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Therefore, as most beloved sons, be imitators of God.
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And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness.
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But let not any kind of fornication, or impurity, or rapacity so much as be named among you, just as is worthy of the saints,
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nor any indecent, or foolish, or abusive talk, for this is without purpose; but instead, give thanks.
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For know and understand this: no one who is a fornicator, or lustful, or rapacious (for these are a kind of service to idols) holds an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
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Let no one seduce you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God was sent upon the sons of unbelief.
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Therefore, do not choose to become participants with them.
Children of Light
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For you were darkness, in times past, but now you are light, in the Lord. So then, walk as sons of the light.
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For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth,
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affirming what is well-pleasing to God.
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And so, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, refute them.
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For the things that are done by them in secret are shameful, even to mention.
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But all things that are disputed are made manifest by the light. For all that is made manifest is light.
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Because of this, it is said: “You who are sleeping: awaken, and rise up from the dead, and so shall the Christ enlighten you.”
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And so, brothers, see to it that you walk cautiously, not like the foolish,
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but like the wise: atoning for this age, because this is an evil time.
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For this reason, do not choose to be imprudent. Instead, understand what is the will of God.
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And do not choose to be inebriated by wine, for this is self-indulgence. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,
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speaking among yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and reciting psalms to the Lord in your hearts,
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giving thanks always for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God the Father.
Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; 1 Peter 3:1–7)
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Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
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Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord.
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For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body.
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Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things.(a)
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Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,
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so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life,
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so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate.
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So, too, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
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For no man has ever hated his own flesh, but instead he nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ also does to the Church.
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For we are a part of his body, of his flesh and of his bones.
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“For this reason, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife; and the two shall be as one flesh.”
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This is a great Sacrament. And I am speaking in Christ and in the Church.
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Yet truly, each and every one of you should love his wife as himself. And a wife should fear her husband.
Footnotes