Ephesians 4

One Body and One Spirit Ephesians 4:4–6

⁴Verse 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵Verse 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶Verse 6. one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

Gifts According to Grace Ephesians 4:7–10

⁷Verse 7. But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ⁸Verse 8. Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” ⁹Verse 9. Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰Verse 10. He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

Diversity of Roles in the Church Ephesians 4:11–16

¹¹Verse 11. He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; ¹²Verse 12. for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³Verse 13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴Verse 14. that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

¹⁵Verse 15. but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; ¹⁶Verse 16. from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

Living in the New Identity Ephesians 4:17–24

¹⁷Verse 17. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸Verse 18. being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts; ¹⁹Verse 19. who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ²⁰Verse 20. But you did not learn Christ that way; ²¹Verse 21. if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: ²²Verse 22. that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

²³Verse 23. and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴Verse 24. and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Practical Exhortations for Conduct Ephesians 4:25–32

²⁵Verse 25. Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another. ²⁶Verse 26. “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷Verse 27. and don’t give place to the devil. ²⁸Verse 28. Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. ²⁹Verse 29. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

³⁰Verse 30. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Verse 31. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. ³²Verse 32. And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.