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Allow my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all of their families to live. Save us from death.”
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Now listen to me. Send back your brothers and sisters whom you captured, because the Lord is very angry with you.”
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Job’s brothers and sisters came to his house, along with everyone who had known him before, and they all ate with him there. They comforted him and made him feel better about the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring.
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Then I will tell my brothers and sisters about you; I will praise you in the public meeting.
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“You are to call your brothers, ‘my people,’ and your sisters, ‘you have been shown pity.’
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And all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or farms to follow me will get much more than they left, and they will have life forever.
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“But you must not be called ‘Teacher,’ because you have only one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters together.
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Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or farms for me and for the Good News
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will get more than they left. Here in this world they will have a hundred times more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields. And with those things, they will also suffer for their belief. But in this age they will have life forever.
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“Brothers and sisters, in the Scriptures the Holy Spirit said through David something that must happen involving Judas. He was one of our own group and served together with us. He led those who arrested Jesus.”
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“Brothers and sisters, I can tell you truly that David, our ancestor, died and was buried. His grave is still here with us today.
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“Brothers and sisters, I know you did those things to Jesus because neither you nor your leaders understood what you were doing.
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So, brothers and sisters, choose seven of your own men who are good, full of the Spirit and full of wisdom. We will put them in charge of this work.
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Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I planned many times to come to you, but this has not been possible. I wanted to come so that I could help you grow spiritually as I have helped the other non-Jewish people.
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An Example from Marriage
Brothers and sisters, all of you understand the law of Moses. So surely you know that the law rules over people only while they are alive.
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In the same way, my brothers and sisters, your old selves died, and you became free from the law through the body of Christ. This happened so that you might belong to someone else—the One who was raised from the dead—and so that we might be used in service to God.
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So, my brothers and sisters, we must not be ruled by our sinful selves or live the way our sinful selves want.
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God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters.
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I wish I could help my Jewish brothers and sisters, my people. I would even wish that I were cursed and cut off from Christ if that would help them.
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Brothers and sisters, the thing I want most is for all the Jews to be saved. That is my prayer to God.
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I want you to understand this secret, brothers and sisters, so you will understand that you do not know everything: Part of Israel has been made stubborn, but that will change when many who are not Jews have come to God.
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Give Your Lives to God
So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship.
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Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves.
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So why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ? And why do you think you are better than they are? We will all stand before God to be judged,
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Paul Talks About His Work
My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.
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Brothers and sisters, I beg you to help me in my work by praying to God for me. Do this because of our Lord Jesus and the love that the Holy Spirit gives us.
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Greetings to Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and all the brothers and sisters who are with them.
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Brothers and sisters, I ask you to look out for those who cause people to be against each other and who upset other people’s faith. They are against the true teaching you learned, so stay away from them.
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Problems in the Church
I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that all of you agree with each other and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose.
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My brothers and sisters, some people from Chloe’s family have told me quite plainly that there are quarrels among you.
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Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families.
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The Message of Christ’s Death
Dear brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I did not come preaching God’s secret with fancy words or a show of human wisdom.
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Following People Is Wrong
Brothers and sisters, in the past I could not talk to you as I talk to spiritual people. I had to talk to you as I would to people without the Spirit—babies in Christ.
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Brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself as examples so you could learn through us the meaning of the saying, “Follow only what is written in the Scriptures.” Then you will not be more proud of one person than another.
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Brothers and sisters, each of you should stay as you were when you were called, and stay there with God.
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Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We do not have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives.
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When you sin against your brothers and sisters in Christ like this and cause them to do what they feel is wrong, you are also sinning against Christ.
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Warnings from Israel’s Past
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what happened to our ancestors who followed Moses. They were all under the cloud and all went through the sea.
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So my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for each other.
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Gifts from the Holy Spirit
Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand about spiritual gifts.
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Brothers and sisters, will it help you if I come to you speaking in different languages? No! It will help you only if I bring you a new truth or some new knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching.
