As stated in a previous chapter, “Hidden Worldviews“, it is essential to realize that every government, organization, business and institution reflects the Worldview of its founders. So, on which of the Eight Major Worldviews did our Founding Fathers base the establishment of America? Before the chaos of the 1960's, it was an evident and undisputed …
Continue reading Chapter Twenty-four – Our Christian Foundation: Deist or Christian?
Secularists have used a three prong approach to attack and destroy our Christian heritage so that they can replace it with their own Materialistic Worldview. Their relentless war has most Americans confused and on the defensive. To win this war of worldviews, it is time to: 1) unveil their anti-God strategies 2) provide the truth …
Continue reading Chapter Twenty-three – Secularist Strategies Unveiled
Reason #1: Secularism Leads to Tyranny Portions of this chapter are based on the book Three Secular Reasons-Why America Should be Under God by William J. Federer. A previous chapter, “Hidden Worldviews,” argued from logic why teaching the Christian Worldview in public schools is best both for students and for America. Of course, Secular Humanists …
Continue reading Chapter Twenty-two – Three Secular Reasons for Promoting a Christian Worldview
So far, this book has focused on comparing and contrasting three out of eight major Worldviews because they are the three most prominent in America today. As stated previously, it is axiomatic that every functioning human being operates out of a Worldview, consciously or not. It is essential to realize that every government, organization, business …
The author of the article below rightly asks, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to say that in this country (America) we don’t teach a particular theory as fact, but instead rely on honest investigation of true science, always ready to reinterpret data based on new, confirmed discoveries?” Yes, it would. But is that …
Continue reading Chapter Twenty – Philosophy Masquerading as Science
CHART 1 from a previous chapter, “Discovering Your Worldview,” posed questions designed to help you recognize your belief system. It is repeated below for your convenience and is followed by a new chart that demonstrates the differences between the Christian Worldview and the New Age Worldview. Compare your answers to CHART 1 questions with those …
Continue reading Chapter Nineteen – Comparing Opposites: Christianity and New Age
One of the newest rivals impacting Christianity in America is the New Age worldview which arose in the 1960s in America. Generally speaking, it is a make over of ancient Hinduism fashioned to appeal to those disillusioned with Materialism or moral-based religions. Rather than debunking Divinity, New Agers believe everyone is Divine and, therefore, inherently …
Continue reading Chapter Eighteen – Christianity vs. New Age
So far, Section 2 of this book has focused on a detailed comparison between Christianity and its philosophical opposite, Secularistic Materialism. Various chapters have endeavored to show that Atheism is irrational and its fulcrum, the doctrine of Evolution, is scientifically and statistically impossible. All this would be merely academic if the results were not so …
While there are many so-called “holy books,” none can compare to the Christian Bible. There are many reasons why it is the best-selling book of all time. Even though it is a collection of poetry, history and prophecy from some forty different authors spanning six centuries, it has a single message of salvation for all …
Continue reading Chapter Sixteen – Bible Prophecies Evidence Christ
The previous chapter, “The Rotten Fruit of Evolution”, recounted Hitler's diabolical hatred for Jews that drove him to genocide and to attempt to rewrite the Bible which, in part, describes Jewish history. Both Jews and Christians believe the Old Testament is divinely inspired. Ironically, while the doctrine of Evolution was injected into the world of …
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
1 One who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my
fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
The only way to become a “child of God” and, thereby, qualify for heaven forever, John 3:1-19 and Romans 10:9-13.
These terms refer to a long-standing debate among Christians as to how God views all humans. Are we two-part beings (body and soul) or three-part beings (body, soul and spirit)? This not just an academic curiosity but has major importance to understanding mankind’s fundamental identity and our corresponding relationship with God. He tells us Genesis 1:26 that He made man in His image and likeness and John 4:24 says “God is Spirit.” So we are spirit being in His image and 1 Corinthians 6:17 tells us we can now become “one spirit with the Father.” His revelation in Hebrews 4:12 gives additional clarity to this very important question. Analogously, this verse equates our soul (mind, will, emotions and conscience) with “joints” – two bones, joined together in our physical body – like a finger joint.
However the human “spirit” is described analogously as “marrow” that is in our bones and, in fact, “manufactures” our bones. So from that clear distinction, we can deduce that all humans are “spirit beings that have a soul and live in a physical body.” This revelation of our true identity helps us understand what happened to mankind, through Adam, when he sinned. We all lost the spirit-to-Spirit connection he originally enjoyed with God. He became “spiritually separated” from God and we are born with that same fallen condition – in Adam.
Covenants are very serious agreements made between two or more parties which, if broken by one side, the other side has a right to kill the other party. They are usually made by a blood oath, signifying the seriousness of the agreement. There are five main covenants in the Bible.
The Cross of Christ on Calvary is the most important event in human history as a dividing line for humanity – from God’s viewpoint. Jesus’ perfect sacrifice made Heaven available again for all those in Adam though rebirth. See Chart.
The “Law” Tree in the Garden and the Mosaic Law are good in themselves but not good for us because we fail to live perfectly – even a Adam did – at being “obedient” to any “standard.” Since we can’t we need a Savior – Jesus, to give us His perfection – righteousness – justification.
Refers to the radical transformation (a change of “roots”) of one’s old spirit-self to a brand new spirit-self that happens when an in Adam person is born again, 2 Corinthians 5:17. It is mirrored somewhat in the metamorphosis (complete change) of a caterpillar to a butterfly.
The Divine Exchange was part of Jesus’ Finished Work on the cross, whereby all of our sins were paid for by Jesus’ blood that was shed on the cross and “exchanged” for God’s righteousness, being considered “right” or in “right-standing with God, in our spirit-man.
In my book I use this phrase to denote that the “elephant in the room” which everyone knows is there (but is ignored as a “problem”) is the Mosaic Law of righteousness by “works” that is NOT to be mixed with the New Covenant of Grace.
The Finished Work of the Divine Exchange – When Jesus said “It is finished,” He was referring to the fact that He had accomplished what Father God sent Him on earth to do for all humanity – to offer salvation through being reborn of God by His grace through faith in what Jesus has done.
This refers to being in the same spiritual “condition” as Adam after his “Fall” from sinless perfection to being separated from God spiritually.
This is the heresy of trying to mix the covenant of law with the free offer of grace in the New Covenant in order to try to be justified by our “doing” vs faith in Jesus “doing” at Calvary- His Finished Work.
Jesus’ Gospel revealed primarily to Paul in his visit to heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-6) and recorded in his 13 books. He describes in detail what Jesus accomplished on Calvary and beyond for all mankind. He referred to this Fifth Gospel – the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16) – as “my Gospel” 3 times in his books, including in Romans 2:16, 16:26, 2 Timothy 2:8. He did this to distinguish them from any other Gospel which, if different, would be “no gospel at all,” according to Galatians 1:9.
God’s Grace – is often defined as God’s gift of unmerited, underserved, unearned favor. Another way to express it is: God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense. His Grace is not “cheap” because it cost God the death and separation from His precious, only Son. “Where sin abounds, grace super-abounds much more,” Romans 5:20.
These four books are written by four men who give inspired accounts of Jesus’ life on earth – mainly pre-cross. He came under the Law Covenant of Moses to fulfill all the requirements of Law for Jewish believers. (Gentiles were never given the Mosaic Law Covenant by God).
Then, through His sacrificial death, Jesus fulfilled and then abolished the Law for Jewish believers, (2 Corinthians 3:13, Hebrews 8:13 & 10:9). Then it was abolished and nailed to the Cross, (Ephesians 2:14-16 and Colossians 2:13-15). Now, He gives to all those reborn by God a New Covenant – with the (higher) “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus,” Romans 8:2.
This is the new ”law” that replaced the Mosaic Law (given only to the Jews), as stated in Romans 8:2. This new “law” has three aspects: faith in God’s love for you and in what He has done for us through Jesus and the freedom that brings by being His cherished children through spiritual rebirth.
In God’s Big Picture, the only other spiritual condition possible for mankind is to be reborn of God to become spiritually “alive in Christ.” This gift of “being saved” from remaining in Adam forever, was made possible when the sinless Jesus Christ was crucified for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world. But also, He offers to exchange our evil spirit-self with His righteous human nature – the Divine Exchange – by being crucified with Him by faith, Galatians 2:20 and 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. By receiving His offer, the old, in Adam spirit-nature dies and is gone and we are regenerated (re-begun) as a New Creation spirit-being in Christ. Your soul and body are not yet perfected, but the new you is perfect and seated in the heavenlies by His total grace, Hebrews 10:15 and Ephesians 2:6.
The Bible clearly states the Adam and Eve were mankind’s first parents, created by God from the dust of the earth into which He breathed the breath of life. God regarded Adam as mankind’s legal Representative. When he chose to disobey God’s warnings not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he became spiritually separated – “dead to God”- and became evil by nature. Unfortunately, that spiritual condition was passed down through all of Adam’s offspring to us today – and is summarized in the phrase “in Adam.” That is why Jesus told Nicodemus that “you must be born again” – spiritually – to see and enter God’s Kingdom – Heaven. The only other alternative to rebirth is the kingdom of Hell. There are only two Kingdoms!
Identity is used here to mean who someone is or what something is according to God. His view of everything is the only view that counts because He knows the truth and purpose of everything that He created – included humans.
These were Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah but also still believed that one had to observe the Mosaic Law to be saved. Paul condemned this heresy in the book he wrote to the Galatians.
… spiritually dead to God in Adam
The last of the Bible’s five main covenants. Hebrews 8:7-13 and 10:16:18 gives some of the promises and benefits of this New Covenant. For example, God has chosen to no longer “remember” or be mindful of the sins of the whole world because Jesus totally satisfied God’s just demands for punishment for mankind’s sin debt. That is total Grace! And, from His viewpoint, God reconciled us to Himself because of Jesus sacrifice. All that remains is for each in Adam sinner to choose to be reconciled to God by believing and receiving what Jesus made possible for YOU to be reborn of God, Romans 10:9-13.
Mosaic Law Covenant – is the fourth main covenant in the Bible that God made with the Israelites through Moses. When individuals or the group kept the 613 laws they agreed to, God blessed them. When they violated the terms, they were punished and sometimes even killed, according to the covenant’s terms. It was a “works-based covenant” which was given primarily to show mankind’s need for Jesus. It was nailed to the Cross so Christians are now under God’s Grace – not the Mosaic Law. Ephesians 2:15 and Colossians 2:14.
Receiving God’s gift of perfection/justification spiritually can only come by believing and receiving God’s offer of His perfection through rebirth – by faith in what Jesus did for us.
the term used here to describe all the benefits and blessings that Jesus made possible after His resurrection for all reborn saints in Christ when the New Covenant began.
Paul referred to person’s body and soul as the “outer man” as opposed to his or her true, core self – a spirit being, the “inner man,” Ephesians 3:16.
Is the term used in 2 Corinthians 5:17 to describe the replacement of the old Adam spirit-self with a brand new, reborn spirit-self – in Christ – that never existed before.
spiritually, from rebirth (2 Corinthians 5:17)
But you must believe and receive what He has done for you to be “redeemed” from your in Adam nature by rebirth.
The term “radical” doesn’t refer to “extreme” in a negative sense but to the understanding that Jesus’ Gospel revealed to Paul was not based on – or rooted in – the Mosaic Law of the previous covenant but that “root” (radis in Latin) was replaced with the gift of total Grace.
