And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
Seeto it that noonecomes shortof the graceof God;that norootof bitternessspringingup causes trouble,and by it manybe defiled;
For we are God'sfellow workers;you are God'sfield,God'sbuilding.
As each onehas receiveda [special] gift,employ it in servingone anotheras goodstewardsof the manifoldgraceof God.
"I do not nullifythe graceof God,for ifrighteousness[comes] throughthe Law,thenChristdiedneedlessly."
Seeto it that you do not refuseHim who is speaking.For ifthosedid not escapewhen they refusedhim who warned[them] on earth,muchless[will] we [escape] who turn awayfrom Him who [warns] from heaven.
ThereforeI urgeyou, brethren,by the merciesof God,to presentyour bodiesa livingand holysacrifice,acceptableto God,[which is] your spiritualservice of worship.
Did you sufferso many thingsin vain--ifindeedit was in vain?
Thereforethey spenta longtime[there] speaking boldly[with reliance] upon the Lord,who was testifyingto the wordof His grace,grantingthat signsand wondersbe doneby their hands.
For the graceof Godhas appeared,bringing salvationto allmen,
"Jerusalem,Jerusalem,who killsthe prophetsand stonesthosewho are sentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,the waya hengathersher chicksunderher wings,and you were unwilling.
NowI, Paul,myselfurgeyou by the meeknessand gentlenessof Christ--I whoam meekwhen face to facewith you, but boldtowardyou when absent!
"Howcan you say,'We are wise,And the lawof the LORDis with us'? But behold,the lyingpenof the scribesHas made[it] into a lie.
But the peoplesaidto Saul,"Must Jonathandie,whohas broughtaboutthisgreatdeliverancein Israel?Farfrom it! As the LORDlives,not one hairof his headshall fallto the ground,for he has workedwith Godthisday."So the peoplerescuedJonathanand he did not die.
Then when he arrivedand witnessedthe graceof God,he rejoicedand [began] to encouragethem allwith resoluteheartto remain[true] to the Lord;
For thisreason,when I could endure[it] no longer,I alsosentto findout about your faith,for fearthat the temptermight have temptedyou, and our laborwould be in vain.
Therefore,let us fearif,while a promiseremainsof enteringHis rest,any oneof you may seemto have come shortof it.
