⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(A) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(B) and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;^(C) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

¹⁸ All this is from God,^(A) who reconciled us to himself through Christ^(B) and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.^(C) And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,^(D) as though God were making his appeal through us.^(E) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^{(F) 21} God made him who had no sin^(G) to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.^(H)

¹⁹ For God was pleased^(A) to have all his fullness^(B) dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile^(C) to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,^(D) by making peace^(E) through his blood,^(F) shed on the cross.

²¹ Once you were alienated from God and were enemies^(G) in your minds^(H) because of^[a] your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled^(I) you by Christ’s physical body^(J) through death to present you^(K) holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation^(L)— ²³ if you continue^(M) in your faith, established^(N) and firm, and do not move from the hope^(O) held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven,^(P) and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.^(Q)

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once^(A) for sins,^(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.^(C) He was put to death in the body^(D) but made alive in the Spirit.^{(E) 19} After being made alive,^[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits^(F)— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently^(G) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.^(H) In it only a few people, eight in all,^(I) were saved^(J) through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you^(K) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience^(L) toward God.^[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(M) 22} who has gone into heaven^(N) and is at God’s right hand^(O)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.^(P)