|
ecumenism
/ fellowship / companions / Christian behavior towards others,
continued related
links
|
This
topic continued from previous page - Click here to view
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it
again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is
near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then
the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any
excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about
these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
[PHIL 4:4-9]
Therefore, from the day we heard this, we do not
cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the
knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and
understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be
fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in
the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord
with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy
giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the
inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the
power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved
Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. [COL
1:9-14]
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive
philosophy according to human tradition, according to the
elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. [COL
2:8]
Let no one disqualify you, delighting in self-abasement and
worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, inflated without
reason by his fleshly mind, and not holding closely to the head,
from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its
ligaments and bonds, achieves the growth that comes from God. [COL
2:18-19]
Put to death, then, the parts of you that are
earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed
that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming
(upon the disobedient). By these you too once conducted
yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them
all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out
of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken
off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its
creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and
uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is
all and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and
beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and
patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if
one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the
bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your
hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And
be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all
wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And
whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to
the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not
become discouraged. Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the
Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the
Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord
Christ. For the wrongdoer will receive recompense for the wrong he
committed, and there is no partiality. [COL 3:5-25]
Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with
thanksgiving; at the same time, pray for us, too, that God may
open a door to us for the word, to speak of the mystery of Christ,
for which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, as I must
speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most
of the opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned
with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one.
[COL 4:2-6]
Night and day we pray beyond measure to see you in person and to remedy the deficiencies of your faith. Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.
[Taken from 1THES 3:10-13]
Finally, brothers, we earnestly ask and exhort
you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should
conduct yourselves to please God - and as you are conducting
yourselves - you do so even more. For you know what instructions
we gave you through the Lord Jesus. This is the will of God, your
holiness: that you refrain from immorality, that each of you know
how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor, not in
lustful passion as do the Gentiles who do not know God; not to
take advantage of or exploit a brother in this matter, for the
Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you before and
solemnly affirmed. For God did not call us to impurity but to
holiness. Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a
human being but God, who (also) gives his Holy Spirit to you. On
the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write
you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one
another. Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout
Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even
more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own
affairs, and to work with your (own) hands, as we instructed you,
that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not
depend on anyone. We do not want you to be unaware, brothers,
about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve
like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died
and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who
have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the
Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the
Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For
the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an
archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who
are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words. [1THES 4:1-18]
Concerning times and seasons, brothers, you have
no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know
very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at
night. When people are saying, "Peace and security,"
then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a
pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are
not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. For
all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We
are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep
as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. Those who sleep
go to sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for
salvation. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that
whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him.
Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as
indeed you do. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are
laboring among you and who are over you in the Lord and who
admonish you, and to show esteem for them with special love on
account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. We urge you,
brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the
weak, be patient with all. See that no one returns evil for evil;
rather, always seek what is good (both) for each other and for
all. Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances
give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of
evil. [1THES 5:1-22]
Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word
of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among
you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people,
for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will
strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. We are confident
of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you (both) are doing
and will continue to do. May the Lord direct your hearts to the
love of God and to the endurance of Christ. We instruct you,
brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any
brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according
to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must
imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor
did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in
toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden
any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted
to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate
us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if [any
man] was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. We hear
that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way,
by not keeping busy but minding the business of others. Such
people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work
quietly and to eat their own food. But you, brothers, do not be
remiss in doing good. If anyone does not obey our word as
expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to
associate with him, that he may be put to shame. Do not regard him
as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. [2THES 3:1-15]
I repeat the request I made of you when I was on my way to Macedonia, that you stay in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines or to concern themselves with myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the plan of God that is to be received by faith. The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, wanting to be teachers of the law, but without understanding either what they are saying or what they assert with such assurance.
[1TM 1:3-7]
It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.
She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.