Describes the way God gradually revealed Himself and His plans and purposes for mankind from Genesis through to the Book of Revelation.
Satan’s “weapon” is the Mosaic Law (or any law system) he can use to cause mental guilt, shame and condemnation – all of which Jesus bore/became for us on Calvary.
Righteousness / Justification – means to be in right-standing or right relationship with God Himself. Adam was righteous in God’s sight until he sinned. Abraham was “imputed” the gift of righteousness by grace just by believing God’s promise to him – even though he was still in Adam. This was in anticipation of what Jesus would accomplish on Calvary to make those reborn in Him receive the His gift of “imparted righteousness” by grace through faith in His Finished Work on Calvary.
Under the Mosaic Covenant, righteousness was earned or lost based on their obedience to the Law. It was replaced with the New Covenant based totally on grace.
Is the process of being made perfect and whole instantly in one’s inner man through rebirth. However, one’s “outer self,” – one’s soul and body – are not made perfect and holy instantly at rebirth.
To experience Jesus’ promise of living and “abundant life” on earth, one’s soul – the mind, will, emotions and conscience – needs to be progressively “transformed” over time by “the renewing of your mind” to learn to walk according to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, not according to the former mind-sets, habits, thought patterns, feelings, appetites etc. formed from living as an in Adam sinner, trained to live according to the “lusts of the body, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16), and following the cravings of the world system and the devil’s promptings and temptations.
The soul will never be fully sanctified before death. The sanctification of the body takes place after death as well, when we get a new body, compatible with heaven. So the Bible can say we are “holy and sanctified,” speaking of our new, reborn self, yet “being sanctified,” referring to our soul and body.
We know from scripture that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, then He arose from the grave and later, ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of Father-God.
We now also know, through the Fifth Gospel that Jesus revealed directly to Paul, that the same process happens spiritually, by grace through faith, to every in Adam person who becomes ”saved” by being reborn of God through agreeing with Romans 10:9-13.
By doing so, one’s core being – the spirit-self that is dead to God in Adam – is made alive as a New creation, who never existed before, and is now spiritually compatible –“one spirit” with God in Christ. Paul referred to this transformation happening in one’s “inner man.”
Jesus’ Gospel revealed primarily to Paul in his visit to heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-6) and recorded in his 13 books. He describes in detail what Jesus accomplished on Calvary and beyond for all mankind. He referred to this Fifth Gospel – the Gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16) – as “my Gospel” 3 times in his books, including in Romans 2:16, 16:26, 2 Timothy 2:8. He did this to distinguish them from any other Gospel which, if different, would be “no gospel at all,” according to Galatians 1:9.
Furthermore, Peter regarded Paul’s revelations from Jesus as “the scriptures,” putting them on a par with the Old Testament – a necessary part of the Bible, 2 Peter 3:15-16. Peter says that some of Paul’s writings are” hard to understand.” Why? Because Jesus revealed some of the mysteries – the deep things – of God about the Unseen Realm and about who His reborn children are in His sight because they are in Christ spiritually. See 1 Corinthians 4:1, Ephesians 1:9, 3:3 & 4 & 9, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 2:25-26.
The material Universe that is subject to interactions from both God and fallen angels known as demons.
All the benefits from God in the New Covenant are completely a Free unearned, undeserved Gift from God – earned for us by Jesus’ Finished Work on Calvary, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
The Unseen Realm/Kingdom of God – is the non-material realm of the God of the Bible, also known as Heaven. But also, the Kingdom of God is wherever the King is and you are born of God, the Kingdom has come into your new-spirit self, 1 Corinthians 6:19.
The non-material realm of Hell, created for Lucifer, who became Satan when he and one/third of heaven’s angels rebelled and were cast out of Heaven. It is also now the destination of all in Adam humans who reject Jesus’ offer of salvation through rebirth.
but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil [a]has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be evident that they all are not of us.
