“You gave me some men from the world. I have shown them what you are like. Those men belonged to you, and you gave them to me. They have obeyed your teaching.
No man has ever seen God. But the only Son (Jesus) is God. He is very close to the Father {\cf2\super [7]} (God). And the Son has shown us what God is like.
If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you like it loves its own people. But I have chosen you out of the world. So you don’t belong to the world. That is why the world hates you.
While I was with them, I kept them safe. I kept them safe by the power of your name—the name you gave me. I protected them. And only one of them was lost—the man (Judas) that chose to be lost. He was lost so that what was said in the Scriptures {\cf2\super [225]} would happen.
I have given them your teaching. And the world has hated them. The world hated these men, because they don’t belong to the world, the same as I don’t belong to the world.
“Father, I want these people that you have given me to be with me in every place I am. I want them to see my glory. This is the glory you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.
I showed them what you are like. And again I will show them what you are like. Then they will have the same love that you have for me. And I will live in them.”
The Jews said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon {\cf2\super [143]} in you! Even Abraham {\cf2\super [144]} and the prophets {\cf2\super [145]} died. But you say, ‘The person that obeys my teaching will never die.’
When the non-Jewish people heard Paul say this, they were happy. They gave honor to the message {\cf2\super [278]} of the Lord. And many of the people believed the message. These were the people chosen to have life forever.
God chose the Israelites to be his people before \{they were born\}. And God did not throw out those people. Surely you know what the Scripture {\cf2\super [115]} says about Elijah. {\cf2\super [116]} The Scripture tells about Elijah praying to God against the people of Israel. Elijah said,
God once said, “The light will shine out of the darkness!” And this is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts. He gave us light by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face of Christ.
Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Follow the true teachings you heard from me. Follow those teachings with the faith and love we have in Christ Jesus. Those teachings are an example \{that shows you what you should teach\}.
But Christ is faithful in ruling God’s house like a Son. We \{believers\} are God’s house (family). We are God’s house if we continue to be sure and proud of the great hope we have.
I know where you live. You live where Satan (the devil) has his throne. But you are true to me. You did not refuse to tell about your faith in me even during the time of Antipas. Antipas was my faithful witness {\cf2\super [16]} who was killed in your city. Your city is where Satan lives.
You followed my command to endure patiently. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world. This trouble will test the people who live on the earth.
I know the things you do. I have put an open door before you. No person can close it. I know that you are weak. But you have followed my teaching. You were not afraid to speak my name.