The New Life

Ephesians 4

17 Now this I say and d testify in the Lord, e that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, f in the futility of their minds. 18 They g are darkened in their understanding, h alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to i their hardness of heart. 19 They j have become callous and k have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you l learned Christ! - 21 assuming that m you have heard about him and n were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to o put off p your old self, 1 which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through q deceitful desires, 23 and r to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on s the new self, t created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you u speak the truth with his neighbor, for v we are members one of another. 26 w Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and x give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather y let him labor, z doing honest work with his own hands, so a that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 b Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give c grace to those who hear. 30 And d do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, e by whom you were sealed for the day of f redemption. 31 g Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 h Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, i forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

  1. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:12
    We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
  2. Cross References
    Ephesians 4:22
    To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.
    Ephesians 2:1 - 3
    And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
    Colossians 3:7
    In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
    1 Peter 4:3
    For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry.
  3. Cross References
    Romans 1:21
    For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
    1 Peter 1:18
    Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold.
    Colossians 2:18
    Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind.
    2 Peter 2:18
    For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
  4. Cross References
    Romans 11:10
    Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever.
  5. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:12
    Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
  6. Cross References
    Mark 3:5
    And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:35
    "They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I must have another drink."
    1 Timothy 4:2
    Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared.
  8. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:25
    ( There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
    Romans 1:24
    Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves.
    Romans 1:26
    For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature.
    Romans 1:28
    And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
  9. Cross References
    Matthew 11:29
    Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  10. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:13
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
  11. Cross References
    Colossians 2:7
    Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
  12. Cross References
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
    Hebrews 12:1
    Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
    James 1:21
    Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
    1 Peter 2:1
    So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
  13. Cross References
    Romans 6:6
    We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
    Colossians 3:9
    Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
  14. Cross References
    Hebrews 3:13
    But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
  15. Cross References
    Romans 12:2
    Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
  16. Cross References
    Romans 6:4
    We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
  17. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:10
    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
  18. Cross References
    Zechariah 8:16
    These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace.
    Colossians 3:9
    Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
    Ephesians 4:15
    Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.
  19. Cross References
    Romans 12:5
    So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
  20. Cross References
    Psalms 37:8
    Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
  21. Cross References
    James 4:7
    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  22. Cross References
    Acts 20:35
    In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
    Galatians 6:10
    So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
  23. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 4:11
    And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.
    2 Thessalonians 3:8
    Nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
    2 Thessalonians 3:11 - 12
    For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
  24. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:26
    All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
  25. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:4
    Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
    Matthew 12:34
    You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
  26. Cross References
    Colossians 4:6
    Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
    Ecclesiastes 10:12
    The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
  27. Cross References
    Isaiah 63:10
    But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.
    1 Thessalonians 5:19
    Do not quench the Spirit.
  28. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:13
    In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
  29. Cross References
    Ephesians 1:7
    In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
  30. Cross References
    Colossians 3:8
    But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
    Colossians 3:19
    Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
  31. Cross References
    Colossians 3:12 - 13
    Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
    1 Peter 3:8
    Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.
  32. Cross References
    2 Corinthians 2:7
    So you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
    2 Corinthians 2:10
    Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.
    Matthew 6:14
    For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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