Ephesians 4:17-24 - Appeal For New Behavior

¹⁷ This, then, as one in union with the Lord, I say to you and urge upon you: Do not continue to live such purposeless lives as the Gentiles live, ¹⁸ With their powers of discernment darkened, cut off from the Life of God, owing to the ignorance that prevails among them and to the hardness of their hearts. ¹⁹ Lost to all sense of shame, they have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, in order to practice every kind of impurity without restraint.

²⁰ But far different is the lesson you learned from the Christ-- if, that is, you really listened to him, ²¹ And through union with him were taught the Truth, as it is to be found in Jesus. ²² For you learned with regard to your former way of living that you must cast off your old nature, which, yielding to deluding passions, grows corrupt; ²³ That the very spirit of your minds must be constantly renewed; ²⁴ And that you must clothe yourselves in that new nature which was created to resemble God, with the righteousness and holiness springing from the Truth.

¹² Therefore, as God's People, consecrated and dear to him, clothe yourselves with tenderness of heart, kindliness, humility, gentleness, forbearance; ¹³ Bearing with one another, and, when there is any ground for complaint, forgiving one another freely. As the Master freely forgave you, so you must forgive one another. ¹⁴ Over all these virtues put on love; for that is the girdle which makes all complete. ¹⁵ Let the Peace that the Christ gives decide all doubts within your hearts; for you also were called to the enjoyment of peace as members of one Body. And show yourselves thankful. ¹⁶ Let the Message of the Christ dwell in your minds in all its wealth, bringing all wisdom with it. Teach and admonish one another with psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs, full of the loving- kindness of God, lifting your hearts in song to him. ¹⁷ And, whatever you say or do, do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus; and through him offer thanksgiving to God the father.