Live in Holiness

17  So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18  They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 19  Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20  But you did not learn about Christ like this, 21  if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus. 22  You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, 23  to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24  and to put on the new man who has been created in God’s image – in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.

25  Therefore, having laid aside falsehood , each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. 26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. 27  Do not give the devil an opportunity. 28  The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. 29  You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31  You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 32  Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

5  Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children 2  and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3  But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 4  Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. 5  For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.