Philippians chapter 3 today. We finished chapter 2 last week. We'll pick it up in verse 1 and

Lord will he make it all the way through to verse 9. So I'll have you stand if you're able.

You can follow along as I read. If not that's all right where you're seated is fine.

The Apostle Paul is writing by the Holy Spirit to the church there in Philippi,

and he says verse 1, further, my brothers and sisters, 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.

Watch out for those dogs, those evil-doers, those mutilators of the flesh.

For verse 3, it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by the Spirit,

who boast in Christ Jesus and who put no confidence in the flesh, though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks

they have reasons to put 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 in regard to the law,

a Pharisee, as for zeal persecuting the church, as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But, verse 7, whatever work gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.

I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ and verse 9 be found in Him, not having a

righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ,

the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Let's pray if you would join with me.

Lord, we have just read a passage of scripture here in your word that is rather intense,

so much so that we need more so for the Holy Spirit to open up the eyes of our understanding.

Lord, will you at this time, as only you can, and are always so faithful to, speak into our lives in and through the text that is before us

today. Lord, that's why we're here. We want to hear you speak in that still, small, refining

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