PHILIPPIANS3

1aWhateverhappens,mydearbrothersandsisters,rejoicein

theLord.

1bInevergettiredoftellingyouthesethings,andIdoitto

safeguardyourfaith.

2Watchoutforthosedogs,thosepeoplewhodoevil,

thosemutilatorswhosayyoumustbecircumcised

tobesaved.

3ForwewhoworshipbytheSpiritofGodaretheoneswho

aretrulycircumcised.WerelyonwhatChristJesus hasdoneforus.Weputnoconfidenceinhumaneffort,

4thoughIcouldhaveconfidenceinmyowneffort

ifanyonecould. Indeed,ifothershavereasonforconfidenceintheirownefforts,

Ihaveevenmore!

5IwascircumcisedwhenIwaseightdaysold.

Iamapure-bloodedcitizenofIsraelandamemberofthetribeofBenjamin—arealHebrew

ifthereeverwasone!

IwasamemberofthePharisees,whodemandthe

strictestobediencetotheJewishlaw.

6IwassozealousthatIharshlypersecutedthechurch.

Andasforrighteousness,Iobeyedthelawwithoutfault.

- FamilyHeritage

- SocialStatus

- BiblicalKnowledge

- ReligiousActivity

- MoralLifestyle

7Ioncethoughtthesethingswerevaluable,butnowIconsiderthemworthlessbecauseofwhatChrist

hasdone.

8Yes,everythingelseisworthlesswhencomparedwiththeinfinitevalueofknowing

ChristJesusmyLord.

ForhissakeIhavediscardedeverythingelse,

countingitallasgarbage,sothatIcouldgainChrist

9andbecomeonewithhim.Inolongercountonmyownrighteousnessthroughobeying

thelaw;rather,IbecomerighteousthroughfaithinChrist

ForGod’swayofmakingusrightwithhimselfdependsonfaith.

IttaughtmethatwhenGodisbigenoughandlovesme

enoughtosayHeforgivesme,IshouldactuallybelieveHim.

WhenIdon’ttrustGod’sforgiveness,it’skindoflikesayingIreallydon’tbelieve

He’sthatgood.

LynnmademethinkIshouldstopaskingGodtoforgiveme

overandoverwhenHe’smadeitclearHealreadyhas.