For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--

"They will not hand you over," Jeremiah replied. "Obey the voice of the LORD in what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and you can live.

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.

Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God."

Working together with Him, we also appeal to you: "Don't receive God's grace in vain."

Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ-- I who am humble among you in person, but bold toward you when absent.

I beg you, brothers: become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;

I appeal, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus,

appeal to you for my child, whom I fathered while in chains-- Onesimus.

Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.

So now I urge you, lady-- not as if I were writing you a new command, but one we have had from the beginning-- that we love one another.

Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts.

And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

Enoch walked with God, and he was not there, because God took him.

When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him, saying, "I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be devout.

So the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace, being built up and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, and it increased in numbers.

Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing [to Him], bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God-- as you are doing-- do so even more.

For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything.

equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope at your calling;

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith,

who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Therefore, holy brothers and companions in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession;

not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.

For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.