Warning concerning false teaching
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📚Finally, my brethren, rejoice✭ in the Lord. To write the same things✭ to you again is no trouble for me, and for you it is safe. 2 📚✭Beware of dogs✭! Beware of evil workers✭! Beware of the mutilators✭!
No confidence in the flesh
3 📚For we✭ are the circumcision who worship God in the Spirit✭ and rejoice in Christ✭ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh✭. 4 📚✭Though I too might have confidence in the flesh. If any one else thinks he has reasons for trusting in the flesh, I have more:
5 📚Circumcised the eighth day✭, of the stock of Israel✭, of the tribe of Benjamin✭, a Hebrew of the Hebrews✭; as touching the Law, a Pharisee✭; 6 📚concerning zeal✭, persecuting the church; as for the righteousness that is in the Law, blameless✭.
7 📚✭But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Joyfully renouncing all things for Christ
8 📚Yes, indeed, and I count all things as loss for 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 my own righteousness✭, which is of the Law, but that which is through faith✭ in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God by faith; 10 📚that I may know him✭, and the power of his resurrection✭, and the fellowship of his sufferings✭, being conformed to his death✭; 11 📚if by any means I might attain to the resurrection from among the dead✭.
Running for the goal
12 📚Not that I have already attained✭, or have already been made perfect✭. But I press on✭ so that I may lay hold✭ of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. 13 📚Brethren, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it. But one thing I do:✭ forgetting✭ those things which are behind, and stretching✭ forward to those things which are ahead, 14 📚I press toward the goal✭ for the prize✭ of the upward calling✭ of God in Christ Jesus.
15 📚Therefore, let us, as many as are fully mature✭, have this same mind. If you think differently in anything, God will reveal this also to you. 16 📚✭In any case, in the measure we have already attained, let us conduct ourselves by the same rule, let us have the same mind.
17 📚Brethren, you have us as an example✭, so join others in following me, and take note✭ of those who walk so.
Two kinds of persons, two different ends
18 📚(For many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you of them, and now tell you even weeping✭. 19 📚Their end is destruction✭, their God is their belly✭, and their glory is in their shame✭, and their mind is on earthly things.)✭ 20 📚✭But our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 📚who will transform✭ our lowly body, that it may become like his glorious body✭, according to the power that enables him to subdue✭ all things under himself.