1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk
in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But
sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be
mentioned among you, as becomes saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of
thanks.
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person,
nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of
Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things,
the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore don’t
be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are
now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is
well-pleasing to the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12 For the things which are
done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things,
when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that is
revealed is light. 14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise
from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as
wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore
don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with
the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving
thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear
of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the
husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly,
being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the assembly is subject to
Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and
gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it
by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the
assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so ought husbands
also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife
loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and
cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; 30 because we are
members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31 “For this cause a man will
leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will
become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ
and of the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his
own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her
husband.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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