Righteousness through Faith in Christ
(Romans 3:21–31)
Finally, my brothers, 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. Php 4:4Rom 5:11Jas 1:21Pe 4:131Th 5:16Eph 6:10Jol 2:23Php 4:8
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! 2Co 11:13Tit 1:16Rev 22:15Isa 56:10-112Ti 3:1-6Gal 5:15Php 3:19Psa 22:16 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— Col 2:11Deu 30:6Rom 7:6Gal 6:13-15Rom 8:15Gal 5:25Rom 2:25-29Jhn 4:23-24 though I myself could have such confidence. 2Co 11:18-22
If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 2Co 11:22Rom 11:1Act 23:6Act 22:3Act 26:4-5Gen 17:12Jhn 7:21-24Luk 1:59 as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless. Gal 1:13-14Act 8:3Act 26:9-10Act 22:3-4Act 26:5Mat 5:20Rom 9:31-321Co 15:9
But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. Luk 14:33Mat 16:26Mat 13:44-46Luk 14:26Pro 13:8Php 3:8-10Luk 17:31-33Gen 19:17 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ Jer 9:23-24Rom 8:18Act 20:24Php 3:7Jhn 17:3Php 3:102Pe 1:31Co 2:2 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, 1 the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. 2Co 5:211Co 1:30Gal 2:16Rom 4:13-15Rom 4:5-6Rom 1:17Rom 8:1Isa 53:11
I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death, Gal 2:201Pe 4:1-22Ti 2:11-12Rom 8:17Rom 6:3-11Eph 1:19-211Pe 4:13-141Jn 2:3 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Luk 20:35-36Rev 20:5Act 23:6Act 26:72Co 11:3Heb 11:351Co 9:221Co 9:27
Pressing on toward the Goal
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 1Ti 6:11-122Pe 1:5-8Psa 138:8Hos 6:31Pe 3:11-132Co 7:1Isa 51:1Heb 13:21 Brothers, 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, Luk 9:62Heb 12:1-2Php 3:121Co 9:24-27Psa 27:4Php 3:8Heb 6:1Php 4:11-13 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. 1Co 9:241Pe 5:10Rev 3:212Ti 4:7-8Rom 8:28-301Th 2:122Pe 1:3Heb 3:1
All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. Jhn 7:171Co 2:6Gal 5:10Pro 2:3-6Jas 1:4-5Col 4:121Co 14:20Mat 5:48 Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained. Col 2:6Rev 3:3Rev 2:4-5Gal 6:16Heb 10:38-39Php 1:27Rom 15:5Php 2:2
Citizenship in Heaven
Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you. Php 4:91Co 4:161Pe 5:31Ti 4:12Heb 13:72Th 3:72Th 3:91Co 10:32 For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Eph 4:17Isa 8:11Gal 6:12Gal 1:7Gal 2:14Jer 13:171Th 4:62Pe 2:10 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. Rom 16:18Rom 8:5-72Pe 2:3Col 3:22Co 11:15Jud 1:12-132Pe 2:12Co 11:12
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Eph 2:19Col 3:1-32Co 4:18Heb 12:221Pe 1:3-42Ti 4:8Eph 2:61Th 1:10 who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body. 1Jn 3:2Col 3:41Co 15:42-56Rom 8:29Jhn 11:24-26Isa 26:19Mat 17:2Mat 28:18