2.5 KiB
Righteousness Through Faith in Christ
Chapter 3
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Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
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Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
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For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh--
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though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
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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;
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as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
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But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
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Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
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and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--
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that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
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that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Straining Toward the Goal
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Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
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Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
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I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
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Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
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Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
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For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
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Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
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But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
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who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.