Philippians 3

Run Straight Toward the Goal

1 Now then, brothers and sisters, be joyful in the Lord. It’s no trouble for me to write the same things to you, and it’s for your safety.2 Beware of dogs! Beware of those who do evil things. Beware of those who insist on circumcision.3 We are the true circumcised people of God because we serve God’s Spirit and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don’t place any confidence in physical things,4 although I could have confidence in my physical qualifications. If anyone else thinks that he can trust in something physical, I can claim even more.5 I was circumcised on the eighth day. I’m a descendant of Israel. I’m from the tribe of Benjamin. I’m a pure-blooded Hebrew. When it comes to living up to standards, I was a Pharisee.

6 When it comes to being enthusiastic, I was a persecutor of the church. When it comes to winning God’s approval by keeping Jewish laws, I was perfect.
7 These things that I once considered valuable, I now consider worthless for Christ.8 It’s far more than that! I consider everything else worthless because I’m much better off knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. It’s because of him that I think of everything as worthless. I threw it all away in order to gain Christ9 and to have a relationship with him. This means that I didn’t receive God’s approval by obeying his laws. The opposite is true! I have God’s approval through faith in Christ. This is the approval that comes from God and is based on faith10 that knows Christ. Faith knows the power that his coming back to life gives and what it means to share his suffering. In this way I’m becoming like him in his death,

11 with the confidence that I’ll come back to life from the dead.
12 It’s not that I’ve already reached the goal or have already completed the course. But I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me.13 Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and

14 I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus.
15 Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think.

16 However, we should be guided by what we have learned so far.

Imitate Me

17 Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you.18 I have often told you, and now tell you with tears in my eyes, that many live as the enemies of the cross of Christ.19 In the end they will be destroyed. Their own emotions are their god, and they take pride in the shameful things they do. Their minds are set on worldly things.20 We, however, are citizens of heaven. We look forward to the Lord Jesus Christ coming from heaven as our Savior.

21 Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body.

Philippians 3

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe.2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision:3 for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;6 as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.7 Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.8 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, even that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;11 if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.13 Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:16 only, whereunto we have attained, by that same rule let us walk.17 Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.18 For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:19 whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.20 For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:21 who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.