Maintain passion during suffering by cherishing 3 certainties--1. Suffering renews the inner man -4-16--2. Suffering produces future glory -4-17--3. Suffering benefits the invisible -4-18-

The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ-- Justification -3-9--- Sanctification -3-10--- Glorification -3-11---Sanctification involves knowing 3 realities---1- Christ--2- Power--3- Fellowship

Pressing towards the goal of Christlikeness necessitates--- dissatisfaction with one's present spiritual condition -3-12a--- maximum effort -3-12b--- have one driving compulsion -3-13-14--- a righteous attitude -3-15--- consistency -3-16-

The Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ-- Justification -3-9--- Sanctification -3-10--- Glorification -3-11---Justification- An instantaneous act by God in which He --1- Forgives our sins--2- We receive Christ's perfect righteousness

Knowing Christ as Lord is beneficial because of these 4 Characteristics of our resurrected bodies---1- Imperishable--2- Glory--3- Power--4- Spiritual

The gospel demands--- Meticulously consider how everything you have done cannot produce a right standing with the Lord. In fact, trusting in those deeds is sin that must be repented of.-- Believe that Christ alone is gain.

- BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS MORE THAN FOOD AND-CLOTHING -25--Look at life from God's perspective and treasure-what He treasures.-- LOOK AT GOD AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER--26--God functions like a good father by providing for-and taking from us.

-3-4b-6- Religious ritual does not earn favor with God---1. Inherited privilege does not earn favor with God -3-5a---2. Personal achievements do not earn favor with God -3-5b-6-

Three explicit qualities in verse 3 identify believers as the true circumcision--1. True Believers Worship in the Spirit--2. True Worshipers Glory in Christ Jesus--3. True Worshipers Put No Confidence in the Flesh--Self-confidence is the mark of the unsaved -Luke 18-9-17--Confidence in your flesh is like trusting a broken crutch -Proverbs 3-5--The Lord sends trials into our lives to teach us not to trust in ourselves -2 Corinthians 1-8-9-

Those who are truly circumcised understand biblical boasting--- Sinful boasting-boasting in men -1 Cor. 3-21--boasting in the Law -Rom. 2-23--boasting in your flesh -Gal. 6-13--- Righteous boasting-Boast in the Lord -1Cor. 1-31- 2Cor. 10-17--Boast in afflictions -Rom. 5-3--Boast in weaknesses -2 Cor. 12-9--Boast in the cross -Gal. 6-14-