FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND

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.

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do Evil,

those Mutilators of the flesh,

FOR IT IS WE WHO ARE THE CIRCUMCISION (of the Spirit),

We who Worship by the Spirit of God,

Who Glory in Christ Jesus,

And who put No Confidence in the flesh--

Though I myself have reasons for such Confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has reason 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 Legalistic Righteousness, Faultless.

But whatever was to my Profit I now consider Loss

COMPARED TO THE SURPASSING GREATNESS

OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD,

For whose sake I have Lost All Things.

I CONSIDER THEM RUBBISH,

THAT I MAY GAIN Christ AN MAY 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 and is by Faith.

I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION

And the Fellowship of His Sufferings,

BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH,

And so, somehow, to Attain the Resurrection from the Dead.

NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED 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.

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,

I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE

For which God has called me Heavenward IN CHRIST JESUS.

ALL OF US WHO ARE MATURE

Should take such a View of things.

And if on some Point you think differently,

That too God will Make Clear to you.

Only let us live up to what we have already Attained.

Join with others in following my example, brothers,

And take note of those who live

In According to the Pattern we gave you,

For as I have often told you before and now say again

Even with Tears,

MANY LIVE AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

Their Destiny is Destruction, their 'god' is their Stomach,

And their glory is in their SHAME.

THEIR MIND IS ON EARTHLY THINGS.

But our Citizen ship is IN HEAVEN.

And we Eagerly await a SAVIOR from there,

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who by the Power that enables Him

TO BRING EVERYTHING UNDER HIS CONTROL,

Will TRANSFORM our lowly bodies

So that they will be like His Glorious Body.

(Philippians 3)

Therefore, my brothers,

You whom I love and long for,

My JOY and my CROWN,

THAT IS HOW YOU SHOULD STAND FIRM IN THE LORD,

Dear Friends!

(Philippians 4:1)

Those of us who are IN CHRIST JESUS

MUST FIRST FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND

And then Press On to Take Hold of THAT

For which Christ Jesus Took Hold of us.

Today, MANY Christians live as Enemies of the Cross of Christ

And like the Five Foolish Virgins, will not be Ready,

To meet the Lord when He Comes.

Few Christians understand

That we are in the Last of the Last Day of TIME;

That the Apostasy us Underway [2 Thessalonians 2:3],

And that Soon the Antichrist will be Revealed.

Christ Jesus told us:

Be always on the Watch,

And pray that you will be able to Escape All that is about to happen,

And that you may be able TO STAND before the Son of Man.

(Luke 21:36)

Today, the World is Raging Against God, Rushing toward Oblivion. (Psalm 2)

This World in it's present form is passing away. (1 Corinthians 7:31)

America is being ground to powder because of her SIN against God.

Save yourself from this Corrupt Generation! (Acts 2:40)

As God has written, so shall it be! Hallelujah! Maranatha!

Father, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in Heaven!