But now, through your union with Christ Jesus, you who once were 'far off' have, by the shedding of the blood of the Christ, been brought 'near.'

It follows, then, that you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow-citizens with Christ's People and members of God's Household.

There is but one Body and one Spirit, just as there was but one hope set before you when you received your Call.

There is but one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism.

There is but one God and Father of all--the God who is over all, pervades all, and is in all.

But holding the truth in a spirit of love, we shall grow into complete union with him who is our Head--Christ himself.

But far different is the lesson you learned from the Christ-- if, that is, you really listened to him,

Let the man who steals steal no longer, but rather let him toil with his hands at honest work, so that he may have something to share with any one in want.

Never let any foul word pass your lips, but only such good words as the occasion demands, that they may be a help to those who hear them.

Nor shameful conduct, nor foolish talk or jesting, for they are wholly out of place among you; but rather thanksgiving.

Take great care, then, how you live--not unwisely but wisely,

Therefore do not grow thoughtless, but try to understand what the Lord's will is.

Do not drink wine to excess, for that leads to profligacy; but seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, and speak to one another in psalms and hymns and sacred songs.

But as the Church submits to the Christ, so also should wives submit to their husbands in everything.

So that he might himself bring the Church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless.

For no one ever yet hated his own body. But every one feeds his body and cares for it, just as the Christ for the Church;

Children, obey your parents, as children of the Lord; for that is but right.

And fathers, do not irritate your children, but bring them up with Christian discipline and instruction.

Not only when their eyes are on you, as if you had merely to please men, but as slaves of Christ, who are trying to carry out the will of God.

For ours is no struggle against enemies of flesh and blood, but against all the various Powers of Evil that hold sway in the Darkness around us, against the Spirits of Wickedness on high.