Rm4:18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead--since he was about a hundred years old--and that Sarah's womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness--for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. - NIV
Rm15:8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised
[Jews] to
show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the
patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his
mercy. As it is written,
"Therefore I will praise you
among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name." (2Sam22:50;
Psa18:49)
10And again it is said,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles,
with his people." (Deu32:43)
11And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you
Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him." (Psa117:1)
12And again Isaiah says,
"The root of Jesse
will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles [nations];
in him will the Gentiles hope." (Isa11:10)
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing [as you trust in him],
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - ESV
1Jhn2:23No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses
[acknowledges] the Son has the Father also. 24Let
[see that] what you heard from the beginning abide [remain(s)] in you. If what
you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son
and in the Father. 25And this is the
promise that he made to us [what he promised us] --eternal life. - ESV
2Pet1:2Grace and peace be yours in
abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3His
divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our
knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through
these he has given us his very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the
corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5For this very reason, make
every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and
to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For
if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from
being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But
if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten
that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10Therefore, my brothers, be
all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these
things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive
a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- NIV
2Pet3:3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by
water.
6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8But
do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord
a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The
Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He
is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to
repentance. 10But
the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a
roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it
will be laid bare. - NIV
2Pet3:11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its
coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - NIV
Challenge: True Life