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Brothers and sisters, do not think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like adults.
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Meetings Should Help the Church
So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, and another has a teaching. Another has a new truth from God. Another speaks in a different language, and another person interprets that language. The purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow strong.
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So my brothers and sisters, you should truly want to prophesy. But do not stop people from using the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages.
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The Good News About Christ
Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to remember the Good News I brought to you. You received this Good News and continue strong in it.
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I die every day. That is true, brothers and sisters, just as it is true that I brag about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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I tell you this, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot have a part in the kingdom of God. Something that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins.
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So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.
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You know that the family of Stephanas were the first believers in Southern Greece and that they have given themselves to the service of God’s people. I ask you, brothers and sisters,
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All the brothers and sisters here send greetings. Give each other a holy kiss when you meet.
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Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living.
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Christian Giving
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace God gave the churches in Macedonia.
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Now, brothers and sisters, I say good-bye. Live in harmony. Do what I have asked you to do. Agree with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
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Paul’s Authority Is from God
Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the Good News I preached to you was not made up by human beings.
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The Law and the Promise
Brothers and sisters, let us think in human terms: Even an agreement made between two persons is firm. After that agreement is accepted by both people, no one can stop it or add anything to it.
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Brothers and sisters, I became like you, so I beg you to become like me. You were very good to me before.
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My brothers and sisters, you are God’s children because of his promise, as Isaac was then.
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So, my brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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My brothers and sisters, I do not teach that a man must be circumcised. If I teach circumcision, why am I still being attacked? If I still taught circumcision, my preaching about the cross would not be a problem.
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My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love.
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Help Each Other
Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin, too.
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My brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
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Peace and love with faith to you brothers and sisters from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Paul’s Troubles Help the Work
I want you brothers and sisters to know that what has happened to me has helped to spread the Good News.
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The Importance of Christ
My brothers and sisters, be full of joy in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it will help you to be more ready.
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Brothers and sisters, I know that I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead,
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Brothers and sisters, all of you should try to follow my example and to copy those who live the way we showed you.
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What the Christians Are to Do
My dear brothers and sisters, I love you and want to see you. You bring me joy and make me proud of you, so stand strong in the Lord as I have told you.
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Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.
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To the holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ that live in Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
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Greet the brothers and sisters in Laodicea. And greet Nympha and the church that meets in her house.
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Brothers and sisters, God loves you, and we know he has chosen you,
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Paul’s Work in Thessalonica
Brothers and sisters, you know our visit to you was not a failure.
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Brothers and sisters, I know you remember our hard work and difficulties. We worked night and day so we would not burden any of you while we preached God’s Good News to you.
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Brothers and sisters, your experiences have been like those of God’s churches in Christ that are in Judea. You suffered from the people of your own country, as they suffered from the Jews
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Paul Wants to Visit Them Again
Brothers and sisters, though we were separated from you for a short time, our thoughts were still with you. We wanted very much to see you and tried hard to do so.
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So, brothers and sisters, while we have much trouble and suffering, we are encouraged about you because of your faith.
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A Life that Pleases God
Brothers and sisters, we taught you how to live in a way that will please God, and you are living that way. Now we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way even more.
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And truly you do love the Christians in all of Macedonia. Brothers and sisters, now we encourage you to love them even more.
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The Lord’s Coming
Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about those Christians who have died so you will not be sad, as others who have no hope.
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Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming
Now, brothers and sisters, we do not need to write you about times and dates.
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But you, brothers and sisters, are not living in darkness, and so that day will not surprise you like a thief.
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Final Instructions and Greetings
Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.
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We ask you, brothers and sisters, to warn those who do not work. Encourage the people who are afraid. Help those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
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Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
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Paul Talks About God’s Judgment
We must always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. This is only right, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love that every one of you has for each other is increasing.
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Evil Things Will Happen
Brothers and sisters, we have something to say about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and the time when we will meet together with him.
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You Are Chosen for Salvation
Brothers and sisters, whom the Lord loves, God chose you from the beginning to be saved. So we must always thank God for you. You are saved by the Spirit that makes you holy and by your faith in the truth.
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So, brothers and sisters, stand strong and continue to believe the teachings we gave you in our speaking and in our letter.
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Pray for Us
And now, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the Lord’s teaching will continue to spread quickly and that people will give honor to that teaching, just as happened with you.
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The Duty to Work
Brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ we command you to stay away from any believer who refuses to work and does not follow the teaching we gave you.
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But you, brothers and sisters, never become tired of doing good.
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Be a Good Servant of Christ
By telling these things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will be made strong by the words of the faith and the good teaching which you have been following.
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Try as hard as you can to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you. Also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters in Christ greet you.
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Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
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He says, “Then, I will tell my brothers and sisters about you; I will praise you in the public meeting.” Psalm 22:22
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For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way so he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could die in their place to take away their sins.
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Jesus Is Greater than Moses
So all of you holy brothers and sisters, who were called by God, think about Jesus, who was sent to us and is the high priest of our faith.
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So brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God.
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Continue to Trust God
So, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place without fear because of the blood of Jesus’ death.
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Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
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My brothers and sisters, I beg you to listen patiently to this message I have written to encourage you, because it is not very long.
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Faith and Wisdom
My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy,
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My dear brothers and sisters, do not be fooled about this.
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Listening and Obeying
My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily,
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Love All People
My dear brothers and sisters, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, never think some people are more important than others.
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Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! God chose the poor in the world to be rich with faith and to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him.
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Faith and Good Works
My brothers and sisters, if people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them?
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Controlling the Things We Say
My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
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Praises and curses come from the same mouth! My brothers and sisters, this should not happen.
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My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.
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You Are Not the Judge
Brothers and sisters, do not tell evil lies about each other. If you speak against your fellow believers or judge them, you are judging and speaking against the law they follow. And when you are judging the law, you are no longer a follower of the law. You have become a judge.
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Be Patient
Brothers and sisters, be patient until the Lord comes again. A farmer patiently waits for his valuable crop to grow from the earth and for it to receive the autumn and spring rains.
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Brothers and sisters, do not complain against each other or you will be judged guilty. And the Judge is ready to come!
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Brothers and sisters, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they were patient.
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Be Careful What You Say
My brothers and sisters, above all, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Don’t use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no so you will not be judged guilty.
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Saving a Soul
My brothers and sisters, if one of you wanders away from the truth, and someone helps that person come back,
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Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart.
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Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family, respect God, honor the king.
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and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love.
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My brothers and sisters, try hard to be certain that you really are called and chosen by God. If you do all these things, you will never fall.
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So we can see who God’s children are and who the devil’s children are: Those who do not do what is right are not God’s children, and those who do not love their brothers and sisters are not God’s children.
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Brothers and sisters, do not be surprised when the people of the world hate you.
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This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters.
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If people say, “I love God,” but hate their brothers or sisters, they are liars. Those who do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have never seen.
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And God gave us this command: Those who love God must also love their brothers and sisters.
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I was very happy when some brothers and sisters came and told me about the truth in your life and how you are following the way of truth.
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My dear friend, it is good that you help the brothers and sisters, even those you do not know.
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So if I come, I will talk about what Diotrephes is doing, about how he lies and says evil things about us. But more than that, he refuses to accept the other brothers and sisters; he even stops those who do want to accept them and puts them out of the church.
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Then each one of them was given a white robe and was told to wait a short time longer. There were still some of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters in the service of Christ who must be killed as they were. They had to wait until all of this was finished.
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Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come. The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accused them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.
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And our brothers and sisters defeated him by the blood of the Lamb’s death and by the message they preached. They did not love their lives so much that they were afraid of death.
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Then I bowed down at the angel’s feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Do not worship me! I am a servant like you and your brothers and sisters who have the message of Jesus. Worship God, because the message about Jesus is the spirit that gives all prophecy.”
