Imitators of God

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God, into an aroma of a sweet smell.

3But let sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness not even be named among you, as also is proper to saints, 4and filthiness, and foolish talking, or crude joking, which are not fitting, but rather thanksgiving. 5For this you know, realizing that any fornicator, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Children of Light

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— 9for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth— 10discerning what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

11And do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention the things being done by them in secret. 13But everything being exposed by the light is made visible, for everything becoming visible is light. 14Therefore it says:

“Awake you, the one sleeping,

and rise up out from the dead,

and Christ will shine upon you.”

15Therefore carefully take heed how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Because of this, do not be foolish, but understand what is the Lord’s will, 18and not to be drunk with wine in which is debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20giving thanks at all times for all things in the name our Lord Jesus Christ to the God and Father.

Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1-3; 1 Peter 3:1-7)

21Be submitting yourselves to one another in reverence of Christ: 22wives, to the own husbands as to the Lord; 23for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church, He Himself Savior of the body. 24But even as the church is subjected to Christ, so also wives to the own husbands in everything.

25Husbands, love the wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water by the word, 27so that He might present to Himself the church in glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any of the such things, but that it would be holy and blameless.

28So also husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. The one loving his wife loves himself. 29For no one at any time hated his flesh. But he nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ also does the church. 30For we are members of His body.a

31“Because of this, a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will be into one flesh.”b 32This mystery is great; but I speak as to Christ and as to the church. 33However, you also, every individual, let each so love his wife as himself; and the wife, that she may respect the husband.