THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF KNOWING CHRIST

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 heart by 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 reason for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has 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 Legalistic Righteousness, faultless.

BUT WHATEVER WAS TO MY PROFIT I NOW CONSIDER LOSS

For the sake of Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss

COMPARED TO THE SURPASSING GREATNESS

OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS MY LORD,

For whose sake I have LOST ALL THINGS [in the Jewish cultural realm].

I consider them RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ

And 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 is by Faith.

I want to KNOW CHRIST and the Power of His Resurrection

And the Fellowship of SHARING HIS SUFFERINGS,

Becoming like Him in His Death, and so, somehow,

TO ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.

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.

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.

(Philippians 3:1-14)

Today, those who belong to Christ Jesus

Will regard Christian Religion that is only a Form

And this Wicked American Culture we live in, as a loss,

Compared to KNOWING CHRIST.

In fact we cannot KNOW CHRIST

And be of the spirit of a Church that is Form only

And an American Culture that is in Overt Rebellion against God.

Like the apostle Paul we must FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND,

And PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE,

Eternal LIFE in Christ Jesus.

To do this, will require sharing in the SUFFERINGS of Christ.

NO ONE will ATTAIN Eternal LIFE without SUFFERING, as did Christ.

Today, Christians are SUFFERING all over this Wicked World.

A Wicked World that is becoming more Wicked everyday--

A World that Satan is preparing to receive his son,

The BEAST of Revelation as their “god;” to receive his “mark,”

Damning themselves to Eternal Death.

Yet Christ Jesus has set a Path before each of us.

It is the Path of Faith in Him and His Word,

And it leads Heavenward, to the Glory of His Kingdom

That is the ANTITHESIS of this World.

I pray that all who read this message are on that Path.

Today, the World is raging against God, rushing toward oblivion. (Psalm 2)

This World in its 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!