¹⁴ Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.

² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.^[a](A)

³ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.^{(A) 4} But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,^{(B) 5} he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water^[a] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^(C)

² so as to live for the rest of your time in the flesh no longer by human desires but by the will of God.^{(A) 3} You have already spent enough time in doing what the gentiles like to do, living in debauchery, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.^(B)

² in which you once walked, following the course of this world,^[a] following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.^[b](A)

⁵ not with lustful passion, like the gentiles who do not know God;

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).^{(A) 6} On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.^{[a](B) 7} These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.^[b]

¹⁸ they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.^{(A) 19} They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ That is not the way you learned Christ! ²¹ For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, ²² to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,^(B)

³⁰ While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent,^(A)

⁴ Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.^(A)