Study Desk

My little children, again I feel the pain of childbirth for you until you truly become like Christ.

It is written in the Scriptures: "Be happy, Jerusalem. You are like a woman who never gave birth to children. Start singing and shout for joy. You never felt the pain of giving birth, but you will have more children than the woman who has a husband." Isaiah 54:1

But we have the true hope that comes from being made right with God, and by the Spirit we wait eagerly for this hope.

Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done.

Each person must be responsible for himself.

I hope I will never brag about things like that. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging. Through the cross of Jesus my world was crucified, and I died to the world.

That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive what God promised for his people until God gives full freedom to those who are his—to bring praise to God's glory.

That is why since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people,

I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers,

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

God put everything under his power and made him the head over everything for the church,

And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus

so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus.

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.

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

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

So I ask you not to become discouraged because of the sufferings I am having for you. My sufferings are for your glory.

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

And Christ gave gifts to people—he made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to have the work of caring for and teaching God's people.

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