Ephesians 4:17-24 - Appeal For New Behavior

¹⁷ This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit, ¹⁸ Whose thoughts are dark, to whom the life of God is strange because they are without knowledge, and their hearts have been made hard; ¹⁹ Who having no more power of feeling, have given themselves up to evil passions, to do all unclean things with overmuch desire.

²⁰ For this was not the teaching of Christ which was given to you; ²¹ If in fact you gave ear to him, and were given teaching in him, even as what is true is made clear in Jesus: ²² That you are to put away, in relation to your earlier way of life, the old man, which has become evil by love of deceit; ²³ And be made new in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ And put on the new man, to which God has given life, in righteousness and a true and holy way of living.

¹² As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behaviour be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things; ¹³ Being gentle to one another and having forgiveness for one another, if anyone has done wrong to his brother, even as the Lord had forgiveness for you: ¹⁴ And more than all, have love; the only way in which you may be completely joined together. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ be ruling in your hearts, as it was the purpose of God for you to be one body; and give praise to God at all times. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ be in you in all wealth of wisdom; teaching and helping one another with songs of praise and holy words, making melody to God with grace in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in act, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving praise to God the Father through him.