Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace

¹⁴ Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness^(A)—without it no one will see the Lord.^(B)

¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.^(A)

The Law of Love

¹³ Therefore, let us no longer judge one another.^(A) Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or pitfall in the way of your brother or sister.^{(B) 14} I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself.^(C) Still, to someone who considers a thing to be unclean, to that one it is unclean.^{(D) 15} For if your brother or sister is hurt by what you eat, you are no longer walking according to love.^(E) Do not destroy, by what you eat, someone for whom Christ died.^{(F) 16} Therefore, do not let your good be slandered,^{(G) 17} for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,^(H) but righteousness, peace, and joy^(I) in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸ Whoever serves Christ^(J) in this way is acceptable to God and receives human approval.^(K)

¹⁹ So then, let us pursue what promotes peace^(L) and what builds up one another.^{(M) 20} Do not tear down God’s work because of food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make someone fall by what he eats.^(N)

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood^(A) of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both groups one^(B) and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, ¹⁵ he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create^(C) in himself one^(D) new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body^(E) through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.^{[a] 17} He came and proclaimed the good news^(F) of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.^{(G) 18} For through him we both have access^(H) in one Spirit to the Father.^{(I) 19} So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,^(J) with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building, being put together,^(K) grows into a holy temple in the Lord.^{(L) 22} In him you are also being built together^(M) for God’s dwelling^(N) in the Spirit.