In all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith

1 Thessalonians 3:1-

For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Why?

Paul knew news about brothers and sisters in Thessalonians were encouraged and glad to thank the Lord, even though Paul was under distress and persecution, they were encouraged by their faith.

Paul prayed for them for their love to increase, strengthen their heart to be blameless and holy in the presence of God, our Father.

How?

I should pray for my brothers and sisters in my church, that their love to increase, strengthen their hearts to be blameless and holy in the presence of the Lord

share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well

 Thessalonians 2:1-20

With the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.

We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Why?

Paul encouraged people in the Thessalonian church not to try to please people, but God, who tests our hearts.

The Gospel of God is not only good news but also our living style and can witness the Lord working in us.

How?

Do what I can to witness the work of the Lord on me in daily life.

Work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

 1 Thessalonians 1:10

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

Why?

Paul appreciated the brothers and sisters in the Thessalonian church. They are the model for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. because of their work, labor, and endurance.

Our work: Produced by faith

Our labor: prompted by love

Our endurance: inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

How about me? May my work be produced by faith, my labor prompted by love and my endurance inspired by hope in Jesus Christ.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone

 Colossians 4:1-18

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Why?

To be a follower of Jesus Christ, we should do our best to be a prayer and do everything with love and be watchful and thankful. All I have is the grace of the Lord come upon me. 

Paul reminded us to let our conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that I may know how to answer everyone.

How?

Watch out for what I say? always full of grace, seasoned with salt, and pray to the Lord so that I may know how to answer everyone.

Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

 Colossians 3:1-25

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Why?

I died when I met Jesus Christ. So my life, my mind should focus on things above, not on earthly things.

But I am still busy with my daily work and solving the problems at my job. 

It is OK, do my own job, but do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

How?

Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and give thanks to God the Father.

No one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy

 Colossian 2:1- 23

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Why?

For Jesus has died for us, we have the new life and the Holy Spirit in us. So we are not limited by human limitations or regulations, but live out the life that Jesus has given to us. And keep away from sensual indulgence, but keep the humility in Christ.

How?

May the life of Jesus Christ living in my life to honor the Holy Name of the Lord

You may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way

 Colossians 1:1-29

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

For the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.

Why?

Paul knew the mystery had been revealed to Paul, so Paul became a servant of the Gospel for the church. The church is the body of Jesus Christ.

All of us need God to fill us with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.

How?

May my can live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.

In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God

 Philippians 4:1-20

Stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Why?

Paul is a good example as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He encouraged brothers and sisters in Philippians church.

In every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our request to God. This is our living way.

The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. How great a blessing we have.

How?

Do everything in truth, noble, right, pure, lovely, and doing admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. These are Christian life and symbols.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus

 Philippians 3:1-21

 Rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Why?

Do what the Lord lets us live up to what we have already attained. Don't do what I did not attain.

For the sake of Christ, do not let me gain something, but consider everything loss. It is hard in this world.

The Lord will ask us live up to what we have already attained, so don't worry, but do our best to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

How?

Do my best to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus

 Philippians 2:1-30

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.

But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Why?

Learn from Jesus Christ's Humility.

Do nothing out of selfish or vain conceit, rather, in humility value others above yourselves.

Do anything without grumbling or arguing. This is our altitude to work.

From our faith to serve others, for we are servants of the Lord, we humble ourselves and have good relationships with one another.

How?

Listen and obey the Lord's command. Reading the Word from the Bible every day can remind my mind and guide my daily life.

Always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death

 Philippians 1:1-27

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,  so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Why?

Abiubd more Love and knowledge and insight, we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Christ will always be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death; this should be our living mind and target in our daily life.

Paul is hard to make a decision for his life, no matter live or die, is for Jesus Christ, for the Gospel and the mission the Lord has given to him.

How?

What am I living for? For Christ or for my own desire or preference?

To be a good master and good slave in this world

 Ephesians 6:1-24

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Why?

Prayer is our weapon to defeat evil and protect those who fight against evil for the Lord.

Do our best to be an identity in this world, for all organizations or governments, or companies are under the arrangement of the Lord. Respect the authority given by the Lord.

How?

To be a good Christian is to be a good servant and a good master in this society.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

 Ephesians 5:17-33

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, rightousness and truth

 Ephesians 5:1-16

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth and find out what pleases the Lord.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

Why?
We are the children of the Lord, so we should live as children of light, consisting in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, and find out what pleases the Lord.

Don't be unwise, but as wise as possible for this world, and our days are full of evil.

How?

Making the most of every opportunity to do all goodness, righteousness and truth.

Not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory

 Ephesians 3:1-21

You will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Why?

Faith and love are our basis for being a Christian. Paul accepted the mission God gave him to preach the Gospel to Gentiles. For God's love will be delivered to all human beings.

When the Holy Spirit is living is us with our faith and love, the Lord can let us show the witness to be a follower of the Lord and glorify God's name. 

How?

Do my best not only to talk, think, and believe, but let others know I belong to the Lord!

It is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast

 Ephesians 2:1-22

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision”  remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Why?

We are built for the dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. How great for us to be chosen by the Lord.

It is not our work, but it is the mercy of the Lord that comes upon us through Jesus Christ. So we can say nothing; no one can boast. 

The blood of Jesus Christ destroyed the barrier between us and God to bring us peace.

How?

Thank the Lord and Jesus Christ shed for us, may the Holy Spirit help me closer to the Lord and know the way of the Lord. Be humble myself and honor the Holy name of the Lord!

 

he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Ephesians 1:1-23

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,  to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Why?

Paul explained the power and glory, and honor of being a real Christian. 

We were chosen by the Lord, this is the love of the Love come upon me, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Who am I and what have I done? Nothing, it is the mercy of the Lord that came upon me.

How?

I should do my best to proclaim the Holy Name of the Lord and witness the glory of the Lord in my life.

Let not become weary in doing good

 Galicians 6:1-18

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a]the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Why?

To those who are caught in sin., we should restore him gently. Only love can restore them from sins.

When we doing good it is easy feel weary, for people has their honor and proud. Even some bad creticisization.

We need to humble ourselves. No matter good or bad things, we can not boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How?

Do what I can do the good things and love others with what I can. Do not complain anything.

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself

 Galatians 5:1-25

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Why?

Comparison between the consequences of flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

How?

May my life be guided by the Spirit instead of by flesh.

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds

 Galatians 3:1-29

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 

So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith."

The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed, meaning one person, who is Christ. 

So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Why?

We are God's children because of our faith in Christ. This is a new way to all who have faith in Christ.

Before Jesus came, the law was our guardian until Christ came. 

Don't be misguided by other ways; there is only one God and one Jesus Christ.

How?

May the Holy Spirit and the Lord guide my way and my life through all my life.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me

 Galatians 2:1-21

 I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.

For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Why?

Paul explained very clearly, We have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The sinner's body had died, so I live by faith in Christ.

For Jesus is love, so we should love others with our hearts and actions.

How?

Do my best to love others and help others, and preach the gospel to others.

And they praised God because of me.

 Galatians 1:1-24

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all.

If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. This is an easy way to identify which one is the real gospel.

But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

 And they praised God because of me.

Why?

Paul is not sent by anyone, but by Jesus Christ and God, to be an apostle.

Since the first century, there have been different gospel, which is not gospel at all.

 And they praised God because of me. This is a great honor for Paul. Who devoted his life to preachingthe  gospel.

How?

I should learn from Paul to preach and witness the work of the Lord and give honot to the Lord.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

 2 Corinthians 13:1-14

On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealings with you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

Why?

Even Paul mentioned some words to remind the brothers in Corinth, but Paul still had faith that he was an example to live for the Lord, and that they might build their lives in Christ.

Paul reminds us we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.

We should like Paul's work for building brothers up, not for tearing them down.