Mesra 28, 1740

8God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.

9The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

9"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

11"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

14You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

15No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

3Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

4Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

19"There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.

20But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,

21desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.

23And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24"Then he cried and said, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'

25But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

26And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

27"Then he said, "I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

28for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

29Abraham said to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

30And he said, "No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31But he said to him, "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead."'

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

14What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

20But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.