All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!

For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field. You are also God's building.

Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!

I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you---I who am said to be meek and mild when I am with you, but harsh with you when I am away. By the gentleness and kindness of Christ

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!

So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.

I am worried about you! Can it be that all my work for you has been for nothing?

I beg you, my friends, be like me. After all, I am like you. You have not done me any wrong.

How can you say that you are wise and that you know my laws? Look, the laws have been changed by dishonest scribes.

Did all your experience mean nothing at all? Surely it meant something!

Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows up and causes many troubles with its poison.

Be careful, then, and do not refuse to hear him who speaks. Those who refused to hear the one who gave the divine message on earth did not escape. How much less shall we escape, then, if we turn away from the one who speaks from heaven!

Our friends, we want you to know what God's grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia.

They have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor.

The apostles stayed there for a long time, speaking boldly about the Lord, who proved that their message about his grace was true by giving them the power to perform miracles and wonders.

I refuse to reject the grace of God. But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Christ died for nothing!

For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all people.

Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.