Study Desk

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all Christians.

Since then, I always give thanks for you and pray for you.

I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him.

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.

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.

It is not given to you because you worked for it. If you could work for it, you would be proud.

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.

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.

Christ keeps this building together and it is growing into a holy building for the Lord.

I, Paul, am in prison because I am a missionary for Jesus Christ to you who are not Jews.

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.

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

So I ask you not to lose heart because of my suffering for you. It is to help you.

For this reason, I bow my knees and pray to the Father.

I am being held in prison because of working for the Lord. I ask you from my heart to live and work the way the Lord expected you to live and work.

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

Do not make God's Holy Spirit have sorrow for the way you live. The Holy Spirit has put a mark on you for the day you will be set free.

Live with love as Christ loved you. He gave Himself for us, a gift on the altar to God which was as a sweet smell to God.

Do not be guilty of telling bad stories and of foolish talk. These things are not for you to do. Instead, you are to give thanks for what God has done for you.