Philippians 3

Righteousness through Faith in Christ

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.

2 Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 3 For [it is] we [who] are the circumcision, we who worship by [the] Spirit of God,[fn] who glory in Christ Jesus, and [who] put no confidence in [the] flesh—4 though I myself could have such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in [the] flesh, I [have] more: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in [the] law, faultless.

7 But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from [the] law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ,[fn] the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

10 [I want] to know [Christ] and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to [Him] in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained [all this], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus[fn] took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I {do} not consider myself {yet}[fn] to have taken hold [of it]. But one thing [I do]: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what [is] ahead, 14 I press on toward [the] goal to [win] the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

15 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. 16 Nevertheless, we must live up to the standard we have already attained, [being of] the same mind.[fn]

Citizenship in Heaven

17 Join one another in following my [example], brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. 18 For [as] I have often told you {before}, and now say [again] even with tears: Many live [as] enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 [Their] end [is] destruction, [their] god [is] [their] belly, and [their] glory [is] in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from [there], [the] Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

MSB PHP Chapter 3