¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.^{(A) 16} And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.^{(B) 17} As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.^{(C) 18} For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[a](D) For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.^{(E) 20} Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.^(F)

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)

⁶ If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness,^(A) we lie and do not live out the truth.^(B)