Imitators of God
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a sweet-smelling fragrance.
3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talk, nor course jokes, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Children of Light
8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.
11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14 Therefore it is said,
“Awake, you who sleep
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not be drunken with wine, which leads to recklessness, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, the Father; 21 submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of 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 also is the head of the church, being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the church submits to Christ, so let wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself gloriously, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but holy and without defect.
28 In the same way, husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord also does the church, 30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” a 32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the church. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.