IS WEARING

JEWELRY A SIN?
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
IN CHRISTENDOM

Finding Biblical Answers to

Controversial Topics

Peterson O. Abu

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Copyright © 2025 Peterson O. Abu

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For Contact/Enquiries/Questions:
Email: [email protected]

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 Table of Contents

-​ Introduction
1.​ The Scriptures Only
2.​ The Concept of Jewelry
3.​ Scriptures Wrongly Interpreted
About Jewelry
4.​ The Christian and Jewelry
5.​ The Balance of the Scriptures
Called Modesty

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 Introduction

I am pleased to present this scriptural

conviction and perspective in writing,
not to prove a point, but to share
biblical knowledge with believers for
their understanding and growth.

My name is Peterson Onoja Abu. I was

born again and became a true disciple
of Christ in July 2008. Since then, it
has been my desire to please God,
walk with Him, and deepen my
understanding of Him through the
pages of His Word.

For over a decade, I preached and

taught on this topic with sincerity of

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heart, despite my considerable
ignorance. However, the Lord granted
me the privilege of searching the
Scriptures in His light. In that
revelation, I gained understanding,
which led to a scriptural conviction
that I can confidently defend at any
time.

As you read, ensure that you always

have your Bible with you. This is a
book meant to be read, but it should
also be studied alongside the Bible. I
pray that God grants you
understanding. Amen.

Peterson O. Abu

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 Chapter One

The Scriptures Only

As concerning controversial topics like

“If jewelry should be worn by
Christians or not” the first mistake to
fall into is to consider the topic without
absolute dependence on the Scriptures
for answers. This is where I made
mistakes for many years while
searching for answers concerning
controversial topics.

Because it is controversial is the very

reason we should trust the answers
from the Bible alone. Any answer from

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any preacher, saint, book, etc must be
cross examined with the Bible.

When I came to Jesus in 2008, one

thing the Holy Spirit made emphasis
about to me was making the Bible
standard for my life and judgement. I
discovered that I began to desire to
know God more, and this led me to
reading all through the Bible every
year. This commitment gave me a very
solid foundation, together with the
Bible teaching church I attended. But I
began to err when I began to hear so
much from preachers whom I
considered closer to God, and saw no
need to examine everything I heard
from the pulpits and books with the

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Bible. Eventually I began to preach
their dreams, their visions, their
transes, their revelations, and also
began to share with others. This I did
for many years, until I decided to do a
deep search into the Bible, and behold
I discovered that many of the things I
was preaching were unscriptural. But I
am not ashamed to correct myself and
start all over.

The Bible alone is enough for us. We

must derive every answer to every
question from the Bible.

If any preacher, speaker or author

speaks or writes outside the Word of

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God it simply means such a person
has no light in him.

Isaiah 8:20
“To the law and to the testimony:
if they speak not according to this
word, it is because there is no
light in them.”

This is God speaking through prophet

Isaiah. If anyone speaks or preaches
not according to the right
interpretation of the Word of God, it is
simply because there is no light in
them.

Quotation of Bible passages doesn't

mean that such a person has light.

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Quoting Bible passages without rightly
interpreting them is also a sign that
such a person is in darkness.

When it comes to controversial topics

many preachers quote their dreams
and revelations, or even quote Bible
passages without rightly interpreting
them.

To be able to rightly interpret the Bible

we must come to God as students
ready to learn. We are to approach the
Bible with a childlike heart willing to
learn.

Rules for Studying the Bible

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“Whom shall he teach knowledge?
and whom shall he make to
understand doctrine? them that
are weaned from the milk, and
drawn from the breasts. For
precept must be upon precept,
precept upon precept; line upon
line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little:” Isaiah 28:9-10

1.​Line upon Line: this means you

are to study the Bible verse by
verse to understand the context
of that chapter. Don't just pick a
verse and isolate it to make a
doctrine. The writer was writing
from somewhere, and you should
know the thoughts of the writer

