by whom we have been introduced through faith to the favor of God that we now enjoy, and let us glory in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

It was in this hope that we were saved. But a hope that can be seen is not a hope, for who hopes for what he sees?

Be happy in your hope, steadfast in time of trouble, persistent in prayer.

So faith, hope, and love endure. These are the great three, and the greatest of them is love.

enlightening the eyes of your mind so that you may know what the hope is to which he calls you, and how gloriously rich his inheritance is among God's people,

At that time you had no connection with Christ, you were aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the agreements about God's promise; with no hope and no God in all the world.

There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope that belongs to the summons you received.

to whom God has chosen to make known among the heathen how glorious this mystery of Christ in you, the promise of glorification, really is.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by order of God our Savior and of Jesus Christ our hope,

while we wait for the fulfilment of our blessed hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus.

Let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we profess, for he who has given us his promise may be trusted.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has caused us to be born anew to a life of hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead,

but reverence Christ in your hearts as Lord, and always be ready to make your defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that you have. But do so gently and respectfully,

And everyone who possesses this hope in him tries to make himself as pure as he is.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!

Your kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven!

But you must make his kingdom, and uprightness before him, your greatest care, and you will have all these other things besides.

Another figure which he used with them was this: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and buried in a bushel of flour until it had all risen."

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will lament when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, in all his power and splendor.

but those who are thought worthy to attain that other world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are married.

Do not be surprised at this, for the time is coming when all who are in their graves will listen to his voice,

My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow me,

If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and wherever I am found, my servant must be also. If anyone serves me, my Father will show him honor.

There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I would have told you, for I am going away to make ready a place for you.

There are many rooms in my Father's house; if there were not, I would have told you, for I am going away to make ready a place for you.

just as you have done in giving him power over all mankind, so that he may give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Father, I wish to have those whom you have given me with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me, for you loved me before the creation of the world.

and said to them, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into the sky? This very Jesus who has been caught up from you into heaven will come in just the way that you have seen him go up to heaven."

"Men of Israel, listen to what I say. Jesus of Nazareth, as you know, was a man whom God commended to you by the wonders, portents, and signs that God did right among you through him. But you, by the fixed purpose and intention of God, handed him over to wicked men, and had him crucified. read more. But God set aside the pain of death and raised him up, for death could not control him. For David says of him, 'I constantly regarded the Lord before me, For he is at my right hand, so that I may not be displaced. Therefore my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices, And my body will still live in hope. For you will not desert my soul in death, You will not let your Holy One be destroyed. You have made the ways of life known to me, And you will fill me with joy in your presence.' "Brothers, one may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his grave is here among us to this very day. But as he was a prophet, and knew that God had promised him with an oath that he would put one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw the resurrection of the Christ and told of it, for he was not deserted in death and his body was not destroyed. He is Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, and to whose resurrection we are all witnesses. So he has been exalted to God's right hand, and has received from his Father and poured over us the holy Spirit that had been promised, as you see and hear. "For David did not go up to heaven, but he said, 'The Lord said to my lord, Sit at my right hand, Until I make your enemies your footstool.' "Therefore the whole nation of Israel must understand that God has declared this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ."

it was in this way that God fulfilled what he by all the prophets foretold that his Christ must suffer. So repent and turn to God, to have your sins wiped out, and happier times will come from the presence of the Lord, read more. and he will send Jesus, your destined Christ. Yet he must remain in heaven till the time for the universal reformation of which God told in ancient times by the lips of his holy prophets.

So we now bring you the good news

since he has fixed a day on which he will justly judge the world through a man whom he has appointed, and whom he has guaranteed to all men by raising him from the dead."

Knowing that part of them were Sadducees and part of them Pharisees, Paul called out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, and the son of Pharisees! It is for my hope for the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial!"

