Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny

himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

~Matthew 16:24

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt

through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put

on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

~Ephesians 4:22-24

 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has

loved us and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-

smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even

be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking,

nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you

know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has

any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty

words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of

disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness,

but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is

in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose

them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in

secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever

makes manifest is light. Therefore he says:

Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.

~Ephesians 5:1-14