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 and where he is heading to.
Example, reading John 11:35
“Jesus wept” without reading the
verses before, then you might
come to a wrong conclusion of
why Jesus wept. This is line upon
line.
2.​Precept upon precept: this
speaks of allowing the verse of
scriptures to be consistent across
scriptures. Meaning, you can also
find other books of the Bible
agreeing with it, explaining it or
not contradicting. For example, in
Leviticus 11:7-8 and
Deuteronomy 14:8 it stated that
pigs shouldn't be eaten and such
was considered unclean. But in

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 the New Testament we have Bible
passages that contradict that of
the Old Testament: Mark
7:18-19, Acts 10:10-16, Romans
14:14, and 1 Timothy 4: 3-5.
This means that for the Christian,
pigs are not unclean and we are
at liberty to eat them for food.
This is precept upon precept for
better understanding.
3.​Pretext: this is the reading and
understanding of the verses
before the key verse. For
example if the key verse is John
3:16, then your pretext is from
John 3:1-15.
4.​Post text: this is reading and
understanding the verses after

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 the key text. For example,
reading and understanding John
3:17-36 while having the key
text as John 3:16.
5.​Context: This is the reading and
understanding of the key text
based on the knowledge of the
pretext and post-text.

God wants us to rightly divide the

Word of truth. This will guide us
against heresies and ungodliness.

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing
the word of truth.

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 Factors that Hinder Right
Interpretation of the Bible

1.​Interpreting the Bible from

popular opinions
2.​Interpreting the Bible on opinions
and ideology of other people.
3.​Interpreting the Bible on your
church tradition and perspective.
4.​Interpreting the Bible without line
upon line, and precept upon
precept.
5.​Interpreting the Bible by isolating
a Bible verse.
6.​Interpreting the Bible on the
dreams, vision and revelation of
other believers.

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 7.​Interpreting the Bible to suit
one's interest and likes.
8.​Interpreting the Bible in an
allegorical manner, and forcing
one's thoughts, assumptions and
ideas on it.

If you are going to correctly interpret

the Bible, then you are to study the
Bible with willingness to learn, unlearn
and relearn. Always come to God for
God, and not for self and God will
open unto you the well of knowledge.

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 Chapter Two

The Concept of Jewelry

Jewelry refers to decorative items that

people wear, typically made from
precious metals, gems, or other
ornamental materials. It is often used
for adornment, status, fashion, or
symbolic purposes. In Africa, jewelry
goes beyond metal, it is also in the
use of beads. Beads are a type of
jewelry commonly used by traditional
people, religious worshippers and for
cultural practice. It speaks of the
spiritual heritage of some tribes, while

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some wear it for just adornment and
beauty enhancement.

Common Types of Jewelry

Rings – worn on fingers (e.g., wedding

rings)

Necklaces – worn around the neck

Earrings – worn on the ears

Bracelets – worn on the wrist

Anklets – worn around the ankle

Brooches or Pins – fastened to clothing

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Beads- worn around the ankle, ears,
wrist, neck, etc.

Uses of Jewelry

Adornment: To enhance beauty or

personal appearance.

Cultural/Religious significance:
Some jewelry carries spiritual or
traditional meaning. These types are
worn not only for the sake of
adornment but for also spiritual
protection. This is common with the
unbelievers and sinners.

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Status symbol: Expensive pieces
often represent wealth or social
status.

Symbolic meanings: Like wedding

rings, purity rings, or religious
pendants.

What Are Beads?

Beads are small decorative

objects—usually round or
shaped—that are made from materials
like: Glass, Wood, Plastic, Stone,
Shell, Metal.

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Having this understanding about
jewelry, it becomes very important to
ask ourselves these questions below:
-​ Is God the use of jewelry
including the ones made from
stones, woods, good, silver,
plastic, shell, metal etc?
-​ Are there Bible passages that
condemn the use of jewelry made
from any source?

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 Chapter Three

Scriptures Wrongly Interpreted

about Jewelry

Before explaining, I want to quickly

respond to the question of “If it is a
sin to put on jewelry or not”. The
answer is “ No!” It is not a sin and has
never been a sin. This I will show you
in the Bible.

There are Bible passages that are

wrongly interpreted, and I was among
those who misinterpreted these Bible
passages. I once called earring to be
sin, jewelry to be sin, and I did that
simply because my pastors told me

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the same and also pointed those Bible
passages to me. But after a careful
study of that Bible using the rules of
Bible interpretation, I came to realize
that I was wrong.

Fact you must know about Jewelry

in Bible Days

1.​It was the culture of those days,

meaning all nations were using it
in Bible days, this also includes
the Israelites.
2.​It was for both male and female:
the use of jewelry was both for

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 male and female, that is the male
also used earrings on them.

Things to Consider along this

study
Before we examine each Bible
passage, it is very important we note
if any of the Bible passages fell into
commandment, precept or law.

1.​Commandment: God's law or

instruction that must be obey
2.​Precept: this is a divine principle
that guides how one ought to live
(do to others what you want
others to do to you)
3.​Not a law, precept or a command

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The purpose of this is to discover the
truth about jewelry and to stand
where scriptures stand. Never to force
our thoughts on scriptures.

FIRST MISINTERPRETED
BIBLE PASSAGE, Genesis
35:1-5.

Genesis 35:1-5
And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go
up to Bethel, and dwell there: and
make there an altar unto God, that
appeared unto thee when thou
fleddest from the face of Esau thy
brother. 35:2 Then Jacob said

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unto his household, and to all that
were with him, Put away the
strange gods that are among you,
and be clean, and change your
garments: 35:3 And let us arise,
and go up to Bethel; and I will
make there an altar unto God, who
answered me in the day of my
distress, and was with me in the
way which I went. 35:4 And they
gave unto Jacob all the strange
gods which were in their hand,
and all their earrings which were
in their ears; and Jacob hid them
under the oak which was by
Shechem.

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Wrong interpretation: that since the
house of Jacob surrendered their
jewelry then it means God hates
jewelry.
Right Interpretation:
-What did God tell Jacob: “Arise go up
to Bethel and dwell there”
-What did Jacob tell his household:
“Put away the strange gods that are
among you, and be clean, and change
your garments: And let us arise, and
go up to Bethel..
-How did Jacob's sons respond: And
they gave unto Jacob all the strange
gods which were in their hand, and all
their earrings which were in their ears;

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-After they left Shechem, did they
later use jewelry not connected to
idols- the answer is yes.

Let's analyze this.

1.​God never said anything about
Jewelry or earrings to Jacob.
2.​Jacob never said anything about
jewelry, but rather he told them
to put away the idols or amulets
of shechem. (Amulets are jewelry
connected to spiritual idols for
protection or worship).
3.​The house of Jacob surrendered
the gods of the land or idols of
the land which includes the
amulet (jewelries connected to

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 the worship of the idols of the
land).

The jewelries or earrings on them

were connected to the spiritual
worship of the land. So they removed
the strange gods of the land off their
body. Since they were returning back
to the God of their father they had to
let go of every idol of the land.

Did they later use Jewelry after this

chapter? The answer is yes. Who told
them to use it, the answer is God.

Exodus 3:21-22
And I will give this people favour
in the sight of the Egyptians: and

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 it shall come to pass, that, when
ye go, ye shall not go empty: 3:22
But every woman shall borrow of
her neighbour, and of her that
sojourneth in her house, jewels of
silver, and jewels of gold, and
raiment: and ye shall put them
upon your sons, and upon your
daughters; and ye shall spoil the
Egyptians.

SECOND MISINTERPRETED
BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus
21:5-6; Deut. 15:16-17

Exodus 21:5-6

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 And if the servant shall plainly
say, I love my master, my wife,
and my children; I will not go out
free: 21:6 Then his master shall
bring him unto the judges; he
shall also bring him to the door, or
unto the door post; and his master
shall bore his ear through with an
aul; and he shall serve him for
ever.

Wrong interpretation: that because

of this verse, those who put on jewelry
or earrings are spiritual slaves.

Right Interpretation: Scriptures

never said that whosoever used
jewelry or earring is a spiritual slave.

