A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you^(A) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.^[a]

The Spirit versus the Flesh

¹⁶ I say, then, walk by the Spirit^(A) and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

²⁵ If we live^(A) by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

⁹ Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing^(A) to him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat^(B) of Christ,^(C) so that each may be repaid^(D) for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

¹¹ Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord,^(E) we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences. ¹² We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart. ¹³ For if we are out of our mind,^(F) it is for God; if we are in our right mind,^(G) it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all,^(H) and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all^(I) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(J) but for the one^(K) who died for them and was raised.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

¹⁶ From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective.^[a] Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective,^[b] yet now we no longer know him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(L) the old has passed away, and see,^(M) the new has^[c] come!^(N)