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Imitators of God

Verse1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,

Verse2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.

Verse3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

Verse4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

Verse5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Verse6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

Verse7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Children of Light

Verse8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,

Verse9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Verse10Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

Verse11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Verse12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Verse13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.

Verse14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Verse15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Verse16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Verse17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Verse18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Verse19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,

Verse20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Wives and Husbands

Verse21Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Verse22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Verse23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.

Verse24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Verse25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her

Verse26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Verse27and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

Verse28In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Verse29Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.

Verse30For we are members of His body.

Verse31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

Verse32This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

Verse33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.