Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

2Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the [†]mutilation! 3For we are the [†]circumcision, who worship [†]in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of [†]knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, [†]for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own which is from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God upon faith, 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and [†]the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11[†]in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing On Toward the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on [†]so that I may lay hold of that [†]for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are [†]perfect, think this way; and if in anything you think differently, God will reveal that also to you. 16However, let us keep [†]walking in step with the same standard to which we have attained.

17Brothers, join in following my example, and look for those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk—of whom I often told you, and now tell you even crying—as enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their stomach and glory is in their shame, who set their thoughts on earthly things. 20For our [†]citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform [†]the body of our humble state into conformity with [†]the body of His glory, by His working through which He is able to even subject all things to Himself.