God's anger is revealed from heaven against all the sin and evil of the people whose evil ways prevent the truth from being known.

All those people speak about how you received us when we visited you, and how you turned away from idols to God, to serve the true and living God

We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we know the true God. We live in union with the true God---in union with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and this is eternal life.

It makes as much sense as eating ashes. His foolish ideas have so misled him that he is beyond help. He won't admit to himself that the idol he holds in his hand is not a god at all.

At the sight of this, people feel stupid and senseless; those who make idols are disillusioned, because the gods they make are false and lifeless.

They are worthless and should be despised; they will be destroyed when the LORD comes to deal with them.

He has said that this will be your fate. This is what he has decided to do with you, because you have forgotten him and have trusted in false gods.

LORD, you are the one who protects me and gives me strength; you help me in times of trouble. Nations will come to you from the ends of the earth and say, "Our ancestors had nothing but false gods, nothing but useless idols.

The LORD says, "The people of Judah have sinned again and again, and for this I will certainly punish them. They have despised my teachings and have not kept my commands. They have been led astray by the same false gods that their ancestors served.

and then he told them, "Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast." They took him the water,

What's the use of an idol? It is only something that a human being has made, and it tells you nothing but lies. What good does it do for its maker to trust it---a god that can't even talk!

instead of worshiping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortals or birds or animals or reptiles.

"You cannot be a slave of two masters; you will hate one and love the other; you will be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

"Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be my disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be my disciples.

they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God;

Do not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you love the world, you do not love the Father.

Everything that belongs to the world---what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of---none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.

they are descended from the famous Hebrew ancestors; and Christ, as a human being, belongs to their race. May God, who rules over all, be praised forever! Amen.

Praise his glorious name forever! May his glory fill the whole world. Amen! Amen!

I will proclaim your greatness, my God and king; I will thank you forever and ever.

Every day I will thank you; I will praise you forever and ever.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus---blessed be his name forever!---knows that I am not lying.

to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.

That teaching is found in the gospel that was entrusted to me to announce, the Good News from the glorious and blessed God.

To the eternal King, immortal and invisible, the only God---to him be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.