Then, with the eyes of your hearts enlightened, you will know the confidence that is produced by God having called you, the rich glory that is his inheritance among the saints,

that you once practiced as you lived according to the ways of this present world and according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now active in those who are disobedient.

At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from citizenship in Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. You had no hope and were in the world without God.

But now, in union with the Messiah Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

He rendered the Law inoperative, along with its commandments and regulations, thus creating in himself one new humanity from the two, thereby making peace,

That is why you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,

which in previous generations was not made known to human beings as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret:

He did this so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm

that is, you will know the love of the Messiah which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among us

Now to each one of us grace has been given proportionate to the measure of the Messiah's gift.

Now what does this "he went up" mean except that he also had gone down into the lower parts of the earth?

Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray.

However, that is not the way you came to know the Messiah.

and to clothe yourselves with the new nature, which was created according to God's image in righteousness and true holiness.

The thief must no longer steal but must work hard and do what is good with his own hands, so that he might earn something to give to the needy.

Let no filthy talk be heard from your mouths, but only what is good for building up people and meeting the need of the moment. This way you will administer grace to those who hear you.

For you know very well that no immoral or impure person, or anyone who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.

For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,

For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, as the Messiah does the church.

because you know that everyone will receive a reward from the Lord for whatever good he has done, whether he is a slave or free.

Masters, treat your slaves the same way. Do not threaten them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

So that you may know what has happened to me and how I am doing, Tychicus, our dear brother and a faithful minister in service to the Lord, will tell you everything.

I am sending him to you for this very reason, so that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts.