on toward maturity through determined effort.