Study Desk

Don't be too quick to accept people into the service of the Lord by placing your hands on them. Don't sin because others do, but stay close to God.

I remember how you cried, and I want to see you, because that will make me truly happy.

Don't be ashamed to speak for our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, just because I am in jail for serving him. Use the power that comes from God and join with me in suffering for telling the good news.

God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us.

And because of this message, I am locked up in jail and treated like a criminal. But God's good news isn't locked in jail,

and so I am willing to put up with anything. Then God's special people will be saved. They will be given eternal glory because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Titus, because of our faith, you are like a son to me. I pray that God our Father and Christ Jesus our Savior will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things that we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning.

From Paul, who is in jail for serving Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, who is like a brother because of our faith. Philemon, you work with us and are very dear to us. This letter is to you

But I would rather ask you to do it simply because of love. Yes, as someone in jail for Christ,

I beg you to help Onesimus! He is like a son to me because I led him to Christ here in jail.

If you consider me a friend because of Christ, then welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me.

God has never said to any of the angels, "You are my Son, because today I have become your Father!" Neither has God said to any of them, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son!"

What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels. Because of God's wonderful kindness, Jesus died for everyone. And now that Jesus has suffered and died, he is crowned with glory and honor!

We see that those people did not enter the place of rest because they did not have faith.

This means that the promise to enter is still good, because those who first heard about it disobeyed and did not enter.

Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!

Every high priest is appointed to help others by offering gifts and sacrifices to God because of their sins.

That is how it was with Christ. He became a high priest, but not just because he wanted the honor of being one. It was God who told him, "You are my Son, because today I have become your Father!"

This is because God chose him to be a high priest like Melchizedek.