Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Abram Journeys to Egypt

12 Now ^(A)the Lord said to Abram,

⁴ So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and ^(G)Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

The Lord the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

Justification by Faith Evidenced in Old Testament

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, ^[a]our forefather ^(A)according to the flesh, has found? ² For if Abraham was justified ^[b]by works, he has something to boast about, but ^(B)not ^[c]before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “^(C)Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” ⁴ Now to the one who ^(D)works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but ^(E)believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

¹³ For ^(A)the promise to Abraham or to his ^[a]descendants ^(B)that he would be heir of the world was not ^[b]through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For ^(C)if those who are ^[c]of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; ¹⁵ for ^(D)the Law brings about wrath, but ^(E)where there is no law, there also is no violation.

¹⁶ For this reason it is ^[d]by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with ^(F)grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to ^(G)all the ^[e]descendants, not only to ^[f]those who are of the Law, but also to ^[g](H)those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is ^(I)the father of us all, ¹⁷ (as it is written, “^(J)A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, ^(K)who gives life to the dead and ^[h](L)calls into being ^(M)that which does not exist.

The New Birth

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named ^(A)Nicodemus, a ^(B)ruler of the Jews; ² this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “^(C)Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these ^[a](D)signs that You do unless ^(E)God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one ^(F)is born ^[b]again he cannot see ^(G)the kingdom of God.”

⁴ Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of ^(H)water and the Spirit he cannot enter into ^(I)the kingdom of God. ^6 (J)That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born ^[c]again.’ ^8 (K)The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you ^(L)the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? ¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, ^(M)we speak of what we know and ^(N)testify of what we have seen, and ^(O)you do not accept our testimony. ¹² If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ^13 (P)No one has ascended into heaven, but ^(Q)He who descended from heaven: ^(R)the Son of Man. ¹⁴ As ^(S)Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must ^(T)the Son of Man ^(U)be lifted up; ¹⁵ so that whoever ^[d]believes will ^(V)in Him have eternal life.

¹⁶ “For God so ^(W)loved the world, that He ^(X)gave His ^[e](Y)only begotten Son, that whoever ^(Z)believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God ^(AA)did not send the Son into the world ^(AB)to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

The Transfiguration

17 ^(A)Six days later Jesus *took with Him ^(B)Peter and ^[a]James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. ² And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, ^(C)I will make three ^[b]tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, ^(D)a voice out of the cloud said, “^(E)This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell ^[c]face down to the ground and were terrified. ⁷ And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and ^(F)do not be afraid.” ⁸ And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

^9 (G)As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “^(H)Tell the vision to no one until ^(I)the Son of Man has ^(J)risen from the dead.”