and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God’s judgment?

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed!

So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.

For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate.

For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?

And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.

For I could wish that I myself were accursed – cut off from Christ – for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,

who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.

To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened,

Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind.