Ephesians 4   Paul's message here focuses on the "worthy walk".. the walk of a new creation.. the follower of Jesus.  The worthy walk is begun when we "lay aside the old self" which is "darkened in their understanding" and "excluded from the life of God....in ignorance and hardness of heart".  The old self is callous, sensual, impure, and greedy.  ( v18-19)

The new creation - this Spirit created, supernatural being that we have  miraculously become by His grace..  will be "renewed in the spirit" of our minds,  in the "likeness of God.. .created in righteousness, and holiness of the truth".   We are therefore called to "all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love..." ; preserving unity in "one body" with "one hope.. one Lord.. one faith, one baptism, one God and Father.. " 

The whole purpose of the church.. is to see that this body built up.. "to attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ".   We do this by "speaking truth in love"!

As individual believers in Jesus, transformed by His Spirit, renewed in our thinking, we will produce good fruit... we will speak the truth; we will control our anger; we will not steal from anyone; we will share with those in need; we will control our words - speaking the words that edify, not those that are "unwholesome".  We will not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  We will "let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander.. and malice" be put away from our lives.  We will "be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also"  forgave us.  

Father, grant us according to the riches of Your glory and grace, the strength that comes from the power of Your Spirit at work in our inner beings.  Christ Jesus, come and dwell in us, rooting our lives in Your great Love, and filling us to the fulness of God. Only then, Lord, can we walk in a manner worthy of our calling, as You have purposed for us.. in righteousness and holiness.. in truth and in love.  Fill us once again, Holy Spirit, continually working the will of the Father in each of us.  We do not want to ever grieve You.  Thank You for the Word of Truth that leads us in the ways of our Lord.  It is in His precious name we pray . Amen.