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. ² Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.^{(A) 4} The weapons we fight with^(B) are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power^(C) to demolish strongholds.^{(D) 5} We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,^(E) and we take captive every thought to make it obedient^(F) to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.^(G)

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ^(A) and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.^(B) The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,^(C) who loved me^(D) and gave himself for me.^(E)