All for Christ

3 Finally, my brethren, arejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

2 bBeware of dogs, beware of cevil workers, dbeware of the mutilation! 3 For we are ethe circumcision, fwho worship 1God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though gI also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I hmore so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, iof the tribe of Benjamin, ja Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, ka Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, lpersecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But mwhat things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss nfor the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having omy own righteousness, which is from the law, but pthat which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the qpower of His resurrection, and rthe fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may sattain 2to the resurrection from the dead.

Pressing Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already tattained, 3 or am already uperfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have 4apprehended; but one thing I do, vforgetting those things which are behind and wreaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 xI press toward the goal for the prize of ythe upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are zmature, ahave this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, bGod will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already 5attained, clet us walk dby the same 6rule, let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven

17 Brethren, ejoin in following my example, and note those who so walk, as fyou have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are gthe enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 hwhose end is destruction, iwhose god is their belly, and jwhose glory is in their shame—kwho set their mind on earthly things.