But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
[1TM 2:8-15]
Avoid profane and silly myths. Train yourself
for devotion, for, while physical training is of limited value,
devotion is valuable in every respect, since it holds a promise of
life both for the present and for the future. Let no one have
contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe,
in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Do not neglect the
gift you have, which was conferred on you through the prophetic
word with the imposition of hands of the presbyterate. Be diligent
in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may
be evident to everyone. Attend to yourself and to your teaching;
persevere in both tasks, for by doing so you will save both
yourself and those who listen to you. [1TM 4:7-8,12,14-16]
Do not rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as
a father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers,
and younger women as sisters with complete purity. Honor widows
who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or
grandchildren, let these first learn to perform their religious
duty to their own family and to make recompense to their parents,
for this is pleasing to God. The real widow, who is all alone, has
set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers
night and day. But the one who is self-indulgent is dead while she
lives. Command this, so that they may be irreproachable. And whoever does not provide for relatives and
especially family members has denied the faith and is worse than
an unbeliever. [1TM 5:1-8]
If any woman believer has widowed relatives, she
must assist them; the church is not to be burdened, so that it
will be able to help those who are truly widows. [1TM 5:16]
Presbyters who preside well deserve double
honor, especially those who toil in preaching and teaching. Do not
accept an accusation against a presbyter unless it is supported by
two or three witnesses. [1TM 5:17,19]
Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the
rest also will be afraid. I charge you before God and Christ Jesus
and the elect angels to keep these rules without prejudice, doing
nothing out of favoritism. Do not lay hands too readily on anyone,
and do not share in another's sins. Keep yourself pure. Stop
drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your
stomach and your frequent illnesses. Some people's sins are
public, preceding them to judgment; but other people are followed
by their sins. Similarly, good works are also public; and even
those that are not cannot remain hidden. [1TM 5:20-25]
But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead,
pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and
gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the
presence of many witnesses. I charge (you) before God, who gives
life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony
under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the
commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our
Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make
manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and
whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and
eternal power. Amen. Tell the rich in the present age not to be
proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather
on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.
Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous,
ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation
for the future, so as to win the life that is true life. [1TM
6:11-19]
Remind people of these things and charge them before God to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose
since it harms those who listen. Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation. Avoid profane, idle talk, for such people will become more and more godless, and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and
Philetus, who have deviated from the truth by saying that (the) resurrection has already taken place and are upsetting the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who are his"; and,
"Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord avoid evil." In a large household there are vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for lofty and others for humble use. If anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for lofty use, dedicated, beneficial to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness,
faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart. Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed quarrels. A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, and that they may return to their senses out of the devil's snare, where they are entrapped by him, for his will. [2TM
2:14-26]
But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them.
[2TM 3:1-5]
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. [2TM
3:16-27]
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity,
will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.
[2TM 4:1-5]
For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents. For there are also many rebels, idle talkers and deceivers, especially the Jewish
Christians. It is imperative to silence them, as they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what they should not. One of them, a prophet of their own, once said, "Cretans have always been liars, vicious beasts, and lazy
gluttons." That testimony is true. Therefore, admonish them sharply, so that they may be sound in the faith, instead of paying attention to Jewish myths and regulations of people who have repudiated the truth. To the clean all things are clean, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is clean; in fact, both their minds and their consciences are tainted. They claim to know God, but by their deeds they deny him. They are vile and disobedient and unqualified for any good deed. [TI
1:7-16]
As for yourself, you must say what is consistent
with sound doctrine, namely, that older men should be temperate,
dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.
Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not
slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that
they may train younger women to love their husbands and children,
to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control
of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.
Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing
yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity
in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be
criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without
anything bad to say about us. Slaves are to be under the control
of their masters in all respects, giving them satisfaction, not
talking back to them or stealing from them, but exhibiting
complete good faith, so as to adorn the doctrine of God our savior
in every way. For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and
training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live
temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the
blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of
our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us
from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his
own, eager to do what is good. Say these things. Exhort and
correct with all authority. Let no one look down on you. [TI
2:1-15]
Remind them to be under the control of
magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be open to every
good enterprise. They are to slander no one, to be peaceable,
considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone. his
saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these points, that
those who have believed in God be careful to devote themselves to
good works; these are excellent and beneficial to others. Avoid
foolish arguments, genealogies, rivalries, and quarrels about the
law, for they are useless and futile. After a first and second
warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a
person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned. [TI
3:1-2,8-11]
"You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, subjecting all things under his feet."
In "subjecting" all things (to him), he left nothing not "subject to him." Yet at present we do not see "all things subject to
him," but we do see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" because he suffered death, he who "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them
"brothers" [Taken from HEB 2:7-11]
Take care, brothers, that none of you may have
an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God.
