Study Desk

Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses.

We see that people are acceptable to God because they have faith, and not because they obey the Law.

Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is.

And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news.

Blindfold their eyes! Don't let them see. Bend their backs beneath a burden that will never be lifted."

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.

It is just as the Scriptures say, "All who haven't been told about him will see him, and those who haven't heard about him will understand."

My work has always kept me from coming to see you.

You are bound to argue with each other, but it is easy to see which of you have God's approval.

Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don't know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.

We see that the one with a spiritual body did not come first. He came after the one who had a physical body.

After I have gone through Macedonia, I hope to see you

I was glad to see Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus. Having them here was like having you.

The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like.

But we live by faith, not by what we see.

Of course, we were glad to see Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this made me even happier.

Just look what God has done by making you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove that you are innocent. You are angry. You are shocked. You are eager to see that justice is done. You have proved that you were completely right in this matter.

Treat them in such a way that the churches will see your love and will know why we bragged about you.

Now they are praying for you and want to see you, because God used you to bless them so very much.

Although he was weak when he was nailed to the cross, he now lives by the power of God. We are weak, just as Christ was. But you will see that we will live by the power of God, just as Christ does.