Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(A)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(B)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(C)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(D)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(E)led by the Spirit, ^(F)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(G)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(H)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(I)those who do^[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(J)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(K)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(L)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (M)gentleness, ^(N)self-control; ^(O)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(P)have crucified the flesh with its ^(Q)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(R)let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

²² to ^(A)put off ^(B)your old self,^[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through ^(C)deceitful desires, ²³ and ^(D)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on ^(E)the new self, ^(F)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Straining Toward the Goal

¹² Not that I have already ^(A)obtained this or ^(B)am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

^9 (A)Do not lie to one another, seeing that ^(B)you have put off ^(C)the old self^[a] with its practices ¹⁰ and ^(D)have put on ^(E)the new self, ^(F)which is being renewed in knowledge ^(G)after the image of ^(H)its creator.

¹⁴ As obedient children, ^(A)do not be conformed to the passions ^(B)of your former ignorance, ¹⁵ but ^(C)as he who called you is holy, you also be holy ^(D)in all your conduct, ¹⁶ since it is written, ^(E)“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

⁵ You know that ^(A)he appeared in order to ^(B)take away sins, and ^(C)in him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; ^(D)no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, ^(E)let no one deceive you. ^(F)Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. ^8 (G)Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was ^(H)to destroy the works of the devil. ^9 (I)No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's^[a] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.