The Lord smelled these sacrifices, and it pleased him. The Lord said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground as a way to punish people. People are evil from the time that they are young. So I will never again destroy every living thing on the earth like I have just done.
“Your people will sin against you. I know this because every person sins. And you will be angry with your people. You will let their enemies defeat them. Their enemies will make them prisoners and carry them to some faraway land.
People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed those people to have their own worthless thinking. And so those people do the things that they should not do.
These things the law {\cf2\super [28]} says are for the people that are under the law. This stops all \{Jewish\} people from making excuses and brings the whole world (Jews and non-Jews) under God’s judgment.
Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace (kindness) that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory.
But this is not true, because the Scriptures {\cf2\super [42]} showed that all people are bound by sin. Why did the Scriptures do this? So that the promise would be given to people through faith. The promise is given to people who believe in Jesus Christ.
God called you to have that salvation. He called you by using the Good News {\cf2\super [9]} that we told you. God called you so that you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And we still have that promise God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter and have God’s rest. {\cf2\super [22]} So we should be very careful, so that none of you fail to get that promise.
Now I have something to say to the elders {\cf2\super [30]} in your group. I am also an elder. I myself have seen Christ’s sufferings. And I will share in the glory that will be shown to us. I beg you to
Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God that gives all grace (kindness). He called you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.