Who are you to judge the servants of someone else? It is their own Master who will decide whether they succeed or fail. And they will succeed, because the Lord is able to make them succeed.

But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life.

Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.

For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.

It will be like a man who goes away from home on a trip and leaves his servants in charge, after giving to each one his own work to do and after telling the doorkeeper to keep watch.

Whoever wants to serve me must follow me, so that my servant will be with me where I am. And my Father will honor anyone who serves me.

For a slave who has been called by the Lord is the Lord's free person; in the same way a free person who has been called by Christ is his slave.

It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature.

As for those who follow this rule in their lives, may peace and mercy be with them---with them and with all of God's people!

Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.

For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.

as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear.

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God---what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling; but because you have done evil, sin is crouching at your door. It wants to rule you, but you must overcome it."

Go ahead---eat your food and be happy; drink your wine and be cheerful. It's all right with God.

Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.

Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me---and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him.

This is good and it pleases God our Savior,

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties toward their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God.

Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it.

We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience.

We know what it means to fear the Lord, and so we try to persuade others. God knows us completely, and I hope that in your hearts you know me as well.

Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties.

Our purpose is to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.

Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own.

But someone will say, "One person has faith, another has actions." My answer is, "Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions."

You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?

Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions.

You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.

So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say.