Afrikaans ČeštinaCzech DanskDanish DeutschGerman EnglishEnglish EspañolSpanish FrançaisFrench ItalianoItalian MagyarHungarian MalagasyMalagasy NederlandsDutch PolskiPolish PortuguêsPortuguese SesothoSouthern Sotho SlovenskýSlovak SuomiFinnish XhosaXhosa ZuluZulu ΕλληνικάGreek РусскийRussian اردوUrdu عربىArabic فارسیPersian हिन्दीHindi বাংলাBengali 繁體中文Chinese (traditional) Faith is the substance (2/4) Blessed is the man whom God reproves. Therefore, do not reject the discipline of the Almighty. Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Even should my heart and my flesh fail, God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever. Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, since it is the power of God that offers salvation to everyone who has faith—to Jews first, and then to Gentiles as well. For you know that the testing of your faith will develop perseverance. Blessed is the person who has found wisdom, the one who has gained understanding. Therefore, do not allow anyone to pass judgment on you in regard to what you eat or drink, or about the observance of Festivals, New Moons, or Sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come. The reality is Christ. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. And we are witnesses to these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. This is the message that we have heard from him and that we declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness at all in him. Over all these put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents. For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith. This has not come from you but from the gift of God. It does not come from works, so that no one can boast. So then, faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. For we walk by faith, not by sight. In everything, deal with others as you would like them to deal with you. This is the Law and the Prophets. And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be poured out for you.” The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom should I be afraid? Indeed, the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; those who are guided by it will grow in understanding. His praise will last forever. He is the head of the body, that is, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that in every way he should be supreme. For from the beginning you have heard the message that we should love one another.
The love of money is the root of all evils, and in their desire for it some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many serious wounds. O Lord , all my longing is known to you, and my sighs are not hidden from you. And if one should fall, his companion will help him up. How pathetic is the man who is alone and falls and has no one to assist him to his feet. Next verse! With image