¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.^(A)

⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(A)

⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven^(A) is my brother and sister and mother.”

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,^(A) but I press on to take hold^(B) of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.^(C)

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.^(A)

¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;^{(A) 16} for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”^[a](B)