Philippians 3:16-17

16 Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

17 Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you.

The pattern that Paul set for us was that the Holy Spirit was in complete control of his life. Paul wrote that he hadn’t come close to being what our Father was making him, but that it did not matter, because our Father would get him to where He wanted him to be. With that pattern in mind let’s look at some of the things that the Holy Spirit had Paul write throughout his life.

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Paul’s example was that our Father sanctifies us. It is our Father’s responsibility to separate us from profane things. 

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. Romans 8:14-16

We can see through Paul that the only reason that we call out to our Father is because the Holy Spirit causes us to call out to Him.

All things are legitimate [permissible—and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 1 Corinthians 10:23

Paul also shows us that all things are legitimate for him, meaning that nothing will separate him from God. Paul shows us to stop fretting about messing up, because it will not separate us from our salvation. Paul tells us that our Father will sanctify us and that He will cause us to be who He wants us to be. Herein lies the Truth of our salvation: as long as we believe that we have to do these things, we will continue to do the things that we do not want to do. But when the Holy Spirit causes us to understand that our Father is separating us and sanctifying us, we will stop doing them. 

Amen we may fall short, but it in no way separates or hinders our Father’s power and love for us.