For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
But if we ourselves are also found to be“ sinners” while seeking to be justified by Christ, is Christ then a promoter of sin? Absolutely not!If I rebuild those things that I tore down, I show myself to be a lawbreaker.
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law— though I myself am not under the law— to win those under the law.To those who are without the law, like one without the law— though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ— to win those without the law.
For some people, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into sensuality and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
