Apprehended of Christ

To apprehend means “to lay hold of so as to make one's own”. This is what Christ our Lord, Savior, Husband and Friend did for his people. This is seen when he was willingly baptized in the fiery justice of Holy God, bearing his people safe within himself to fulfill all righteousness for them.

This oneness we share through the apprehension by Christ of his beloved people moved Paul greatly in love for his Savior. He stated “I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). Paul wanted to grow in his knowledge and understanding of Christ's accomplished work for him. He understood that we are currently dwelling in these bodies of weak flesh, which darkens our understanding. This means that “we know in part, and we prophesy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9) according to the measure of faith given to us (Romans 12:3). The Holy Spirit flows in the believer as a living fountain. And the Spirit was drawing Paul with chords of love to his Savior when he exclaimed “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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).