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Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
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and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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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.
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Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
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for of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
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Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
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Therefore do not be partners with them.
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For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
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(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
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and find out what pleases the Lord.
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Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
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It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
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But everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
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This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
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Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise,
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making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
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Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
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Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
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speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
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always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
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Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
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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.
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Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
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Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
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to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
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and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
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In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
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After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church -
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for we are members of his body.
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“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
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This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.
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However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
