Ephesians 4:17-24 - Appeal For New Behavior

¹⁷ Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds, ¹⁸ they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of their heart; ¹⁹ and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality, greedy for the practice of every kind of impurity.

²⁰ But you did not learn Christ in this way, ²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former manner of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful lusts; ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

¹² So, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord forgave you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.