I ask all of you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree with one another and not argue. Look and think about things in the same way.
Finally, brothers and sisters, be joyful! Work to make everything right with one another. Encourage one another and agree with each other. Live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
But no matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you, I’ll know that you’re standing firm together in the one Spirit and that you’re fighting together as a unit to defend the good news.
I warn you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and who trip you up by teaching you things that are the opposite of what you’ve learned. Stay away from them,
I will be in them, just as you are in me, so that they may be brought together perfectly as one. Then the world will know that you sent me and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.
Because God has shown you such mercy, brothers and sisters, I ask you to offer up your bodies to God while you are still alive. That will be a sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God. It’s the right kind of worship to offer God.
Dear friends, in this world you’re outsiders who are living away from their land. So don’t give in to your wrong desires, which fight against your soul.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he and his kingdom are coming, I’m giving you these instructions:
I appeal to you by the humbleness and gentleness of Christ—I, Paul, the one you think is timid when I’m face to face with you, but bold when I’m away from you.
I command you in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to follow these instructions. Treat everyone the same and don’t favor one person over another.
Some of the Pharisees said, “This Jesus is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath day.” But others asked, “How could a sinner do such signs?” So the Pharisees were divided.
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I’ve planned many times to visit you. But until now, I’ve been kept from coming. My work has produced results among the other Gentiles, and in the same way, I want to see results among you.
You’re still following your own wrong desires. If you’re jealous and you’re arguing, aren’t those desires in charge? Aren’t you acting like ordinary human beings?
After you’ve suffered for a little while, the God of all grace will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. He has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ.