Don’t you know that people who do wrong won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. People who commit sexual sins, or who worship idols or commit adultery, or men who sleep with other men,
Even though you’ve never seen Jesus, you love him. Though you don’t see him now, you believe in him and you’re filled with a glorious joy that can’t be put into words.
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.
If belonging to Christ helps you, if his love comforts you, if you share anything in common because of the Holy Spirit, if Christ has been gentle and loving toward you,
Don’t be led astray by all kinds of strange teachings. It’s good for our hearts to be made strong by God’s grace, not by eating foods that the law requires. Those foods don’t do anything for the people who eat them.
And you imitated both us and the Lord Jesus, because even in the midst of terrible suffering, you welcomed our message with the joy that the Holy Spirit gives.
Because of what God has done, you belong to Christ Jesus. He has become God’s wisdom for us. He makes us right with God, he makes us holy, and he sets us free.
Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. The church respected and obeyed the Lord and was encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and it grew even larger.
“I’ve told you these things so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you’re going to have trouble. But be encouraged! I’ve already defeated the world.”
From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To you who have received a faith as precious as ours and who have been made right with our God and Savior Jesus Christ.