ESV Study Bible | English Standard Version

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers, [1] k rejoice in the Lord. l To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for m the dogs, look out for n the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For o we are the circumcision, p who worship q by the Spirit of God [2] and r glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 s though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 t circumcised on the eighth day, u of the people of Israel, v of the tribe of Benjamin, u a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, w a Pharisee; 6 x as to zeal, y a persecutor of the church; z as to righteousness under the law, [3] blameless. 7 But a whatever gain I had, b I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of c the surpassing worth of d knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I e have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having f a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but g that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 h that I may know him and i the power of his resurrection, and j may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may k attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already l obtained this or m am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: n forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for o the prize of the upward p call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are q mature think this way, and if in anything r you think otherwise, s God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only t let us hold true to what we have attained.

17 Brothers, u join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk v according to the example you have in us. 18 For w many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you x even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 y Their end is destruction, z their god is their belly, and a they glory in their shame, with b minds set on earthly things. 20 But c our citizenship is in heaven, and d from it we e await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform f our lowly body g to be like his glorious body, h by the power that enables him even i to subject all things to himself.