Study Desk

Even when we were dead because of our sins, He made us alive by what Christ did for us. You have been saved from the punishment of sin by His loving-favor.

He did this to show us through all the time to come the great riches of His loving-favor. He has shown us His kindness through Christ Jesus.

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.

We are His work. He has made us to belong to Christ Jesus so we can work for Him. He planned that we should do this.

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 stopped the fighting between them by His death on the cross. He put an end to the Law. Then He made of the two people one new kind of people like Himself. In this way, He made peace.

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

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.

Long ago men did not know these things. But now they have been shown to His missionaries and to the early preachers by the Holy Spirit.

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 pray that because of the riches of His shining-greatness, He will make you strong with power in your hearts through the Holy Spirit.

I pray that you will be able to understand how wide and how long and how high and how deep His love is.

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.

God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us.

May we see His shining-greatness in the church. May all people in all time honor Christ Jesus. Let it be so.

These gifts help His people work well for Him. And then the church which is the body of Christ will be made strong.

Anyone who steals must stop it! He must work with his hands so he will have what he needs and can give to those who need help.