Holy Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
Book of Romans
Chapter 8  -  Read Chapter
8:26 - [In Context] Also, the Spirit F68 helps us. We are very weak, but the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We don't know how to pray like we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. The Spirit begs God for us. The Spirit speaks to God with deep feelings that words cannot explain.
8:27 - [In Context] God can see what is in people's hearts. And God knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way that God wants.
8:28 - [In Context] We know that in everything God works for the good of those people that love him. These are the people God called (chose), because that was his plan.
8:29 - [In Context] God knew those people before he made the world. And God decided that those people would be like his Son (Jesus). Then Jesus would be the firstborn F69 of many brothers and sisters.
8:30 - [In Context] God planned for those people to be like his Son. And he called (chose) those people. God called those people and made them right with him. And God gave his glory to those people that he made right.
8:31 - [In Context] So what should we say about this? If God is for us, then no person can stand against us. And God is with us.
8:32 - [In Context] He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for us all. So with Jesus now, God will surely give us all things.
8:33 - [In Context] Who can accuse the people that God has chosen? No one! God is the One who makes his people right.
8:34 - [In Context] Who can say that God's people are guilty? No one! Christ Jesus died {for us}, but that is not all. He was also raised from death. And now he is at God's right side and is begging God for us.
8:35 - [In Context] Can anything separate us from Christ's love? No! Can trouble separate us from Christ's love? No! Can problems or persecution F70 separate us from Christ's love? No! If we have no food or clothes, will that separate us from Christ's love? No! Will danger or even death separate us from Christ's love? No!
8:36 - [In Context] Like it is written in the Scriptures F71 : "For you (Christ) we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed." R9
8:37 - [In Context] But in all these things we have full victory through God who showed his love for us.
8:38 - [In Context]
8:39 - [In Context] Yes, I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not death, not life, not angels or ruling spirits. I am sure that nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us or nothing below us--nothing in the whole created world--will ever be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Chapter 9  -  Read Chapter
9:1 - [In Context] I am in Christ and I am telling you the truth. I don't lie. My deepest feelings are ruled by the Holy Spirit. F72 And those feelings tell me that I am not lying:
9:2 - [In Context] I have great sorrow and always feel much sadness {for the Jewish people}.
9:3 - [In Context] They are my brothers and sisters, my earthly family. I wish I could help them. I would even have a curse on me and cut myself off from Christ if that would help them.
9:4 - [In Context] They are the people of Israel. F73 Those people (the Jews) are God's chosen children. Those people have the glory of God and the agreements that God made between himself and his people. God gave them the law {of Moses} and the {temple} worship. And God gave his promises to those people (the Jews).
9:5 - [In Context] Those people are the descendants F74 of our great fathers. F75 And they are the earthly family of Christ. Christ is God over all things. Praise him forever! F76 Amen.
9:6 - [In Context] {Yes, I feel sorry for the Jewish people.} I don't mean that God failed to keep his promise to them. But only some of the people of Israel (the Jews) are truly God's people. F77
9:7 - [In Context] And only some of Abraham's F78 descendants F79 are true children of Abraham (God's people). {This is what God said to Abraham:} "Isaac will be your only legal son." F80
9:8 - [In Context] This means that not all of Abraham's descendants are God's true children. Abraham's true children are those people that become God's children because of the promise God made to Abraham.
9:9 - [In Context] God's promise to Abraham was like this: "At the right time I will come back, and Sarah will have a son." F81
9:10 - [In Context] And that is not all. Rebecca also had sons. And those sons had the same father. He is our father F82 Isaac.
9:11 - [In Context]
9:12 - [In Context] But before the two sons were born, God told Rebecca, "The older son will serve the younger." F83 This was before the boys had done anything good or bad. God said this before they were born so that the boy God chose would be chosen because of God's own plan. He was chosen because he was the one God wanted to call, not because of anything the boys did.
9:13 - [In Context] Like the Scripture F84 says, "I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau." F85
9:14 - [In Context] So what should we say about this? Is God not fair? We cannot say that.
9:15 - [In Context] God said to Moses, "I will show mercy to the person that I want to show mercy to. I will show pity to the person that I want to show pity to." F86
9:16 - [In Context] So God will choose the person he decides to show mercy to. And his choice does not depend on what people want or try to do.
