Study Desk

I say this because our hope of being right with God comes through faith. And the Spirit helps us feel sure as we wait for that hope.

We must not feel proud and boast about ourselves. We must not cause trouble for each other or be jealous of each other.

I hope I will never boast about things like that. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for boasting. Through Jesus' death on the cross the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world.

In Christ we were chosen to be God's people. God had already planned for us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And he is the one who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants.

The Spirit is the first payment that guarantees we will get all that God has for us. Then we will enjoy complete freedom as people who belong to him. The goal for all of us is the praise of God in all his glory.

That is why I always remember you in my prayers and thank God for you. I have done this ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people.

And you will know that God's power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power

God put everything under Christ's power and made him head over everything for the church.

God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.

So I, Paul, am a prisoner because I serve Christ Jesus for you who are not Jews.

And this is the secret truth: that by hearing the Good News, those who are not Jews will share with the Jews in the blessings God has for his people. They are part of the same body, and they share in the promise God made through Christ Jesus.

And God gave me the work of telling all people about the plan for his secret truth. That secret truth has been hidden in him since the beginning of time. He is the one who created everything.

So I ask you not to be discouraged because of what is happening to me. My sufferings are for your benefit—for your honor and glory.

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.

To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.

So, as a prisoner for the Lord, I beg you to live the way God's people should live, because he chose you to be his.

And that same Christ gave these gifts to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God's people.

Christ gave these gifts to prepare God's holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger.

Whoever has been stealing must stop it and start working. They must use their hands for doing something good. Then they will have something to share with those who are poor.