Unity with Christ
1 As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. 3 Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. 4 All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God's people. 5 We have only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. 6 There is one God who is the Father of all people. Not only is God above all others, but he works by using all of us, and he lives in all of us.
7 Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us. 8 As the Scriptures say,
“When he went up
to the highest place,
he led away many prisoners
and gave gifts to people.”
9 When it says, “he went up,” it means that Christ had been deep in the earth. 10 This also means that the one who went deep into the earth is the same one who went into the highest heaven, so he would fill the whole universe.
11 Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers, 12 so his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong. 13 This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
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 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 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 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 We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. 26 Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry 27 and don't give the devil a chance.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need.
29 Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.
30 Don't make God's Spirit sad. The Spirit makes you sure that someday you will be free from your sins.
31 Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don't yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32 Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
Viena Kristus miesa
1 Tad nu es, cietumnieks Kunga dēļ, lūdzu jūs dzīvot tā aicinājuma cienīgi, ar kuru esat aicināti – 2 visā pazemībā, lēnprātībā un pacietībā, ar mīlestību panesdami cits citu, 3 dedzīgi sargādami vienotību Garā, uzturēdami to ar miera saiti. 4 Viena miesa un viens Gars – tāpat kā vienai cerībai jūs savā aicinājumā esat aicināti – 5 viens Kungs, viena ticība, viena kristība, 6 viens Dievs un Tēvs visiem, kas ir pāri visiem, caur visiem un visos. 7 Ikvienam mums ir dota žēlastība tādā mērā, kādu Kristus to piešķīris. 8 Tādēļ ir sacīts: uzkāpa augstumos, vezdams līdzi sagūstītos; viņš deva dāvanas cilvēkiem. 9 Ko nozīmē – viņš uzkāpa? Vai ne to, ka viņš arī nokāpa zemes dziļumos? 10 Tas, kas nokāpa, ir tas pats, kas uzkāpa augstāk par visām debesīm, lai visu piepildītu. 11 Viņš dāvāja vispirms apustuļus, tad praviešus, evaņģēlistus, ganus un skolotājus, 12 lai svētos sagatavotu kalpošanas darbam, lai tā veidotos Kristus miesa, 13 līdz kamēr mēs visi sasniegsim vienotību ticībā un atziņā uz Dieva Dēlu, līdz sasniegsim vīra briedumu, Kristus pilnības mēru. 14 Tad mēs vairs nebūsim mazi bērni, kas tiek mētāti un aizrauti līdzi katram mācības vējam cilvēku viltīgajā spēlē, ar kuru tie ievilina maldos. 15 Apliecinādami patiesību mīlestībā, mēs pieaugsim Kristū, kas ir galva visam. 16 No viņa visa miesa, saistīta un savienota visādām saitēm, katra daļa, darbodamās un celta viņa mīlestībā, iegūst spēju augt.
Vecais un jaunais cilvēks
17 To es jums saku un apliecinu Kungā: jums vairs nav jāstaigā tā, kā pagāni dzīvo sava prāta tukšībā, 18 būdami aptumšoti saprašanā, atsvešināti no dievišķās dzīvības savas nezināšanas un sirds nocietinātības dēļ, 19 viņi ir zaudējuši kauna jūtas un nodevušies izlaidībai, nepiesātināmi ļaudamies visādai nešķīstībai. 20 Ne tā jūs esat iepazinuši Kristu; 21 ja jūs to esat dzirdējuši un mācījušies patiesībā, kāda tā ir Jēzū, 22 tad atmetiet savu iepriekšējo dzīves veidu un veco cilvēku sevī, kas savās iekārēs nomaldījies iet bojā; 23 atjaunojieties savā prātā un garā. 24 Ietērpieties jaunā cilvēkā, kas radīts pēc Dieva taisnībā un patiesības svētumā. 25 Tādēļ, atmetuši melus, runājiet patiesību ikviens ar savu tuvāko , jo mēs esam locekļi viens otram. 26 Dusmojoties neapgrēkojieties! Lai saule nenoriet, jums dusmojoties. 27 Un nedodiet vietu velnam. – 28 Lai zaglis vairs nezog, bet labāk lai pūlas pats savām rokām darīt labu, lai varētu dot tam, kas ir trūkumā. 29 No jūsu mutes lai nenāk nekāda samaitāta runa, bet tikai tas, kas ir derīgs un nepieciešams stiprināšanai, lai būtu par svētību klausītājiem. 30 Un neapbēdiniet Dieva Svēto Garu, ar ko jūs esat apzīmogoti izpirkšanas dienai. 31 Viss rūgtums, niknums, dusmas, klaigas un zaimi no jums lai ir tālu prom līdz ar visu citu ļaunumu. 32 Esiet krietni cits pret citu un žēlsirdīgi, piedodiet viens otram, kā Dievs Kristū ir piedevis jums.