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God instructed the ears of slaves to be
bored to the door. The door there
possibly means a covenant between
the slave and his master. The boring of
the ear in this passage is not for the
usage of earring but for a sign of
permanent slavery to his master. Also
note that it is just one of his ears that
should be bored. Therefore, they were
a kind of boring that identified and
spoke of slavery in those days. It is
like boring the ear for an identification
of a permanent slave. Secondly, it was
to the male and not the female.
Earrings are for both ears. Therefore
this passage never speaks of earrings,
it speaks of slavery because all women
in Israel at this time had jewels on

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them. Read below to find out that the
women at this time all used jewelry.

Exodus 32:2
And Aaron said unto them, Break
off the golden earrings, which are
in the ears of your wives, of your
sons, and of your daughters, and
bring them unto me.

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THIRD MISINTERPRETED
BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus
33:5-6

Exodus 33:5-6
For the LORD had said unto Moses,
Say unto the children of Israel, Ye
are a stiffnecked people: I will
come up into the midst of thee in a
moment, and consume thee:
therefore now put off thy
ornaments from thee, that I may
know what to do unto thee. And
the children of Israel stripped
themselves of their ornaments by
the mount Horeb.

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Wrong Interpretation: that ever
since they put off their jewelries here
God has banned the use of jewelry.
Right Interpretation: Scriptures
never said God banned the use of
jewelry. God was not angry with
jewelry, but the idol they made with
the jewelry. God then told them “put
off your jewelry.” God said that they
should put off their jewelry UNTIL He
knows what to do with them. This
means God never made it a law,
commandments or precept. Rather
God said I am angry with you, but
remove your jewelry for now until I
am happy with you guys again.

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After this chapter 33, in a few
chapters later the children of Israel
returned back to the use of the
jewelry because God allowed them.
God was never against the use of
jewelry. If God banned the use of
jewelry in chapter 33, it wouldn't have
been in possession of the Israelites in
chapter 35, that they had to collect
part of their jewelry to contribute for
the building of the tabernacle.

Also note this, anything God calls a sin

God immediately places judgement on
that. This you will never see across
the Bible as concerning jewelry.

Exodus 35:22

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 And they came, both men and
women, as many as were willing
hearted, and brought bracelets,
and earrings, and rings, and
tablets, all jewels of gold: and
every man that offered offered an
offering of gold unto the LORD.

FOURTH MISINTERPRETED
BIBLE PASSAGE, Isaiah
3:16-26

Isaiah 3:16-21
Moreover the LORD saith, Because
the daughters of Zion are haughty,

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 and walk with stretched forth
necks and wanton eyes, walking
and mincing as they go, and
making a tinkling with their feet:
3:17 Therefore the LORD will
smite with a scab the crown of the
head of the daughters of Zion, and
the LORD will discover their secret
parts. 3:18 In that day the Lord
will take away the bravery of their
tinkling ornaments about their
feet, and their cauls, and their
round tires like the moon, 3:19
The chains, and the bracelets, and
the mufflers, 3:20 The bonnets,
and the ornaments of the legs, and
the headbands, and the tablets,

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and the earrings, 3:21 The rings,
and nose jewels.. “

Wrong interpretation: That God will

judge those who used ornaments as
He judged the daughters of Zion.
Right Interpretation: God will never
judge those that use jewelry, except
they use it in proudful manner. God
wasn't angry with the daughters of
Zion because of jewelry, rather he was
angry with them because they were
haughty. The word haughty means
proud in a rude, arrogant, or
disrespectful way. This is what God
was against. They had a proud look
and God judged them for their pride,
not for the jewelry. It is like God

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saying because a man is proud I will
destroy his house. The house is not
the sin, it is the proud look of the
man. Secondly, this is symbolic . The
daughters of Zion refers symbolically
to the women of Jerusalem (Zion), but
more broadly, they represent the
people of Judah and Jerusalem,
especially the wealthy and proud
women living in luxury, vanity, and
spiritual arrogance. So God was
against them because of their proud
look and arrogance.

If God banned the use of jewelry here

in Isaiah chapter 3, then godly women
wouldn't have used it after the days of
Isaiah, example is Queen Esther.

