Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



Abram was ninety-nine years old. Jehovah appeared to him and said: I am God Almighty. Walk before me and be blameless. I will establish my covenant between us. I will greatly increase your numbers. Abram fell on his face and God said to him: read more.
This is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. You will no longer be called Abram (Exalted Father). Your name will be Abraham (means Father of Many). I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as a long lasting covenant between us. It will be for your descendants after you, for the generations to come. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you are now a guest (alien) (foreigner) (stranger), I will give a long lasting possession to you and your descendants after you. I will be their God. Then God said to Abraham: As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision. It will be the sign of the covenant between us. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised. This includes those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner, those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be a long lasting covenant. Any male not circumcised in the flesh will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant. God continued: Do not call your wife Sarai any longer. Her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her. Abraham fell to his face. He laughed and said to himself: Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? Abraham said to God: If only Ishmael might live under your blessing! God replied: Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son! You will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as a long lasting covenant for his descendants after him. Concerning Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him. I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac. Sarah will bear him to you by this time next year. When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

You will give truth to Jacob, and show loving-kindness (unchanging love) to Abraham. For you have sworn this to our fathers from the days of old.

It was the oath he spoke to Abraham our father.

The promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world was not through the law but through righteousness by faith.

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcised for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.

When God made a promise to Abraham, he could swear by no one greater then himself, so he swore by himself. He said: I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.

Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. read more.
So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them. The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith. The Law is not based on faith. He that does them will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It is written; Cursed is everyone who is hung on a stake. This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brothers, I speak like a man speaks: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He did not say to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Christ. Now this I say: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. If the inheritance is based on the Law, it is no longer based on a promise. However God granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.


It is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman, and one by the freewoman. How is it that the son by the slave woman is born after the flesh; but the son by the freewoman is born through promise? This contains an allegory (symbolic drama). These women symbolize two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. read more.
Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia. She corresponds to the Jerusalem that now is. She is in bondage with her children. The Jerusalem above is free. She is our mother. It is written, Rejoice, barren woman who does not give birth. Break forth and cry, you who do not labor; for there are more children of the desolate than of the one who has the husband. Brothers, we are children who belong to the promise, the same as Isaac was. Just like then, the son who was conceived in a natural way according to the flesh persecuted the son conceived in a spiritual way. That is exactly what is happening now! What do the scriptures say? Throw out the slave woman and her son. For the son of the slave woman must not share the inheritance with the son of the free woman. (Genesis 21:10) Brothers, we are not children of a slave woman but of the free woman.



What shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? If Abraham was declared righteous by works, he could boast, but not to God. For what does the scriptures say? Abraham believed Jehovah, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) read more.
The pay is counted to the man who works. It is not as grace but as a debt. He who does not work but believes in him who justifies (absolves) the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. David also pronounces blessing on the man, to whom God counts righteousness apart from works, saying: Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom, Jehovah will not impute sin. (Psalm 32:2) Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say: To Abraham his faith was counted for righteousness. How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision: He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith that he had while he was not circumcised. That way he could be the father of all those who believe, though they are not circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them. The father of circumcision to those who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the steps of faith of our father Abraham that he had when he was not circumcised. The promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world was not through the law but through righteousness by faith. If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of no effect. The law produces wrath (violent passion) (indignation). But where there is no law there is no sin. For this reason it is by faith that it may be according to grace (divine influence) (loving-kindness). The promise may be sure to all descendants! This is not only to that which is of the law, but to that also which is by the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. It is written: I have made you a father of many nations. [This was] in the presence of God, the one in whom he believed. He gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which does not exist. In hope against hope Abraham believed that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken: So your descendants will be. Not being weak in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. Yet, he looked to the promise of God. He did not waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith. He gave the glory to God! He was fully assured that what he had promised, he was able to perform. It was counted to him as righteousness.

Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. read more.
So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

By faith, when Abraham was called, he obeyed. He went to a place that he was to receive for an inheritance. He went even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he became an alien in the Promised Land. It was not his land. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob. They were heirs with him of the same promise. He looked for the city having real foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. He that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only-begotten son! It was said: In Isaac your descendants will be called. Abraham reasoned that God is able to raise him from the dead. So he figured he would receive him back.

