I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us… We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while…
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For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if…
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The Lord said… ‘You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you…
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You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. From Ephesians 2: 19-22, NRSV Being a Roman citizen was a privilege that non-Roman men would serve…
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But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. From Romans 6:12-18, NRSV In today’s reading, Paul wants to help the…
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Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. From Romans 5:12,15,17-21, NRSV In today’s…
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No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written…
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‘I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me,so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.’ From Isaiah 45:…
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Hoping against hope, he (Abraham) believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ From Romans 4:13,16-18, NRSV In today’s reading, Paul continues his reflection on the promise made to Abraham. Paul reiterates that this promise did not come to Abraham or his…
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What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ From Romans 4:1-8, NRSV In…
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