Study Desk

In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are.

that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children.

The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.

We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,

and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children.

God then accepted the people he had already decided to choose, and he has shared his glory with them.

God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won't he freely give us everything else?

If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them?

They are the descendants of Israel, and they are also God's chosen people. God showed them his glory. He made agreements with them and gave them his Law. The temple is theirs and so are the promises that God made to them.

It cannot be said that God broke his promise. After all, not all of the people of Israel are the true people of God.

In fact, when God made the promise to Abraham, he meant only Abraham's descendants by his son Isaac. God was talking only about Isaac when he promised

Even before they were born or had done anything good or bad, the Lord told Rebekah that her older son would serve the younger one. The Lord said this to show that he makes his own choices and that it wasn't because of anything either of them had done.

God wanted to show his anger and reveal his power against everyone who deserved to be destroyed. But instead, he patiently put up with them.

He did this by showing how glorious he is when he has pity on the people he has chosen to share in his glory.

no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help.

Am I saying that God has turned his back on his people? Certainly not! I am one of the people of Israel, and I myself am a descendant of Abraham from the tribe of Benjamin.

God did not turn his back on his chosen people. Don't you remember reading in the Scriptures how Elijah complained to God about the people of Israel?

It is the same way now. God was kind to the people of Israel, and so a few of them are still his followers.

Now you see both how kind and how hard God can be. He was hard on those who fell, but he was kind to you. And he will keep on being kind to you, if you keep on trusting in his kindness. Otherwise, you will be cut away too.

Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?