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.
1 Tad nu, važās slēgts sava Kunga dēļ, es jūs mudinu: dzīvojiet tā, kā to prasa jūsu aicinājuma cieņa, 2 visā pazemībā, lēnībā un pacietībā, cits citu panesdami mīlestībā, 3 cenzdamies uzturēt Gara vienību ar miera saiti: 4 viena miesa, viens Gars - jo vienai cerībai jūs savā aicinājumā esat aicināti -, 5 viens Kungs, viena ticība, viena kristība; 6 viens visu Dievs un Tēvs, kas pār visiem, ar visiem un iekš visiem. 7 Bet ikvienam no mums piešķirta žēlastība tādā mērā, kādā to Kristus mums ir dāvinājis. 8 Tāpēc ir sacīts: uzkāpis augstumā, Viņš saņēmis gūstekņus, devis dāvanas cilvēkiem. - 9 Uzkāpis - ko citu gan tas nozīmē, ja ne to, ka Viņš arī nokāpis šīs pasaules zemajās vietās? 10 Bet Tas, kas nokāpis, ir tas pats, kas (pēc tam) uzkāpis augstāk par visām debesīm, lai visu piepildītu. 11 Viņš arī devis citus par apustuļiem, citus par praviešiem, citus par evaņģēlistiem, citus par ganiem un mācītājiem, 12 lai svētos sagatavotu kalpošanas darbam, Kristus miesai par stiprinājumu, 13 līdz kamēr mēs visi sasniegsim vienību Dieva Dēla ticībā un atziņā, īsto vīra briedumu, Kristus diženuma pilnības mēru. 14 Tad mēs vairs nebūsim mazgadīgi bērni, kas cilvēku viltus spēlē, viņu viltīgas rīcības piekrāpti, tiek šurpu turpu svaidīti, padodamies katram mācības vējam. 15 Bet patiesi būdami mīlestībā, visās lietās pieaugsim Viņā, kas ir mūsu galva, proti, Kristus. 16 Viņā visa miesa, kopā saturēta un visādām palīgsaitēm vienota, pastāvīgi aug pēc tām spējām, kas katrai viņas daļai dotas, kļūdama aizvien pilnīgāka mīlestībā. 17 Tad nu es jums piekodinu - Tas Kungs ir mans liecinieks - vairs nedzīvot tā, kā pagāni dzīvo sava sirdsprāta tukšībā 18 savas nezināšanas dēļ un sirds apcietinā tības dēļ, aptumšojušies savā sapratnē un atsvešinājušies dzīvībai, kas no Dieva, 19 zaudējuši kauna jūtas un sākuši nodoties izvirtībai, sagandēdami savu dzīvi ar visādiem netiklības darbiem un mantkārību. 20 Bet tā jūs Kristu neesat mācījušies; 21 jūs par Viņu esat dzirdējuši un mācījušies tā, ka patiesība ir Jēzū, 22 ka līdz ar agrākās dzīves veidu jums jāatmet vecais cilvēks, kas savu kārību pievilts iet bojā, 23 un jāatjaunojas savā sirdsprātā 24 un jāapģērbj jaunais cilvēks, kas radīts pēc Dieva patiesā taisnībā un svētumā. 25 Tāpēc atmetiet melus un runājiet patiesību ikviens ar savu tuvāko, jo mēs savā starpā esam locekļi. 26 Dusmās neapgrēkojieties: lai saule nenoriet, jums dusmojoties, 27 un nedodiet vietu velnam. 28 Kas zadzis, lai vairs nezog, bet lai labāk cenšas sev sagādāt godīgu iztiku ar savu roku darbu, lai būtu ko dot tam, kas ir trūkumā. 29 No jūsu mutes lai nenāk neviens nekrietns vārds, bet tikai krietnas runas, kas draudzi ceļ un nes svētību klausītājiem. 30 Un neapbēdinait Dieva Svēto Garu, ar ko esat apzīmogoti atpestīšanas dienai. 31 Katrs rūgtums, ātrsirdība, dusmas, bāršanās un zaimi, vispār katra ļaunprātība lai ir tālu no jums. 32 Bet esiet cits pret citu laipni un žēlsirdīgi; piedodiet cits citam, kā arī Dievs Kristū jums ir piedevis.
