3 For this is the will of God, ⁱyour sanctification:^{1 j}that you abstain from sexual immorality;

23 Now may ^bthe God of peace himself ^csanctify you completely, and may your ^dwhole ^espirit and soul and body be kept blameless at ^fthe coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, ^jlet us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body¹ and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come ^zI may not have to be ^asevere in my use of ^bthe authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Straining Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already ^lobtained this or ^mam already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: ⁿforgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for ^othe prize of the upward ^pcall of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are ^qmature think this way, and if in anything ^ryou think otherwise, ^sGod will reveal that also to you. 16 Only ^tlet us hold true to what we have attained.

29 If you know that ^whe is righteous, you may be sure that ^xeveryone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

5 For ^rthose who live according to the flesh set their minds on ^sthe things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on ^tthe things of the Spirit.

4 ^heven as he ⁱchose us in him ^jbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be ^kholy and blameless before him. In love

18 And we all, with unveiled face, ^tbeholding ^uthe glory of the Lord,^{1 v}are being transformed into the same image ^wfrom one degree of glory to another.² For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

1 Therefore ⁱlet us leave ^jthe elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance ^kfrom dead works and of faith toward God,

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith ⁱwith virtue,¹ and virtue ^jwith knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control ^kwith steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness ^lwith brotherly affection, and brotherly affection ^mwith love. 8 For if these qualities² are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or ⁿunfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

6 ^rThat which is born of the flesh is ^sflesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.¹

9 And it is my prayer that ^qyour love may abound more and more, ^rwith knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, ^sand so be pure and blameless ^tfor the day of Christ, 11 filled ^uwith the fruit of righteousness that comes ^vthrough Jesus Christ, ^wto the glory and praise of God.

13 In him you also, when you heard ^ethe word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, ^fwere sealed with the ^gpromised Holy Spirit, 14 who is ^hthe guarantee¹ of our ⁱinheritance until ^jwe acquire ^kpossession of it,^{2 l}to the praise of his glory.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, ^fas you have always ^gobeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for ^hit is God who works in you, both to will and to work for ⁱhis good pleasure.

11 And ^mhe gave the ⁿapostles, the prophets, the ^oevangelists, the ^pshepherds¹ and teachers,² 12 ^qto equip the saints for the work of ministry, for ^rbuilding up ^sthe body of Christ,

2 ^kLike newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual ^lmilk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

18 But ^sgrow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ^tTo him be the glory both now and to the day of ^ueternity. Amen.

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. ^vTest yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that ^wJesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

35 ^eTherefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^tdeny himself and ^utake up his cross ^vdaily and follow me.

41 ^qWatch and ^upray that you ^vmay not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

18 praying ^yat all times ^zin the Spirit, ^awith all prayer and supplication. To that end, ^bkeep alert with all perseverance, making ^csupplication for all the saints,

30 And ^ddo not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^eby whom you were sealed for the day of ^fredemption.