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

1As to the rest, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me is not slothful, and to you safe.

2Look out for dogs, look out for evil workmen, look out for the incision. 3For we are the circumcision, serving God in spirit, and boasting in Christ Jesus, and not trusting in the flesh. 4Although I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other think to have confidence in the flesh, I more: 5Circumcision done the eighth day, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6For zeal, driving out the church; for justice in the law, not to be found fault with.

7But what things were gain to me, these I have thought loss for Christ. 8But surely, I also think all things to be loss for the superiority of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have been made to lose all things, and I think to be offscourings, that I shall gain Christ, 9And be found in him, not having my justice, that of the law, but that by faith of Christ, the justice from God by faith: 10To know him, and the power of his rising up, and the mutual participation of his sufferings, being rendered conformable to his death; 11If somehow I shall arrive at the rising up of the dead.

Pressing on toward the Goal

12Not that I have already attained or have been already perfected: and I pursue, if I also may overtake, for which also I was overtaken by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I reckon not myself to have been overtaken: but one, truly forgetting things behind, and stretching still farther to things before, 14I pursue toward the scope for the prize of combat of the calling above of God in Christ Jesus. 15Therefore, as many as are completed, let us have this in mind; and if in any thing ye think otherwise, God will also reveal this to you. 16But, at what we before arrived, to walk by the same rule, to think the same.

Citizenship in Heaven

17Be ye imitators together of me, brethren, and observe narrowly those walking thus, as ye have us for a type. 18(For many walk, of whom I said to you often, and now also say weeping, the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end destruction, whose God the belly, and their glory in shame, having in mind earthly things.) 20For our citizenship is in the heavens; from whence we also expect the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who will change the body of our humiliation, for it to be conformable to the body of his glory, according to the operation by which he is able to place all things under himself.