He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, ¹  who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.

Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? ¹  If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them?

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us – by me and Silvanus ¹  and Timothy – was not “Yes” and “No,” but it has always been “Yes” in him.

You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.

He has destroyed ¹  what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness ²  expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.

But the aim of our instruction ¹  is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. ² 

Do not lay hands on anyone ¹  hastily and so identify with the sins of others. ²  Keep yourself pure.

But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others ¹  who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ² 

to be self-controlled, ¹  pure, fulfilling their duties at home, ²  kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message ³  of God may not be discredited. ⁴ 

He ¹  gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, ²  who are eager to do good. ³ 

This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

They served only for matters of food and drink ¹  and various washings; they are external regulations ²  imposed until the new order came. ³ 

Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have ¹  no further consciousness of sin?

But ¹  concerning the one who lacks such things ²  – he is blind. That is to say, he is ³  nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.

But you have a few individuals ¹  in Sardis who have not stained ²  their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed ³  in white, because they are worthy.

So the Lord said, “I will wipe humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth – everything from humankind to animals, ¹  including creatures that move on the ground and birds of the air, for I regret that I have made them.”

Every ¹  woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying ²  in her house for items of silver and gold ³  and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters – thus you will plunder Egypt!” ⁴ 

Then the one presenting the offering must wash the entrails and the legs in water, and the priest must present all of it and offer it up in smoke on the altar – it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the Lord.