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1 Corinthians 9 22
To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I have done this so that in all possible ways I might save some.
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1 Corinthians 8 13
So suppose what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin. Then what should I do? I will never eat meat again. In that way, I will not cause them to fall.
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Numbers 25:6-11
Then an Israelite man brought into the camp a Midianite woman. He did it right in front of the eyes of Moses and the whole community of Israel. They were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting.Phinehas was a priest. He was the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. When Phinehas saw what had happened, he left the people. He took a spear in his hand.He followed the man into the tent. Phinehas stuck the spear through the man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the Lord stopped the plague against the Israelites.But the plague had already killed 24,000 of them.The Lord said to Moses,“ Phinehas is a priest. He is the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron. Phinehas has turned my anger away from the Israelites. I am committed to making sure I am honored among them. And he is as committed as I am. So even though I was angry with them, I did not put an end to them.
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1 Corinthians 6 15-1 Corinthians 6 18
Don’t you know that your bodies belong to the body of Christ? Should I take what belongs to Christ and join it to a prostitute? Never!When you join yourself to a prostitute, you become one with her in body. Don’t you know this? Scripture says,“ The two will become one.”( Genesis 2:24)But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one with him in spirit.Keep far away from sexual sins. All the other sins a person commits are outside the body. But sexual sins are sins against their own body.
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Nehemiah 13:15-20
In those days I saw some people of Judah stomping on grapes in winepresses. They were doing it on the Sabbath day. Other people were bringing in grain. They were loading it on donkeys. Still other people were loading up wine, grapes, figs and other kinds of things. They were bringing all of it into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them not to sell food on that day.People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish. In fact, they were bringing in all kinds of goods. They were selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. The people of Judah were buying them.I gave a warning to the nobles of Judah. I said,“ Why are you doing such an evil thing? You are misusing the Sabbath day!Your people of long ago did the very same things. That’s why our God has brought all this trouble on us. That’s why he’s making this city suffer so much. Now you are making him even angrier against Israel. You are misusing the Sabbath day.”Evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath day started. So I ordered the gates to be shut. They had to remain closed until the Sabbath day was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates. I told them not to let anything be brought in on the Sabbath day.Once or twice some traders and sellers spent the night outside Jerusalem. They were hoping to sell all kinds of goods.
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Revelation 3:15-18
‘ I know what you are doing. I know you aren’t cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other!But you are lukewarm. You aren’t hot or cold. So I am going to spit you out of my mouth.You say,“ I am rich. I’ve become wealthy and don’t need anything.” But you don’t realize how pitiful and miserable you have become. You are poor, blind and naked.So here’s my advice. Buy from me gold made pure by fire. Then you will become rich. Buy from me white clothes to wear. Then you will be able to cover the shame of your naked bodies. And buy from me healing lotion to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.
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Romans 15:1
We who have strong faith should help the weak with their problems. We should not please only ourselves.
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1 Corinthians 5 1-1 Corinthians 5 5
It is actually reported that there is sexual sin among you. I’m told that a man is sleeping with his father’s wife. Even people who don’t know God don’t let that kind of sin continue.And you are proud! Shouldn’t you be very sad instead? Shouldn’t you have thrown out of your church the man doing this?Even though I am not right there with you, I am with you in spirit. And because I am with you in spirit, I have already judged the man doing this. I have judged him in the name of our Lord Jesus.So when you come together, I will be with you in spirit. The power of our Lord Jesus will also be with you.When you come together like this, hand this man over to Satan. Then the power of sin in his life will be destroyed. His spirit will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
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Galatians 2:4-6
This matter came up because some people had slipped in among us. They had pretended to be believers. They wanted to find out about the freedom we have because we belong to Christ Jesus. They wanted to make us slaves again.We didn’t give in to them for a moment. We did this so that the truth of the good news would be kept safe for you.Some people in Jerusalem were thought to be important. But it makes no difference to me what they were. God does not treat people differently. Those people added nothing to my message.
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2John 1:10-11
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Revelation 2:2
‘ I know what you are doing. You work long and hard. I know you can’t put up with evil people. You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not. You have found out that they are liars.
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1 Corinthians 15 12-1 Corinthians 15 34
We have preached that Christ has been raised from the dead. So how can some of you say that no one rises from the dead?If no one rises from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.And if Christ has not been raised, what we preach doesn’t mean anything. Your faith doesn’t mean anything either.More than that, we would be lying about God. We are witnesses that God raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if the dead are not raised.If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.And if Christ has not been raised, your faith doesn’t mean anything. Your sins have not been forgiven.Those who have died believing in Christ are also lost.Do we have hope in Christ only for this life? Then people should pity us more than anyone else.But Christ really has been raised from the dead. He is the first of all those who will rise from the dead.Death came because of what a man did. Rising from the dead also comes because of what a man did.Because of Adam, all people die. So because of Christ, all will be made alive.But here is the order of events. Christ is the first of those who rise from the dead. When he comes back, those who belong to him will be raised.Then the end will come after Christ destroys all rule, authority and power. Then he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father.Christ must rule until he has put all his enemies under his control.The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.Scripture says that God“ has put everything under his control.”( Psalm 8:6) It says that“ everything” has been put under him. But it is clear that this does not include God himself. That’s because God put everything under Christ.When he has done that, the Son also will be under God’s rule. God put everything under the Son. In that way, God will be all in all.Suppose no one rises from the dead. Then what will people do who are baptized for the dead? Suppose the dead are not raised at all. Then why are people baptized for them?And why would we put ourselves in danger every hour?I face death every day. That’s the truth. And here is something you can be just as sure of. I take pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done for you through my work.Did I fight wild animals in Ephesus with nothing more than human hopes? Then what have I gotten for it? If the dead are not raised,“ Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.”( Isaiah 22:13)Don’t let anyone fool you.“ Bad companions make a good person bad.”You should come back to your senses and stop sinning. Some of you don’t know anything about God. I say this to make you ashamed.
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John 2:17
His disciples remembered what had been written. It says,“ My great love for your house will destroy me.”( Psalm 69:9)
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Nehemiah 13:23-25
In those days I also saw that some men of Judah had married women from Ashdod. Others had married women from Ammon or Moab.Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. Or they spoke the language of one of the other nations. They didn’t even know how to speak the language of Judah.So I gave them a warning. I cursed them. I beat up some of them. I pulled their hair out. I had them make a promise in God’s name. I said,“ You must promise not to give your daughters to be married to their sons. You must promise not to let their daughters marry your sons. And you must not marry their daughters either.
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Revelation 2:20
‘ But here is what I have against you. You put up with that woman Jezebel. She calls herself a prophet. With her teaching, she has led my servants into sexual sin. She has tricked them into eating food offered to statues of gods.
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Galatians 3:1-3
You foolish people of Galatia! Who has put you under an evil spell? When I preached, I clearly showed you that Jesus Christ had been nailed to the cross.I would like to learn just one thing from you. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law? Or did you receive the Spirit by believing what you heard?Are you so foolish? You began by the Holy Spirit. Are you now trying to finish God’s work in you by your own strength?
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Jude 1:3-4
Dear friends, I really wanted to write to you about the salvation we share. But now I feel I should write and ask you to stand up for the faith. God’s holy people were trusted with it once and for all time.Certain people have secretly slipped in among you. Long ago it was written that they would be judged. They are ungodly people. They misuse the grace of our God as an excuse for sexual sins. They say no to Jesus Christ, our only Lord and King.
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2 Corinthians 2 4-2 Corinthians 2 5
I was very troubled when I wrote to you. My heart was sad. My eyes were full of tears. I didn’t want to make you sad. I wanted to let you know that I love you very deeply.Suppose someone has made us sad. In some ways, he hasn’t made me sad so much as he has made all of you sad. But I don’t want to put this too strongly.
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Galatians 2:14
I saw what they were doing. It was not in line with the truth of the good news. So I spoke to Peter in front of them all.“ You are a Jew,” I said.“ But you live like one who is not. So why do you force Gentiles to follow Jewish ways?”
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2 Corinthians 11 13-2 Corinthians 11 15
People like that are false apostles. They are workers who tell lies. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light.So it doesn’t surprise us that Satan’s servants also pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they deserve.
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Nehemiah 5:6-13
I heard them when they cried out. And I was very angry when I heard what they were saying.I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.I said,“ Our Jewish brothers and sisters were sold to other nations. We’ve done everything we could to buy them back and bring them home. But look at what you are doing! You are actually selling your own people! Now we’ll have to buy them back too!” The people kept quiet. They couldn’t think of anything to say.So I continued,“ What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you show respect for our God? Shouldn’t you live in a way that will keep our enemies from saying bad things about us?I’m lending the people money and grain. So are my relatives and my men. But we must stop charging interest!Give the people’s fields back to them. Give them back their vineyards, olive groves and houses. Do it right away. Give everything back to them. Also give them back the one percent on the money, grain, fresh wine and olive oil you have charged them.”“ We’ll give it back,” they said.“ And we won’t require anything more from them. We’ll do exactly as you say.” Then I sent for the priests. I made the nobles and officials promise to do what they had said.I also shook out my pockets and emptied them. I said,“ Someone might decide not to keep this promise they have made. If that happens, may God shake them out of their house! May he empty them of everything they own!” The whole community said,“ Amen.” They praised the Lord. And the leaders did what they had promised to do.
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Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s heavy loads. If you do, you will fulfill the law of Christ.
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Galatians 1:7-10
What you are accepting is really not the good news at all. It seems that some people have gotten you all mixed up. They are trying to twist the good news about Christ.But suppose even we should preach a different“ good news.” Suppose even an angel from heaven should preach it. Suppose it is different from the good news we gave you. Then let anyone who does that be cursed by God.I have already said it. Now I will say it again. Suppose someone preaches a“ good news” that is different from what you accepted. That person should be cursed by God.Am I now trying to get people to think well of me? Or do I want God to think well of me? Am I trying to please people? If I were, I would not be serving Christ.
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1 Corinthians 11 22
Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? You are shaming those in the church who have nothing. Do you think so little of God’s church that you do this? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? Certainly not about the Lord’s Supper!
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1 Corinthians 6 5-1 Corinthians 6 7
I say this to shame you. Is it possible that no one among you is wise enough to judge matters between believers?Instead, one believer goes to court against another. And this happens in front of unbelievers!When you take another believer to court, you have lost the battle already. Why not be treated wrongly? Why not be cheated?
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Galatians 4:8-20
At one time you didn’t know God. You were slaves to gods that are really not gods at all.But now you know God. Even better, God knows you. So why are you turning back to those weak and worthless powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again?You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!I am afraid for you. I am afraid that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.I make my appeal to you, brothers and sisters. I’m asking you to become like me. After all, I became like you. You didn’t do anything wrong to me.Remember when I first preached the good news to you? Remember I did that because I was sick.And my sickness was hard on you. But you weren’t mean to me. You didn’t make fun of me. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God. You welcomed me as if I were Christ Jesus himself.So why aren’t you treating me the same way now? Suppose you could have torn out your own eyes and given them to me. Then you would have done it. I am a witness to this.Have I become your enemy now by telling you the truth?Those people are trying hard to win you over. But it is not for your good. They want to take you away from us. They want you to commit yourselves to them.It is fine to be committed to something, if the purpose is good. And you shouldn’t be committed only when I am with you. You should always be committed.My dear children, I am in pain for you like I was when we first met. I have pain like a woman giving birth. And my pain will continue until Christ makes you like himself.I wish I could be with you now. I wish I could change my tone of voice. As it is, I don’t understand you.
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2 Corinthians 7 5-2 Corinthians 7 6
When we came to Macedonia, we weren’t able to rest. We were attacked no matter where we went. We had battles on the outside and fears on the inside.But God comforts those who are sad. He comforted us when Titus came.
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1 Corinthians 15 36
How foolish! What you plant doesn’t come to life unless it dies.
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2 Corinthians 13 9
I’m glad when I am weak but you are strong. I pray that there will be no more problems among you.
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Galatians 5:2-4
Here is what I, Paul, say to you. Don’t let yourselves be circumcised. If you do, Christ won’t be of any value to you.I say it again. Every man who lets himself be circumcised must obey the whole law.Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.
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Ezra 9:1-3
After all these things had been done, the leaders came to me. They said,“ The people of Israel have committed sins. Even the priests and Levites have sinned. They haven’t kept themselves separate from the nations around them. The Lord hates the practices of those nations. He hates what the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites do. He also hates what the Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites do.The men of Israel have married the daughters of some of those people. They’ve also taken some of those women for their sons to marry. So they’ve mixed our holy nation with the nations around us. We leaders and officials have also married women who don’t worship the Lord. By doing this, we have led the way in breaking our covenant with the Lord.”When I heard that, I tore my inner robe and my coat. I pulled hair from my head and beard. I was so shocked I sat down.
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1 Thessalonians 3 5-1 Thessalonians 3 8
That’s the reason I sent someone to find out about your faith. I couldn’t wait any longer. I was afraid that Satan had tempted you in some way. Then our work among you would have been useless.But Timothy has come to us from you just now. He has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have happy memories of us. He has also said that you desire to see us, just as we desire to see you.Brothers and sisters, in all our trouble and suffering your faith encouraged us.Now we really live, because you are standing firm in the Lord.
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Romans 12:15
Be joyful with those who are joyful. Be sad with those who are sad.
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1 Corinthians 12 26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy.