¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

⁵ It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

⁹ For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

¹⁰ But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

¹⁶ So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.^[a] He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.^{[b] 18} He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.^[c]

²⁷ John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.

¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,^[a] for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.