And we knowthat Godcausesall thingsto work togetherfor goodto thosewho loveGod,to thosewho are calledaccordingto [His] purpose.
"As for you, you meantevilagainstme, [but] Godmeantit for goodin orderto bringaboutthispresentresult, to preservemanypeoplealive.
"Perhapsthe LORDwill lookon my afflictionand returngoodto me insteadof his cursingthisday."
I said,"I beseechYou, O LORDGodof heaven,the greatand awesomeGod,who preservesthe covenantand lovingkindnessfor those who loveHim and keepHis commandments,
The descendantsof His servantswill inheritit, And those who loveHis namewill dwellin it.
but showinglovingkindnessto thousands,to those who loveMe and keepMy commandments.
So the landquakesand writhes,For the purposesof the LORDagainstBabylonstand,To makethe landof BabylonA desolationwithoutinhabitants.
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
AND YOU SHALL LOVETHE LORDYOUR GODWITH ALLYOUR HEART,AND WITH ALLYOUR SOUL,AND WITH ALLYOUR MIND,AND WITH ALLYOUR STRENGTH.'
When the Gentilesheardthis, they [began] rejoicingand glorifyingthe wordof the Lord;and as manyas had beenappointedto eternallifebelieved.
for the giftsand the callingof Godare irrevocable.
and thesewhomHe predestined,He alsocalled;and thesewhomHe called,He alsojustified;and thesewhomHe justified,He alsoglorified.
for though [the twins] were not yetbornand had not doneanythinggoodorbad,sothat God'spurposeaccordingto [His] choicewould stand,not becauseof worksbut becauseof Him who calls,
To the churchof Godwhich is at Corinth,to those who have been sanctifiedin ChristJesus,saintsby calling,with allwho in everyplacecallon the nameof our LordJesusChrist,their [Lord] and ours:
but to thosewho are the called,bothJewsand Greeks,Christthe powerof Godand the wisdomof God.
Godis faithful,throughwhomyou were calledinto fellowshipwith His Son,JesusChristour Lord.
but justas it is written,"THINGS WHICHEYEHAS NOT SEENAND EARHAS NOT HEARD,AND [which] HAVE NOT ENTEREDTHE HEARTOF MAN,ALLTHAT GODHAS PREPAREDFOR THOSEWHO LOVEHIM."
For we knowthat ifthe earthlytentwhich is our houseis torn down,we havea buildingfrom God,a housenot made with hands,eternalin the heavens.
But whenGod, who had set me apart[even] from my mother'swomband calledme throughHis grace,was pleased
I am amazedthat you are soquicklydesertingHim who calledyou by the graceof Christ,for a differentgospel;
Thispersuasion[did] not [come] from Him who callsyou.
[This was] in accordancewith the eternalpurposewhichHe carriedout in ChristJesusour Lord,
ThereforeI, the prisonerof the Lord,imploreyou to walkin a manner worthyof the callingwith whichyou have been called,
"You shall lovethe LORDyour Godwith allyour heartand with allyour souland with allyour might.
"In the wildernessHe fedyou mannawhichyour fathersdid not know,that He might humbleyou and that He might testyou, to dogoodfor you in the end.
I presson towardthe goalfor the prizeof the upwardcallof Godin ChristJesus.
For Godhas not destinedus for wrath,but for obtainingsalvationthroughour LordJesusChrist,
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
Nevertheless,the firmfoundationof Godstands,havingthisseal,"The Lordknowsthosewho are His," and, "Everyonewho namesthe nameof the Lordis to abstainfrom wickedness."
For thisreasonHe is the mediatorof a newcovenant,sothat, since a deathhas taken placefor the redemptionof the transgressionsthat were [committed] underthe firstcovenant,thosewho have been calledmay receivethe promiseof the eternalinheritance.
Blessedis a manwhoperseveresunder trial;for once he has beenapproved,he will receivethe crownof lifewhich[the Lord] has promisedto thosewho loveHim.
Listen,my belovedbrethren:did not Godchoosethe poorof thisworld[to be] richin faithand heirsof the kingdomwhichHe promisedto thosewho loveHim?
But you are A CHOSENRACE,A royalPRIESTHOOD,A HOLYNATION,A PEOPLEFOR [God's] OWN POSSESSION,sothat you may proclaimthe excellenciesof Him who has calledyou out of darknessinto His marvelouslight;
not returningevilfor evilorinsultfor insult,but giving a blessinginstead;for you were calledfor the verypurpose that you might inherita blessing.
After you have sufferedfor a little while,the Godof allgrace,who calledyou to His eternalgloryin Christ,will Himselfperfect,confirm,strengthen[and] establishyou.
In thisis love,not that we lovedGod,but that He lovedus and sentHis Son[to be] the propitiationfor our sins.
We love,becauseHe firstlovedus.
Those whomI love,I reproveand discipline;thereforebe zealousand repent.
