Put On the New Self (Ephesians 4:17–32)
1 UDB God considers that he made you alive again when he made Christ alive after he died. And Christ is in heaven and is sitting at God's right side, the place for the person of greatest honor and power. You also should try to live here as if you were already there. BSB BSB: Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 UDB Desire what Jesus is keeping in heaven to give you; do not desire the things here on earth. BSB BSB: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 UDB For God considers that you have died and no longer belong to this world. He considers that he has hidden you with Christ to keep you safe. BSB BSB: For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 UDB When God reveals Christ to everyone on earth in his shining light, then he will also reveal you in that same light because Christ makes you live! BSB BSB: When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 UDB Therefore, think of the desires you have to do evil things in this world as enemies that must die. You must execute them: Do not try to do sexually immoral or impure acts. Do not think in lustful or evil ways. And do not be greedy, because that is the same as worshiping idols. BSB BSB: Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
6 UDB It is because people do things like these that God is angry with them and will punish them, for they do not obey him. BSB BSB: Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7 UDB You yourselves also formerly lived like that when you were participating with those who behaved like that. BSB BSB: When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
8 UDB But now you must stop doing these things. Do not be angry at each other; do not try to make trouble for each other. Do not insult each other or talk in shameful, disgusting ways. BSB BSB: But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 UDB And do not lie to one another. Do not do any of these things, because you have become a new person now, a person who does not do these evil things any more. BSB BSB: Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
10 UDB You are a new person, and God is always making you to know him better and better and to be like him, as he created you to be. BSB BSB: and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 UDB God has made us into new persons joined to Christ, and he is always making us new. So it is no longer important whether anyone is a Greek or a Jew, or whether anyone is circumcised or is not circumcised, or whether anyone is a foreigner, or even uncivilized, or whether anyone is a slave or not a slave. But instead what is important is Christ, who is all things in all of you. BSB BSB: Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all. 12 UDB Because God has chosen you and set you apart as his people, and because he loves you, serve others compassionately and mercifully and with kindness. Humbly and gently care for one another with patience BSB BSB: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 UDB and bear with each other. If anyone complains against someone else, forgive one another. Just as the Lord Jesus has forgiven you, so also you must forgive each other. BSB BSB: Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 UDB And what is most important is to love one another because by doing that you will tie yourselves together perfectly. BSB BSB: And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
15 UDB Christ is the one who makes you to live in peace with God and one another, so always behave so as to remain at peace. This is why he has called you to be together. And always thank God for everything. BSB BSB: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
16 UDB As you live and serve God, always obey together what Christ has taught you. Teach and instruct each other with wisdom; praise and thank God from your hearts as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. BSB BSB: Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 UDB Whatever you say and whatever you do, do it all to honor the Lord Jesus, and do it while you give thanks to God for what Christ has done for you. BSB BSB: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Christian Households (Ephesians 6:1–4)
18 UDB Wives, obey your husbands; this is right and according to what the Lord has commanded. BSB BSB: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 UDB Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. BSB BSB: Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 UDB Children, obey your parents in every way because the Lord is pleased when you do that. BSB BSB: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
21 UDB Fathers, do not cause anger in your children, so they do not become discouraged. BSB BSB: Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
Serving with Honor (Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)
22 UDB Slaves, obey your masters in this world in every way. Do not obey your masters only when they are watching you, like those who merely want their masters to think they always obey. Instead, obey your masters sincerely from the heart because you honor the Lord Jesus. BSB BSB: Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
23 UDB Whatever work you do, work wholeheartedly for the Lord Jesus rather than for people. Do not work like those who are working merely for their human masters, BSB BSB: Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,
24 UDB because you know the Lord will repay you; you will receive your share of what the Lord has promised you. Jesus Christ is the real master whom you are serving. BSB BSB: because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
25 UDB But God will judge each person in the same way; he will punish those who do wrong as they deserve. BSB BSB: Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.