Marks of the True Christian

⁹ Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; ¹⁰ love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.^{(A) 13} Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.^(B)

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.^{(C) 15} Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly;^[a] do not claim to be wiser than you are.^{(D) 17} Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.^{(E) 18} If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.^{(F) 19} Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God,^[b] for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”^{(G) 20} Instead, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink, for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Cross and Self-Denial

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^{(A) 25} For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?