Living the Romans 12:1-2 Life
Now let’s connect this to the daily life of surrendered worship.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Present your bodies a living sacrifice.
Not a dead sacrifice on an altar, but a living sacrifice—alive, active, daily surrendered, constantly offered to God. Your body, your life, your time, your energy, your gifts, your resources—all of it presented to God as worship.
This is what the 2 Corinthians 4 life looks like practically. Every day, you wake up and say, “Lord, my life is Yours today. Use me. Break me if You need to. Fill me with Your Spirit. Shine Your light through me. Display Your glory in me. I’m a clay pot, and You’re the treasure. Do whatever You want with this vessel.”
Do not be conformed to this world. Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold. Don’t adopt its values, its priorities, its goals, its methods. Don’t build kingdoms of self. Don’t chase success, comfort, wealth, and ease.
But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Let God change the way you think. Fill your mind with His Word. Saturate your thoughts with His truth. Replace lies with truth, darkness with light, delusion with reality.
And the result? You prove—you demonstrate, you show forth—the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Your transformed life becomes evidence of God’s goodness. Your surrendered life displays His faithfulness. Your crucified-yet-alive life manifests His power.
This is the Romans 12:1-2 life. This is what it looks like to be filled with His grace for His glory to shine into all creation, demonstrating God’s absolute goodness and faithfulness.
The Riches of God’s Glory in Christ
Now let’s excavate the magnificent passages in Ephesians that show us the fullness of what we have in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3-14 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Count the riches buried in this passage:
Blessed with every spiritual blessing — not some, not most, but every spiritual blessing
Chosen before the foundation of the world — this was always the plan
Holy and without blame — completely righteous in God’s sight
Predestined to adoption — planned from eternity to be His children
Accepted in the Beloved — welcomed, embraced, received because we’re in Christ
Redemption through His blood — bought back, purchased, ransomed
Forgiveness of sins — every sin canceled, paid for, removed
According to the riches of His grace — not just grace, but riches of grace
Made to abound toward us — overflowing, abundant, excessive grace
Made known the mystery of His will — given access to secret wisdom
Obtained an inheritance — we’re heirs, with a guaranteed inheritance waiting
Sealed with the Holy Spirit — marked, guaranteed, secured by God Himself
To the praise of His glory — all of it designed to display how glorious He is
This is what you have in Christ. Not what you’re trying to get. Not what you hope to earn. Not what you’re working toward. What you already have the moment you believe.
Ephesians 1:18-23 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
Paul prays that our eyes would be enlightened to know:
The hope of His calling — the certainty of what we’re called to
The riches of the glory of His inheritance — the magnificence of what’s waiting for us
The exceeding greatness of His power toward us — the same resurrection power that raised Jesus is working in us
That power raised Jesus from the dead, seated Him at God’s right hand, exalted Him far above every authority, put everything under His feet, and made Him head over all things.
And we are His body. We are united to Him. We share His position. We participate in His authority. We are filled with His fullness.
This is who you are in Christ. This is your identity. This is your reality.
Dead in Sins, Made Alive in Christ
Ephesians 2:1-10 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Look at what we were:
- Dead in trespasses and sins
- Walking according to the course of this world
- Following the prince of the power of the air (Satan)
- Controlled by lusts of the flesh
- Children of wrath by nature
This was our condition. Spiritually dead. Enslaved to sin. Following Satan. Deserving judgment.
But God…
These are the two most beautiful words in Scripture. But God.
When we were dead, God made us alive. When we were enslaved, God set us free. When we deserved wrath, God showed mercy.
Why? Because of His great love with which He loved us.
Not because we deserved it. Not because we earned it. Not because we were worth it. But because God is rich in mercy and He loved us with great love.
And what did He do?
- Made us alive together with Christ
- Raised us up together
- Made us sit together in the heavenly places
All past tense. Already accomplished. Already done.
By grace you have been saved. Past tense. Finished. Complete.
Through faith. Not through works. Not through effort. Not through religion. Through faith—simple trust in Christ.
And that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Even the faith isn’t yours. It’s a gift. You can’t take credit for any of it. It’s all grace from beginning to end.
Not of works, lest anyone should boast. No room for boasting. No room for pride. No room for self-congratulation. It’s all God’s doing.
For we are His workmanship. We’re His masterpiece, His work of art, His creation. He’s molding us, shaping us, forming us.
Created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand. The good works we do aren’t to earn salvation—they’re the result of salvation. They’re the fruit of being made alive. They’re what God prepared in advance for us to walk in.
This destroys any attempt to build self-made kingdoms. This eliminates any possibility of self-righteousness. This removes any foundation for boasting. It’s all grace. All gift. All God.
The Mystery Revealed—Gentiles Are Fellow Heirs
Ephesians 3:1-12 “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”
The mystery that was hidden for ages is now revealed: Gentiles are fellow heirs.
Not second-class citizens in God’s kingdom. Not barely-let-in-the-back-door converts. Fellow heirs. Same body. Same promises. Same inheritance. Same access. Same position in Christ.
