ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
Now when Abramwas ninety-nineyearsold,the LORDappearedto Abramand saidto him, "I am GodAlmighty;WalkbeforeMe, and be blameless.
Enochwalkedwith God;and he was not, for Godtookhim.
But Jeremiahsaid,"They will not giveyou over. Pleaseobeythe LORDin whatI am sayingto you, that it may gowellwith you and you may live.
Sothe churchthroughoutallJudeaand Galileeand Samariaenjoyedpeace,being builtup; and goingon in the fearof the Lordand in the comfortof the HolySpirit,it continued to increase.
for the giftsand the callingof Godare irrevocable.
ThereforeI urgeyou, brethren,by the merciesof God,to presentyour bodiesa livingand holysacrifice,acceptableto God,[which is] your spiritualservice of worship.
ThereforeI exhortyou, be imitatorsof me.
NowI, Paul,myselfurgeyou by the meeknessand gentlenessof Christ--I whoam meekwhen face to facewith you, but boldtowardyou when absent!
Therefore,we are ambassadorsfor Christ,as thoughGodwere making an appealthroughus; we begyou on behalfof Christ,be reconciledto God.
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
I begof you, brethren,becomeas I [am], for I also[have become] as you [are]. You have doneme nowrong;
For we are His workmanship,createdin ChristJesusfor goodworks,whichGodprepared beforehandsothat we would walkin them.
For thisreasonI, Paul,the prisonerof ChristJesusfor the sakeof you Gentiles--
SothisI say,and affirmtogetherwith the Lord,that you walkno longerjustas the Gentilesalsowalk,in the futilityof their mind,
[There is] onebodyand oneSpirit,justas alsoyou were calledin onehopeof your calling;
and walkin love,justas Christalsolovedyou and gaveHimselfup for us, an offeringand a sacrificeto Godas a fragrantaroma.
Onlyconductyourselves in a manner worthyof the gospelof Christ,sothat whetherI comeand seeyou orremain absent,I will hearof you that you are standing firmin onespirit,with onemindstriving togetherfor the faithof the gospel;
I presson towardthe goalfor the prizeof the upwardcallof Godin ChristJesus.
so that you will walkin a manner worthyof the Lord,to please[Him] in allrespects,bearing fruitin everygoodworkand increasingin the knowledgeof God;
Thereforeas you have receivedChristJesusthe Lord,[so] walkin Him,
Epaphras,whois one of your number,a bondslaveof JesusChrist,sends you his greetings,alwayslaboring earnestlyfor you in his prayers,that you may standperfectand fully assuredin allthe willof God.
sothat you would walkin a manner worthyof the Godwho callsyou into His ownkingdomand glory.
To thisendalsowe prayfor you always,that our Godwill count you worthyof your calling,and fulfilleverydesirefor goodnessand the workof faithwith power,
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
not pilfering,but showingallgoodfaithsothat they will adornthe doctrineof Godour Saviorin every respect.
equipyou in everygood thingto doHis will,workingin us that which is pleasingin His sight,throughJesusChrist,to whom[be] the gloryforeverand ever.Amen.
Therefore,holybrethren,partakersof a heavenlycalling,considerJesus,the Apostleand High Priestof our confession;
Beloved,I urgeyou as aliensand strangersto abstainfrom fleshlylustswhichwage waragainstthe soul.
not returningevilfor evilorinsultfor insult,but giving a blessinginstead;for you were calledfor the verypurpose that you might inherita blessing.
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
seeingthat His divinepowerhas grantedto us everythingpertainingto lifeand godliness,throughthe true knowledgeof Him who calledus by His owngloryand excellence.
NowI askyou, lady,not as though [I were] writingto you a newcommandment,but the one whichwe have hadfrom the beginning,that we loveone another.