Never! Let God be true to his word, though every man be perfidious ??as it is written, That thou mayest be vindicated in thy pleadings, and triumph in thy trial.

Never! In that case, how could he judge the world?

His faith never quailed, even when he noted the utter impotence of his own body (for he was about a hundred years old) or the impotence of Sara's womb;

endurance produces character, and character produces hope ??5 a hope which never disappoints us, since God's love floods our hearts through the holy Spirit which has been given to us.

Sin was indeed in the world before the Law, but sin is never counted in the absence of law.

Never! How can we live in sin any longer, when we died to sin?

for we know that Christ never dies after his resurrection from the dead ??death has no more hold over him;

What follows, then? Are we 'to sin, because we live under grace, not under law'? Never!

What follows, then? That 'the Law is equivalent to sin'? Never! Why, had it not been for the Law, I would never have known what sin meant! Thus I would never have known what it is to covet, unless the Law had said, You must not covet.

Then did what was meant for my good prove fatal to me? Never! It was sin; sin resulted in death for me by making use of this good thing. This was how sin was to be revealed in its true nature; it was to use the command to become sinful in the extreme.

Then are we to infer that there is injustice in God? Never!

What are we to conclude, then? That Gentiles who never aimed at righteousness have attained righteousness, that is, righteousness by faith;

And why? Simply because Israel has relied not on faith but on what they could do. They have stumbled over the stone that makes men stumble ??33 as it is written, Here I lay a stone in Sion that will make men stumble, even a rock to trip them up; but he who believes in Him will never be disappointed.

But how are they to invoke One in whom they do not believe? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how are they ever to hear, without a preacher?

But, I ask, "Have they never heard?" Indeed they have. Their voice carried over all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

And then Isaiah dares to say, I have been found by those who never sought me, I have shown myself to those who never inquired of me.

Then, I ask, has God repudiated his People? Never! Why, I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin!

Now I ask, have they stumbled to their ruin? Never! The truth is, that by their lapse salvation has passed to the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous.

For God never goes back upon his gifts and call.

never let your zeal flag; maintain the spiritual glow; serve the Lord;

Keep in harmony with one another; instead of being ambitious, associate with humble folk; never be self-conceited.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone; aim to be above reproach in the eyes of all;

Never revenge yourselves, beloved, but let the Wrath of God have its way; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will exact a requital ??the Lord has said it. No,

Love never wrongs a neighbour; that is why love is the fulfilment of the law.

No, put on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, and never think how to gratify the cravings of the flesh.

So let us stop criticizing one another; rather make up your mind never to put any stumbling-block or hindrance in your brother's way.

but that (as it is written) They should see who never had learned about him, and they who had never heard of him should understand.