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Be Imitators of God

^1 (C1)Therefore become imitators of God copy Him and follow His example, as well-beloved children imitate their father;^2 (C1)and walk continually in love that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others, just as Christ also ^(C2)loved you and ^(C3)gave Himself up for us, an ^(C4)offering and sacrifice to God slain for you, so that it became a ^(C5)sweet fragrance. ^(VR1)

³ But ^(C1)sexual immorality and all moral impurity indecent, offensive behavior or greed must not even be hinted at among you, as is proper among saints for as believers our way of life, whether in public or in private, reflects the validity of our faith.⁴ Let there be no ^(C1)filthiness and silly talk, or coarse obscene or vulgar joking, because such things ^(C2)are not appropriate for believers; but instead speak of your ^(C3)thankfulness to God.⁵ For be sure of this: ^(C1)no immoral, impure, or greedy person—for that one is in effect an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom ^(C2)of Christ and God for such a person places a higher value on something other than God.

^6 (C1)Let no one deceive you with empty arguments that encourage you to sin, for because of these things ^(C2)the wrath of God comes upon ^(C3)the sons of disobedience those who habitually sin. ^(VR1)7 So do not ^(C1)participate or even associate with them in the rebelliousness of sin.⁸ For ^(C1)once you were ^(C2)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(C3)children of Light live as those who are native-born to the Light⁹ (for ^(C1)the fruit the effect, the result of the Light consists in all ^(C2)goodness and righteousness and truth),^10 (C1)trying to learn by experience what is pleasing to the Lord and letting your lifestyles be examples of what is most acceptable to Him—your behavior expressing gratitude to God for your salvation.^11 (C1)Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive ^(C2)deeds of ^(C3)darkness, but instead ^(C4)expose them by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character;¹² for it is disgraceful even to mention the things that such people practice in secret.¹³ But all things become visible ^(C1)when they are exposed by the light of God's precepts, for ^(F1)it is light that makes everything visible.¹⁴ For this reason He says,

"^(C1)Awake, sleeper,
And arise from ^(C2)the dead,
And Christ ^(C3)will shine as dawn upon you and give you light." ^(VR1)

¹⁵ Therefore see that you ^(C1)walk carefully living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil, not ^(C2)as the unwise, but as wise sensible, intelligent, discerning people,^16 (F1)(C1)making the very most of your time on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence, because ^(C2)the days are filled with evil.¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but ^(C1)understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.^18 (C1)Do not get drunk with wine, for that is ^(C2)wickedness (corruption, stupidity), but be ^(C3)filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly guided by Him. ^{(VR1)19 (F1)(C1)}Speak to one another in ^(C2)psalms and ^(C3)hymns and spiritual ^(C4)songs, offering praise by ^(C5)singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;^20 (C1)always giving thanks to ^(C2)God the Father for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;^21 (C1)being subject to one another out of ^(C2)reverence for Christ.

Marriage Like Christ and the Church

^22 (C1)Wives, be subject ^(F1)(C2)to your own husbands, ^(C3)as a service to the Lord.²³ For ^(C1)the husband is head of the wife, as Christ is ^(C2)head of the church, Himself ^(C3)being the Savior of the body.²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives should be subject to their husbands in everything respecting both their position as protector and their responsibility to God as head of the house.

^25 (C1)Husbands, love your wives seek the highest good for her and surround her with a caring, unselfish love, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(C2)gave Himself up for her,^26 (C1)so that He might sanctify the church, having ^(C2)cleansed her by the ^(C3)washing of water with ^(C4)the word of God,²⁷ so that in turn He might ^(C1)present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(C2)holy set apart for God and blameless.²⁸ Even so husbands should and are morally obligated to ^(C1)love their own wives as being in a sense their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.²⁹ For no one ever hated his own body, but instead he nourishes and protects and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,³⁰ because we are ^(C1)members (parts) of His ^(C2)body.^31 (C1)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED and be faithfully devoted TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ^(F1)ONE FLESH. ^(VR1)32 This mystery of two becoming one is great; but I am speaking with reference to the relationship of Christ and the church.³³ However, each man among you without exception is to ^(C1)love his wife as his very own self with behavior worthy of respect and esteem, always seeking the best for her with an attitude of lovingkindness, and the wife must see to it that she ^(C2)respects and delights in her husband that she notices him and prefers him and treats him with loving concern, treasuring him, honoring him, and holding him dear. ^(VR1)