Even now it is for my hope in the promise that God made to our forefathers that I stand here on trial,

To this day I have had God's help and I stand here to testify to high and low alike, without adding a thing to what Moses and the prophets declared would happen,

That is why I asked to see you and speak with you, for it is on account of Israel's hope that I have to wear this chain."

and decisively declared Son of God in his holiness of spirit, by being raised from the dead??esus Christ our Lord,

So as we have been made upright by faith, let us live in peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have been introduced through faith to the favor of God that we now enjoy, and let us glory in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

by whom we have been introduced through faith to the favor of God that we now enjoy, and let us glory in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

by whom we have been introduced through faith to the favor of God that we now enjoy, and let us glory in our hope of sharing the glory of God. More than that, we ought to glory in our troubles, for we know that trouble produces endurance,

More than that, we ought to glory in our troubles, for we know that trouble produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope,

and endurance, character, and character, hope, and hope will not disappoint us. For, through the holy Spirit that has been given us, God's love has flooded our hearts.

and hope will not disappoint us. For, through the holy Spirit that has been given us, God's love has flooded our hearts.

The Spirit itself testifies with our spirits that we are God's children, and if children, heirs also; heirs of God, and fellow-heirs with Christ, if we really share his sufferings in order to share his glory too. read more. For I consider what we suffer now not to be compared with the glory that is to burst upon us. For creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be disclosed.

For creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be disclosed.

For creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be disclosed. For it was not the fault of creation that it was frustrated; it was by the will of him who condemned it to that, and in the hope

For it was not the fault of creation that it was frustrated; it was by the will of him who condemned it to that, and in the hope that creation itself would be set free from its bondage to decay, and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.

that creation itself would be set free from its bondage to decay, and have the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation has been groaning in agony together until now.

We know that all creation has been groaning in agony together until now. More than that, we ourselves, though we have in the Spirit a foretaste of the future, groan to ourselves as we wait to be declared God's sons, through the redemption of our bodies.

More than that, we ourselves, though we have in the Spirit a foretaste of the future, groan to ourselves as we wait to be declared God's sons, through the redemption of our bodies. It was in this hope that we were saved. But a hope that can be seen is not a hope, for who hopes for what he sees?

It was in this hope that we were saved. But a hope that can be seen is not a hope, for who hopes for what he sees? But when we hope for something that we do not see, we wait persistently for it.

But when we hope for something that we do not see, we wait persistently for it.

But when we hope for something that we do not see, we wait persistently for it.

May God, the source of hope, fill you with perfect happiness and peace in your faith, so that you may have overflowing hope through the power of the holy Spirit.

May God, the source of hope, fill you with perfect happiness and peace in your faith, so that you may have overflowing hope through the power of the holy Spirit.

May God, the source of hope, fill you with perfect happiness and peace in your faith, so that you may have overflowing hope through the power of the holy Spirit.

and there is no gift that you lack even while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to reappear,

So faith, hope, and love endure. These are the great three, and the greatest of them is love.

So faith, hope, and love endure. These are the great three, and the greatest of them is love.

After that will come the end, when he will turn over the kingdom to God his Father, bringing to an end all other government, authority, and power, for he must retain the kingdom until he puts all his enemies under his feet. read more. The last enemy to be overthrown will be death, for everything is to be reduced to subjection and put under Christ's feet. But when it says that everything is subject to him, he is evidently excepted who reduced it all to subjection to him. And when everything is reduced to subjection to him, then the Son himself will also become subject to him who has reduced everything to subjection to him, so that God may be everything to everyone.

But someone will say, "How can the dead rise? What kind of a body will they have when they come back?"

But I can tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot share in the Kingdom of God, and decay will not share in what is imperishable.

And when this mortal nature puts on immortality, then what the Scripture says will come true??Death has been triumphantly destroyed.

A curse upon anyone who has no love for the Lord. Lord, come quickly!

My hopes for you are unshaken. For I know that just as surely as you share my sufferings, just so surely you will share my comfort. For I do not want you, brothers, to misunderstand the distress that I experienced in Asia, for I was so utterly and unendurably crushed, that I actually despaired of life itself. read more. Why, I felt in my heart that the end must be death. That was to keep me from relying on myself instead of on God, who can even raise the dead. So deadly was the peril from which he saved me, as he will save me again! It is on him that I have set my hope that he will save me again.

for to all the promises of God he supplies the "Yes" that confirms them. That is why we utter the "Amen" through him, when we give glory to God.

For I know that if this earthly tent that I live in is taken down, God will provide me a building in heaven to live in, not built by human hands but eternal.

But we, by the Spirit, through faith wait for the uprightness we hope for.

But we, by the Spirit, through faith wait for the uprightness we hope for.

But we, by the Spirit, through faith wait for the uprightness we hope for.

