Righteousness through Faith in Christ (Romans 3:21–31)
1 CPDV Concerning other things, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. It is certainly not tiresome for me to write the same things to you, but for you, it is not necessary. BSB BSB: 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.
3 CPDV For we are the circumcised, we who serve God in the Spirit and who glory in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh. BSB BSB: For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—
4 CPDV Nevertheless, I might have confidence also in the flesh, for if anyone else seems to have confidence in the flesh, more so do I. BSB BSB: though I myself could have such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5 CPDV For I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew among Hebrews. According to the law, I was a Pharisee; BSB BSB: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6 CPDV according to zeal, I persecuted the Church of God; according to the justice that is in the law, I lived without blame. BSB BSB: as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to righteousness in the law, faultless.
7 CPDV But the things which had been to my gain, the same have I considered a loss, for the sake of Christ. BSB BSB: But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 CPDV Yet truly, I consider everything to be a loss, because of the preeminent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of everything, considering it all to be like dung, so that I may gain Christ, BSB BSB: More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 CPDV and so that you may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, the justice within faith, which is of God. BSB BSB: and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
10 CPDV So shall I know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his Passion, having been fashioned according to his death, BSB BSB: I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him in His death,
11 CPDV if, by some means, I might attain to the resurrection which is from the dead. BSB BSB: and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing on toward the Goal 13 CPDV Brothers, I do not consider that I have already attained this. Instead, I do one thing: forgetting those things that are behind, and extending myself toward those things that are ahead, BSB BSB: 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,
14 CPDV I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus. BSB BSB: I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
15 CPDV Therefore, as many of us as are being perfected, let us agree about this. And if in anything you disagree, God will reveal this to you also. BSB BSB: All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well.
16 CPDV Yet truly, whatever point we reach, let us be of the same mind, and let us remain in the same rule. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, we must live up to what we have already attained.
Citizenship in Heaven 17 CPDV Be imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who are walking similarly, just as you have seen by our example. BSB BSB: Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
18 CPDV For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ. BSB BSB: For as I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears: Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 CPDV Their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame: for they are immersed in earthly things. BSB BSB: Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.
20 CPDV But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, BSB BSB: But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 CPDV who will transform the body of our lowliness, according to the form of the body of his glory, by means of that power by which he is even able to subject all things to himself. BSB BSB: who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.