Study Desk

At one time all of us lived to please our old selves. We gave in to what our bodies and minds wanted. We were sinful from birth like all other people and would suffer from the anger of God.

But God had so much loving-kindness. He loved us with such a great love.

God raised us up from death when He raised up Christ Jesus. He has given us a place with Christ in the heavens.

For by His loving-favor you have been saved from the punishment of sin through faith. It is not by anything you have done. It is a gift of God.

Do not forget that at one time you did not know God. The Jews, who had gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew by man's hands, said you were people who do not know God.

You were living without Christ then. The Jewish people who belonged to God had nothing to do with you. The promises He gave to them were not for you. You had nothing in this world to hope for. You were without God.

But now you belong to Christ Jesus. At one time you were far away from God. Now you have been brought close to Him. Christ did this for you when He gave His blood on the cross.

He brought both groups together to God. Christ finished the fighting between them by His death on the cross.

Then Christ came and preached the Good News of peace to you who were far away from God. And He preached it to us who were near God.

From now on you are not strangers and people who are not citizens. You are citizens together with those who belong to God. You belong in God's family.

You are also being put together as a part of this building because God lives in you by His Spirit.

I am sure you have heard that God trusted me with His loving-favor.

I wrote a little about this to you before. In a special way, God showed me His secret plan.

Let me tell you that the Good News is for the people who are not Jews also. They are able to have life that lasts forever. They are to be a part of His church and family, together with the Jews. And together they are to receive all that God has promised through Christ.

God asked me to preach this Good News. He gave me the gift of His loving-favor. He gave me His power to preach it.

I was to make all men understand the meaning of this secret. God kept this secret to Himself from the beginning of the world. And He is the One Who made all things.

This was done so the great wisdom of God might be shown now to the leaders and powers in the heavenly places. It is being done through the church.

This was the plan God had for all time. He did this through Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can come to God without fear because we have put our trust in Christ.

I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself.