1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children |
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. |
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. |
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. |
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. |
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. |
7 Therefore do not be partners with them. |
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light |
9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) |
10 and find out what pleases the Lord. |
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. |
12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. |
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, |
14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." |
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, |
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. |
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. |
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. |
19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, |
20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. |
23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. |
24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. |
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her |
26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, |
27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. |
28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. |
29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- |
30 for we are members of his body. |
31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." |
32 This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church. |
33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. |