(June, 17-2016 on Friday)

Philippians 3: ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, (2)

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¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. (9)

¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

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⁹ and be found in Him, not having a Righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through Faith in Christ—the Righteousness that comes from GOD on the basis of Faith. (9)

¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the Power of His Resurrection and Participation in His Sufferings, becoming like Him in His Death,

¹¹ and so, somehow, Attaining to the Resurrection from the Dead.

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Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too GOD will make clear to you. (6)

¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

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⁶ as for zeal, Persecuting the Church; as for Righteousness based on the Law, faultless. (6)

⁷ But whatever were Gains to me I now consider Loss for the sake of Christ.

⁸ What is more, I consider everything a Loss because of the surpassing worth of Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have Lost all things. I Consider them Garbage, that I may Gain Christ

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²¹ who, by the Power that enables Him to bring everything under His Control, will Transform our Lowly Bodies so that they will be like His Glorious Body. (3)

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¹² Not that I have already Obtained all this, or have already Arrived at my Goal, but I press on to take Hold of that for which Christ Jesus took Hold of me. (3)

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken Hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is Behind and Straining Toward what is Ahead,

¹⁴ I press on Toward the Goal to Win the Prize for which GOD has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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No Confidence in the Flesh

3 Further, my brothers and sisters, Rejoice in the LORD! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a Safeguard for you.

² Watch out for those Dogs, those Evildoers, those Mutilators of the Flesh.

³ For it is we who are the Circumcision, we who serve GOD by His Spirit, who Boast in Christ Jesus, and who put No Confidence in the Flesh— (3)

⁴ though I myself have Reasons for such Confidence.

If someone else thinks they have Reasons to put Confidence in the Flesh, I have more:

⁵ Circumcised on the Eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in Regard to the Law, a Pharisee;

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