Pressing On Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ [fn]Jesus has taken hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of [fn]it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore all of us who are mature should adopt this mindset, and if you adopt a different mindset about anything, God will reveal that to you as well. 16 Nevertheless, let us live up to the same standard that we have already [fn]attained; let us adopt the same mindset.

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

4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved friends.