Study Desk

Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope

In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us.

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.

It also means that the people of Israel were not acceptable to God. And why not? It was because they were trying to be acceptable by obeying the Law instead of by having faith in God. The people of Israel fell over the stone that makes people stumble,

All who are acceptable because of their faith simply say, "The message is as near as your mouth or your heart." And this is the same message we preach about faith.

This happened because of God's undeserved kindness and not because of anything they have done. It could not have happened except for God's kindness.

You Gentiles are like branches of a wild olive tree that were made to be part of a cultivated olive tree. You have taken the place of some branches that were cut away from it. And because of this, you enjoy the blessings that come from being part of that cultivated tree.

That's true enough. But they were cut away because they did not have faith, and you are where you are because you do have faith. So don't be proud, but be afraid.

The people of Israel are treated as God's enemies, so that the good news can come to you Gentiles. But they are still the chosen ones, and God loves them because of their famous ancestors.

And because of the mercy shown to you, they will also be shown mercy.

Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.

After all, they are God's servants, and it is their duty to help you. If you do something wrong, you ought to be afraid, because these rulers have the right to punish you. They are God's servants who punish criminals to show how angry God is.

But you should obey the rulers because you know it is the right thing to do, and not just because of God's anger.

This is because Christ died and rose to life, so that he would be the Lord of the dead and of the living.

But if you do have doubts about what you eat, you are going against your beliefs. And you know that is wrong, because anything you do against your beliefs is sin.

I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

Because of Christ Jesus, I can take pride in my service for God.

This is something they really wanted to do. But sharing their money with the Jews was also like paying back a debt, because the Jews had already shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles.

And now, because of Jesus Christ, we can praise the only wise God forever! Amen.

That way you would have faith because of God's power and not because of human wisdom.