Philippians 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

Righteousness Through Faith in Christ

3 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

² Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Whether in sickness, health, sadness, despair, trials, or gladness it is always good to rejoice in the Lord. I know that all to often I forget to rejoice in God, who He is and what He has done for me. 

Paul does not hold back on what he thinks about people who say that circumcision is necessary to be a christian. What do I add to my faith? What steps and lifestyle do I say are needed to be Christian? I prayed to accept Jesus into my heart at 3 years of age. I have been raised in the church with do this and don't do that and all will be well, yet I find that I am unable to obey.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

I instead try to sacrifice. I can give up all the things that God would have me give up, but that does not result in salvation... or joy. That results in a bitter heart when God does not bless me that way I want Him to in return. If I instead look at what God has done for me... The more I contemplate what God has done through His Son, the more grateful my heart is. The more I rejoice. May I count that whatever good I gain as loss. 
One interpretation of verse 14 is keeping death in mind makes one mature. We have the YOLO ( You only live once) saying, yet merely living in light of death is not what makes us mature. Living with Christ amazing gift of salvation in mind and remembering that God calls to others things makes us mature. Now comes the active waiting. I press on toward what God has called me, yet I am waiting as he transforms my heart and body to be like his. 

¹⁹ And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

I don't have the ability to follow God. I have a dead heart that is made of stone. I cannot even obey, yet He is giving me a heart of flesh. He is shaping my heart, patterns of thought, and actions into His.