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.

¹³ You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water,^(A) and the priest is to bring all of them and burn them^(B) on the altar.^(C) It is a burnt offering,^(D) a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

¹⁷ He shall tear it open by the wings, not dividing it completely,^(A) and then the priest shall burn it on the wood^(B) that is burning on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

4 As a prisoner^(A) for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy^(B) of the calling^(C) you have received.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy^(A) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm^(B) in the one Spirit,^[a] striving together^(C) as one for the faith of the gospel

¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy^(A) of God, who calls^(B) you into his kingdom and glory.