Philippians 3:3
CONTEXT- Contending together for the high calling with a view to the Christian's joy and crown Philippians 3:1-4:9 1 Now therefore, my brothers, rejoice in the lord. Writing you the same things you have heard before is not irksome to me because it reinforces you. 2 Beware of dogs [backbiters]. Beware of destructively evil workers. Beware of those who mutilate the flesh. 3 We are the [true] circumcision who worship God by the spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh, 4 even though I myself had confidence in the flesh. (If anyone thinks he has a right to trust in the flesh, I have a greater right: 5 circumcised when I was eight days old; from the race of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, the son of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, I persecuted the Church; as to the law’s standard for righteousness, I became faultless.) 7 But I consider those things which were formerly a personal gain to be a loss on account of Christ. 8 Yea indeed, I consider all these things to be a loss on account of the exceedingly superior knowledge pertaining to Christ Jesus my lord. For his sake I lost all these things and I now consider them garbage and dung, so that I might gain Christ 9 and be discovered in him, not with my righteousness according to the law’s standard, but with the righteousness according to God’s standard, which is by the perfect believing of Christ. 10 So by it I know that I know that I know that I know him experientially [as my savior] and the inherent power of his resurrection [by the new birth] and the fellowship of his suffering [identification with Christ], by being conformed to his death. 11 Thus, I shall reach out towards the out-resurrection from among the dead. 12 I have not yet received this final victory, nor am I yet made perfect [with a new body]; but I am pursuing the goal [running as an athlete] in order to lay my hands on that prize for which Christ Jesus laid his hands on me. 13 My brothers, in no
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have already taken hold of the prize. But this I do: Forgetting the things which lie behind me and stretching out toward the things which lie before me, 14 I pursue [run toward] the goal [finish line] for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, let as many of us as are fully initiated, mature believers think this thought [pursuing the goal for the prize]. If you entertain thoughts which are in any way different, God shall reveal even this to you. 16 In any case, let us conduct our walk in alignment and harmony with the standard of the standing at which we have arrived. Let us think the same thoughts. 17 My brothers, be imitators of me and mark out for the goal of your conduct those who walk according to the example we set for you. 18 (For many are walking in other ways, about whom I have told you many times and now I tell you with tears in my eyes, that they a