Study Desk

So what does all this mean? It means that people who are not Jews were made right with God because of their faith, even though they were not trying to make themselves right.

But this is what the Scriptures say about being made right through faith: "Don't say to yourself, ‘Who will go up into heaven?'" (This means "Who will go up to heaven to get Christ and bring him down to earth?")

This is what the Scripture says: "God's teaching is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart." It is the teaching of faith that we tell people.

So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.

God has given me a special gift, and that is why I have something to say to each one of you. Don't think that you are better than you really are. You must see yourself just as you are. Decide what you are by the faith God has given each of us.

We all have different gifts. Each gift came because of the grace God gave us. Whoever has the gift of prophecy should use that gift in a way that fits the kind of faith they have.

So we should stop judging each other. Let's decide not to do anything that will cause a problem for a brother or sister or hurt their faith.

If you hurt the faith of your brother or sister because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Don't destroy anyone's faith by eating something they think is wrong. Christ died for them.

So let's try as hard as we can to do what will bring peace. Let's do whatever will help each other grow stronger in faith.

Don't let the eating of food destroy the work of God. All food is right to eat, but it is wrong for anyone to eat something that hurts the faith of another person.

It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that hurts the faith of your brother or sister.

but do what pleases them and is for their good. We should do whatever helps everyone grow stronger in faith.

Brothers and sisters, I want you to be very careful of those who cause arguments and hurt people's faith by teaching things that are against what you learned. Stay away from them.

Praise God! He is the one who can make you strong in faith. He can use the Good News that I teach to make you strong. It is the message about Jesus Christ that I tell people. That message is the secret truth that was hidden for ages and ages but has been made known.

I did this so that your faith would be in God's power, not in human wisdom.

The same Spirit gives faith to one person and to another he gives gifts of healing.

I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don't have love, I am nothing.

So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.

But those who prophesy are speaking to people. They help people grow stronger in faith, and they give encouragement and comfort.

So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, another has a teaching, and another has a new truth from God. One person speaks in a different language, and another interprets that language. The purpose of whatever you do should be to help everyone grow stronger in faith.