Philippians 3:1-11

1. 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.

2. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
3. 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. though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

   If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:

5. 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;
6. as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8. 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. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9. 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 and is by faith.
10. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11. and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

    (Also, see self.)

    All glory to God!

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    the spirit is willing, the body is weak

    Sabbath, 7/21/07, 8:27 AM EST USA
    This phrase escapes my understanding. The best I do have (and this is only a guess) is the sentence before it:
    

    Matthew 26:
    "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (NIV)
    or
    "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (KJV)
    

    Also,

    Mark 14:38
    "Watch and pray so you do not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (NIV)
    or
    "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." (KJV)
    

    Here is my best understanding:
    Not watching and not praying leads one into temptation.
    Temptation leads the fleshy part of us into sin.
    Thus, our willing spirit (which I think means 'our desire', or 'our knowing') to obey God is overcome and defeated.

    The Holy Spirit tells us for what to pray. God is the Potter and we are His clay. May God make us all to obey His Word, in Jesus' name, amen. (PS: He is making His elect - of this there is no doubt - so what I mean is: may He make us one of His elect. Amen and amen.)

    All glory to God!

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