Ephesians 4
Walk in Unity
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to awalk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit ain the bond of peace. 4 aThere is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 aone Lord, bone faith, cone baptism; 6 aone God and Father of all, who is above all, and bthrough all, and in you all.
Spiritual Gifts
7 But ato each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says:
a“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
9 a(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One awho ascended far above all the heavens, bthat He might fill all things.)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, afor the edifying of bthe body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith aand of the knowledge of the Son of God, to ba perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be achildren, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of bdeceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the ahead—Christ— 16 afrom whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The New Man
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should ano longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the ablindness of their heart; 19 awho, being past feeling, bhave given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you aput off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and abe renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you aput on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25 Therefore, putting away lying, a“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for bwe are members of one another. 26 a“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 anor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather alet him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something bto give him who has need. 29 aLet no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but bwhat is good for necessary edification, cthat it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And ado not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 aLet all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and bevil speaking be put away from you, cwith all malice. 32 And abe kind to one another, tenderhearted, bforgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
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