1 We must attain the gifts of God by faith and obedience, which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the duties of our several stations, without envy or contention. 24 The necessity of different orders among men. 33 We have none of us anything but what we received of God: whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey.
HOW blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God.
2 Life in immortality! brightness in righteousness! truth in full assurance! faith in confidence! temperance in holiness!
3 And all this has God subjected to our understandings:
4 What therefore shall those things be which he has prepared for them that wait for him?
5 The Creator and Father of spirits, the Most Holy; he only knows both the greatness and beauty of them,
6 Let us therefore strive with all earnestness, that we may be found in the number of those that wait for him, that so we may receive the reward which he has promised.
7 But how, beloved, shall we do this? We must fix our minds by faith towards God, and seek those things that are pleasing and acceptable unto him.
8 We must act conformably to his holy will; and follow the way of truth, casting off from us all unrighteousness and iniquity, together with all covetousness, strife, evil manners, deceit, whispering, detractions; all hatred of God, pride and boasting; vain-glory and ambition;
9 For they that do these things are odious to God; and not only they that do them, but also all such as approve of those that do them.