Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 234
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IMMERSE
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MESSIAH
4:30–5:24
And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be
saved on the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as
all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear
children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He
loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such
sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and
coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to
God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater,
worshiping the things of this world.
Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of
God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these
people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from
the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only
what is good and right and true.
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even
to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil
intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light
makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are
wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act
thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be
drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the
Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for
everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a
husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is
the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you
wives should submit to your husbands in everything.