Was Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith acted with his works, and works made faith perfect (complete). The scripture was fulfilled which says: Abraham believed Jehovah and it was reckoned (imputed) (considered) (credited) to him for righteousness. He was called Jehovah's friend (Genesis 15:6) ( Isaiah 41:8). read more.
You see that a man is justified (declared and pronounced righteous) by works, and not by faith alone.


Jehovah said to Abram: Leave your country, your people, and your father's household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.

Abraham will definitely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him.

The angel of Jehovah called to Abraham from heaven a second time. He said: I am taking an oath on my own name, declares Jehovah, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son, I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies' cities. read more.
All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants. This is because you obeyed my command.'

You will live there as a foreigner. I will be with you and bless you. I will keep my promise to your father Abraham by giving this land to you and your descendants. I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth.


Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed.


The beggar held on to Peter and John while all the people came to them at the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this he spoke to the people: You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you look at us as though our own power or holiness made this man walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus. You handed him over to Pilate. When he was determined to let him go you denied him. read more.
You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be released to you. You killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead. We witnessed this! This man you see and know was made strong by his faith in the name of Jesus. His faith has given him total healing in your presence.

We reason therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also. If God is one he will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. read more.
Do we nullify the law through faith? No we do not! In fact, we establish (continue) (stand by) (uphold) the law.

What shall we say? The nations did not pursue righteousness. Yet they have attained to righteousness, the righteousness that is based on the principle of faith.

The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them. read more.
The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith. The Law is not based on faith. He that does them will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It is written; Cursed is everyone who is hung on a stake. This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

By grace (Greek: charis, divine favor, loving-kindness) you have been saved through faith. It is not from you. It is the gift from God! It is not the result of works. So no man should boast. For we are his workmanship created with Christ Jesus for good works. God prepared these works in advance that we should walk in them.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen. God approved of the men of old because of their faith. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the Word of God. The visible has been made out of things that were not visible. read more.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Through this he was commended as righteous. God testified about his gifts. Thus through faith he still speaks even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was moved (transferred) (removed) so that he would not see death. He was not found, because God had moved him away. Before he was moved away he saw that he had pleased God well. (Genesis 5:24) Without faith it is impossible to please God. He who comes to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not seen as yet, moved with godly respect. He prepared an ark to save his house. By his faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith. By faith, when Abraham was called, he obeyed. He went to a place that he was to receive for an inheritance. He went even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he became an alien in the Promised Land. It was not his land. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob. They were heirs with him of the same promise. He looked for the city having real foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah received strength to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who promised.


Why do the nations conspire together and rage? Why do the peoples plot in vain?



The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. read more.
He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are.

So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Paul had said this one thing: How well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors! He said, Go and say to this people, 'You will listen and listen, but not understand. You will look and look, but not see. These people have closed their mind and are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. They never turn to me for healing.' read more.
You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.

What shall we say? The nations did not pursue righteousness. Yet they have attained to righteousness, the righteousness that is based on the principle of faith. But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law. Why? It is because it was not based on the principle of faith, but on that of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling stone. read more.
It is written: Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence and he that believes on him will not be ashamed. (Isaiah 8:14)

I ask has God rejected his people? Certainly not! I also am an Israelite, a descendant of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he first knew. Do you remember what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he made intercession to God against Israel? Jehovah, they have killed your prophets, and torn down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life. (1 Kings 19:14, 18) read more.
What does God say in answer to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so at this present time there is a remnant chosen according to God's grace. If it is by grace then it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise grace is not grace (undeserved kindness). But if it is of works then it is not by grace. Otherwise works are no longer works. What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks. The chosen ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded (rendered stupid) (hardened) (made insensitive). It is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear to this very day. (Deuteronomy 29:4) David says, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always. (Psalm 69:23) I ask: Did they stumble and fall? Certainly not! But rather through their fall into sin salvation has come to the nations. This will provoke them to jealousy. Now if their fall into sin means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches of the nations how much more will their full number mean? I speak to you people of the nations. For I am the apostle to the nations and I glorify (honor) (praise) (celebrate) my ministry. If by any means I may provoke those who are of my flesh (fellow countrymen), and might save some of them. If their rejection means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the first piece is holy, the lump is also holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches. Some of the branches are broken off. You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. Therefore you partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree with them. Do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. They were broken off because of unbelief! You stand by faith! Do not be conceited but be reverent. God did not spare the natural branches and he will not spare you! Observe both God's kindness and severity. Severity is for those who fail to continue. But kindness is for you as long as you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you will be cut off. If they do not continue in unbelief they will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again. If you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a garden olive tree: how much more could these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in. In this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come out of Zion and will remove ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins. Concerning the good news, they are enemies for your sakes. With reference to the chosen ones, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. In times past you have not believed (did not obey) God. Yet you have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so these also do not believe now. Through the mercy shown they also may obtain mercy. For God has stopped all disobedience so he might show mercy to all.

Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. read more.
So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them. The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith. The Law is not based on faith. He that does them will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It is written; Cursed is everyone who is hung on a stake. This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.







In the last days the mountain of the house of Jehovah will be established as the highest of the mountains and exalted above the hills. All the nations will stream to it. Then many people will come and say: Let us go to the mountain of Jehovah, to the House of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways so that we may live by them. The law will go out from Zion. The word of Jehovah will go out from Jerusalem. Then he will judge disputes between nations and settle matters between many people. They will beat (hammer) their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not fight against each other, and they will not learn war anymore.


Arise O woman and shine! Your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah beams on you. Darkness now covers the earth! Thick darkness overwhelms the nations. But Jehovah shines for you. His glory appears to you. Nations will come to your light. Kings will come to the brightness of your illumination. read more.
Look up, look around, and watch. All of your people assemble and come to you. Your sons come from far away. Your daughters are carried in their arms. Then you will see this and rejoice. Your heart will shake with joy. The riches of the sea will be brought to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you. Many camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. Everyone from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and incense. They will sing the praises of Jehovah. All of the flocks from Kedar will gather and come to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be sacrificed as acceptable offerings on my altar. So I will honor my beautiful Temple. Who are these people that fly by like clouds and like doves to their nests?


I tell you there will be an account in the Judgment Day for every careless word that men say. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. read more.
So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them. The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith. The Law is not based on faith. He that does them will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It is written; Cursed is everyone who is hung on a stake. This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

We reason therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also. If God is one he will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith.

Are you willing to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is useless (barren) (lifeless)? Was Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith acted with his works, and works made faith perfect (complete). read more.
The scripture was fulfilled which says: Abraham believed Jehovah and it was reckoned (imputed) (considered) (credited) to him for righteousness. He was called Jehovah's friend (Genesis 15:6) ( Isaiah 41:8). You see that a man is justified (declared and pronounced righteous) by works, and not by faith alone. Rahab the harlot was justified by her works. When she received the messengers she sent them out another way.



Those who live through (in union with) (because of) Jesus Christ have no condemnation. [They do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.] The law of the Spirit gives us life through (with) (because of) Christ Jesus. It has set me free from the law of sin and death. God did what the Law could not do, because human nature was weak. He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering and do away with sin. So he condemned sin in sinful human nature. read more.
God did this so that the righteous requirements of the Law might be fully satisfied in us who live according to the Spirit, and not according to human nature.



God has fulfilled this promise to their children by resurrecting Jesus. Just as it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7) He raised him up from the dead, never to decay. It is stated in these words: I will give you the sure blessings promised David. (Isaiah 55:3) He said in another psalm: You will not allow your Holy One to see decay. (Ps 16:10) read more.
After David served his own generation by doing the will of God he died and was buried with his fathers. His body decayed. But he (Jesus), whom God raised again, saw no decay. You should know, men and brothers that it is through this man Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him all who believe are justified from all things. You could not be justified through the Law of Moses.

Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. read more.
So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them. The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith.

The Law is a shadow of the good things to come. It is not the actual things. The continual yearly sacrifices can never make those who worship perfect. If it could, it would cease to be offered. Once the worshipers were cleansed they would have no awareness of sin anymore. These sacrifices are an annual reminder of sin. read more.
It is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. When Christ came into the world he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but you have prepared a body for me. You have no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.' Then I said: 'I have come in the scroll of the book. It is written about me, to do your will, O God.' Then he said: You did not want nor did you approve of sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin; which are offered by the Law. He also said: I come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first in order to establish the second. We are sanctified by his will through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily, serving and offering time after time the same sacrifices. Yet they can never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting until his enemies are placed as a stool for his feet. With one offering he has perfected those who are sanctified forever. The Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after that he said:


Jehovah said to Abram: Leave your country, your people, and your father's household, and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you. I will curse whoever curses you. All the people on earth will be blessed through you.

