| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New Living Translation |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Living as Children of Light |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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