These people aren’t connected anymore to the head, who is Christ. God makes the whole body grow as it’s guided by the head and held together by its tendons and ligaments.
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.
We should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters. That’s only right, because your faith is growing more and more and your love for one another is increasing.
and he is the head of the body, which is the church. He is the beginning, the first to be raised from the dead. That happened so that he would be far above everything.
Then you’ll be able to lead a life that is worthy of the Lord and please him in every way. You’ll bear fruit in every good thing you do, you’ll get to know God better,
But no matter what happens, live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you, I’ll know that you’re standing firm together in the one Spirit and that you’re fighting together as a unit to defend the good news.
I ask all of you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree with one another and not argue. Look and think about things in the same way.
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.
Father, I pray they will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us so that the world will believe that you have sent me.