Study Desk

Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.

For I testify about them that they have ^(C1)a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.

For not knowing about ^(C1)God's righteousness and ^(C2)seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

For ^(C1)Christ is the ^(F1)end of the Law for righteousness to ^(C2)everyone who believes.

For Moses writes of the righteousness that is ^(F1)based on the Law, that the person who performs ^(F2)them ^(C1)will live by ^(F2)them.

But ^(C1)the righteousness ^(F1)based on faith speaks as follows: "^(C2)DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, 'WHO WILL GO UP INTO HEAVEN?' (that is, to bring Christ down),

or 'Who will descend into the ^(C1)abyss?' (that is, to ^(C2)bring Christ up from the dead)."

But what does it say? "^(C1)THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,

^(F1)that ^(C1)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and ^(C2)believe in your heart that ^(C3)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

for with the heart a person believes, ^(F1)resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, ^(F2)resulting in salvation.

For the Scripture says, "^(C1)WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE ^(F1)PUT TO SHAME."

For ^(C1)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is ^(C2)Lord of ^(C3)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;

for "^(C1)EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him ^(C1)whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without ^(C2)a preacher?

But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: "^(C1)HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO ^(F1)(C2)BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

However, they ^(C1)did not all heed the ^(F1)good news; for Isaiah says, "^(C2)LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"

So faith comes from ^(C1)hearing, and hearing by ^(C2)the word ^(F1)of Christ.

But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? On the contrary: "^(C1)THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE ^(F1)WORLD."

But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, "^(C1)I WILL ^(C2)MAKE YOU JEALOUS WITH THOSE WHO ARE NOT A NATION, WITH A FOOLISH NATION I WILL ANGER YOU."

And Isaiah is very bold and says, "^(C1)I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I REVEALED MYSELF TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME."

But as for Israel, He says, "^(C1)I HAVE SPREAD OUT MY HANDS ALL DAY LONG TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE."

Every ^(F1)(C1)person is to be ^(C2)subject to the governing authorities. For ^(C3)there is no authority except ^(F2)from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Therefore ^(F1)whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

For ^(C1)rulers are not a cause of fear for ^(F1)good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

for it is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an ^(C1)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also ^(C1)for the sake of conscience.

For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

^(C1)Pay to all what is due them: ^(C2)tax to whom tax is due; ^(C3)custom to whom custom; ^(F1)respect to whom ^(F1)respect; honor to whom honor.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for ^(C1)the one who loves ^(F1)his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.

For this, "^(C1)YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "^(C2)YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

Love ^(F1)does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore ^(C1)love is the fulfillment of the Law.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is ^(C1)already the hour for you to ^(C2)awaken from sleep; for now ^(F1)salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.

^(C1)The night is almost gone, and ^(C2)the day is near. Therefore let's rid ourselves of ^(C3)the deeds of darkness and put on ^(C4)the armor of light.

Let's ^(F1)(C1)behave properly as in the day, ^(C2)not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and debauchery, not in strife and jealousy.

But ^(C1)put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh ^(C2)in regard to its lusts.