You also have heard the message of the truth, the good news of your salvation, and believed in him, and through union with him you have been marked with the seal of the holy Spirit that was promised,

enlightening the eyes of your mind so that you may know what the hope is to which he calls you, and how gloriously rich his inheritance is among God's people, and how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe; like the mighty strength read more. he exerted in raising Christ from the dead, and seating him at his right hand in heaven, far above all hierarchies, authorities, powers, and dominions, and all titles that can be bestowed not only in this world but in the world to come. He has put everything under his feet and made him the indisputable head of the church, which is his body, filled by him who fills everything everywhere.

At that time you had no connection with Christ, you were aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the agreements about God's promise; with no hope and no God in all the world.

So I, the prisoner for the Lord's sake, appeal to you to live lives worthy of the summons you have received; with perfect humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another lovingly. read more. Make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the tie of peace. There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope that belongs to the summons you received.

There is but one body and one Spirit, just as there is but one hope that belongs to the summons you received.

in order to bring the church to himself in all her beauty, without a flaw or a wrinkle or anything of the kind, but to be consecrated and faultless.

for I eagerly and confidently hope that I shall never disgrace myself but that this time as always hitherto, living or dying, I shall do Christ credit by my unfailing courage.

for I eagerly and confidently hope that I shall never disgrace myself but that this time as always hitherto, living or dying, I shall do Christ credit by my unfailing courage.

That is why God has so greatly exalted him, and given him the name above all others,

offering men the message of life. Then I will have reason to boast of you on the Day of Christ, because my exertion and labor have not been wasted.

He will make our poor bodies over to resemble his glorious body, by exerting the power he has to subject everything to himself.

and for the hope of what is stored up for you in heaven. You first heard of it long ago when the true message of the gospel

and for the hope of what is stored up for you in heaven. You first heard of it long ago when the true message of the gospel

and really came to know it, in the form in which Epaphras, my dear fellow-slave, taught it to you. He is my faithful representative as a servant of Christ,

He is the head of the church, it is his body; for he is the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead??hat he might come to stand first in everything.

to whom God has chosen to make known among the heathen how glorious this mystery of Christ in you, the promise of glorification, really is. And in spreading the news of him, we warn everyone and teach everyone all our wisdom, in order to bring everyone to Christian perfection.

If, then, you have been raised to life with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are where Christ is, above, seated at God's right hand. Fix your thoughts on the things that are above, not on those that are on earth. read more. For you have died, and your life now lies hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our true life, shall make his appearance, then you also will appear glorified with him.

When Christ, who is our true life, shall make his appearance, then you also will appear glorified with him.

I can testify how anxious he is about you and the brothers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

for we can never forget before our God and Father your energetic faith, your loving service, and your unwavering expectation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For when people speak of us, they tell what a welcome you gave us, and how you turned from idols to God, to serve a true and living God,

We do not want you to be under any misapprehension, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then by means of Jesus God will bring back with him those who have fallen asleep. read more. For we can assure you, on the Lord's own authority, that those of us who will still be living when the Lord comes will have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, at the summons, when the archangel calls and God's trumpet sounds, will come down from heaven, and first those who died in union with Christ will rise;

For the Lord himself, at the summons, when the archangel calls and God's trumpet sounds, will come down from heaven, and first those who died in union with Christ will rise; then those of us who are still living will be caught up with them on clouds into the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. read more. Therefore, encourage one another with this truth.

We always have to thank God for you, brothers, as it is right that we should, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by order of God our Savior and of Jesus Christ our hope,

in the hope of eternal life, which God who never lies promised ages ago,

while we wait for the fulfilment of our blessed hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus.

while we wait for the fulfilment of our blessed hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus.

For when God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to make oath by, he did so by himself, and said, "I will certainly bless you richly, and greatly increase your numbers." read more. And so after waiting patiently, he received what God had promised him. For men make oath by something greater than themselves, and they accept an oath as settling finally any disagreement they may have. Therefore, God in his desire to make it perfectly clear to those to whom he made his promise, that his purpose was unalterable, bound himself with an oath, so that by these two unalterable things, which make it impossible for God to break his promise, we who have taken refuge with him may be greatly encouraged to seize upon the hope that is offered to us.

so that by these two unalterable things, which make it impossible for God to break his promise, we who have taken refuge with him may be greatly encouraged to seize upon the hope that is offered to us.

so that by these two unalterable things, which make it impossible for God to break his promise, we who have taken refuge with him may be greatly encouraged to seize upon the hope that is offered to us.

where Jesus has gone ahead of us, and become forever a high priest of the priesthood of Melchizedek.

from that time waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool.

let us draw near to God in sincerity of heart and with perfect faith, with our hearts cleansed from the sense of sin, and our bodies washed with clean water.

