Righteousness through Faith
1Finally, my brothers, rejoice inthe Lord. To write the same things to you indeedis not troublesome to me, andis safe for you.
2Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the false circumcision!3For we are the circumcision, those worshiping inthe Spirit of God, and glorying in Christ Jesus, and not trusting inthe flesh—4though I have confidence even inthe flesh.
If any other thinks to trust inthe flesh, I more:5circumcision onthe eighth day; ofthe nation of Israel, ofthe tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; according tothe Law, a Pharisee;6according to zeal, persecuting the church; according to righteousness inthe Law, having become faultless.
Knowing Christ Above All Else
7But whatever things were gain to me, these I have esteemed loss because of Christ.8But indeed, therefore, I also count all things to be loss because of the excelling knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, because of whom I have lost all things, and esteemthem rubbish, that I may gain Christ9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness whichis ofthe Law, but that whichis through faith from Christ, the righteousness of God on the basis of faith,10to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,11if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from out of dead.
Pressing Toward the Goal
12Not that already I have obtainedit or already have been perfected, but I am pursuing, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.13Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken holdof it. But one thing indeed: Forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things ahead,14I press on towardthe goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15Therefore as many asare mature should be of this mind. And if you are mindedin anything differently, even this God will reveal to you.16Nevertheless, to that which we have attained,we are to walk by the same.
Citizenship in Heaven
17Be imitators together of me brothers, and consider those walking thus, as you have usfor a pattern.18For many are walking—of whom I have told you often and now I say even weeping—as enemies of the cross of Christ,19whose endis destruction, whose Godis the belly and gloryis in their shame, those minding earthly things.
20For our citizenship exists inthe heavens, from whence also we are awaiting a Savior,the Lord Jesus Christ,21who will transform our body of humiliation, conformed to the body of His glory, according to the working enabling Him even to subdue all things to Himself.