Abraham will definitely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him.

The angel of Jehovah called to Abraham from heaven a second time. He said: I am taking an oath on my own name, declares Jehovah, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son, I will certainly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of their enemies' cities. read more.
All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants. This is because you obeyed my command.'

You will live there as a foreigner. I will be with you and bless you. I will keep my promise to your father Abraham by giving this land to you and your descendants. I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth.


Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed.



Abraham will definitely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him.





The apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. After much discussion Peter got up and said: Men and brothers you know that God made a choice among us, that I would preach the good news to the nations that they may hear and believe. God knows their hearts and showed that he accepted them by giving them Holy Spirit just as he did to us. read more.
He made no distinction between them and us and purified their hearts by faith. Why do you test God by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, one that our fathers were not able to bear? We believe we are saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, as they also are.

So they left, disagreeing among themselves, after Paul had said this one thing: How well the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Isaiah to your ancestors! He said, Go and say to this people, 'You will listen and listen, but not understand. You will look and look, but not see. These people have closed their mind and are hard of hearing. They have shut their eyes so that their eyes never see. Their ears never hear. Their minds never understand. They never turn to me for healing.' read more.
You need to know that God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. They will listen.

What shall we say? The nations did not pursue righteousness. Yet they have attained to righteousness, the righteousness that is based on the principle of faith. But Israel, pursuing after a law of righteousness, has not attained to that law. Why? It is because it was not based on the principle of faith, but on that of works. They have stumbled at the stumbling stone. read more.
It is written: Behold, I place in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence and he that believes on him will not be ashamed. (Isaiah 8:14)

I ask has God rejected his people? Certainly not! I also am an Israelite, a descendant of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he first knew. Do you remember what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he made intercession to God against Israel? Jehovah, they have killed your prophets, and torn down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life. (1 Kings 19:14, 18) read more.
What does God say in answer to him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so at this present time there is a remnant chosen according to God's grace. If it is by grace then it is no longer on the basis of works. Otherwise grace is not grace (undeserved kindness). But if it is of works then it is not by grace. Otherwise works are no longer works. What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks. The chosen ones have obtained it, and the rest were blinded (rendered stupid) (hardened) (made insensitive). It is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear to this very day. (Deuteronomy 29:4) David says, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always. (Psalm 69:23) I ask: Did they stumble and fall? Certainly not! But rather through their fall into sin salvation has come to the nations. This will provoke them to jealousy. Now if their fall into sin means riches to the world, and their decrease means riches of the nations how much more will their full number mean? I speak to you people of the nations. For I am the apostle to the nations and I glorify (honor) (praise) (celebrate) my ministry. If by any means I may provoke those who are of my flesh (fellow countrymen), and might save some of them. If their rejection means reconciliation for the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the first piece is holy, the lump is also holy. If the root is holy, so are the branches. Some of the branches are broken off. You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them. Therefore you partake of the root and fatness of the olive tree with them. Do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, you do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. They were broken off because of unbelief! You stand by faith! Do not be conceited but be reverent. God did not spare the natural branches and he will not spare you! Observe both God's kindness and severity. Severity is for those who fail to continue. But kindness is for you as long as you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you will be cut off. If they do not continue in unbelief they will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again. If you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a garden olive tree: how much more could these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? I do not want you to be ignorant of this secret, lest you should be wise in your own conceits (estimation). Blindness has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the nations comes in. In this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come out of Zion and will remove ungodliness from Jacob. For this is my covenant with them, when I shall take away their sins. Concerning the good news, they are enemies for your sakes. With reference to the chosen ones, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. In times past you have not believed (did not obey) God. Yet you have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so these also do not believe now. Through the mercy shown they also may obtain mercy. For God has stopped all disobedience so he might show mercy to all.

Abraham believed God and Jehovah considered his faith as his righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) You know that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. The Scripture revealed ahead of time, that God justified the people of the nations by faith. He preached the good news beforehand to Abraham. He said: In you will all the nations be blessed. read more.
So then those who have faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. Those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, by obeying them. The fact that the Law justifies no man before God is evident. The righteous will live by faith. The Law is not based on faith. He that does them will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It is written; Cursed is everyone who is hung on a stake. This way the blessing of Abraham might come upon the nations through Christ Jesus and we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.