Study Desk

Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.

There is one body and one Spirit, and God chose you to have one hope.

There is one God and Father of us all, who rules over everyone. He works through all of us and in all of us.

This work must continue until we are all joined together in what we believe and in what we know about the Son of God. Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection.

They have no understanding, and they know nothing because they refuse to listen. So they cannot have the life that God gives.

Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him.

And don't make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free.

Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.

Live a life of love. Love others just as Christ loved us. He gave himself for us—a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.

Also, there must be no evil talk among you. Don't say things that are foolish or filthy. These are not for you. But you should be giving thanks to God.

You can be sure of this: No one will have a place in the kingdom of Christ and of God if that person commits sexual sins, or does evil things, or is a person who selfishly wants more and more. A greedy person like that is serving a false god.

Don't let anyone fool you with words that are not true. God gets very angry when people who don't obey him talk like that.

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You must do this not just to please your masters while they are watching, but all the time. Since you are really slaves of Christ, you must do with all your heart what God wants.

Wear the full armor of God. Wear God's armor so that you can fight against the devil's clever tricks.

Accept God's salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God.

Also pray for me—that when I speak, God will give me words so that I can tell the secret truth about the Good News without fear.

I pray that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will give peace and love with faith to all the brothers and sisters there.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank God every time I remember you.