22 But the fruit(A) of the Spirit is love,(B) joy, peace,(C) forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

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12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(A) with compassion, kindness, humility,(B) gentleness and patience.(C) 13 Bear with each other(D) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(E) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(F) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(G)

15 Let the peace of Christ(H) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(I) you were called to peace.(J) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(K) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(L) through psalms,(M) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(N) 17 And whatever you do,(O) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(P) to God the Father through him.

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Love is patient,(A) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.(B) It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,(C) it is not easily angered,(D) it keeps no record of wrongs.(E) Love does not delight in evil(F) but rejoices with the truth.(G) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.(H)

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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;(A) apart from me you can do nothing.

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He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,(A) while every branch that does bear fruit(B) he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.

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Footnotes

  1. John 15:2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven(A) is first of all pure; then peace-loving,(B) considerate, submissive, full of mercy(C) and good fruit, impartial and sincere.(D) 18 Peacemakers(E) who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.(F)

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(for the fruit(A) of the light consists in all goodness,(B) righteousness and truth)

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Final Exhortations

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!(A) Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.(B) Do not be anxious about anything,(C) but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(D) And the peace of God,(E) which transcends all understanding,(F) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.(G) And the God of peace(H) will be with you.

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That person is like a tree(A) planted by streams(B) of water,(C)
    which yields its fruit(D) in season
and whose leaf(E) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.(F)

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16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you(A) so that you might go and bear fruit(B)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.(C)

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So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law(A) through the body of Christ,(B) that you might belong to another,(C) to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

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22 Now that you have purified(A) yourselves by obeying(B) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,(C) from the heart.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart

God’s Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another,(A) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God(B) and knows God.(C) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(D) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(E) into the world that we might live through him.(F) 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(G) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(H) 11 Dear friends,(I) since God so loved us,(J) we also ought to love one another.(K) 12 No one has ever seen God;(L) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.(M)

13 This is how we know(N) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.(O) 14 And we have seen and testify(P) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.(Q) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(R) God lives in them and they in God.(S) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.(T) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(U)

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14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches(A) and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

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For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;(A) and to knowledge, self-control;(B) and to self-control, perseverance;(C) and to perseverance, godliness;(D) and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.(E) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive(F) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(G)

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33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.(A)

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14 They will still bear fruit(A) in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,

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Love in Action

Love must be sincere.(A) Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.(B) 10 Be devoted to one another in love.(C) Honor one another above yourselves.(D) 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,(E) serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope,(F) patient in affliction,(G) faithful in prayer.(H) 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.(I) Practice hospitality.(J)

14 Bless those who persecute you;(K) bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.(L) 16 Live in harmony with one another.(M) Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.(N)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.(O) Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.(P) 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 12:16 Or willing to do menial work

10 so that you may live a life worthy(A) of the Lord and please him(B) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,(C)

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11 filled with the fruit of righteousness(A) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

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Life by the Spirit

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.(A) But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a];(B) rather, serve one another(C) humbly in love.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit,(A) and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.(B) 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.(C) They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.(D) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit,(E) you are not under the law.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:17 Or you do not do what

23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;(A) 24 and to put on(B) the new self,(C) created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.(D)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully(E) to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.(F) 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]:(G) Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.(H) 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(I) doing something useful with their own hands,(J) that they may have something to share with those in need.(K)

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(L) but only what is helpful for building others up(M) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,(N) with whom you were sealed(O) for the day of redemption.(P) 31 Get rid of(Q) all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.(R) 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(S) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(T) Follow God’s example,(U) therefore, as dearly loved children(V) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us(W) and gave himself up for us(X) as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.(Y)

Footnotes

  1. Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:4 (see Septuagint)

Peace and Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified(A) through faith,(B) we[a] have peace(C) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(D) through whom we have gained access(E) by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(F) And we[b] boast in the hope(G) of the glory of God. Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings,(H) because we know that suffering produces perseverance;(I) perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope(J) does not put us to shame, because God’s love(K) has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,(L) who has been given to us.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 5:1 Many manuscripts let us
  2. Romans 5:2 Or let us
  3. Romans 5:3 Or let us

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