Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,^(A) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.^{(B) 2} Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.^{(C) 3} For you died,^(D) and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life,^(E) appears,^(F) then you also will appear with him in glory.^(G)

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you:^(A) Everything must be fulfilled^(B) that is written about me in the Law of Moses,^(C) the Prophets^(D) and the Psalms.”^(E)

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer^(F) and rise from the dead on the third day,^{(G) 47} and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name^(H) to all nations,^(I) beginning at Jerusalem.^{(J) 48} You are witnesses^(K) of these things. ⁴⁹ I am going to send you what my Father has promised;^(L) but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰ When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany,^(M) he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.^{(N) 52} Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ And they stayed continually at the temple,^(O) praising God.

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) 13} Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind^(D) and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on^(E) toward the goal to win the prize^(F) for which God has called^(G) me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Following Paul’s Example

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature^(H) should take such a view of things.^(I) And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.^{(J) 16} Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join together in following my example,^(K) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^{(L) 18} For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(M) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^{(N) 19} Their destiny^(O) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(P) and their glory is in their shame.^(Q) Their mind is set on earthly things.^{(R) 20} But our citizenship^(S) is in heaven.^(T) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(U) 21} who, by the power^(V) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(W) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(X)