Unity in the Body
(Psalms 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)
As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: Col 1:10Php 1:271Th 2:121Th 4:1-22Pe 1:31Co 4:162Ti 1:92Th 1:11 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Col 3:12-131Co 13:71Co 13:4-5Mat 11:29Rom 15:1Gal 5:22-231Ti 6:11Mat 5:3-5 and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 1Co 1:10Col 3:13-151Co 12:12-13Jhn 13:34Rom 14:17-19Heb 12:142Co 13:11Jhn 17:21-23
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; Eph 2:18Rom 12:4-51Co 12:4-131Co 12:20Eph 1:18Eph 4:1Col 1:5Heb 6:18-19 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 1Co 8:61Co 12:131Pe 3:21Rom 3:30Gal 3:26-28Mat 28:191Co 1:13Jud 1:3 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Rom 11:361Co 8:6Mal 2:10Gal 3:26-281Jn 3:24Gal 4:3-7Jhn 20:17Rev 4:8-11
Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 1Pe 4:10Rom 12:31Co 12:7-11Eph 3:2Rom 12:6-81Co 12:28-30Jhn 3:34Eph 3:8 This is why it says: 1 Psa 68:18Col 2:151Sa 30:26Est 2:18Jdg 5:12
“When He ascended on high,
He led captives away,
and gave gifts to men.” 2
What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended 3to the lower parts of the earth? Jhn 3:13Mat 12:40Pro 30:4Jhn 6:33Psa 63:9Exo 19:20Gen 11:5Heb 2:9 He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. Heb 7:26Heb 4:14Eph 1:20-23Col 2:9Heb 9:23-241Ti 3:16Col 1:19Mat 24:34
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, Jer 3:151Co 12:28-29Eph 2:202Ti 4:5Act 20:28Mat 28:20Rom 10:14-15Eph 4:8 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 1Th 5:11-14Eph 4:161Co 12:27Rom 15:141Co 14:4-5Rom 14:191Co 14:261Co 14:12 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. Col 1:28Jhn 17:21Eph 4:3Eph 4:51Co 14:202Pe 3:18Heb 5:14Jer 32:38-39
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Heb 13:9Rom 16:17-181Co 14:201Jn 4:1Heb 5:12-14Jas 1:62Co 2:17Eph 6:11 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. 1Jn 3:18Eph 4:25Zec 8:161Pe 1:222Pe 3:181Pe 2:2Eph 1:22Rom 12:9 From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part. Col 2:19Jhn 15:5Col 2:21Co 13:13Eph 4:15Eph 4:121Th 2:131Ti 1:5
New Life in Christ
(Colossians 3:1–17)
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. Rom 1:211Pe 4:3-41Th 4:1-2Col 3:5-8Eph 2:1-32Pe 2:18Col 2:41Pe 1:18 They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. Mat 13:15Eph 2:12Rom 1:21-23Jhn 12:401Th 4:52Co 4:4Jas 4:4Col 1:21 Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more. Col 3:5Rom 1:24-261Ti 4:2Jud 1:111Pe 4:32Pe 2:12-14Rev 18:32Pe 2:22
But this is not the way you came to know Christ. Tit 2:11-14Jhn 6:45Mat 11:291Jn 2:272Co 5:14-15Luk 24:47Rom 6:1-2 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus— 1Jn 5:20Eph 1:13Heb 3:7-81Jn 5:10-12Jhn 14:17Col 2:7Jhn 10:272Co 1:20 to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; Rom 6:6Heb 12:1Jas 1:211Pe 2:1-2Heb 3:13Col 3:7-9Tit 3:3Eph 4:25 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; Rom 12:2Rom 8:6Psa 51:10Col 3:101Pe 1:13Ezk 36:26Tit 3:5Eph 2:10 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Col 3:10-142Co 5:17Eph 2:10Rom 13:14Eph 6:11Rom 6:42Co 3:182Co 4:16
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. Col 3:9Zec 8:16Pro 12:22Rom 12:5Eph 4:15Pro 12:17Pro 8:7Pro 12:19 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” 4 Do not let the sun set upon your anger, Jas 1:19Psa 4:4Psa 37:8Eph 4:31-32Ecc 7:9Pro 14:29Pro 19:11Rom 12:19-21 and do not give the devil a foothold. Jas 4:71Pe 5:8Eph 6:16Eph 6:112Co 2:10-11Act 5:3
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need. 1Ti 6:181Th 4:11-12Gal 6:10Exo 20:152Th 3:11-122Th 3:6-8Luk 21:1-4Zec 5:3
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. Col 4:61Th 5:11Ecc 10:12Pro 15:7Col 3:8-9Mat 12:34-37Pro 25:11-12Psa 37:30-31
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 1Th 5:19Isa 63:10Eph 1:13-14Act 7:51Gen 6:6Rom 8:23Rom 8:11Isa 43:24
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Col 3:8Ecc 7:9Tit 3:2-31Pe 2:1Jas 1:19Col 3:19Jas 3:14Eph 4:26 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you. Col 3:12-13Mat 6:14-15Mrk 11:251Pe 3:8-92Co 2:10Eph 5:1Luk 6:37Luk 6:35