And that is how the universe was created. When the LORD God made the universe,

This is the list of the descendants of Adam. (When God created human beings, he made them like himself.

These are the descendants of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. These three had sons after the flood.

The LORD said to Noah, "Go into the boat with your whole family; I have found that you are the only one in all the world who does what is right.

Even my friends laugh at me now; they laugh, although I am righteous and blameless; but there was a time when God answered my prayers.

The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come.

There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake.

Even if those three men, Noah, Danel, and Job, were living there, their goodness would save only their own lives." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.

even if Noah, Danel, and Job lived there---as surely as I, the Sovereign LORD, am the living God---they would not be able to save even their own children. Their goodness would save only their own lives."

And this is the message: 'Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.' "

At that time there was a man named Simeon living in Jerusalem. He was a good, God-fearing man and was waiting for Israel to be saved. The Holy Spirit was with him

There was a man named Joseph from Arimathea, a town in Judea. He was a good and honorable man, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. Although he was a member of the Council, he had not agreed with their decision and action.

"Captain Cornelius sent us," they answered. "He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say."

For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, "The person who is put right with God through faith shall live."

Now, it is clear that no one is put right with God by means of the Law, because the scripture says, "Only the person who is put right with God through faith shall live."

It was faith that made Noah hear God's warnings about things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a boat in which he and his family were saved. As a result, the world was condemned, and Noah received from God the righteousness that comes by faith.

God did not spare the ancient world, but brought the flood on the world of godless people; the only ones he saved were Noah, who preached righteousness, and seven other people.

Even though Asa did not destroy all the pagan places of worship in the land, he remained faithful to the LORD all his life.

He did what was pleasing to the LORD, but did it reluctantly.

There was a man named Job, living in the land of Uz, who worshiped God and was faithful to him. He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil.

"Did you notice my servant Job?" the LORD asked. "There is no one on earth as faithful and good as he is. He worships me and is careful not to do anything evil."

Notice good people, observe the righteous; peaceful people have descendants,

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

and be completely united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith.

in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.

Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.

All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you.

After that, Enoch lived in fellowship with God for 300 years and had other children.

He spent his life in fellowship with God, and then he disappeared, because God took him away.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the Almighty God. Obey me and always do what is right.

Then he blessed Joseph: "May God, whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac served, bless these boys! May God, who has led me to this very day, bless them!

Solomon answered, "You always showed great love for my father David, your servant, and he was good, loyal, and honest in his relation with you. And you have continued to show him your great and constant love by giving him a son who today rules in his place.

They both lived good lives in God's sight and obeyed fully all the Lord's laws and commands.

Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.