Ephesians 4
4
Walk in Unity
1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to #Eph. 2:10; (Col. 1:10; 2:6); 1 Thess. 2:12walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit #Col. 3:14in the bond of peace. 4#Rom. 12:5There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5#1 Cor. 1:13one Lord, #(1 Cor. 15:1–8); Jude 3one faith, #1 Cor. 12:12, 13; (Heb. 6:6)one baptism; 6#Mal. 2:10; 1 Cor. 8:6; 12:6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and #Rom. 11:36through all, and in you all.
Spiritual Gifts
7But #(1 Cor. 12:7, 11)to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore He says:
#Ps. 68:18; (Col. 2:15)“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
9#Luke 23:43; John 3:13; 20:17; (1 Pet. 3:19, 20)(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is also the One #Acts 1:9who ascended far above all the heavens, #(Acts 2:33; Eph. 1:23)that He might fill all things.)
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, #1 Cor. 14:26for the edifying of #Col. 1:24the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith #Col. 2:2and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to #1 Cor. 14:20; Col. 1:28; Heb. 5:14a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be #1 Cor. 14:20children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of #Rom. 16:18deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the #Eph. 1:22head—Christ— 16#(Rom. 12:4); Col. 2:19from 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
17This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should #Eph. 2:2; 4:22no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the #Rom. 1:21blindness of their heart; 19#1 Tim. 4:2who, being past feeling, #1 Pet. 4:3have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20But you have not so learned Christ, 21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22that you #Col. 3:8put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23and #(Rom. 12:2; Col. 3:10)be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24and that you #(Rom. 6:4; 7:6; 12:2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:10)put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Do Not Grieve the Spirit
25Therefore, putting away lying, #Zech. 8:16; Eph. 4:15; Col. 3:9“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for #Rom. 12:5we are members of one another. 26#Ps. 4:4; 37:8“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27#(Rom. 12:19; James 4:7); 1 Pet. 5:9nor give place to the devil. 28Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather #Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 4:12; Gal. 6:10let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something #Luke 3:11; 1 Thess. 4:12to give him who has need. 29#Matt. 12:34; Eph. 5:4; Col. 3:8Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but #1 Thess. 5:11what is good for necessary edification, #Col. 3:16that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30And #Is. 7:13do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31#Rom. 3:14; Col. 3:8, 19Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and #James 4:11evil speaking be put away from you, #Titus 3:3with all malice. 32And #(Matt. 6:14); 2 Cor. 6:10be kind to one another, tenderhearted, #(Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37)forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
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Ephesians 4: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.