Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Romans 3:21–31)

1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and for you it is safe.

2Beware of those that are like dogs, beware of evil doers, beware of the concision. 3For we are of the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and having no confidence in the flesh. 4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other thinks he hath whereof to trust in the flesh, I more: 5having been circumcised on the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of Hebrews, with respect to the law a pharisee, 6as to zeal persecuting the church, as to the righteousness of the law blameless: but those things,

7which were once gain to me, I counted loss for Christ. 8Yea doubtless and I count all but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all, and I account them but dung, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him, 9not having my own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is by the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him, 10and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death; 11if by any means I may attain to the resurrection of the dead:

Pressing on toward the Goal

12not that I have yet won the prize, or am already perfect: but I press forward to acquire that perfection, for which also I have been apprehended by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have attained it: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to those before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, attend to this: and if in any thing ye think differently, God will reveal this also unto you. 16But in what we have attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Citizenship in Heaven

17Brethren, be imitators of me, and observe those that walk as ye have us for an example. 18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, 19whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who mind earthly things) For our conversation is in heaven, 20from whence also we expect the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ: who will change our vile body, 21that it may be made like his glorious body, according to the energy of his ability to subdue all things to Himself.