with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials

and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness – a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.

Not that I have already attained this – that is, I have not already been perfected – but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.

And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that – whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent – I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,