| Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. | Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. |
| “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’” And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” | And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘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’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, no person is to separate.” |
| So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. | Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. |
| Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. | So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. |
| Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. | For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf. |
| You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. | For You are my rock and my fortress; For the sake of Your name You will lead me and guide me. |
| When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. | Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. |
| The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. | The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart triumphs, And with my song I shall thank Him. |
| When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. | Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of mankind among them are fully given to do evil. |
| How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you! | For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. |
| For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. | Because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin. |
| But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. | So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church. |
| So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. | Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. |
| We love each other because he loved us first. | We love, because He first loved us. |
| I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live! | “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live!” |
| So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. | So then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober. |
| Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. | Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out with his hand, and take fruit also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. |
| Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. | Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. |
| So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless. | So remove sorrow from your heart and keep pain away from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting. |
| “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” | Now then, do away with the foreign gods which are in your midst, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel. |
| Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. | Pay to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor. |
| As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. | But as for me, I will be on the watch for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. |
| Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. | The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your possessions, acquire understanding. |
| When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. | So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. |
| I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ. | So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? |
Related topics
Life
The LORD keeps you...
God
For the LORD your...
Worship
O LORD, I will...
Sin
Don’t you realize that...
Heart
Guard your heart above...
Evil
Don’t let evil conquer...