But let each person test his own accomplishments so that he can determine if he should get credit for them or if his neighbor should.

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And, in doing that which is honourable, let us not be fainthearted; for, in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.

Look at how large the letters are that I am using in writing this, and I am writing them myself.

As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!

To all those people who live by this rule, may there be peace and mercy [from God] in their lives; that is, upon [those people who are truly] God's "Israel" [i.e., the church].

Let nobody interfere with me after this, for I bear on my body the scars that mark me as a slave of Jesus.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

God predetermined that we should be [considered] His adopted children through [fellowship with] Christ. This is what pleased God and is what He wanted,

to the praise of His glorious grace and favor, which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved [His Son, Jesus Christ].

It is in Him, and through the shedding of His blood, that we have our deliverance--the forgiveness of our offences--so abundant was God's grace,

that he caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight,

having made known to us the secret of His will, according to His good pleasure, that He purposed in Himself,

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

In the Messiah we were also chosen when we were predestined according to the purpose of the one who does everything that he wills to do,

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

The Spirit is the guarantee [the first installment, the pledge, a foretaste] of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own [purchased] possession [His believers], to the praise of His glory.

For this cause, I also, - having heard of the faith on your part in the Lord Jesus, and that towards all the saints,

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

And you hath he quickened also, that were dead in trespass and sin:

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

And it was among them that we all once lived our lives, indulging the cravings of our earthly nature, and carrying out the desires prompted by that earthly nature and by our own thoughts. Our very nature exposed us to the Divine Wrath, like the rest of mankind.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,

even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).

So that we came back from death with him, and are seated with him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus;

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

not of works, that no man should glory.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.

For it is he who is our peace. Through his mortality he made both groups one by tearing down the wall of hostility that divided them.

having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man,'so making peace;

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.

That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,

you are a building that rests on the apostles and prophets as its foundation, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone;

For this reason [because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs] I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

so that you may be able when you read to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ

which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

and to cause all to see what is the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ,

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

in keeping with the eternal purpose that God carried out through the Messiah Jesus our Lord,

It is in [fellowship with] Christ that we have boldness and confident access [to God] through our faith in Him.

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

This is the reason that I bow my knees [in prayer] to the Father,

from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father].

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

in order that ye may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.

There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]—

That is why God says, "When he went up to the highest place, he led captives into captivity and gave gifts to people."

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers:

[and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church];

until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely and become one with the head, that is, one with the Messiah,

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

And they, [the ungodly in their spiritual apathy], having become callous and unfeeling, have given themselves over [as prey] to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity [that their desires may demand].

But that is not how you learned about the Messiah,

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

And do not grieve God's Holy Spirit; for it was through that Spirit that God sealed you as his, against the Day of Redemption.

and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

So that fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, be not once named among you, as it becometh saints:

no, nor indecent, silly, or scurrilous talk ??all that is improper. Rather, voice your thanks to God.

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is on account of these very sins that God's anger is coming upon the disobedient.

For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light