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The Holy Bible

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The Book of Ephesians

Ephesians Chapter 5

  

Walk in Love

1
BE

imitators of God, as dearly beloved children,  2  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed should not even be heard, as is proper for saints.  4  There should not be any obscene speech, foolish talking, or crude joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving.  5  But of this you can be certain: No sexually immoral, impure, or greedy personsuch a person is an idolaterhas any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.  7  Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Walk in Light

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  9  for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true  10  finding out what is pleasing to the Lord.  11  Have nothing to do with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather expose them.  12  For it is shameful to even mention what such people do in secret.  13  But everything exposed by light becomes visible,  14  for it is light that makes everything visible. That is why it is said,

“Wake up, O sleeper,
and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you”.

Live Wisely

15  Be careful, then, how you livenot as unwise people but as wise,  16  making the most of the time, because the days are evil.  17  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,  19  speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord,  20  always giving thanks to God the Father at all times for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22  Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord.  23  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church; His body, of which He is the Saviour.  24  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her  26  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water by the word  27  and to present the church to Himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she may be holy and without blemish.  28  In the same way, husbands should love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.  29  For no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,  30  for we are members of His body.  31  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”.  32  This is a profound mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church.  33  However, each of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.