For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favour with God.
you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your consciences.
Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practise godliness towards their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.
But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided #– #a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth.
because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. , They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.
Who are you to judge another’s household servant? Before his own Lord he stands or falls. And he will stand, because the Lord is able to make him stand.
But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification #– #and the outcome is eternal life!
If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.’
Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable #– #if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy #– #dwell on these things.
Conduct yourselves honourably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.