Study Desk

Abraham believed he would be the father of many nations. He had no reason to hope for this, but he had been told, "Your children will become many nations."

The words, "He was made right with God," were not for Abraham only.

They were for us also. God will make us right with Himself the same way He did Abraham, if we put our trust in God Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Jesus died for our sins. He was raised from the dead to make us right with God.

Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us.

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 are glad for our troubles also. We know that troubles help us learn not to give up.

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

No one is willing to die for another person, but for a good man someone might be willing to die.

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

Sin had power that ended in death. Now, God's loving-favor has power to make men right with Himself. It gives life that lasts forever. Our Lord Jesus Christ did this for us.

He died once but now lives. He died to break the power of sin, and the life He now lives is for God.

You must do the same thing! Think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But now you have new life because of Jesus Christ our Lord. You are living this new life for God.

Do not give any part of your body for sinful use. Instead, give yourself to God as a living person who has been raised from the dead. Give every part of your body to God to do what is right.

At one time you were held by the power of sin. But now you obey with all your heart the teaching that was given to you. Thank God for this!

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.

But now you are free from the power of sin. You have become a servant for God. Your life is set apart for God-like living. The end is life that lasts forever.

My Christian brothers, that is the way it is with you. You were under the power of the Law. But now you are dead to it because you are joined to another. You are joined to Christ Who was raised from the dead. This is so we may be what God wants us to be. Our lives are to give fruit for Him.

The Law made me know how much I was sinning. It showed me how I had a desire for all kinds of things. For without the Law, sin is dead.

I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not.