The way believers should live
3
📚Remind them to be subject to rulers and those in authority, to be obedient and ready for any good work, 2 📚not to speak evil of anyone, not to be quarrelsome, but gentle, showing complete humility toward everyone.The way believers lived before they believed
3 📚For in time past we too✭ were foolish✭, disobedient✭, deceived✭, serving various desires and pleasures✭, living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Salvation is by God’s grace and mercy
4 📚But✭ when the kindness and love✭ of God our Saviour✭ toward man appeared, 5 📚he saved us, not by righteous deeds that we had done, but according to his mercy✭, through the washing of new birth✭ and renewing✭ by the Holy Spirit✭, 6 📚whom he poured on us✭ abundantly through Jesus✭ Christ our Saviour✭, 7 📚so that having been justified by his grace✭, we would become heirs✭ in accordance with the expectation of eternal life✭.
Those who are saved should do good deeds
8 📚This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to declare these things constantly, that those who have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things✭ are good✭ and profitable for men.
Things and people to avoid
9 📚✭But avoid foolish debates and genealogies and controversies and quarrels about the Law, for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 📚Reject a person who chooses to follow heresy✭, after a first and second warning. 11 📚✭Know that such a person is twisted and sinning, and stands self-condemned.
Closing remarks
12 📚After I have sent Artemas or Tychicus✭ to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis✭, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 📚Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos✭ for their journey, so that they will lack nothing. 14 📚✭Our people must learn also to maintain good deeds, to provide for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful✭.
15 📚Everyone with me greets you. Greet them who love us in the faith✭. Grace be with you all. Amen.