I also pray that you may understand more clearly. That way you’ll know the hope that God has called you to, the glorious riches that God will give his holy people,
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. I want them to have their sins forgiven and find a place among God’s people by believing in me.’
And since we are his children, we’re going to inherit everything that Christ will also inherit. But we must share in his sufferings if we also want to share in his glory.
You’ve come to a special community of people: God considers each and every one of them to be his firstborn child! Their names are written in heaven. You’ve come to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of godly people who’ve been made perfect.
My goal is that they will all be encouraged in their hearts and joined together in love. Then their understanding will be rich and complete, and they will know the mystery of God, which is Christ.
But for us there is only one God, the Father. All things came from him, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ. All things came through him and we live through him.
They were glad to do it, and it acknowledges their debt of gratitude. After all, if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they should also share their own earthly blessings with the Jews.
Holy brothers and sisters, who take part in God’s calling, I want you to focus your attention on Jesus, who is the messenger and high priest of our faith.
Some of the natural branches have been broken off. You Gentiles are like a wild olive branch that has been grafted onto the tree with the other branches. Now you’re enjoying the life-giving sap of the olive tree root.
Jesus told her, “Don’t hold on to me, because I haven’t ascended to the Father yet. Instead, go to those who believe in me and tell them, ‘I’m ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
But a time is coming—in fact, it’s already here—when true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth. Those are the kind of worshipers the Father is looking for.
“Then the King will speak to those on his right and say, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take what is yours. Receive the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the world was created.
There will be no more night. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will rule for ever and ever.
I want to appeal to the elders among you as someone who’s an elder himself. I also appeal to you as a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as someone who will share in the glory that’s going to be revealed.