What does “he ascended” mean except that he (Jesus) also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers (the five gifts of the ministry). to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature (perfection), attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants (newborns), tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, of speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
So I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit desires contrary to the flesh; they are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you would. If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest: fornication, impurity, dissolution, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, animosities, disputes, divisions, sects, envy, drunkenness, overeating, and similar things. I tell you beforehand, as I have said before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and temperance; the law is not against these things. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not seek vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
I, therefore, exhort you, a prisoner in the Lord, to walk worthy of the calling given to you, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope by your vocation. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and among all, and in all.
On Not Loving the World
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Warnings Against Denying the Son
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit just as it has taught you, remain in him.
God’s Children and Sin
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
I know my sheep, and they know me, as the Father knows me and as I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. I have yet other sheep, which are not of this fold; I have to bring these; they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
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