Study Desk

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children.

And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,^(a) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

But sexual immorality^(b) and any impurity^(c) or greed^(d) should not even be heard of^[a] among you, as is proper for saints.

Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral^(e) or impure^(f) or greedy^(g) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom^(h) of the Messiah and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath⁽ⁱ⁾ is coming on the disobedient because of these things.^[b]

Therefore, do not become their partners.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light^(j) in the Lord. Walk as children of light^(k)—

for the fruit of the light^[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth^(l)—

discerning^(m) what is pleasing⁽ⁿ⁾ to the Lord.

Don't participate in the fruitless^(o) works of darkness, but instead expose them.

For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.

Everything exposed by the light is made clear,^(p)

for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper,^(q) and rise up from the dead,^(r) and the Messiah will shine on you.^[d](s)

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise—

making the most of the time,^[e](t) because the days are evil.