以弗所书 4

身体的合一

1 我为主作囚徒的劝你们，既然蒙召，行事为人就要与你们所蒙的呼召相称。 2 凡事要谦虚、温柔、忍耐，用爱心互相宽容， 3 以和平彼此联系，竭力保持圣灵所赐的合一。 4 身体只有一个，圣灵只有一位，正如你们蒙召，是为同有一个指望而蒙召， 5 一主，一信，一洗， 6 一上帝－就是万人之父，超越万有之上，贯通万有，在万有之中。 7 我们每个人蒙恩都是照基督所量给每个人的恩赐。 8 所以有话说： “他升上高天的时候，掳掠了俘虏， 将各样的恩赐赏给人。”

9 既说“他升上”，岂不是指他曾降到地底下吗？ 10 那降下的，就是高升远超越诸天之上的，为要充满万有。 11 他所赐的有使徒，有先知，有传福音的，有牧者和教师， 12 为要装备圣徒，做事奉的工作，建立基督的身体， 13 直等到我们众人在信仰上同归于一，认识上帝的儿子，得以长大成人，达到基督完全长成的身量。 14 这样，我们不再作小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切邪说之风摇动，飘来飘去。 15 我们反而要用爱心说诚实话，各方面向着基督长进，连于元首基督， 16 靠着他全身都连接得紧凑，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，使身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。

旧我和新我

17 所以我这样说，且在主里郑重地说，你们行事为人，不要再像外邦人存虚妄的心而活。 18 他们心地昏昧，因自己无知，心里刚硬而与上帝所赐的生命隔绝了。 19 既然他们已经麻木，就放纵情欲，贪婪地行种种污秽的事。 20 但你们从基督学的不是这样。 21 如果你们听过他的道，领了他的教，因为真理就在耶稣里， 22 你们要脱去从前的行为，脱去旧我；这旧我是因私欲的迷惑而渐渐败坏的。 23 你们要把自己的心志更新， 24 并且穿上新我；这新我是照着上帝的形像造的，有从真理来的公义和圣洁。

新生活的守则

25 所以，你们要弃绝谎言，每个人要与邻舍说诚实话，因为我们是互为肢体。 26 即使生气也不要犯罪；不可含怒到日落， 27 不可给魔鬼留地步。 28 偷窃的，不要再偷；总要勤劳，亲手t做正当的事，这样才可以把自己有的，分给有缺乏的人。 29 一句坏话也不可出口，只要随着需要说造就人的好话，让听见的人得益处。 30 不要使上帝的圣灵担忧，你们原是受了他的印记，等候得救赎的日子来到。 31 一切苦毒、愤怒、恼恨、嚷闹、毁谤，和一切的恶毒都要从你们中间除掉。 32 要仁慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如上帝在基督里饶恕了你们一样。

EPHESIANS 4

Unity with Christ

1 As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. 2 t Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3 Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. 4 All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people. 5 We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.

6 There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.
7 Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.

8 t As the Scriptures say,
“When he went up
to the highest place,
he led away many prisoners
and gave gifts to people.”
9 When it says, “he went up,” it means that Christ had been deep in the earth.

10 This also means that the one who went deep into the earth is the same one who went into the highest heaven, so he would fill the whole universe.
11 Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12 so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.

13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.t
14 We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. 15 Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head

16 t of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

The Old Life and //the New Life

17 As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people. 18 Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right,

19 and they are so greedy they do all kinds of indecent things.
20-21 But this isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. 22 t You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. 23 Let the Spirit change your way of thinking

24 t and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.

Rules for the New Life

25  t We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. 26 t Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry

27 and don't give the devil a chance.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need.

29 Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.

30 Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32 t Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.