This is revolutionary. This destroys all ethnic pride, all racial superiority, all religious elitism. In Christ, there’s no Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—we’re all one (Galatians 3:28).
And why was this mystery revealed? “To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.”
The church—the unified body of believers from every tribe, tongue, and nation—is God’s display case. Angels and demons look at the church and see the manifold wisdom of God. They see how He took enemies and made them family. How He took rebels and made them sons. How He took the dead and made them alive. How He took broken vessels and filled them with His glory.
The church is God’s masterpiece, His demonstration project, His proof of His wisdom and grace and power.
And in Christ, we have boldness and access with confidence. We don’t approach God timidly, fearfully, uncertainly. We come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). We have access through Christ. We have confidence because of His finished work.
Paul’s Prayer for Power and Love
Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Paul prays for four things:
Strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man — supernatural strengthening from the inside out
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — Christ taking up residence, making Himself at home in you
Rooted and grounded in love, able to comprehend the love of Christ — understanding the incomprehensible love of God
Filled with all the fullness of God — containing the infinite God in finite vessels
And then the doxology: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”
God can do more than you can ask. More than you can think. More than you can imagine. Exceedingly abundantly above—infinitely beyond—anything you could conceive.
According to what? “According to the power that works in us.”
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working in you right now. Not dormant. Not potential. Working. Active. Operating. Accomplishing.
To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
This is the goal. This is the purpose. This is the reason for everything. Glory to God. Forever.
The Colossian Connection—Christ Is All
Now let’s excavate the treasures in Colossians that parallel and expand what we’ve found in Ephesians.
Colossians 1:9-14 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
Notice what God has already done:
- Qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance
- Delivered us from the power of darkness
- Conveyed us into the kingdom of Christ
- Given us redemption through His blood
- Given us forgiveness of sins
All past tense. All finished. All accomplished.
We didn’t qualify ourselves—God qualified us. We didn’t escape darkness by our own power—God delivered us. We didn’t transfer ourselves into His kingdom—God conveyed us.
Colossians 1:15-20 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.”
Who is Jesus?
- The image of the invisible God — the exact representation of God
- The firstborn over all creation — the preeminent one, the heir of all things
- Creator of all things — He made everything, visible and invisible
- Before all things — eternally existent
- He holds all things together — the sustaining power of the universe
- Head of the church — the supreme authority over His body
- The beginning, the firstborn from the dead — the first to rise in resurrection glory
- In Him all the fullness of God dwells — completely, totally God
- The reconciler — making peace through His blood
This is Jesus. Not a good teacher. Not a moral example. Not a religious figure. God incarnate. Creator. Sustainer. Redeemer. Lord.
Colossians 1:21-23 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”
You were alienated and enemies — separated from God, hostile to Him, at war with Him.
But now He has reconciled you. How? In the body of His flesh through death. Jesus’ physical death on the cross accomplished your reconciliation.
Result? To present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.
This is your standing before God right now if you’re in Christ. Not “trying to be holy.” Not “working toward blameless.” Not “hoping someday to be above reproach.”
You are holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight right now. Not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Christ has done.
The Mystery of Christ in You
Colossians 1:24-29 “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.”
The mystery revealed: Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Not Christ far away in heaven, distant and unreachable. Not Christ somewhere out there, disconnected from your daily life. Christ in you. Living in you. Dwelling in you. Filling you. Working in you.
This is the hope of glory. Your confidence that glorification is coming. Your assurance that transformation is guaranteed. Your certainty that you will be like Him because He lives in you.
And what is Paul’s goal? To present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Perfect. Mature. Complete. Fully developed. Not through human effort, but in Christ Jesus.
How does he do this? By laboring and striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Paul works. He labors. He strives. But not in his own strength. According to His working. God’s power working through him mightily.
This is the pattern: we work, but it’s God working in us. We labor, but it’s His strength. We strive, but it’s His power. We’re active, but He’s the source.
Hidden Treasures of Wisdom
Colossians 2:2-3 “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Not some wisdom. Not limited knowledge. All treasures. All wisdom. All knowledge.
Everything you need to know, everything that’s truly important, everything that matters for eternity—it’s all found in Christ. Hidden like buried treasure, waiting to be discovered by those who seek Him.
Colossians 2:6-10 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.
You received Him by faith. Now walk in Him by faith. You received Him through grace. Now walk in Him through grace. You received Him by trusting, not working. Now continue in Him by trusting, not working.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through:
- Philosophy
- Empty deceit
- Tradition of men
- Basic principles of the world
All the religious systems, all the self-help programs, all the worldly wisdom—they’re attempting to cheat you out of what you have in Christ.
Why? Because in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
God Himself—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—dwells in Jesus bodily. And here’s the stunning conclusion:
You are complete in Him.
Not becoming complete. Not working toward completeness. Not hoping someday to be complete. You are complete in Him right now.
Nothing needs to be added. Nothing is lacking. Nothing is missing. You are complete.
