and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

Now we know that God's judgment against those who act like this is based on truth.

nor did he doubt God's promise out of a lack of faith. Instead, his faith became stronger and he gave glory to God,

But God's free gift is not like Adam's offense. For if many people died as the result of one man's offense, how much more have God's grace and the free gift given through the kindness of one man, Jesus the Messiah, been showered on many people!

For if we have become united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

On the contrary, who are you mere man that you are to talk back to God? Can an object that was molded say to the one who molded it, "Why did you make me like this?"

It is just as Isaiah predicted: "If the Lord of the Heavenly Armies had not left us some descendants, we would have become like Sodom and would have been compared to Gomorrah."

As it is written, "Look! I am placing a stone in Zion over which people will stumble a large rock that will make them fall and the one who believes in him will never be ashamed."

For the authorities are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities? Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval.