20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth v is in Jesus. 22 You took off w x your former way of life, y the old self z a that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed b in the spirit c of your minds; 24 you put on d e the new self, the one created f according to God’s likeness g in righteousness and purity of the truth.

25 Since you put away h lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, i j because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. k l Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share m with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, n so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. o You were sealed by Him p for the day of * redemption. q 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind r and compassionate s to one another, forgiving t one another, just as God also forgave you u in Christ.

5 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2 And * walk in love, as the * Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, v a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immorality w and any impurity x or greed y should not even be heard of z among you, as is proper for * saints. 4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral a or impure b or greedy c person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom d of the Messiah and of God.

Light versus Darkness

6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath e is coming on the disobedient because of these things. f 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light g in the Lord. Walk as children of light h— 9 for the fruit of the light i results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth j— 10 discerning k what is pleasing l to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless m works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear, n 14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

Get up, sleeper, o and rise up from the dead, p

and the Messiah will shine on you. q r

Consistency in the Christian Life

15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, s t because the days are evil.