9:17 - [In Context] In the Scripture F87 God says to Pharaoh F88 : "I made you king so you could do this for me. I wanted to show my power in you. I wanted my name to be announced in all the world." F89
9:18 - [In Context] So God shows mercy to the people he wants to show mercy to. And God makes the people stubborn that he wants to make stubborn.
9:19 - [In Context] So one of you will ask me: "If God controls the things we do, then why does God blame us {for our sins}?"
9:20 - [In Context] {Don't ask that.} You are only people. And people have no right to question God. A clay jar does not question the man that made it. The jar does not say, "Why did you make me like this?"
9:21 - [In Context] The man that makes the jar can make anything he wants to make. He can use the same clay to make different things. He can make one thing for special purposes and another thing for daily use.
9:22 - [In Context] It is the same way with what God has done. God wanted to show his anger and to let people see his power. But God endured patiently those people he was angry with--people that were ready to be destroyed.
9:23 - [In Context] God waited with patience so that he could make known his rich glory. God wanted to give that glory to the people that receive his mercy. God has prepared these people to have his glory.
9:24 - [In Context] We are those people. We are the people God called (chose). God called us from the Jews and from the non-Jews.
9:25 - [In Context] Like the Scripture F90 says in {the book of} Hosea: "The people that are not mine-- I will say that they are my people. And the people that I did not love-- I will say that they are the people I love." R10
9:26 - [In Context] "And in the same place that God said, 'You are not my people'-- in that place they will be called sons of the living God." R11
9:27 - [In Context] And Isaiah cries out about Israel F91 : "There are so many people of Israel that they are like the grains of sand by the sea. But only a few of those people will be saved.
9:28 - [In Context] Yes, the Lord will quickly finish judging the people on the earth." F92
9:29 - [In Context] It is like Isaiah said: "The Lord has all power. The Lord saved some of his people for us. If he had not done that, then we would now be like Sodom, F93 and we would now be like Gomorrah. F94 " F95
9:30 - [In Context] So what does all this mean? It means this: That the non-Jews were not trying to make themselves right with God. But they were made right with God. They became right because of their faith.
9:31 - [In Context] And the people of Israel F96 tried to follow a law to make themselves right with God. But they did not succeed.
9:32 - [In Context] Why not? Because they tried to make themselves right by the things they did. They did not trust in God to make them right. They fell over the stone that makes people fall.
9:33 - [In Context] The Scripture F97 talks about that stone: "Look, I put in Zion F98 a stone that will make people stumble. It is a rock that will make people fall. But any person that trusts in that rock will never be disappointed." R12
Chapter 10  -  Read Chapter
10:1 - [In Context] Brothers and sisters, the thing I want most is for all the Jews to be saved. That is my prayer to God.
10:2 - [In Context] I can say this about the Jews: They really try to follow God. But they don't know the right way.
10:3 - [In Context] They did not know the way that God makes people right with him. And they tried to make themselves right in their own way. So they did not accept God's way of making people right.
10:4 - [In Context] Christ ended the law so that every person that believes in him is made right with God.
10:5 - [In Context] Moses writes about being made right by following the law. Moses says, "A person that wants to find life by following these things (the law) must do the things the law says." F99
10:6 - [In Context] But this is what the Scripture F100 says about being made right through faith: "Don't say to yourself, 'Who will go up into heaven?'" F101 (That means, "Who will go up to heaven to get Christ and bring him down to earth?")
10:7 - [In Context] "And don't say, 'Who will go down into the world below?'" F102 (That means, "Who will go down to get Christ and bring him up from death?")
10:8 - [In Context] This is what the Scripture says: "God's teaching is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart." F103 That teaching is the teaching of faith that we tell people.
10:9 - [In Context] If you openly say, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from death, then you will be saved.
10:10 - [In Context] Yes, we believe with our heart, and so we are made right with God. And we use our mouth to say that we believe, and so we are saved.
10:11 - [In Context] Yes, the Scripture F104 says, "Any person that trusts in him (Christ) will never be disappointed." F105
10:12 - [In Context] That Scripture says "any person" because there is no difference between Jew and non-Jew. The same Lord is the Lord of all people. The Lord gives many blessings to all people that trust in him.
10:13 - [In Context] Yes, {the Scripture says,} "Every person that trusts in the Lord will be saved." F106
10:14 - [In Context] But before people can trust in the Lord for help, they must believe in him. And before people can believe in the Lord, they must hear about him. And for people to hear about the Lord, another person must tell them.
10:15 - [In Context] And before a person can go and tell them, that person must be sent. Like the Scriptures F107 say, "Beautiful are the feet of those people that come to tell good news." F108
10:16 - [In Context] But not all {the Jews} accepted that good news. Isaiah said, "Lord, who believed the things we told them?" F109
10:17 - [In Context] So faith comes from hearing {the Good News F110 }. And people hear {the Good News} when a person tells them about Christ.
10:18 - [In Context] But I ask, "Did people not hear {the Good News}?" Yes, they heard--{like the Scripture F111 says}: "Their voices went out all around the world. Their words went everywhere in the world." R13
10:19 - [In Context] Again I ask, "Did the people of Israel F112 not understand?" Yes, they did understand. First, Moses says this {for God}: "I will use a people that is not really a nation to make you jealous. I will use a nation that does not understand to make you angry." R14
10:20 - [In Context] Then Isaiah is bold enough to say this {for God}: "The people that were not looking for me-- those people found me. I showed myself to people that did not ask for me." R15
10:21 - [In Context] {God said this through Isaiah about the non-Jewish people.} But about the Jewish people God says, "All day long I have waited for those people, but they refuse to obey and refuse to follow me." F113
Chapter 11  -  Read Chapter
11:1 - [In Context] So I ask, "Did God throw out his people?" No! I myself am an Israelite (Jew). I am from the family of Abraham, F114 from the family group of Benjamin.
11:2 - [In Context] God chose the Israelites to be his people before {they were born}. And God did not throw out those people. Surely you know what the Scripture F115 says about Elijah. F116 The Scripture tells about Elijah praying to God against the people of Israel. Elijah said,
11:3 - [In Context] "Lord, the people have killed your prophets F117 and destroyed your altars. F118 I am the only prophet still living. And the people are trying to kill me now." F119
11:4 - [In Context] But what answer did God give Elijah? God said, "I have kept for myself 7,000 men that still worship me. These 7,000 men have not given worship to Baal. F120 " F121
11:5 - [In Context] It is the same now. There are a few people that God has chosen by his grace (kindness).
11:6 - [In Context] And if God chose his people by grace, then it is not the things they have done that made them God's people. If they could be made God's people by the things they did, then God's gift of grace would not really be a gift.
11:7 - [In Context] So this is what has happened: The people of Israel (the Jews) tried {to be right with God}. But they did not succeed. But the people God chose did {become right with him}. The other people became hard and refused to listen to God.
11:8 - [In Context] Like it is written {in the Scriptures F122 }: "God caused the people to fall asleep." R16 "God closed their eyes so that they could not see {the truth}, and God closed their ears so that they could not hear {the truth}. This continues until now." R17
11:9 - [In Context] And David says: "Let those people be caught and trapped at their own feasts. Let those people fall and be punished.
11:10 - [In Context] Let their eyes be closed so they cannot see {the truth}. And let them be troubled forever." R18
11:11 - [In Context] So I ask: When the Jews fell, did that fall destroy them? No! But their mistake brought salvation to the non-Jews. This happened to make the Jews jealous.
11:12 - [In Context] The Jews' mistake brought rich blessings for the world. And what the Jews lost brought rich blessings for the non-Jewish people. So surely the world will get much richer blessings when enough Jews become the kind of people God wants.
11:13 - [In Context] Now I am speaking to you people that are not Jews. I am an apostle F123 to the non-Jews. So while I have that work, I will do the best I can.
11:14 - [In Context] I hope I can make my own people (the Jews) jealous. That way, maybe I can help some of them to be saved.
11:15 - [In Context] God turned away from the Jews. When that happened, God became friends with the other people in the world. So when God accepts the Jews, then surely that will bring to people life after death.
11:16 - [In Context] If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy. If the roots of a tree are holy, then the tree's branches are holy too.
11:17 - [In Context] {It is like} some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off, and the branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to that first tree. You non-Jews are the same as that wild branch, and you now share the strength and life of the first tree (the Jews).
