¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is ^(A)in Christ, he is ^(B)a new creation.^{[a] (C)}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, ^(D)who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us ^(E)the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling^[b] the world to himself, ^(F)not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us ^(G)the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, ^(H)we are ambassadors for Christ, ^(I)God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. ^21 (J)For our sake he made him to be sin ^(K)who knew no sin, so that in him we might become ^(L)the righteousness of God.

²¹ assuming that ^(A)you have heard about him and ^(B)were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to ^(C)put off ^(D)your old self,^[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through ^(E)deceitful desires, ²³ and ^(F)to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴ and to put on ^(G)the new self, ^(H)created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵ Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you ^(I)speak the truth with his neighbor, for ^(J)we are members one of another. ^26 (K)Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and ^(L)give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather ^(M)let him labor, ^(N)doing honest work with his own hands, so ^(O)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ^29 (P)Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give ^(Q)grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And ^(R)do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, ^(S)by whom you were sealed for the day of ^(T)redemption. ^31 (U)Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ^32 (V)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, ^(W)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began ^(A)a good work in you ^(B)will bring it to completion at ^(C)the day of Jesus Christ.