CHAPTER 3
He exhorts them to put off the old man, and to put on the new. The duties of wives and husbands, children and servants.
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HEREFORE if you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.
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Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth.
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For you are dead: and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.
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Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
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For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief.
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In which you also walked some time, when you lived in them.
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But now put you also all away: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, filthy speech out of your mouth.
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Lie not one to another: stripping yourselves of the old man with his deeds,
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And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.
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Where there is neither Gentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free. But Christ is all and in all.
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Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience:
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Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.
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But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection.
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And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.
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Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly: in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God.
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All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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Wives, be subject to your husbands, as it behoveth in the Lord.
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Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter towards them.
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Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
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Fathers, provoke not your children to indignation, lest they be discouraged.
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Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh: not serving to the eye, as pleasing men: but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.
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Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men:
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Knowing that you shall receive of the Lord the reward of inheritance. Serve ye the Lord Christ.
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For he that doth wrong shall receive for that which he hath done wrongfully. And there is no respect of persons with God.