Encourage yourselves daily while it is still "today," so
that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have
become partners of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the
reality firm until the end, for it is said: "Oh, that today
you would hear his voice: 'Harden not your hearts as at the
rebellion.'"[HEB 3:12-15]
Therefore, let us strive to enter into that
rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of
disobedience. [HEB 4:11]
For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift
and shared in the Holy Spirit and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to
come, and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves
and holding him up to contempt. Ground that has absorbed the rain falling upon it repeatedly and brings forth crops useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected; it will soon be cursed and finally burned. But we are sure in your regard, beloved, of better things related to salvation, even though we speak in this way. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the
promises. [HEB 6:4-12]
We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly,
as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to
consume the adversaries. Anyone who rejects the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? We know the one who said:
"Vengeance is mine; I will repay," and again: "The Lord will judge his people." [HEB
10:24-30]
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised. "For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay. But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him."
[HEB 10:35-38]
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin
that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies
before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and
perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he
endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at
the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such
opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and
lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the
exhortation addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not disdain
the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for
whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he
acknowledges." Endure your trials as "discipline";
God treats you as sons. For what "son" is there whom his
father does not discipline? If you are without discipline, in
which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards. Besides
this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we
respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the
Father of spirits and live? They disciplined us for a short time
as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order
that we may share his holiness. At the time, all discipline seems
a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful
fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So
strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight
paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but
healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness
without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one be
deprived of the grace of God, that no bitter root spring up and
cause trouble, through which many may become defiled, that no one
be an immoral or profane person like Esau, who sold his birthright
for a single meal. For you know that later, when he wanted to
inherit his father's blessing, he was rejected because he found no
opportunity to change his mind, even though he sought the blessing
with tears. See that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if
they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on
earth, how much more in our case if we turn away from the one who
warns from heaven. [HEB 12:1-17,25]
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect
hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained
angels. Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment,
and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the
body. Let marriage be honored among all and the marriage bed be
kept undefiled, for God will judge the immoral and adulterers. Let
your life be free from love of money but be content with what you
have, for he has said, "I will never forsake you or abandon
you." [HEB 13:1-5]
Through him (then) let us continually offer God
a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his
name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is
pleased by sacrifices of that kind. Obey your leaders and defer to
them, for they keep watch over you and will have to give an
account, that they may fulfill their task with joy and not with
sorrow, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for
we are confident that we have a clear conscience, wishing to act
rightly in every respect. [HEB 13:15-18]
Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you
encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if
any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all
generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he
should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like
a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind. For
that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from
the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his
ways. The brother in lowly circumstances should take pride in his
high standing, and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass
away "like the flower of the field." For the sun comes
up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower
droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the
rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the
man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he
will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love
him. No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being
tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to
evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted
when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire
conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it
gives birth to death. [JMS 1:2-15]
Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be
quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the wrath of a
man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Therefore, put
away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that
has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers
of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. For if
anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
who looks at his own face in a mirror. He sees himself, then goes
off and promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who
peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a
hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be
blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks he is religious and does
not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is
vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the
Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction
and to keep oneself unstained by the world. [JMS 1:19-27]
My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to
the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. However, if you
fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall
love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. But if
you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law
as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short
in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it. For
he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said,
"You shall not kill." Even if you do not commit adultery
but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and
so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. For the
judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy
triumphs over judgment. [JMS 2:1,8-13]
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he
has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a
brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,
and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat
well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body,
what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have
works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and
I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works,
and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe
that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and
tremble. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without
works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith
was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the
works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham
believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"
and he was called "the friend of God." See how a person
is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way,
was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed
the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as
a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead. [JMS 2:14-26]
Not many of you should become teachers, my
brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,
for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall
short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole
body also. In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet
has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge
forest ablaze. The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our
members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting
the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by
Gehenna. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea
creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,
but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,
full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and
with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be
so, my brothers. [JMS 3:1-2,5-10]
Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him
show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from
wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in
your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. Wisdom of
this kind does not come down from above but is earthly,
unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition
exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom
from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle,
compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or
insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for
those who cultivate peace. [JMS 3:13-18]
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts
among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war
within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and
envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not
possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive,
because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. Adulterers!
Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with
God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes
himself an enemy of God. So submit yourselves to God. Resist the
devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will
draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your
hearts, you of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let
your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. Do not
speak evil of one another, brothers. Whoever speaks evil of a
brother or judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges
the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a
judge. There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to
destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor? Come now, you
who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a
town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit" -
you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a
puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead
you should say, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do
this or that." But now you are boasting in your arrogance.
All such boasting is evil. So for one who knows the right thing to
do and does not do it, it is a sin. [JMS 4:1-4,7-17]
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the
coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious
fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the
early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your
hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not
complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example
of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the
name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who have
persevered. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you
have seen the purpose of the Lord, because "the Lord is
compassionate and merciful." But above all, my brothers, do
not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath,
but let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your
"No" mean "No," that you may not incur
condemnation. [JMS 5:7-12]
Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray.
Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise. Is anyone among
you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they
should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the
Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the
Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be
forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for
one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a
righteous person is very powerful. [JMS 5:13-16]
My brothers, if anyone among you should stray
from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that
whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save
his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. [JMS
5:19-20]
Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former
ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,
for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy." Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,
realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold
but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished
lamb. [1PT 1:13-19]
Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a (pure) heart.
[1PT 1:22]
Rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit,
insincerity, envy, and all slander; like newborn infants, long for
pure spiritual milk so that through it you may grow into
salvation, for you have tasted that the Lord is good. Come to him,
a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious
in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be
built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1PT
2:1-5]
Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to
keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul.
Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of
you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God
on the day of visitation. Be subject to every human institution
for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or to
governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the
approval of those who do good. For it is the will of God that by
doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be
free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as
slaves of God. Give honor to all, love the community, fear God,
honor the king. [1PT 2:11-17]
Likewise, you wives should be subordinate to
your husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be
won over without a word by their wives' conduct when they observe
your reverent and chaste behavior. Your adornment should not be an
external one: braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or dressing
in fine clothes, but rather the hidden character of the heart,
expressed in the imperishable beauty of a gentle and calm
disposition, which is precious in the sight of God. For this is
also how the holy women who hoped in God once used to adorn
themselves and were subordinate to their husbands; thus Sarah
obeyed Abraham, calling him "lord." You are her children
when you do what is good and fear no intimidation. Likewise, you
husbands should live with your wives in understanding, showing
honor to the weaker female sex, since we are joint heirs of the
gift of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally,
all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic, loving toward one
another, compassionate, humble. Do not return evil for evil, or
insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to
this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. For:
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep the
tongue from evil and the lips from speaking deceit, must turn from
evil and do good, seek peace and follow after it. For the eyes of
the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against evildoers." [1PT 3:1-12]
But even if you should suffer because of
righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with
fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always
be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a
reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence,
keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned,
those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put
to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be
the will of God, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for
sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he
might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought
to life in the spirit. [1PT 3:14-18]
The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be
serious and sober for prayers. Above all, let your love for one
another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be
hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has
received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of
God's varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of
God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God
supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring
among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But
rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice
exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed
are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But
let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an
evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to suffer as a
Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the
name. For it is time for the judgment to begin with the household
of God; if it begins with us, how will it end for those who fail
to obey the gospel of God? "And if the righteous one is
barely saved, where will the godless and the sinner appear?"
As a result, those who suffer in accord with God's will hand their
souls over to a faithful creator as they do good. [1PT 4:7-19]
So I exhort the presbyters among you, as a
fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one
who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God
in your midst, (overseeing) not by constraint but willingly, as
God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not
lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the
unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you younger members, be subject
to the presbyters. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for: "God opposes the
proud but bestows favor on the humble." So humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you. Be sober
and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a
roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour. Resist him,
steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout
the world undergo the same sufferings. [1PT 5:1-9]
Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to
all of you who are in Christ. [1PT 5:14]
His divine power has bestowed on us everything
that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who
called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has
bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that
through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after
escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil
desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your
faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with
self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with
devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with
love. If these are yours and increase in abundance, they will keep
you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Anyone who lacks them is blind and shortsighted,
forgetful of the cleansing of his past sins. Therefore, brothers,
be all the more eager to make your call and election firm, for, in
doing so, you will never stumble. For, in this way, entry into the
eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly
provided for you. [2PT 1:3 -11]
There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep. For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgment; and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, together with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the godless world; and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (to destruction), reducing them to ashes, making them an example for the godless (people) of what is coming; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man oppressed by the licentious conduct of unprincipled people... then the Lord knows how to rescue the devout from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who follow the flesh with its depraved desire and show contempt for lordship. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to revile glorious
beings... Their eyes are full of adultery and insatiable for sin. They seduce unstable people, and their hearts are trained in greed. Accursed children! Abandoning the straight road, they have gone
astray, following the road of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved payment for
wrongdoing... These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a gale; for them the gloom of darkness has been reserved. For, talking empty bombast, they seduce with licentious desires of the flesh those who have barely escaped
from people who live in error. They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him. For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of (our) Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down
to them. [Taken from 2PT 2:1-7,9-10,14-15,17-21]
Since everything is to be dissolved in this way,
