A Tree and Its Fruit

^15 (A)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ^(B)ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them ^(C)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, ^(D)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ^19 (E)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them ^(F)by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

^21 (G)“Not everyone who ^(H)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will ^(I)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who ^(J)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ^22 (K)On that day ^(L)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not ^(M)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons ^(N)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ^23 (O)And then will I declare to them, ‘I ^(P)never knew you; ^(Q)depart from me, ^(R)you workers of lawlessness.’

²⁴ And ^(A)they prayed and said, “You, Lord, ^(B)who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in ^(C)this ministry and ^(D)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, ^(A)but only as through fire.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives ^(A)the prize? So ^(B)run that you may obtain it. ²⁵ Every ^(C)athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we ^(D)an imperishable. ²⁶ So I do not run aimlessly; I ^(E)do not box as one ^(F)beating the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and ^(G)keep it under control,^[a] lest after preaching to others ^(H)I myself should be ^(I)disqualified.

Children of God

²⁸ And now, little children, abide in him, so that ^(A)when he appears ^(B)we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his ^(C)coming.