King James Version KJV
The Message Bible MSG
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
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So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
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Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
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Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life - even though invisible to spectators - is with Christ in God. He is your life.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
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When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
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And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God.
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
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It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
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It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
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But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
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Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire.
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
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Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
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Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
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So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
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Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
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And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
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Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
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Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master.
19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
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Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don't take advantage of them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
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Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.
21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
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Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
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Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best.
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
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Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ.
25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
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The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.