Study Desk

Abraham did not doubt God's promise. His faith in God was strong, and he gave thanks to God.

Abraham put his trust in God and was made right with Him.

By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God.

We were weak and could not help ourselves. Then Christ came at the right time and gave His life for all sinners.

But God showed His love to us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We hated God. But we were saved from the punishment of sin by the death of Christ. He has brought us back to God and we will be saved by His life.

The free gift of God is not like Adam's sin. God told Adam he was guilty because of his sin and through this one came sin and guilt. But the free gift makes men right with God. Through One, Christ, men's sins are forgiven.

The power of death was over all men because of the sin of one man, Adam. But many people will receive His loving-favor and the gift of being made right with God. They will have power in life by Jesus Christ.

Through Adam's sin, death and hell came to all men. But another Man, Christ, by His right act makes men free and gives them life.

What does this mean? Are we to keep on sinning so that God will give us more of His loving-favor?

All of us were baptized to show we belong to Christ. We were baptized first of all to show His death.

If we have become one with Christ in His death, we will be one with Him in being raised from the dead to new life.

I speak with words easy to understand because your human thinking is weak. At one time you gave yourselves over to the power of sin. You kept on sinning all the more. Now give yourselves over to being right with God. Set yourself apart for God-like living and to do His work.

The Law could not make me free from the power of sin and death. It was weak because it had to work with weak human beings. But God sent His own Son. He came to earth in a body of flesh which could be tempted to sin as we in our bodies can be. He gave Himself to take away sin. By doing that, He took away the power sin had over us.

Those who let their sinful old selves tell them what to do live under that power of their sinful old selves. But those who let the Holy Spirit tell them what to do are under His power.

You should not act like people who are owned by someone. They are always afraid. Instead, the Holy Spirit makes us His sons, and we can call to Him, "My Father."

If we are children of God, we will receive everything He has promised us. We will share with Christ all the things God has given to Him. But we must share His suffering if we are to share His shining-greatness.

Everything that has been made in the world is waiting for the day when God will make His sons known.

We also cry inside ourselves, even we who have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the first of God's gifts to us. We are waiting to become His complete sons when our bodies are made free.

We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan.