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ready made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me. For, brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold of it: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as would be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, even this shall God reveal to you only whereunto we have already attained, by that same rule let us walk.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL

TO THE COLOSSIANS

COLOSSIANS I
Ephesians iii

Now I make known unto you the gospel whereof I was made a minister, according to the stewardship of God which was entrusted to me, to fulfil the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations. But now hath it been manifested to his saints, to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is, Christ in you the hope of glory. And this we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.

For this cause also we cease not to pray and

make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all stedfastness and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

COLOSSIANS II

II Corinthians xi. Galatians v. Hebrews xiii

Take heed, brethren, lest by any means your minds be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. Let no one rob you of your prize, priding himself on his humility and his worship of the angels, and taking his stand on the visions he has seen, being vainly puffed up by his fleshy mind.

This I say, that no man may delude you with persuasiveness of speech, after the precepts and doctrines of men; but that you may continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel. Beware lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and not after Christ. Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by things wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.

For in Christ Jesus nought availeth anything, save faith working through love.

Stand fast therefore in the freedom wherewith Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled in any yoke of bondage. For, brethren, ye were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.

COLOSSIANS III

Romans vi. Ephesians ii, iv

Now you, who were dead through your trespasses and sins, wherein ye once walked according to the fashion of this world, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, hath God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, made alive together with Christ, and raised up with him, and made to sit with him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. Wherefore if ye have been raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God; that henceforth you may walk in newness of life.

Put away therefore, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and be ye re

newed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man that is after God, created in righteousness and holiness of truth. Do ye now therefore put all these away: anger, malice, railing, shameful speaking; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings, and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him.

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye: and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of the Lord dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another. And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

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