For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,
If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first,
God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.