10 I want to know(A) Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,(B) becoming like him in his death,(C) 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection(D) from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,(E) but I press on to take hold(F) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.(G) 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind(H) and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on(I) toward the goal to win the prize(J) for which God has called(K) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

15 All of us, then, who are mature(L) should take such a view of things.(M) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.(N) 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example,(O) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.(P) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,(Q) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.(R) 19 Their destiny(S) is destruction, their god is their stomach,(T) and their glory is in their shame.(U) Their mind is set on earthly things.(V) 20 But our citizenship(W) is in heaven.(X) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,(Y) 21 who, by the power(Z) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies(AA) so that they will be like his glorious body.(AB)

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10 The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11 so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.

12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 15 So all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. 16 Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.

Imitate Paul

17 Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. 18 As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. 19 Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.

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