I haven’t yet received these things or reached my goal. But Christ Jesus took hold of me so that I could reach it, and so I keep pushing myself forward to take hold of it.
Dear friends, since we have these promises from God, let’s purify ourselves from everything that could make our bodies and spirits impure. Let’s be completely holy, to honor God.
supply you with everything good so that you can do his will. May he create in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ. And may Jesus receive glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Those desires don’t want what the Spirit wants, and the Spirit doesn’t want what they want. The two are at war with each other, and that’s why you’re not supposed to do whatever you want.
After you’ve suffered for a little while, the God of all grace will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. He has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ.
But we should always thank God for you, brothers and sisters, because the Lord loves you and chose you as the first to be saved. This has happened through the work of the Holy Spirit, which makes people holy, and through your belief in the truth.
That way they will store up true riches for themselves. This will provide a firm basis for the next life so that they can take hold of the life that really is life.
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I’ve chosen this man to do a special work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
and she must be well known for doing good things such as bringing up children, inviting guests into her home, serving the Lord’s people in humble ways, and helping those in trouble. A widow should spend her time doing all kinds of good things like these.
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.
Now we see only a dim reflection of things, as if we were seeing them in a foggy mirror. But someday we will see clearly, face to face. Now I know in part; then I will know completely, just as God knows me completely.
We’re the ones who have truly been circumcised: We serve God by his Spirit, we boast in Christ Jesus, and we don’t put our trust in who we are or what we can do—although I myself could do that for many reasons.
In fact, I consider everything to be worthless compared with knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Knowing him is worth much more than anything else. Because of him I’ve lost everything, but I look at it all as garbage so that I can know Christ better.