Philippians 3:8

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