for the giftsand the callingof Godare irrevocable.
Shall I ransomthem from the powerof Sheol?Shall I redeemthem from death?O Death,whereare your thorns?O Sheol,whereis your sting?Compassionwill be hiddenfrom My sight.
"For I, the LORD,do not change;therefore you, O sonsof Jacob,are not consumed.
"Godis not a man,that He should lie,Nora sonof man,that He should repent;Has He said,and will He not doit? Or has He spoken,and will He not makeit good?
For justas you oncewere disobedientto God,but nowhave been shown mercybecause of their disobedience,
And we knowthat Godcausesall thingsto work togetherfor goodto thosewho loveGod,to thosewho are calledaccordingto [His] purpose.
and thesewhomHe predestined,He alsocalled;and thesewhomHe called,He alsojustified;and thesewhomHe justified,He alsoglorified.
For consideryour calling,brethren,that there were not manywiseaccordingto the flesh,not manymighty,not manynoble;
[I pray that] the eyesof your heartmay be enlightened,sothat you will knowwhatis the hopeof His calling,whatare the richesof the gloryof His inheritancein the saints,
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
[There is] onebodyand oneSpirit,justas alsoyou were calledin onehopeof your calling;
I presson towardthe goalfor the prizeof the upwardcallof Godin ChristJesus.
To thisendalsowe prayfor you always,that our Godwill count you worthyof your calling,and fulfilleverydesirefor goodnessand the workof faithwith power,
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
Therefore,holybrethren,partakersof a heavenlycalling,considerJesus,the Apostleand High Priestof our confession;
(for they indeedbecamepriestswithoutan oath, but He with an oaththroughthe One who saidto Him, "THE LORDHAS SWORNAND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,'YOU ARE A PRIESTFOREVER'");
Therefore,brethren,be all the morediligentto makecertainabout His callingand choosingyou; for as long as you practicethese things,you will neverstumble;