Romans 3
3Then what's the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?G5101G4053G3767G2453G2228G5101G5622G40612Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.G4183G2596G3956G5158G4412G3303G1063G3754G4100G3051G23163True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?G1063G5101G1487G5100G569G3361G2673G846G570G2673G4102G2316G26734Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, "You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court."G3361G1096G1161G1096G2316G1096G227G1161G3956G444G5583G2531G1125G3704G302G1344G1722G4675G3056G2532G3528G1722G4571G29195"But," some might say, "our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn't it unfair, then, for him to punish us?" (This is merely a human point of view.)G1161G1487G2257G93G4921G1343G2316G5101G2046G3361G2316G94G2018G3709G3004G2596G4446Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?G3361G1096G1893G4459G2919G2316G2919G28897"But," someone might still argue, "how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?"G1063G1487G225G2316G4052G1722G1699G5582G1519G846G1391G5101G2089G2919G2504G2919G5613G2688And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, "The more we sin, the better it is!" Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.G2532G3361G2531G987G2532G2531G5100G5346G2248G3004G3754G4160G2556G2443G18G2064G3739G2917G2076G17389Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin.G5101G3767G4284G3756G3843G1063G4256G5037G2453G2532G1672G1511G3956G5259G26610As the Scriptures say, "No one is righteous—not even one.G2531G1125G3754G2076G3756G1342G3761G152011No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.G2076G3756G4920G2076G3756G1567G231612All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one."G1578G3956G1578G889G260G889G2076G3756G4160G5544G3756G2076G2193G152013"Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies." "Snake venom drips from their lips."G846G2995G455G5028G846G1100G1387G2447G785G5259G846G549114"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."G3739G4750G1073G685G2532G408815"They rush to commit murder.G846G4228G3691G1632G12916Destruction and misery always follow them.G4938G2532G5004G1722G846G359817They don't know where to find peace."G2532G3598G1515G1097G3756G109718"They have no fear of God at all."G2076G3756G5401G2316G561G846G378819Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God.G1161G1492G3754G3745G3551G3004G2980G1722G3551G2443G3956G4750G5420G2532G3956G2889G1096G5267G231620For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.G1360G1537G2041G3551G1344G3956G3756G4561G1344G846G1799G1063G1223G3551G1922G26621But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.G1161G3570G1343G2316G5565G3551G5319G3140G5259G3551G2532G439622We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.G1161G1343G2316G1223G4102G2424G5547G1519G3956G2532G1909G3956G4100G1063G2076G3756G129323For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.G1063G3956G264G2532G5302G1391G231624Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.G1344G1432G846G5485G1223G629G1722G5547G242425For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,G3739G2316G4388G2435G1223G4102G1722G846G129G1519G1732G846G1343G1223G3929G265G4266G1722G463G231626for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.G4314G1732G1722G3568G2540G846G1343G1519G1511G1342G2532G1344G846G4102G1537G242427Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.G4226G2746G3767G1576G1223G4169G3551G2041G3780G235G1223G3551G410228So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.G3767G3049G444G1344G4102G5565G2041G355129After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is.G2228G2316G2453G3440G3780G1161G2532G1484G3483G1484G253230There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.G1897G1520G2316G3739G1344G4061G1537G4102G2532G203G1223G410231Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.G2673G3767G2673G3551G1223G4102G3361G1096G235G2476G3551
Acts 2
2On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.G2532G1722G2250G4005G4845G2258G537G3661G1909G8462Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.G2532G869G1096G2279G1537G3772G5618G5342G972G4157G2532G4137G3650G3624G3757G2258G25213Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.G2532G3700G846G1266G1100G5616G4442G5037G2523G1909G1538G1520G8464And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.G2532G4130G537G4130G40G4151G2532G756G2980G2087G1100G2531G4151G1325G846G6695At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.G1161G2258G2730G1722G2419G2453G2126G435G575G3956G1484G5259G37726When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.G1161G5026G1096G5456G4128G4905G2532G4797G3754G1538G1520G191G846G2980G2398G12587They were completely amazed. "How can this be?" they exclaimed. "These people are all from Galilee,G1161G1839G3956G1839G2532G2296G3004G4314G240G2400G1526G3756G3956G3778G3588G2980G10578and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!G2532G4459G191G2249G1538G2257G2398G1258G1722G3739G10809Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia,G3934G2532G3370G2532G1639G2532G2730G3318G5037G2449G2532G2587G4195G2532G77310Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from RomeG5037G5435G5037G2532G3828G125G2532G3313G3033G2596G2957G2532G1927G4514G5037G2453G5037G2532G433911(both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!"G2912G2532G690G191G846G2980G2251G1100G3167G231612They stood there amazed and perplexed. "What can