A Life Pleasing to God
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Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus a that you should abound more and more, b just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;
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for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
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For this is c the will of God, d your sanctification: e that you should abstain from sexual immorality;
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f that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
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g not in passion of lust, h like the Gentiles i who do not know God;
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that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord j is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.
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For God did not call us to uncleanness, k but in holiness.
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l Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, m who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
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But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for n you yourselves are taught by God o to love one another;
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and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, p that you increase more and more;
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that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, q to mind your own business, and r to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
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s that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
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Cross References
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Colossians 1:10
That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
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Cross References
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
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Cross References
Ephesians 5:27
That He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 6:15 - 20
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!
Colossians 3:5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
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Cross References
Romans 6:19
I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
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Cross References
Colossians 3:5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
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Cross References
Ephesians 4:17
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.
Ephesians 4:18
Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 15:34
Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
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Cross References
2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Cross References
Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
1 Peter 1:14 - 16
As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.
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Cross References
Luke 10:16
"He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:10
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 31:33
But this is the covenant that I will make with ...
Jeremiah 31:34
"No more shall every man teach his neighbor, an...
John 6:45
It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall ...
John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one anoth...
John 15:17
These things I command you, that you love one a...
1 John 2:27
But the anointing which you have received from ...
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Cross References
Matthew 22:39
"And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.
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Cross References
2 Thessalonians 3:11
For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
1 Peter 4:15
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.
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Cross References
Acts 20:35
"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
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Cross References
Romans 13:13
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
1 Peter 2:12
Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.