What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.

If the Spirit leads you, then you are not subject to the Law.

They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do.

that still bear fruit in old age and are always green and strong.

The people of Israel will have nothing more to do with idols; I will answer their prayers and take care of them. Like an evergreen tree I will shelter them; I am the source of all their blessings."

"To have good fruit you must have a healthy tree; if you have a poor tree, you will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it bears.

The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear; but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens.

The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.

Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.' "

He breaks off every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will be clean and bear more fruit.

"I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.

You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.

But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life.

That is how it is with you, my friends. As far as the Law is concerned, you also have died because you are part of the body of Christ; and now you belong to him who was raised from death in order that we might be useful in the service of God.

for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.

Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God.

As for you, my friends, you were called to be free. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you. Instead, let love make you serve one another.

He has brought us by faith into this experience of God's grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God's glory!

endurance brings God's approval, and his approval creates hope.

Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.

Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.

Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.

Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.

If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.

For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, "The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me."

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;

love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth.

Your hearts and minds must be made completely new,

No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to the other believer, because we are all members together in the body of Christ.

Don't give the Devil a chance.

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.

Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.

Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.

Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!

Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable.

You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.

Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.

For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.

For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good.

So you became an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God

who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes.

We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life.

We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Be joyful always,

be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.

do not despise inspired messages.

and avoid every kind of evil.

Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance.

in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled.

Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say about us.

or steal from them. Instead, they must show that they are always good and faithful, so as to bring credit to the teaching about God our Savior in all they do.

That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world,

But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.

And goodness is the harvest that is produced from the seeds the peacemakers plant in peace.

You love him, although you have not seen him, and you believe in him, although you do not now see him. So you rejoice with a great and glorious joy which words cannot express,

Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart.

For this very reason do your best to add goodness to your faith; to your goodness add knowledge;

to your godliness add Christian affection; and to your Christian affection add love.

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God.

And God showed his love for us by sending his only Son into the world, so that we might have life through him.

Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another.

We are sure that we live in union with God and that he lives in union with us, because he has given us his Spirit.

If we declare that Jesus is the Son of God, we live in union with God and God lives in union with us.

My friends: I myself feel sure that you are full of goodness, that you have all knowledge, and that you are able to teach one another.

Love never gives up; and its faith, hope, and patience never fail.

Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.

Their wives also must be of good character and must not gossip; they must be sober and honest in everything.

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith, and purity.

I write you this brief letter with the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful Christian. I want to encourage you and give my testimony that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.