認識基督最寶貴
1弟兄姊妹，你們要靠主喜樂！我再把這些事寫給你們，對我來說並不麻煩，對你們卻有好處。 2你們要提防那些犬類，那些作惡的人，那些鼓吹必須受割禮3·2 「割禮」參見創世記17章；希臘文用誇張的字眼描述割禮，有諷刺之意。才能得救的人。 3因為真正受割禮的人是我們這些靠著上帝的靈敬拜、以基督耶穌為榮、不倚靠自身條件的人。 4其實我也可以靠自身的條件。如果別人覺得可以靠自身的條件，我更可以。 5我出生後第八天就受了割禮，我是以色列人，屬於便雅憫支派，是道道地地的希伯來人。論守律法，我是法利賽人； 6論熱心，我曾經迫害教會；論律法要求的義，我是無可指責的。 7但是為了基督，我從前以為有價值的，現在認為毫無價值。 8不但如此，我看萬事都毫無價值，因為認識我主基督耶穌最寶貴。我為祂失去了一切，我把失去的一切視為垃圾，好得到基督， 9與祂聯合。我成為義人不是因為遵行律法，而是因為信靠基督。這義從上帝而來，以信為基礎。 10我渴望認識基督和祂復活的大能，與祂一同受苦，甚至到死的地步3·10 「甚至到死的地步」或譯「效法祂的死」。， 11這樣我無論如何都可以從死裡復活。
直奔標竿
12這並不是說我已經得到了或者純全了，我還要竭力追求，或者可以達到基督耶穌要我達到的目標。 13弟兄姊妹，我並非以為自己已經得到了，我只專注一件事，就是忘記背後，努力向前， 14直奔目標，要贏得上帝藉著基督耶穌從天上呼召我去得的獎賞。 15我們中間成熟的基督徒都應該有這樣的看法。即使你們在什麼事上看法不同，上帝也必讓你們明白。 16然而，我們長進到什麼程度，就照著什麼程度去行。
17弟兄姊妹，你們要一同效法我，也要向那些以我們為榜樣的人學習。 18我已經多次告訴你們，現在又流著淚提醒你們：有許多人行事為人與基督的十字架為敵。 19他們的神就是自己的肚腹，他們以自己的羞恥為榮，只想著地上的事，他們的結局是滅亡。 20我們卻是天上的國民，殷切等候從天降臨的救主，就是主耶穌基督。 21那時，祂要以降服萬物的大能將我們這卑賤的軀體改變成像祂那樣榮耀的身體。
Do Not Trust in Who You Are or What You Can Do
1Further, my brothers and sisters, be joyful because you belong to the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write about some important matters to you again. If you know about them, you will have a safe path to follow. 2Watch out for those dogs. They are people who do evil things. When they circumcise, it is nothing more than a useless cutting of the body. 3But we have been truly circumcised. We serve God by the power of his Spirit. We boast about what Christ Jesus has done. We don’t put our trust in who we are or what we can do. 4I have many reasons to trust in who I am and what I have done. Someone else may think they have reasons to trust in these things. But I have even more.
5I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee. 6As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly.
7I thought things like that were really something great. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ. 8Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is worth much more than anything else. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can know Christ better. 9I want to be joined to him. Being right with God does not come from my obeying the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God because of faith. 10I want to know Christ better. Yes, I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to join him in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death. 11Then by God’s grace I will rise from the dead.
12I have not yet received all these things. I have not yet reached my goal. Christ Jesus took hold of me so that I could reach that goal. So I keep pushing myself forward to reach it. 13Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. 14I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself.
Following Paul’s Example
15So all of us who are grown up in the faith should see things this way. Maybe you think differently about something. But God will make it clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already reached.
17Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. You have us as a model. So pay close attention to those who live as we do. 18I have told you these things many times before. Now I tell you again with tears in my eyes. Many people live like enemies of the cross of Christ. 19The only thing they have coming to them is death. Their stomach is their god. They brag about what they should be ashamed of. They think only about earthly things. 20But we are citizens of heaven. And we can hardly wait for a Savior from there. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He has the power to bring everything under his control. By his power he will change our earthly bodies. They will become like his glorious body.
