They were only hearing, &#8220;The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news<n id="1" /> of the faith he once tried to destroy.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">For freedom<n id="1" /> Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke<n id="2" /> of slavery.

He did this by predestining<n id="1" /> us to adoption as his<n id="2" /> sons<n id="3" /> through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure<n id="4" /> of his will &#8211;

<p class="bodytext">But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,

even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ &#8211; by grace you are saved!<n id="1" /> &#8211;

<p class="bodytext">Be imitators of me,<n id="1" /> brothers and sisters,<n id="2" /> and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example.

For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again)<n id="1" /> but Satan thwarted us.

For God did not destine us for wrath<n id="1" /> but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.<n id="1" />

So we can say with confidence, &#8220;<i><b>The Lord is my helperb>, <b>andb>i><n id="1" /> <i><b>I will not be afraidb>. <b>What can man do to me?b>i>&#8221;<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">I wrote something to the church,<n id="1" /> but Diotrephes,<n id="2" /> who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.<n id="3" />

They<n id="1" /> cried out, &#8220;Son of God, leave us alone!<n id="2" /> Have you come here to torment us before the time?&#8221;<n id="3" />

Two<n id="1" /> blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Have mercy<n id="3" /> on us, Lord, Son of David!&#8221;<n id="4" />

The<n id="1" /> crowd scolded<n id="2" /> them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, &#8220;Lord, have mercy on us,<n id="3" /> Son of David!&#8221;

&#8220;Leave us alone,<n id="1" /> Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are &#8211; the Holy One<n id="2" /> of God!&#8221;

It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.&#8221;

&#8220;Ha! Leave us alone,<n id="1" /> Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are &#8211; the Holy One<n id="2" /> of God.&#8221;

<p class="poetry">and forgive us our sins,p> <p class="poetry">for we also forgive everyone who sins<n id="1" /> against us.p> <p class="poetry">And do not lead us into temptation.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

But his citizens<n id="1" /> hated<n id="2" /> him and sent a delegation after him, saying, &#8216;We do not want this man<n id="3" /> to be king<n id="4" /> over us!&#8217;

But if we say, &#8216;From people,&#8217; all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.&#8221;