That is how it is with you, my friends. As far as the Law is concerned, you also have died because you are part of the body of Christ; and now you belong to him who was raised from death in order that we might be useful in the service of God.

He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with himself, in this way making peace.

By his death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross he united both races into one body and brought them back to God.

Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.

He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain---that is, through his own body.

so that we might be holy and righteous before him all the days of our life.

I am jealous for you, just as God is; you are like a pure virgin whom I have promised in marriage to one man only, Christ himself.

Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him. Because of his love

in order to present the church to himself in all its beauty---pure and faultless, without spot or wrinkle or any other imperfection.

God did not call us to live in immorality, but in holiness.

He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

And so, my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God's sight and to be at peace with him.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to bring you faultless and joyful before his glorious presence---

Why, God does not trust even his angels; even they are not pure in his sight.

In his eyes even the moon is not bright, or the stars pure.

Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

(SEE 13:20)