Eph 5 | Comm | STEP | Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

‏ Ephesians 5

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather let there be thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure, that no immoral, impure, or covetous person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them; 8 for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be careful, then, how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is himself the Savior. 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself in all her glory, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery; but I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you must also love his wife as himself, and the wife must see that she respects her husband.