But you must remember those early days when after you had received the light you had to go through a great struggle with persecution, sometimes being actually exposed as a public spectacle to insults and violence, and sometimes showing yourselves ready to share the lot of those in that condition. read more. For you showed sympathy with those who were in prison, and you put up with it cheerfully when your property was taken from you, for you knew that you had in yourselves a greater possession that was lasting. You must not lose your courage, for it will be richly rewarded, but you will need endurance if you are to carry out God's will and receive the blessing he has promised.

All these people lived all their lives in faith, and died without receiving what had been promised; they only saw it far ahead and welcomed the sight of it, recognizing that they themselves were only foreigners and strangers here on earth. For men who recognize that show that they are in search of a country of their own. read more. And if it had been the country from which they had come to which their thoughts turned back, they would have found an opportunity to return to it. But, as it is, their aspirations are for a better, a heavenly country! That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city to receive them.

Women had their dead restored to them by resurrection. Others endured torture, and refused to accept release, that they might rise again to the better life.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has caused us to be born anew to a life of hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead,

So we have the message of the prophets more fully guaranteed. Please pay attention to that message as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Dear friends, we are God's children now; it has not yet been disclosed what we are to be. We know that if he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. But he laid his right hand upon me, and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last,

Then one of the elders addressed me and said, "Who are these people dressed in white robes, and where do they come from?" I said to him, "You know, my lord." He said to me, "They are the people who come through the great persecution, who have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.

I said to him, "You know, my lord." He said to me, "They are the people who come through the great persecution, who have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. That is why they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who is seated on the throne will shelter them.

That is why they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again, and never again will the sun or any burning heat distress them,

They will never be hungry or thirsty again, and never again will the sun or any burning heat distress them, for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

for the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and loud voices were heard in heaven, saying, "The sovereignty of the world has passed into the possession of our Lord and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders who were seated on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, read more. saying, "We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty, who are and were, because you have assumed your great power and begun to reign. The heathen were enraged, but now your anger has come, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your slaves the prophets and your people high and low who revere your name, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth!"

They will make war upon the Lamb, and the Lamb with his elect, chosen, and faithful followers with him will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings.

She has been permitted to wear clean, glistening linen, for linen represents the upright deeds of God's people." Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are they who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' These," he said to me, "are the true words of God."

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. And I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, come down out of heaven from God, like a bride dressed and ready to meet her husband. read more. I heard a loud voice from the throne say, "See! God's dwelling is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them, and he will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no death any longer, nor any grief or crying or pain. The old order has passed away." Then he who sat upon the throne said, "See! I am making everything new! Write this," he said, "for these words are trustworthy and true. It is all over!" he told me, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give anyone who is thirsty water without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who is victorious will possess all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so as to have the right to approach the tree of life and to enter the gates of the city.

It was in this hope that we were saved. But a hope that can be seen is not a hope, for who hopes for what he sees? But when we hope for something that we do not see, we wait persistently for it.

to whom God has chosen to make known among the heathen how glorious this mystery of Christ in you, the promise of glorification, really is.

We do not want you to be under any misapprehension, brothers, about those who are falling asleep. You must not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then by means of Jesus God will bring back with him those who have fallen asleep. read more. For we can assure you, on the Lord's own authority, that those of us who will still be living when the Lord comes will have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, at the summons, when the archangel calls and God's trumpet sounds, will come down from heaven, and first those who died in union with Christ will rise; then those of us who are still living will be caught up with them on clouds into the air to meet the Lord, and so we shall be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage one another with this truth.

Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to arouse faith in those whom God has chosen, and the comprehension of religious truth,

so that by these two unalterable things, which make it impossible for God to break his promise, we who have taken refuge with him may be greatly encouraged to seize upon the hope that is offered to us. This hope is like an anchor for our souls. It reaches up secure and strong into the sanctuary behind the heavenly curtain,