11:18 - [In Context] So don't boast about those branches that were broken off. You have no reason to boast. Why? You don't give life to the root. The root gives life to you.
11:19 - [In Context] You will say, "Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree."
11:20 - [In Context] That is true. But those branches were broken off because they did not believe. And you continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Don't be proud, but be afraid.
11:21 - [In Context] If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, then he will not let you stay {if you don't believe}.
11:22 - [In Context] So you see that God is kind, but he can also be very strict. God punishes those people that stop following him. But God is kind to you, if you continue following in his kindness. If you don't continue following him, you will be cut off {from the tree}.
11:23 - [In Context] And if the Jews will believe in God again, then God will accept the Jews back again. God is able to put them back where they were.
11:24 - [In Context] It is not natural for a wild branch to become part of a good tree. But you non-Jews are like a branch cut from a wild olive tree. And you were joined to a good olive tree. But those Jews are like a branch that grew from the good tree. So surely they can be joined to their own tree again.
FOOTNOTES: F68: Spirit, Holy Spirit   Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. F69: firstborn   The first male child in a family. Here, it probably means that Christ was the first in God's family to share God's glory. F70: persecution   Being hurt or bothered by Christ's enemies. F71: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F72: Spirit, Holy Spirit   Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. F73: Israel   The Jewish nation (people). F74: descendants   A person's children and all their future families. F75: father(s)   Important ancestors of the Jews, especially the leaders of the twelve Jewish family groups. F76: Christ … forever   This can also mean, "May God, who rules over all things, be praised forever!" F77: God's people   Literally, "Israel," the people God chose to bring his blessings to the world. F78: Abraham   The most respected ancestor of the Jews. F79: descendants   A person's children and all their future families. F80: "Isaac … son"   Quote from Gen. 21:12. F81: "At the right time … son"   Quote from Gen. 18:10,14. F82: father(s)   Important ancestors of the Jews, especially the leaders of the twelve Jewish family groups. F83: "The older … younger"   Quote from Gen. 25:23. F84: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F85: "I … Esau"   Quote from Mal. 1:2-3. F86: "I will show … show pity to"   Quote from Ex. 33:19. F87: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F88: Pharaoh   The title of the king of Egypt. F89: "I made … world"   Quote from Ex. 9:16. F90: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F91: Israel   The Jewish nation (people). F92: "There are … earth"   Quote from Isa. 10:22-23. F93: Sodom, Gomorrah   Cities where evil people lived. God punished them by destroying their cities. F94: Sodom, Gomorrah   Cities where evil people lived. God punished them by destroying their cities. F95: "The Lord … Gomorrah"   Quote from Isa. 1:9. F96: Israel   The Jewish nation (people). F97: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F98: Zion   Another name for Jerusalem, the city of God's people. F99: "A person … says"   Quote from Lev. 18:5. F100: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F101: Verses 6-8   Quotes from Deut. 30:12-14. F102: Verses 6-8   Quotes from Deut. 30:12-14. F103: Verses 6-8   Quotes from Deut. 30:12-14. F104: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F105: "Any person … disappointed"   Quote from Isa. 28:16. F106: "Every person … saved"   Quote from Joel 2:32. F107: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F108: "Beautiful … good news"   Quote from Isa. 52:7. F109: "Lord … them"   Quote from Isa. 53:1. F110: Good News   The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. F111: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F112: Israel   The Jewish nation (people). F113: "All day … follow me"   Quote from Isa. 65:2. F114: Abraham   The most respected ancestor of the Jews. F115: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F116: Elijah   A prophet that lived about 850 B.C. F117: prophets   People that spoke for God. F118: altars   An altar is a place where sacrifices are offered. F119: "Lord … now"   Quote from 1 Kings 19:10, 14. F120: Baal   The name of a false god. F121: "I have … Baal"   Quote from 1 Kings 19:18. F122: Scripture(s)   Holy Writings--the Old Testament. F123: apostle   A person Jesus chose to represent him in a special way.
CROSS REFERENCES: R9: Psalm 44:22 R10: Hosea 2:23 R11: Hosea 1:10 R12: Isaiah 8:14; 28:16 R13: Psalm 19:4 R14: Deuteronomy 32:21 R15: Isaiah 65:1 R16: Isaiah 29:10 R17: Deuteronomy 29:4 R18: Psalm 69:22-23

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