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Be Imitators of God

^1 (C1)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;² and ^(C1)walk in love, just as Christ also ^(C2)loved ^(F1)you and ^(C3)gave Himself up for us, an ^(C4)offering and a sacrifice to God ^(F2)as a ^(C5)fragrant aroma.

³ But ^(C1)sexual immorality ^(F1)or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among ^(F2)saints;⁴ and there must be no ^(C1)filthiness ^(F1)or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which ^(C2)are not fitting, but rather ^(C3)giving of thanks.⁵ For this you know with certainty, that ^(C1)no sexually immoral or ^(F1)impure or greedy person, which ^(F2)amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom ^(C2)of Christ and God.

^6 (C1)See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things ^(C2)the wrath of God comes upon ^(C3)the ^(F1)sons of disobedience.⁷ Therefore do not become ^(C1)partners with them;⁸ for ^(C1)you were once ^(C2)darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as ^(C3)children of light⁹ (for ^(C1)the fruit of the light consists in all ^(C2)goodness, righteousness, and truth),^10 (F1)(C1)as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.^11 (C1)Do not participate in the useless ^(C2)deeds of ^(C3)darkness, but instead even ^(C4)expose them;¹² for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.¹³ But all things become visible ^(C1)when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.¹⁴ For this reason ^(F1)it says,

"^(C1)Awake, sleeper,
And arise from ^(C2)the dead,
And Christ ^(C3)will shine on you."

¹⁵ So then, ^(F1)be careful how you ^(C1)walk, not ^(C2)as unwise people but as wise,^16 (F1)(C1)making the most of your time, because ^(C2)the days are evil.¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but ^(C1)understand what the will of the Lord is.¹⁸ And ^(C1)do not get drunk with wine, ^(F1)in which there is ^(C2)debauchery, but be ^(C3)filled with the Spirit,^19 (C1)speaking to ^(F1)one another in ^(C2)psalms and ^(C3)hymns and spiritual ^(C4)songs, ^(C5)singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;^20 (C1)always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our ^(C2)God and Father;^21 (F1)(C1)and subject yourselves to one another in the ^(F2)(C2)fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church

^22 (C1)Wives, ^(C2)subject yourselves to your own husbands, ^(C3)as to the Lord.²³ For ^(C1)the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the ^(C2)head of the church, He Himself ^(C3)being the Savior of the body.²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

^25 (C1)Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and ^(C2)gave Himself up for her,^26 (C1)so that He might sanctify her, having ^(C2)cleansed her by the ^(C3)washing of water with ^(C4)the word,²⁷ that He might ^(C1)present to Himself the church ^(F1)in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be ^(C2)holy and blameless.²⁸ So husbands also ought to ^(C1)love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,³⁰ because we are ^(C1)parts of His ^(C2)body.^31 (C1)FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.³² This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.³³ Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to ^(C1)love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she ^(C2)respects her husband.