So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people, so that they also can be saved through Christ Jesus, with glory that will last forever.
God wisely planned that the world wouldn’t be able to understand him through its own wisdom. Instead, God was happy to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe.
So let me ask something else: The Israelites didn’t trip and fall so badly that they could never get up, did they? Not at all! Rather, because Israel went wrong, the Gentiles are being saved, and that should make Israel jealous of them.
Again I ask, “Didn’t Israel understand?” First, Moses says, “I will use people who aren’t a nation to make you jealous. I’ll use a nation that has no understanding to make you angry.”
Follow my example. I try to please everyone in every way. I’m not looking out for what’s good for me. I’m looking out for the interests of others, so that they might be saved.
God has saved us and called us to live a holy life. This isn’t because of anything we’ve done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus even before time began.
So then how will we escape if we don’t pay attention to the even greater salvation that the Lord Jesus announced? Those who heard him told us what he said,