Book of Common Prayer

¹² I do not mean to say that I have got there yet, or that I am perfect yet. But I am trying hard to get there, because that is why Christ saved me.

¹³ My brothers, I do not yet think that I have got all the things of Christ. But there is one thing that I am doing. I forget what is behind me and reach out to what is ahead of me.

¹⁴ Like a man running a race, I try hard to reach the line so that I will receive the prize. Because we belong to Christ Jesus, God is calling us to receive this prize that he has for us in heaven.

¹⁵ All of us who are grown-up Christians should feel this way. And if you do not think this way, God will show you the right way.

¹⁶ But no matter how far we have gone, we must keep on going that way. And let us do it together, having the same things in mind.

¹⁷ My brothers, do as I do, all of you. Look at the people who live the way we have lived.

¹⁸ Many people live as if they hated the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them, and I tell you now with tears.

¹⁹ They will be lost for ever. Their belly is the god they worship. They boast about things they should be ashamed of. They think only about things of this world.

²⁰ But we belong to heaven. And we are waiting for the Saviour to come from heaven. He is the Lord Jesus Christ.

²¹ He will change our body which was made for this world. He will make it like his own wonderful body. He will do this by his power to make all things obey him.

17 When Jesus had said these things, he looked up to heaven and said, `Father, the time has come now. Make your Son's name great, so that your Son may make your name great.

² You have given your Son power over all people. So all those you have given him will live for ever.

³ You are the only true God. If they know you, and Jesus Christ whom you sent, they will live for ever.

⁴ I made your name great on earth. I have done the work you gave me to do.

⁵ So now, Father, let my name be great with you. Make my name as great as it was when I was with you before the world was made.

⁶ `I have shown these men who you really are. They are men whom you gave me from the world. They belonged to you and you gave them to me. They have obeyed you.

⁷ Now they really know that everything you gave me comes from you.

⁸ I have told them the things that you told me to tell them. And they have believed my words. They know it is true that I was with you before I came. They have believed that you sent me.