For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. 
People are made right with God 
when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, 
shedding his blood.

For everyone has sinned; 
we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 
Yet God, with undeserved kindness, 
declares that we are righteous. 
He did this through Christ Jesus 
when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. 
And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. 
This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. 
As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. 
It is the power of God at work, 
saving everyone who believes, 
the Jew first and also the Gentile.

 And you are included among those Gentiles 
who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, 
and you will be honored along with him.

And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted 
and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. 
He will come with his mighty angels,

And God will use this persecution to show his justice 
and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.  
In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, 
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 
God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

Hold on to what is good.  
Stay away from every kind of evil.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.   
Do not scoff at prophecies,
but test everything that is said.

Always be joyful.    Never stop praying.   Be thankful in all circumstances, 
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

See that no one pays back evil for evil, 
but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

Encourage those who are timid. 
Take tender care of those who are weak. 
Be patient with everyone.

Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. 
And live peacefully with each other.

Dear brothers and sisters, 
honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. 
They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

So encourage each other and build each other up, 
just as you are already doing.

Christ died for us so that, 
whether we are dead or alive when he returns, 
we can live with him forever.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
not to pour out his anger on us.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, 
minding your own business and working with your hands, 
just as we instructed you before.  
Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, 
and you will not need to depend on others.

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 
Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules 
is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, 
who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.   
Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness 
and honor  not in lustful passion like the pagans 
who do not know God and his ways.

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive 
so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, 
and make the most of every opportunity.

And whatever you do or say, 
do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs 
to God with thankful hearts.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. 
Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. 
For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. 
And always be thankful.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, 
which binds us all together in perfect harmony.