Study Desk

so also Isra'el has been disobedient now, so that by your showing them the same mercy that God has shown you, they too may now receive God's mercy.

For God has shut up all mankind together in disobedience, in order that he might show mercy to all.

O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments! How unsearchable are his ways!

I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical "Temple worship" for you.

In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.

For I am telling every single one of you, through the grace that has been given to me, not to have exaggerated ideas about your own importance. Instead, develop a sober estimate of yourself based on the standard which God has given to each of you, namely, trust.

Everyone is to obey the governing authorities. For there is no authority that is not from God, and the existing authorities have been placed where they are by God.

Therefore, whoever resists the authorities is resisting what God has instituted; and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

The one who eats anything must not look down on the one who abstains; and the abstainer must not pass judgment on the one who eats anything, because God has accepted him —

He who observes a day as special does so to honor the Lord. Also he who eats anything, eats to honor the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; likewise the abstainer abstains to honor the Lord, and he too gives thanks to God.

since it is written in the Tanakh, "As I live, says Adonai , every knee will bend before me, and every tongue will publicly acknowledge God."

So then, every one of us will have to give an account of himself to God.

for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, shalom and joy in the Ruach HaKodesh.

Anyone who serves the Messiah in this fashion both pleases God and wins the approval of other people.

The belief you hold about such things, keep between yourself and God. Happy the person who is free of self-condemnation when he approves of something!

And may God, the source of encouragement and patience, give you the same attitude among yourselves as the Messiah Yeshua had,

so that with one accord and with one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

and in order to show his mercy by causing the Gentiles to glorify God — as it is written in the Tanakh, "Because of this I will acknowledge you among the Gentiles and sing praise to your name."

May God, the source of hope, fill you completely with joy and shalom as you continue trusting, so that by the power of the Ruach HaKodesh you may overflow with hope.

But on some points I have written you quite boldly by way of reminding you about them, because of the grace God has given me