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And so, working together, we beg you not to receive the grace of God to no effect.
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For he says, “In a favorable time I paid attention to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the favorable time. Look, now is the day of salvation.
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We do not place a stumbling block in front of anyone, for we do not wish our ministry to be brought into disrepute.
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Instead, we prove ourselves by all our actions, that we are God’s servants. We are his servants in much endurance, affliction, distress, hardship,
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beatings, imprisonments, riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in hunger,
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in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love.
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We are his servants in the word of truth, in the power of God. We have the armor of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.
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We work in honor and dishonor, in slander and praise. We are accused of being deceitful and yet we are truthful.
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We work as if we were unknown and we are still well known. We work as dying and-see!-we are still living. We work as being punished for our actions but not as condemned to death.
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We work as sorrowful, but we are always rejoicing. We work as poor, but we are making many rich. We work as having nothing and yet as possessing all things.
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We have spoken the whole truth to you, Corinthians, and our heart is wide open.
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Your hearts are not restrained by us, but you are restrained by your own feelings.
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Now in fair exchange-I speak as to children-open your hearts wide.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
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Do not be tied together with unbelievers. For what association does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what fellowship does light have with darkness?
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What agreement can Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have together with an unbeliever?
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And what agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
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Therefore, “Come out from among them, and be set apart,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you.
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I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.
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