Who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, we also are in this world.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
We know that no one who has been born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received a commandment to do from the Father.
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.
and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.
He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone.
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, [b]and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
46 Since you repudiate it and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have appointed You as a light to the Gentiles, That You may bring salvation to the end of the earth.’”
10 Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His descendants.’
Read more in Acts 17
9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent,
And when they heard about them, they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and under- standing, 10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all perseverance and patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
25 I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints,.
to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ.
and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,
13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,
And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,
having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.
things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.
Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind,
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as.
21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of man? 23 These are matters which do have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.
These are matters which do have the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
1 Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—
God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience;
knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.
2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6 just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from [b]God, and that you are not your own?
But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
This is the way any person is to regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and [a]in the Spirit of our God.
For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
to those who are without the Law, I became as one without the Law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might gain those who are without the Law.
No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
3 For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
20 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law;
54 But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For as many as the promises of God are, in Him they are yes; therefore through Him also is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God,
who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place.
revealing yourselves, that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Read more in 2 Corinthians 3
6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory. Read more in 2 Corinthians 3
But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was,
7 But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.
7 But if the ministry of death, engraved in letters on stones, came with glory so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory. 10 For indeed what had glory in this case has no glory, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness excel in glory.
and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away.
But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.
knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you.
But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.
while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
for we walk by faith, not by sight—
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one by the flesh; even though we have known Christ by the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not beneficial; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ, who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me.
And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
In behalf of such a man I will boast; but in my own behalf I will not boast, except regarding my weaknesses.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:
But you are to remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and just is He..
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him,
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Read more in Ephesians 2
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace;
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace;
and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly.
By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,
in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.
and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
being darkened in their understanding, [a]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
and pray in my behalf, that speech may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be alert with all perseverance and every request for all the saints,
in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, 7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
So the Lord relented of the harm which He said He would do to His people.
As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
11 For I would have you know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel which was preached by me is not of human invention. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
which is not just another account;
For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.
nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me
Yet it was a concern because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy on our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
For all who are of works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the Law, to do them.”
Now, that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “the righteous one will live by faith.”
However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “The person who performs them will live by them.”
So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”—
21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed.
24 Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave, although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. 3 So we too, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir [i]through God.
For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look! I, Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who has himself circumcised, that he is obligated to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.
ear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for on the day that you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; With hard labor you shall eat from it All the days of your life.
Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the livestock and over all the earth, and over every crawling thing that crawls on the earth.”
So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
“Look among the nations! Watch! Be horrified! Be frightened speechless! For I am accomplishing a work in your days—
You would not believe it even if you were told!
And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says,“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus;
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus; He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
For we have become partakers of Christ if we keep the beginning of our commitment firm until the end,
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My anger, They certainly shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.
1 Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but the word they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united with those who listened with faith. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest,
Read more in Hebrews 4
while it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My anger, They certainly shall not enter My rest,”
9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
9 Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
18 For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (for the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we come near to God.
who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.
Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
7 For if that first covenant had been free of fault, no circumstances would have been sought for a second. 8 For in finding fault with the people, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will bring about a new covenant With the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day I took them by the hand To bring them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care about them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel After those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. 11 And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen, And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For they will all know Me, From the least to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, And their sins I will no longer remember.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.
11 And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen, And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For they will all know Me, From the least to the greatest of them.
12 For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, And their sins I will no longer remember.”
When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.
“For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings, And their sins I will no longer remember.”
which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,
Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?
then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.
but He, having offered one sacrifice for [a]sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,
By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.
16 “This is the covenant which I will make with them After those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws upon their hearts, And write them on their mind,” He then says, 17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.
And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.
“And their sins and their lawless deeds will no longer remember.”
Now faith is the certainty of things [a]hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,”
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are punished by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.” 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood.
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.
He was despised and abandoned by men, A man of great pain and familiar with sickness; And like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him.
