Philippians 3
The apostle Paul urges the Philippians to beware of those who would lead them astray and to instead follow his example of serving God in the Spirit and glorying in Christ Jesus. Paul recounts his own impressive credentials as a Pharisee, but notes that he has come to consider these things as losses compared to the knowledge of Jesus Christ. He expresses his desire to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and to attain the resurrection from the dead, but acknowledges that he has not yet reached perfection. Paul encourages the Philippians to imitate him and to focus on their heavenly citizenship, awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform their bodies to be like his glorious body.
1Concerning other things, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is certainly not tiresome for me to write the same things to you, but for you, it is not necessary2Beware of dogs; beware of those who work evil; beware of those who are divisive3For we are the circumcised, we who serve God in the Spirit and who glory in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh4Nevertheless, I might have confidence also in the flesh, for if anyone else seems to have confidence in the flesh, more so do I5For I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew among Hebrews. According to the law, I was a Pharisee6according to zeal, I persecuted the Church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, I lived without blame7But the things which had been to my gain, the same have I considered a loss, for the sake of Christ8Yet truly, I consider everything to be a loss, because of the preeminent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of everything, considering it all to be like dung, so that I may gain Christ9and so that you may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, the justice within faith, which is of God10So shall I know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Passion, having been fashioned according to his death11if, by some means, I might attain to the resurrection which is from the dead12It is not as though I have already received this, or were already perfect. But rather I pursue, so that by some means I might attain, that in which I have already been attained by Christ Jesus13Brothers, I do not consider that I have already attained this. Instead, I do one thing: forgetting those things that are behind, and extending myself toward those things that are ahead14I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus15Therefore, as many of us as are being perfected, let us agree about this. And if in anything you disagree, God will reveal this to you also16Yet truly, whatever point we reach, let us be of the same mind, and let us remain in the same rule17Be imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who are walking similarly, just as you have seen by our example18For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ19Their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame: for they are immersed in earthly things20But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ21who will transform the body of our lowliness, according to the form of the body of his glory, by means of that power by which he is even able to subject all things to himself
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