New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at 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 minds on things that are above, not on things that are on 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 you have died, and your life is hidden 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 your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed 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 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (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 On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.
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It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger.
7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.
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It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better.
8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from 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 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices
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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 clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.
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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 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and 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 As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
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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 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
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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 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
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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 Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be 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; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
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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 whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through 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, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting 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 never treat them harshly.
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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 everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.
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Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.
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Parents, don't come down too hard on your children or you'll crush their spirits.
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord.
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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 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,
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Work from the heart for your real Master, for God,
24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you 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 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.
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The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.