Ephesians 4
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the
calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing
with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you
were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is
why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and
gave gifts to men.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he
also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one
who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for
works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach
unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no
longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there
by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things
grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself
up in love, as each part does its work. So I tell you this, and insist on it in
the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of
their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the
life of God because of the ignorance that is in their hearts. Having lost all
sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in
every kind of impurity, with a contunual lust for more. You, however, did not
come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in
accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to
your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by
its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put
on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his
neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not
sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not
give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but
must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have
something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out
of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to
their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of
all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you.
~ New International Version ~