Sacrifices Pleasing to God
1
Let 1brotherly love continue.
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2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby 3some have entertained angels unawares.
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4Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
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5Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge 6the sexually immoral and adulterous.
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Keep your life 7free from love of money, and 8be content with what you have, for he has said, 9"I will never leave you nor forsake you."
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Remember 12your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and 13imitate their faith.
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Jesus Christ is 14the same yesterday and today and forever.
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Do not be 15led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, 16not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
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We have an altar 17from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.
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For 18the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned 19outside the camp.
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So Jesus also 20suffered 21outside the gate in order to sanctify the people 22through his own blood.
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Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear 23the reproach he endured.
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For 24here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
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25Through him then let us continually offer up 26a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, 27the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
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Do not neglect to do good and 28to share what you have, for such 29sacrifices are pleasing to God.
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Obey 30your leaders and submit to them, 31for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to 32give an account. 33Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
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34Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.
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I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order 35that I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
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Now 36may the God of peace 37who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, 38the great shepherd of the sheep, by 39the blood of the eternal covenant,
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40equip you with everything good that you may do his will, 41working in usa that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, 42to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
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I appeal to you, brothers,b bear with my word of exhortation, for 43I have written to you briefly.
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You should know that 44our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.
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Greet all 45your leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings.
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46Grace be with all of you.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)