what sort of persons ought (you) to be, conducting yourselves in
holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the
day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in
flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his
promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these
things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him,
at peace. [2PT 3:11-14]
What we have seen and heard we proclaim now to
you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our
fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. [Taken
from 1JN
1:3]
Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light,
and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. [1JN
1:5-7]
My children, I am writing this to you so that
you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an
Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is
expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of
the whole world. The way we may be sure that we know him is to
keep his commandments. Whoever says, "I know him," but
does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in
him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly
perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union
with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to live (just) as
he lived. Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an
old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old
commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a
new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for
the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already
shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother,
is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the
light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates
his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know
where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. [1JN
2:1-11]
Do not love the world or the things of the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in
him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for
the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is
from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever. [1JN 2:15-17]
Let what you heard from the beginning remain in
you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you
will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise
that he made us: eternal life. I write you these things about
those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you
received from him remains in you, so that you do not need anyone
to teach you. But his anointing teaches you about everything and
is true and not false; just as it taught you, remain in him. And
now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have
confidence and not be put to shame by him at his coming. [1JN
2:24-28]
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness,
for sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away
sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins;
no one who sins has seen him or known him. Children, let no one
deceive you. The person who acts in righteousness is righteous,
just as he is righteous. Whoever sins belongs to the devil,
because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son
of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. No one who
is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him;
he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the
children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no
one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone
who does not love his brother. For this is the message you have
heard from the beginning: we should love one another, unlike Cain
who belonged to the evil one and slaughtered his brother. Why did
he slaughter him? Because his own works were evil, and those of
his brother righteous. Do not be amazed, (then,) brothers, if the
world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life
because we love our brothers. Whoever does not love remains in
death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know
that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. The way we
came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we
ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If someone who has
worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion,
how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not
in word or speech but in deed and truth. (Now) this is how we
shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts
before him in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than
our hearts and knows everything. Beloved, if (our) hearts do not
condemn us, we have confidence in God and receive from him
whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what
pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the
name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he
commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and
he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the
Spirit that he gave us. [1JN 3:4-24]
Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the
spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know
the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ
come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not
acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of
the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is
already in the world. [1JN 4:1-3]
Beloved, let us love one another, because love
is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In
this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son
into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is
love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent
his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we
love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to
perfection in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he
in us, that he has given us of his Spirit. Moreover, we have seen
and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in
him and he in God. We have come to know and to believe in the love
God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains
in God and God in him. In this is love brought to perfection among
us, that we have confidence on the day of judgment because as he
is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect
love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and
so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he
first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," but hates
his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother
whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the
commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his
brother. [1JN 4:7-21]
If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin
is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life.
This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a
thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should
pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.
We know that no one begotten by God sins; but the one begotten by
God he protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that
we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the
evil one. We also know that the Son of God has come and has given
us discernment to know the one who is true. And we are in the one
who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and
eternal life. Children, be on your guard against idols. [1JN
5:16-21]
For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments;
this is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, in which you should walk.
Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the
antichrist. Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense.
Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God;
whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him;
for whoever greets him shares in his evil works. [2JN 1:6-11]
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.
Whoever does what is good is of God; whoever does what is evil has
never seen God. [3JN 1:11]
But you, beloved, remember the words spoken
beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they told
you, "In (the) last time there will be scoffers who will live
according to their own godless desires." These are the ones
who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the
Spirit. But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy
faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God
and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to
eternal life. On those who waver, have mercy; save others by
snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear,
abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh. [JUDE
1:17-23]
Also try:
belief
/ believe / believer [B2]
faith
/ faithful [F1a]
unbelief
/ unbeliever [D8]
wariness
of false doctrines / separate
from community of believers [E4]
heretics
/ those
who reject truth [H12a]
fallen
away loved ones [F2]
sin
/ sins / sinned / sinful / sinner [S18a]
deeds
/ works [D3a]
return
to the Lord [C10]
Other
resources:
Ecumenism (Topic Page)
Those
Outside the Church (Topic Page)
Catholic
Basics
Catholic
Life
Coming
Home
Non-Catholics
(apologetics)
Catholic
News / Current Issues
Latin
Mass & Catholic Tradition
Reflections: A-Z
| Categorized
Classic
Encyclicals & Other Papal Documents
(Also
try: Help, A-Z)
more
alphabetical scripture | more
categorized scripture | top |
