12. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.
13. And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.
14. Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.
15. Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.
16. Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.
17. In the Lord's name, then, I warn you: do not continue to live like the heathen, whose thoughts are worthless