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Note:
1.​anything that is not against the
law or the precept of God is not a
SIN.
2.​God himself used jewelry as a
figure of speech when speaking
about dressing his people, the
house of Judah (His lover). -
Ezekiel 16:12

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 Chapter Four

Christian and Jewelry

In this chapter we will be looking at

jewelry in the context of the New
Testament. This is to bring a balance
and better interpretation to the Bible
passages.

There are two major key Bible

passages that talk about the use of
jewelry in the New Testament, one is 1
Timothy 2:9-10, and 1 Peter 3:3-6.

I will want us to examine these

passages contextually.

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FIRSTLY MISINTERPRETED
BIBLE PASSAGE, 1 Timothy
2:8-9

1 Timothy 2:8-10
I will therefore that men pray
every where, lifting up holy hands,
without wrath and doubting. 2:9
In like manner also, that women
adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with broided hair, or
gold, or pearls, or costly array;
2:10 But (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good
works.

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Wrong interpretation: this means
that God is against jewelry and
earrings.
Right interpretation: Scriptures
never mentioned jewelry there as
jewelry doesn't mean gold alone.
Secondly Paul said that these things
should be done moderately and not in
an elaborate manner. The gold There
is connected to the weaving of the
hair. Also expensive clothes (costly
arrays) are mentioned also, this
doesn't mean we shouldn't wear
clothes at all, rather we shouldn't wear
clothes outside modesty. In the same
way we shouldn't use jewelry outside
modesty.

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Paul never condemned jewelry here.
Jewelry is not only gold. Paul was
speaking of modesty, that the
adornment of Christian women is
modesty.

SECOND MISINTERPRETED
BIBLE PASSAGES, 1 Peter
3:3-6

1 Peter 3:1-6
Likewise, ye wives, be in
subjection to your own husbands;
that, if any obey not the word,
they also may without the word be
won by the conversation of the

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wives; 3:2 While they behold your
chaste conversation coupled with
fear. 3:3 Whose adorning let it
not be that outward adorning of
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or of putting on of apparel;
3:4 But let it be the hidden man of
the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of
a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price.
3:5 For after this manner in the
old time the holy women also, who
trusted in God, adorned
themselves, being in subjection
unto their own husbands: 3:6
Even as Sara obeyed Abraham,
calling him lord: whose daughters

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 ye are, as long as ye do well, and
are not afraid with any
amazement.

Wrong interpretation: God doesn't

want women to used earrings.
Right interpretation: Apostle Peter
were emphasizing the importance of
character beauty more than outward
beauty. He consistently pointed at the
submission of wives to their husbands.
He never told them to quit using it but
rather that attention should be more
to the inner beauty than outer beauty.
Also he said the holy women of old
had beautiful characters even though
they used jewelry. Peter called the

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women of the Old Testament as “holy
women”, and the women in the Old
Testament used jewelry according to
their culture, but they also honored
and submitted to their husbands.

Sarah used jewelry because her

husband gave his servant jewels as a
gift to give to Rebeka- Genesis
24:22-23.

Miriam and all the women in the days

of Moses used jewelry- Exodus 32:2

Etc.

Jewelry is never a sin, but can become

and idol. Money is never a sin but can

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become an idol. We shouldn't go
beyond the scriptures.

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 Chapter Five

The Balance of Scriptures Called

Modesty

Philippians 4:5
Let your moderation be known
unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

The Christian life is a life of modesty.

Modesty means not excess, not
elaborate, not loud. It means to be
simple, calm and humble.

Analyzing all scriptures in the above

chapters, we have clarity that God is
not against jewelry and earrings,

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rather against the abuse of it and
making of gods out of it.

But to remain moderate

-​ We must not come to the point
where we can't do without them.
-​ We must not worship them
-​ We must not be excess in using
them.
-​ We must use them in a simple
and calm appearance.
-​ We must not pay much attention
to them above our inner beauty
and character.

A Christian is one who has brought

himself under the authority of the
Spirit of God. Self control is a fruit of

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the Spirit. To be modest is to be
self-control. Don't come under the
power of jewelry, rather come under
the leading of God.

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BELIEVE THE BIBLE ABOVE ANY
REVELATION OF HEAVEN AND
HELL…

IT IS BY THE WORD WE SHALL BE

JUDGED.

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