Rm12:1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. - NIV
Rm 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the
law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3For
what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature,
God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin
offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4in
order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who
do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 5Those
who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature
desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set
on what the Spirit desires. 6The
mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and
peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It
does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by
the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the
sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But
if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your
spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And
if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit, who lives in you. 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to
the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For
if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit
you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. - NIV
Rm12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of
yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober
judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you. - NIV
Rm13:7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay
taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love
one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The
commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder,"
"Do not steal," "Do not covet,"
and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule:
"Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law. 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for
you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when
we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost
here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let
us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in
sexual immorality and debauchery1, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather,
clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to
gratify the desires of the sinful nature. - NIV
1Pet1:13Therefore, prepare your minds for
action; be self-controlled; set
your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As
obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in
ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all
you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially,
live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know
that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were
redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but
with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He
was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last
times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him
from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. - NIV
1Pet4:1Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh [his body],
arm yourselves with the same way of thinking [attitude], for whoever has suffered in the
flesh has ceased from sin [is done with sin], 2so as to live for the rest of the time in
the flesh [his earthly life] no longer for human passions [evil desires] but for the will of God.
3The
time that is past suffices for [you have spent enough time in the past] doing what the Gentiles
[pagans] want [choose] to do, living in sensuality [debauchery1a],
passions [lust], drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties [carousing6], and lawless idolatry.
4With respect to this they are surprised when you do not
join [plunge with] them in the same flood of debauchery [dissipation4], and they malign5
[heap abuse on] you; 5but
they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are
[now] dead, that
though judged in the flesh the way people are [according to men in regard to the
body], they might live in the spirit the
way God does [according to God in the regard to the spirit]. - ESV
1Pet4:7The end of all things is at hand [near]; therefore be self-controlled and
sober[clear]-minded for the sake of your prayers [so that you can pray]. 8Above all, keep loving
one another earnestly [deeply], since love covers [over] a multitude of sins.
9Show
hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10As each has received
a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of [faithfully
administering] God's varied grace [grace in its various forms]:
11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles [the very words] of God; whoever serves, as one
who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God
may be glorified [praised] through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion
[power] forever
and ever. Amen. - ESV
1Pet5:5 .....
you who are younger, be subject [submissive] to the elders [those who are
older]. Clothe yourselves, all of you,
with humility toward one another, for
"God opposes the proud but gives
grace to the humble." (Pro3:34)
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that
at the proper time he may exalt you [lift you up], 7casting all your anxieties on
him, because he cares for you. 8Be
sober-minded [self-controlled]; be watchful [alert]. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. 9Resist him, [standing] firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds
of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who
has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm
[make you firm],
strengthen, and establish you [make you steadfast]. 11To him be the dominion
[power] forever and
ever. Amen. - ESV
Also see: Becoming
Like Christ
1 - debauchery: indulgence in pleasure that lacks moral restraint, extreme
indulgence in sensual pleasure. 1st ref: ^
1a: ^
4 - dissipation: spending or using up wastefully or foolishly,
causing to spread thin or scatter and gradually vanish. ^
5 - malign: have or show intense or vicious ill will. ^
6 - carouse: a drunken revel, intense pleasure or satisfaction taken while
drunk. ^
Challenge: True Life