Walk as Children of Light

51 Therefore be imitators of God , as beloved children ; 2 and walk in love , just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma .

3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints ; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk , or coarse jesting , which are not fitting , but rather giving of thanks . 5 For this you know with certainty , that no e immoral or impure person or covetous man , who is an idolater , has an 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 upon the sons of disobedience . 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness , but now you are Light in the Lord ; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth ), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord . 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness , but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret . 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light , for everything that becomes visible is light . 14 For this reason it says , " Awake , sleeper , And arise from the dead , And Christ will shine on you." 15 Therefore be careful e how you walk , not as unwise men but as wise , 16 making the most of your time , because the days are evil . 17 So e then e do not be foolish , but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine , for that is dissipation , but be filled with the Spirit , 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord ; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God , even the Father ;

21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ .

Be Subject to One Another

22 Wives , be subject 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 , He Himself being the Savior of the body . 24 But as the church is subject to Christ , so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything . 25 Husbands , love your wives , just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word , 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory , having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing ; but that she would be holy and blameless . 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies . He who loves his own wife loves himself ; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh , but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church , 30 because we are members of His body . 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE , AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME e ONE FLESH . 32 This mystery is great ; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church . 33 Nevertheless , each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself , and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband .

Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles

31 For this reason I, Paul , the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles - 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery , as I wrote before in brief . 4 By referring to this , when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ , 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men , as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit ; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body , and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel , 7 of which I was made a minister , according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power . 8 To me, the very least of all saints , this grace was given , to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ , 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things ; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord , 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf , for they are your glory .

Prayer for Love Which Surpasses Knowledge

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father , 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name , 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory , to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man , 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith ; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love , 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth , 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge , that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God . 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think , according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever . Amen .