Be Ready for Every Good Work
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Remind them x to be submissive to rulers and authorities, y to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
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z to speak evil of no one, a to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and b to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
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For c we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
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But when d the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
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he saved us, e not because of works done by us in righteousness, but f according to his own mercy, by g the washing of regeneration and h renewal of the Holy Spirit,
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whom he i poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
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so that j being justified by his grace we might become k heirs l according to the hope of eternal life.
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The saying is m trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful n to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
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But o avoid foolish p controversies, q genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for r they are unprofitable and worthless.
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As for a person who stirs up division, s after warning him once and then twice, t have nothing more to do with him,
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knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
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Cross References
Romans 13:1
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
1 Peter 2:13
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme.
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2 Timothy 2:21
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
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Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
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1 Timothy 3:3
Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
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2 Timothy 2:25
Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
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1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
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Romans 2:4
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
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Romans 3:27
Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
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Ephesians 2:4
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us.
1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
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Cross References
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Peter 3:21
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Cross References
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Acts 2:33
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Acts 10:45
And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.
Romans 5:5
And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.
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Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
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Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
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1 Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
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Titus 3:14
And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
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2 Timothy 2:16
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.
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1 Timothy 6:4
He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions.
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1 Timothy 1:4
Nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.
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2 Timothy 2:14
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
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Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
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2 John 1:10
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.