For he is the servant of God to you for good. But if you do evil, have fear; for the sword is not in his hand for nothing: he is God's servant, making God's punishment come on the evil-doer.

Or is it nothing to you that God had pity on you, waiting and putting up with you for so long, not seeing that in his pity God's desire is to give you a change of heart?

Because, not having knowledge of God's righteousness, and desiring to give effect to their righteousness, they have not put themselves under the righteousness of God.

But you who are judging another for doing what you do yourself, are you hoping that God's decision will not take effect against you?

But by your hard and unchanged heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of the revelation of God's judging in righteousness;

For God's word, that the earth would be his heritage, was given to Abraham, not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

That is, it is not the children of the flesh, but the children of God's undertaking, who are named as the seed.

For this is the word of God's undertaking, At this time will I come, and Sarah will have a son.

Before the children had come into existence, or had done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose and his selection might be effected, not by works, but by him whose purpose it is,

Because God's selection and his mercies may not be changed.