Study Desk

What God the Father considers to be pure and genuine religion is this: to take care of orphans and widows in their suffering and to keep oneself from being corrupted by the world.

Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.

For God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful; but mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is there in your saying to them, "God bless you! Keep warm and eat well!"—if you don't give them the necessities of life?

Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear.

How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar.

And the scripture came true that said, "Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous." And so Abraham was called God's friend.

You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.

It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God.

You want things, but you cannot have them, so you are ready to kill; you strongly desire things, but you cannot get them, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have what you want because you do not ask God for it.

Don't think that there is no truth in the scripture that says, "The spirit that God placed in us is filled with fierce desires."

But the grace that God gives is even stronger. As the scripture says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.

Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites!

God is the only lawgiver and judge. He alone can save and destroy. Who do you think you are, to judge someone else?

You have not paid any wages to those who work in your fields. Listen to their complaints! The cries of those who gather in your crops have reached the ears of God, the Lord Almighty.

Do not complain against one another, my friends, so that God will not judge you. The Judge is near, ready to appear.

You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because of his great mercy he gave us new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope,