12 I haven’t already received that, or already reached perfection, but I’m running hard to try to grab it, in the same way that I was grabbed by Messiah Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus). 13 Brothers and sisters, I’m not under the illusion that I’ve already grabbed it, but I do do this one thing: forgetting what’s behind me, and taking long strides towards what’s ahead of me, 14 I’m running hard toward the prize of being called up to heaven by God through Messiah Yeshua.

15 Those of us who are mature should think that way, and if you don’t yet, then God will reveal everything to you, 16 however, whatever we’ve already attained, that should be held onto.

17 Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me,[ref] as well as watching others that have walked a similar path and can be examples for all of you. 18 As I’ve often told you before and now say it again with tears, there are many who are against the stake of the messiah 19 and their end is destruction. Their god is their belly, and they take pride in their shame—they’re only thinking about earthly things. 20 For us, our citizenship is in heaven and we’re waiting for our saviour to return from there—the master Yeshua Messiah—21 who will take these embarrassing bodies of ours and make them similar to his resurrected body—he’s capable of doing that and to put everything under his control.