For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility,

So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.

so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.

I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far,

and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation – a sign which is from God.

For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials

And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions.

He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body – a wisdom with no true value – they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.

And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.”

This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them!