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Ephesians 4 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

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Unity in the Body
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:1 - Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:2 - Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:3 - Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:4 - For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:5 - There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:6 - and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:7 - However, he has given each one of us a special gift[fn] through the generosity of Christ.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:8 - That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:9 - Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.[fn]
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:10 - And 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:11 - Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:12 - Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:13 - This 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:14 - Then 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:15 - Instead, 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:16 - He 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
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:17 - With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:18 - Their 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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:19 - They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:20 - But that isn’t what you learned about Christ.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:21 - Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:22 - throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:23 - Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:24 - Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:25 - So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:26 - And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[fn] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:27 - for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:28 - If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:29 - Don’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.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:30 - And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,[fn] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
Unchecked Copy BoxEph 4:32 - Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
NLT Footnotes
Greek a grace.
Ps 68:18.
Or to the lowest parts of the earth.
Ps 4:4.
Or has put his seal on you.
NLT

Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Full copyright information is provided here. Visit the New Living Translation website.

For more information on this translation, see the NLT Preface.

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