Ephesians 4:14-25

Contemporary English Version

¹⁴ We must stop acting like children. We must not let deceitful people trick us by their false teachings, which are like winds that toss us around from place to place. ¹⁵ Love should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head ^16 (A) of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.

The Old Life and the New Life

¹⁷ As a follower of the Lord, I order you to stop living like stupid, godless people. ¹⁸ Their minds are in the dark, and they are stubborn and ignorant and have missed out on the life that comes from God. They no longer have any feelings about what is right, ¹⁹ and they are so greedy they do all kinds of indecent things.

^20-21 But this isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. ^22 (B) You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. ²³ Let the Spirit change your way of thinking ^24 (C) and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.

Rules for the New Life

^25 (D) We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth.