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1.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
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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.
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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.
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4.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
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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.
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6.
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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7.
Therefore do not be partners with them.
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8.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
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9.
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
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10.
and find out what pleases the Lord.
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11.
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
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12.
For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
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13.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
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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."
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15.
Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
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16.
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
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17.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
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18.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
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19.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
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20.
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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21.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
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22.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
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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.
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24.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
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25.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
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26.
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
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27.
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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28.
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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29.
After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--
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30.
for we are members of his body.
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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."
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32.
This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.
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33.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
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