Bible Text: April 6, 2008

 

The New Life

 17Now this I say and^(A) testify in the Lord,^(B) that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do,^(C) in the futility of their minds. 18They^(D) are darkened in their understanding,^(E) alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to^(F) their hardness of heart. 19They^(G) have become callous and^(H) have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you^(I) learned Christ!— 21assuming that^(J) you have heard about him and^(K) were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to^(L) put off^(M) your old self,^[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through^(N) deceitful desires, 23and^(O) to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on^(P) the new self,^(Q) created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

 25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you^(R) speak the truth with his neighbor, for^(S) we are members one of another. 26^(T) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and^(U) give no opportunity to the devil. 28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather^(V) let him labor,^(W) doing honest work with his own hands, so^(X) that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29^(Y) 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^(Z) grace to those who hear. 30And^(AA) do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,^(AB) by whom you were sealed for the day of^(AC) redemption. 31^(AD) Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32^(AE) Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,^(AF) forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.