Alive with Christ, Dead to the World
Colossians 2:11-15 “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
Look at what Christ accomplished:
- Circumcised your heart (spiritual surgery removing sin’s power)
- Buried you with Him (you died with Christ)
- Raised you with Him (you were resurrected with Christ)
- Made you alive (gave you new life)
- Forgiven all trespasses (every single sin)
- Wiped out the certificate of debt (canceled your sin record)
- Nailed it to the cross (paid your penalty in full)
- Disarmed principalities and powers (stripped Satan of his weapons)
- Made a public spectacle of them (displayed their defeat publicly)
- Triumphed over them (complete, total victory)
All of this happened at the cross. All of this is finished. All of this is yours in Christ.
Satan has been disarmed. He has no legitimate accusation against you. The certificate of your debt has been canceled. The requirements of the law have been nailed to the cross. You’ve been forgiven. You’ve been made alive. You’ve been raised with Christ.
This is your reality. This is your position. This is who you are.
Set Your Mind on Things Above
Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
If you were raised with Christ… This is a statement of fact, not a hypothetical. You were raised with Christ. Past tense. Accomplished.
Therefore:
- Seek those things which are above — make heavenly things your pursuit
- Set your mind on things above — fix your thoughts on eternal realities
- Not on things on the earth — don’t be earthly-minded, focused only on temporal things
Why?
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
You’re already dead. Your old life ended. Your new life is hidden with Christ in God—secure, protected, guaranteed.
When Christ who is our life appears… Not “if” but when. It’s certain. It’s coming.
Then you also will appear with Him in glory.
This is the rapture. This is the glorification. This is the revealing. When Christ appears, you will appear with Him—not ashamed, not hidden, not left behind, but with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:5-10 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
Put to death the earthly members. Not “try really hard to be better.” Not “work on self-improvement.” Put to death. Execute. Kill. Crucify.
Why? Because you have put off the old man and put on the new man.
This already happened. Positionally, legally, spiritually—you’re already a new creation. Now you’re learning to live out of that reality. You’re letting your experience catch up with your position.
The new man is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.
You’re being transformed into the image of Christ. Day by day. Glory to glory. From one degree to another. By the Spirit. According to God’s power.
The Final Call—Wake Up!
Now we bring all of this archaeological evidence together into one final, urgent wake-up call.
If you’re reading this and you’ve been:
- Building kingdoms of self instead of God’s Kingdom
- Pursuing comfort instead of the cross
- Preaching success instead of surrender
- Following a false Jesus who exists to serve you
- Believing a false gospel that requires no repentance
- Living for this world instead of the next
- Loving darkness instead of light
- Preferring lies instead of truth
- Walking in shame instead of grace
- Hiding sin instead of exposing it to light
- Trusting yourself instead of Christ
- Working for salvation instead of resting in grace
- Boasting in your achievements instead of His finished work
WAKE UP!
Ephesians 5:14 “Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.’”
You’re asleep. You’re dead. You need light.
Romans 13:11-12 “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.”
The time is short. The night is almost over. The day is coming.
Cast off the works of darkness. Stop building self-made empires. Stop preaching false gospels. Stop following false christs. Stop loving the world. Stop living for temporal things.
Put on the armor of light. Walk in truth. Shine His glory. Proclaim Jesus as Lord. Live the crucified life. Die to self. Take up your cross. Follow Him wherever He leads.
2 Peter 3:9-14 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
Everything you can see is going to burn. Every empire you’ve built is going to dissolve. Every reputation you’ve cultivated is going to be forgotten. Every achievement you’ve accumulated is going to be ash.
What manner of persons ought you to be?
Holy. Godly. Looking for His coming. Hastening the day. Diligent to be found in peace, without spot, blameless.
Not in your own righteousness—you have none. In His righteousness, which has been given to you as a gift.
Surrender Everything for His Glory
So here’s the final archaeological discovery, the ultimate treasure unearthed from all these layers of Scripture:
It’s all about His glory. Always has been. Always will be.
Your salvation—for His glory.
Your transformation—for His glory.
Your trials—for His glory.
Your suffering—for His glory.
Your witness—for His glory.
Your life—for His glory.
Your death—for His glory.
Your resurrection—for His glory.
Your eternal reign—for His glory.
Everything exists to display the glory of God.
And you, as a clay pot containing the treasure of the Gospel, as an earthen vessel filled with His Spirit, as a temple of the living God, as a member of Christ’s body—you exist to shine His glory.
Not your glory. Not your achievement. Not your success. Not your name. Not your kingdom.
His glory alone.
So surrender everything. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Walk in the obedience He gives you as a gift. Exercise the faith He’s given you as a gift. Let His light shine through your brokenness. Let His power be perfected in your weakness. Let His life be revealed in your mortal flesh.
Shine His glory and goodness for all creation to see.
And when the trumpet sounds—when Christ appears—when you’re caught up to meet Him in the air—when you’re transformed in the twinkling of an eye—when you receive your glorified body—when you’re presented before the Father holy and blameless and above reproach—
All the glory will go to Him.
Because it was never about you.
It was always about Jesus.
JESUS IS LORD.
To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.
Amen.
THE Grace Awakening Study Guide
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