1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, if we do the will of God our Father, we will be part of the first Church,⁠a which is spiritual and was created before the sun and the moon.⁠b But if we do not do the will of the Lord, we will be as the Scripture says, ‘My house has become a den of robbers.’ So let us choose instead to be part of the Church of life, that we may be saved. 2 And I do not suppose you are unaware that the living Church is the body of Christ; for the Scripture says, ‘God made humankind, male and female.’ The male is Christ and the female is the Church. The Scriptures and the Apostles clearly declare that the Church does not exist now for the first time, but has been from the beginning; for she was spiritual, as our Jesus also was spiritual, yet was manifested in the last days so that He might save us. 3 Now the Church, being spiritual, was revealed in the flesh of Christ, showing us that if any of us protect her in the flesh and do not defile her, we shall receive her again in the Holy Spirit; for this flesh is the counterpart and copy of the spirit. Therefore, anyone who has defiled the copy shall not receive the original for their share. This is what He means, brothers and sisters: Protect the flesh, that you may share in the spirit. 4 But if we say that the flesh is the Church and the spirit is Christ, then whoever has acted immorally with the flesh has acted immorally with the Church. Such a one, therefore, shall not partake of the spirit, which is Christ. 5 So excellent is the life and immortality that this flesh can receive as its share if the Holy Spirit joins with it. No one can describe or explain the things the Lord has prepared for His chosen ones.