this mean?" they asked each other.G1161G1839G3956G1839G2532G1280G3004G243G4314G243G5101G2309G302G1511G512413But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, "They're just drunk, that's all!"G1161G2087G5512G3004G3754G1526G3325G109814Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, "Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.G1161G4074G2476G4862G1733G1869G846G5456G2532G669G846G435G2453G2532G537G2730G2419G2077G5124G1110G5213G2532G1801G3450G448715These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o'clock in the morning is much too early for that.G1063G3778G3184G3756G3184G5613G5210G5274G1063G2076G5154G5610G225016No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel.G235G5124G2076G2046G1223G4396G249317'In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.G2532G2071G1722G2078G2250G3004G2316G1632G575G3450G4151G1909G3956G4561G2532G5216G5207G2532G5216G2364G4395G2532G5216G3495G3700G3706G2532G5216G4245G1797G179818In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.G2532G1065G1909G3450G1401G2532G1909G3450G1399G1632G1722G1565G2250G575G3450G4151G2532G439519And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke.G2532G1325G5059G1722G3772G507G2532G4592G1909G1093G2736G129G2532G4442G2532G822G258620The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.G2246G3344G1519G4655G2532G4582G1519G129G2228G4250G3173G2532G2016G2250G2962G206421But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'G2532G2071G3739G3956G302G1941G3686G2962G498222"People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.G435G2475G191G5128G3056G2424G3480G435G584G575G2316G1519G5209G1411G2532G5059G2532G4592G3739G2316G4160G1223G846G1722G3319G5216G2531G846G2532G149223But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.G5126G1560G3724G1012G2532G4268G2316G2983G1223G459G5495G4362G33724But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.G3739G2316G450G3089G5604G2288G2530G2258G3756G1415G846G2902G5259G84625King David said this about him: 'I see that the LORD is always with me I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.G1063G1138G3004G1519G846G4308G2962G1223G3956G1799G3450G3754G2076G1537G3450G1188G3363G4531G3363G453126No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope.G1223G5124G2165G3450G2588G2165G2532G3450G1100G21G1161G2089G2532G3450G4561G2681G1909G168027For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.G3754G1459G3756G1459G3450G5590G1519G86G3761G1325G4675G3741G1492G131228You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.'G1107G3427G3598G2222G4137G3165G4137G2167G3326G4675G438329"Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn't referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.G435G80G2036G1832G3326G3954G2036G4314G5209G4012G3966G1138G3754G5053G2532G5053G2532G2290G2532G846G3418G2076G1722G2254G891G5026G225030But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David's own descendants would sit on his throne.G3767G5225G4396G2532G1492G3754G2316G3660G3727G846G1537G2590G846G3751G2596G4561G450G5547G2523G1909G846G236231David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah's resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.G4275G2980G4012G386G5547G3754G846G5590G2641G3756G2641G1519G86G3761G846G4561G1492G131232"God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.G5126G2424G450G2316G450G3739G2249G3956G2070G314433Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.G3767G5312G1188G2316G5312G5037G2983G3844G3962G1860G40G4151G1632G5124G3739G5210G3568G991G2532G19134For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit in the place of honor at my right handG1063G1138G3756G305G1519G3772G1161G3004G846G2962G2036G3450G2962G2521G1537G3450G118835until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet."'G2193G302G5087G4675G2190G4675G4228G528636"So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!"G3767G1097G3956G3624G2474G1097G806G3754G2316G4160G5126G2424G3739G5210G4717G2532G2962G2532G554737Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"G1161G191G2660G2588G5037G2036G4314G4074G2532G3062G652G435G80G5101G416038Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.G1161G4074G5346G4314G846G3340G2532G907G1538G5216G1909G3686G2424G5547G1519G859G266G2532G2983G1431G40G415139This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God."G1063G1860G2076G5213G2532G5216G5043G2532G3956G1519G3112G3745G2962G2257G2316G302G434140Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"G5037G4119G2087G3056G1263G2532G3870G3004G4982G575G5026G4646G107441Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.G3303G3767G780G588G846G3056G907G2532G1565G2250G4369G5616G5153G559042All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.G1161G2258G4342G652G1322G2532G2842G2532G2800G740G2532G433543A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.G1161G5401G1096G3956G5590G5037G4183G5059G2532G4592G1096G1223G65244And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.G1161G3956G4100G2258G1909G846G2532G2192G537G283945They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.G2532G4097G2933G2532G5223G2532G1266G846G3956G2530G5100G302G2192G553246They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.G5037G4342G2596G2250G3661G1722G2411G5037G2806G740G2596G3624G3335G5160G1722G20G2532G858G258847all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.G134G2316G2532G2192G5485G4314G3650G2992G1161G2962G4369G1577G2596G2250G4982
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