Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.

However that may be, let us go forward according to the same rules we have followed until now.

How I hope that I shall be faithful in keeping your instructions!

Always be ready to help me, because I follow your commands.

Give me life, so that I may praise you; may your instructions help me.

I don't do the good I want to do; instead, I do the evil that I do not want to do.

So I find that this law is at work: when I want to do what is good, what is evil is the only choice I have.

But I see a different law at work in my body---a law that fights against the law which my mind approves of. It makes me a prisoner to the law of sin which is at work in my body.

For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.

Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.

All of us often make mistakes. But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says, he is perfect and is also able to control his whole being.

Those who claim to be respectable are more and more convinced they are right.

You will do everything you have promised; LORD, your love is eternal. Complete the work that you have begun.

The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.

but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.

All these promises are made to us, my dear friends. So then, let us purify ourselves from everything that makes body or soul unclean, and let us be completely holy by living in awe of God.

We are glad when we are weak but you are strong. And so we also pray that you will become perfect.

He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.

You have come to the joyful gathering of God's first-born, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, who is the judge of all people, and to the spirits of good people made perfect.

(SEE 13:20)

But after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and a sure foundation.

For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge;

to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love.

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.

So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.

O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you; like a dry, worn-out, and waterless land, my soul is thirsty for you.

Your constant love is better than life itself, and so I will praise you.

How I want to be there! I long to be in the LORD's Temple. With my whole being I sing for joy to the living God.

Justice will again be found in the courts, and all righteous people will support it.

The LORD says, "Listen to me, you that want to be saved, you that come to me for help. Think of the rock from which you came, the quarry from which you were cut.

Let us try to know the LORD. He will come to us as surely as the day dawns, as surely as the spring rains fall upon the earth."

See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.

and have a reputation for good deeds: a woman who brought up her children well, received strangers in her home, performed humble duties for other Christians, helped people in trouble, and devoted herself to doing good.

But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a holy life, because no one will see the Lord without it.

You must turn away from evil and do good; you must strive for peace with all your heart.

Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it was to this life that God called you when you firmly professed your faith before many witnesses.

From Zion the LORD will extend your royal power. "Rule over your enemies," he says.

On the day you fight your enemies, your people will volunteer. Like the dew of early morning your young men will come to you on the sacred hills.

As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, suddenly a light from the sky flashed around him.

"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love

We must thank God at all times for you, friends, you whom the Lord loves. For God chose you as the first to be saved by the Spirit's power to make you his holy people and by your faith in the truth.