Ephesians 4:17–32

The New Life in Christ

¹⁷In the Lord’s name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless ¹⁸and whose minds are in the dark. They have no part in the life that God gives, for they are completely ignorant and stubborn. ¹⁹They have lost all feeling of shame; they give themselves over to vice and do all sorts of indecent things without restraint.

²⁰That was not what you learnt about Christ! ²¹You certainly heard about him, and as his followers you were taught the truth that is in Jesus. ^22*So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. ²³Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, ^24*and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

^25*No more lying, then! Each of you must tell the truth to one another, because we are all members together in the body of Christ. ^26*If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day. ²⁷Don’t give the Devil a chance. ²⁸Those who used to rob must stop robbing and start working, in order to earn an honest living for themselves and to be able to help the poor. ²⁹Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. ³⁰And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. ³¹Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. ^32*Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.