CHAPTER 3
Finally,
my
brothers,
rejoice
in
the Lord.
It is no
trouble
for me
to write
the
same things
to you
again,
and
it is a safeguard
for you.
For
it is we
who are
the
circumcision,
we who
worship
by the Spirit
of God,
who
glory
in
Christ
Jesus,
and who
put no confidence
in
the flesh—
though
I myself
could have
such confidence.
If
anyone
else
thinks
he has grounds for confidence
in
the flesh,
I
have more:
circumcised
on the eighth day,
of
the people
of Israel,
of the tribe
of Benjamin;
a Hebrew
of
Hebrews;
as to
the Law,
a Pharisee;
More than that,
I count
all things
as
loss
compared to
the
surpassing excellence
of
knowing
Christ
Jesus
my
Lord,
for
whom
I have lost
all things.
I consider them
rubbish,
that
I may gain
Christ
and
be found
in
Him,
not
having
my own
righteousness
from
the Law,
but
that which
is through
faith
in Christ,
the
righteousness
from
God
on the basis of
faith.
I want to know
Christ
and
the
power
of
His
resurrection
and
the
fellowship
of
His
sufferings,
being conformed
to Him
in His
death,
Not
that
I have already obtained all this,
or
have already been perfected,
but
I press on
to take hold of
that for which
Christ
Jesus
took hold of me.
Brothers,
I
do not
consider
myself
yet to have laid hold of it.
But
one thing I do:
Forgetting
what is
behind
and
straining toward
what is
ahead,
All of us who
are mature
should embrace this point of view.
And
if
you think
differently
about some issue,
God
will reveal
this
to you
as well.
Join one another in following
my example,
brothers,
and
carefully observe
those who
live
according to
the pattern
we set for you.
For
as
I have often told
you before,
and
now
declare
even
with tears:
Many
live
as enemies
of the
cross
of Christ.
Their
end is
destruction,
their
god is
their
belly,
and
their
glory
is in
their
shame.
Their
minds are set on
earthly
things.
But
our
citizenship
is
in
heaven,
and
we eagerly await
a Savior
from
there,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
who,
by
the
power
that enables Him
to subject
all things
to Himself,
will transform
our
lowly
bodies
to be like
His
glorious
body.