"You are the sonsof the LORDyour God;you shall not cutyourselves norshaveyour foreheadfor the sake of the dead.
For you are allsonsof Godthroughfaithin ChristJesus.
That is, it is not the childrenof the fleshwhoare childrenof God,but the childrenof the promiseare regardedas descendants.
They shall not makeany baldnesson their heads,norshaveoffthe edgesof their beards,normakeany cutsin their flesh.
"AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACEWHEREIT WAS SAIDTO THEM, 'YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,'THERETHEY SHALL BE CALLEDSONSOF THE LIVINGGOD."
For it was fittingfor Him, for whomare allthings,and throughwhomare all things,in bringingmanysonsto glory,to perfectthe authorof their salvationthroughsufferings.
The SpiritHimselftestifieswith our spiritthat we are childrenof God,
But as manyas receivedHim, to them He gavethe rightto becomechildrenof God,[even] to thosewho believein His name,
Yet the numberof the sonsof IsraelWill be like the sandof the sea,Whichcannotbe measuredor numbered;And in the placeWhereit is saidto them, "You are not My people,"It will be saidto them, "[You are] the sonsof the livingGod."
that eightymencamefrom Shechem,from Shiloh,and from Samariawith their beardsshavedoffand their clothestornand their bodies gashed,having grain offeringsand incensein their handsto bringto the houseof the LORD.
"Both greatmenand smallwill diein thisland;they will not be buried,they will not be lamented,norwill anyone gashhimself or shavehis headfor them.
By thisthe childrenof Godand the childrenof the devilare obvious:anyonewho does not practicerighteousnessis not of God,northe one who does not lovehis brother.
"And I will be a fatherto you, And you shall be sonsand daughtersto Me," Saysthe LordAlmighty.
and not for the nationonly,but in orderthat He might alsogather togetherinto onethe childrenof Godwho are scattered abroad.
"Then I said,'HowI would setyou among My sonsAnd giveyou a pleasantland,The mostbeautifulinheritanceof the nations!'And I said,'You shall callMe, My Father,And not turnawayfrom followingMe.'
The Nephilimwere on the earthin thosedays,and alsoafterward,whenthe sonsof Godcamein to the daughtersof men,and they bore[children] to them. Thosewere the mightymenwho[were] of old,menof renown.
that the sonsof Godsawthat the daughtersof menwere beautiful;and they tookwivesfor themselves, whomeverthey chose.
By thiswe knowthat we lovethe childrenof God,whenwe loveGodand observeHis commandments.
But we do not wantyou to be uninformed,brethren,aboutthosewho are asleep,sothat you will not grieveas do the restwho havenohope.
"Baldnesshas comeupon Gaza;Ashkelonhas been ruined.O remnantof their valley,Howlongwill you gashyourself?
whoare Israelites,to whombelongs the adoption as sons,and the gloryand the covenantsand the giving of the Lawand the [temple] serviceand the promises,
ifyou will listento the voiceof the LORDyour God,keepingallHis commandmentswhichI am commandingyou today,and doingwhatis rightin the sightof the LORDyour God.
So they criedwith a loudvoiceand cutthemselves according to their customwith swordsand lancesuntilthe bloodgushedout on them.
"Do you thusrepaythe LORD,O foolishand unwisepeople?Is not He your Fatherwho has boughtyou? He has madeyou and establishedyou.
For You are our Father,thoughAbrahamdoes not knowus And Israeldoes not recognizeus. You, O LORD,are our Father,Our Redeemerfrom of oldis Your name.
"With weepingthey will come,And by supplicationI will leadthem; I will make them walkby streamsof waters,On a straightpathin which they will not stumble;For I ama fatherto Israel,And Ephraimis My firstborn."
