Ephesians 4
The Unity of the
Spirit |
1 |
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are
called,
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2 |
with all lowliness and meekness, with
long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; Col. 3.12, 13
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3 |
endeavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.
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4 |
There is one body, and one Spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
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5 |
one Lord, one faith, one
baptism,
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6 |
one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
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7 |
But unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
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8 |
Wherefore he saith,
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When he ascended up on high, he led captivity
captive, |
and gave gifts unto men. Ps.
68.18 |
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9 |
(Now that he ascended, what is it but
that he also descended first into the lower parts of the
earth?
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10 |
He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all
things.)
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11 |
And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
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12 |
for the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ:
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13 |
till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
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14 |
that we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
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15 |
but speaking the truth in love, may grow
up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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16 |
from whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part,
maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Col.
2.19
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The New Life in
Christ |
17 |
This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the
vanity of their mind,
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18 |
having the understanding darkened, being
alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in
them, because of the blindness of their heart:
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19 |
who being past feeling have given
themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with
greediness.
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20 |
But ye have not so learned
Christ;
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21 |
if so be that ye have heard him, and have
been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
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22 |
that ye put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, Col. 3.9 which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
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23 |
and be renewed in the spirit of your
mind;
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24 |
and that ye put on the new man, Col.
3.10 which after God is created Gen. 1.26 in righteousness and true holiness.
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25 |
Wherefore putting away lying, speak
every man truth with his neighbor: Zech. 8.16 for we are members one of another.
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26 |
Be ye angry, and sin not: Ps. 4.4 let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
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27 |
neither give place to the
devil.
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28 |
Let him that stole steal no more: but
rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which
is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
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29 |
Let no corrupt communication proceed out
of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that
it may minister grace unto the hearers.
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30 |
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
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31 |
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice:
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32 |
and be ye kind one to another,
tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you. Col. 3.13
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