In this passage, Paul calls us as Jesus followers to cease from tearing one another down as this tears apart Christ’s body of the global church and grieves the Holy Spirit.
Rather, we’ve each been given the lifework of building up and benefiting one another with every single word we say, for it is in the deep inner work of being kind and tenderhearted, forgiving one another, that we find the heartbeat of Jesus—who has been radically kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to us.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.