Read more in Isaiah 53
Therefore you will joyously draw water
From the springs of salvation.
For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
9 “For this is like the days of Noah to Me, When I swore that the waters of Noah Would not flood the earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you Nor rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My favor will not be removed from you, Nor will My covenant of peace be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.
But He was pierced for our offenses. He was crushed for our wrongdoings. The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him and by His wounds we are healed.
Read more in Isaiah 53
4 However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore,
And our pains that He carried;
Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted,
Struck down by God, and humiliated.
5 But He was pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all
To fall on Him.
Then your light will break out like the dawn,
And your recovery will spring up quickly;
And your righteousness will go before you;
The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;
And you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.
But now, Lord, You are our Father;
We are the clay, and You our potter,
And all of us are the work of Your hand.
7 For that person ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.”.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.
and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!
Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”
“I can do nothing on My own. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.
But a time is coming, and even now has arrived, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way.
God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
“…and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
12 On the next day, when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Do not fear, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things for Him.
I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me,
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, so that He may be with you forever;
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.
I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. .
Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: 9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me;
Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love.
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
glorified You on the earth [a]by accomplishing the work which You have given Me to do.
and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, so that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I am not asking on behalf of these alone, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, 21 that they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 The glory which You have given Me I also have given to them, so that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and You loved them, just as You loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
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Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
But there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
“Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, he is still guilty and shall bear his punishment.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.
And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.
38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;
“So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.
But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
Read more in Luke 18
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat;”
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabaktanei?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;”
“Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”
17 “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter shall pass from the Law, until all is accomplished! 19 Therefore, whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
So if you, despite being [a]evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
14 For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.
Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?”
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves..
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
for it is God who is at work in you, both to [a]desire and to work for His good pleasure.
8 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Read more in Proverbs 3
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His rebuke, 12 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights..
Read more in Proverbs 3
There is a way which seems right to a person,
But its end is the way of death.
Read more in Proverbs 16
The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, But the earth He has given to the sons of mankind.
Bless the Lord, my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears,
And my feet from stumbling.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.
7 Lift up your heads, you gates, And be lifted up, you ancient doors,
That the King of glory may come in! 8 Who is the King of glory?The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.
Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithfulness,
For they have been from of old.
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have followed My word, and have not denied My name.
All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered.
“Let’s rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared herself.”
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by faith.”
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Read more in Romans 2
on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, There is not even one.”
because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those ]who believe; for there is no distinction,
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus,
for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? Far from it! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.
20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Much more then, having now been justified [a]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not counted against anyone when there is no law.
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
But the gracious gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many.
16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification.
17 For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
18 So then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
2 How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all time; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin.
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all time; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all time; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under [a]the Law but under grace? Far from it!
17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.
and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness.
But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the parts of your body as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your body’s parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the Law), that the Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
1 Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the Law), that the Law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is alive she gives herself to another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress if she gives herself to another man.
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were brought to light by the Law, were at work in the parts of our body to bear fruit for death
But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Far from it! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.
8 But sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; 10 and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it, killed me.
So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;
I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin came to life, and I died;
Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For the mind [f]set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, Read more in Romans 8
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters;
For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him
will not be put to shame.”
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him, that it would be paid back to him?
“This is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.
“ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law.
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
Therefore let’s not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this: not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s or sister’s way.
But the one who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
And concerning you, my brothers and sisters, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written:
“Therefore I will give praise to You among the Gentiles,
And I will sing praises to Your name.”
but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision.
Also the Glory of Israel will not lie nor change His mind; for He is not a man, that He would change His mind.”
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Also, David was in great distress because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David felt strengthened in the Lord his God.
Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your advice. What should we do?”
For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.
hen we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to useless speculation rather than advance the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now.
8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers,
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and worldly, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.,
who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
which He will bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people,
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age,
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies.”
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of armies.”
life, that is, Jesus himself.