Press On Toward the Goal

Philippians 3

Finally, my siblings, y’all rejoice in the Lord! It is not tiresome for me to write the same things to y’all again—it is a safeguard for y’all.

Y’all must beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision. For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh; though I myself have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If any anyone thinks that they have confidence in the flesh, I have more: I was circumcised the eighth day, from the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. Regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the assembly; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, found blameless.

However, whatever was a gain to me I know consider a loss for the sake of Christ. But more than that, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I suffered and lost everything. Indeed, I consider them excrement, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

Siblings, I don’t consider myself to have yet taken hold of it, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forward to the things ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

Therefore, let those of us who are mature think this way. And if y’all think differently about something, God will also reveal that to y’all. Nevertheless, let us continue living up to what we have already attained.

Y’all should imitate me, siblings, and observe those who are living this way, just as y’all have us as an example. For as I have told y’all often and am telling y’all now as I weep, there are many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, whose glory is in their shame, and who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble bodies into the form of his glorious body, according to the power through which he is able to subject all things to himself.