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![Prayer
Jesus said: I assure you,
most solemnly I tell you,
that My Father will grant
you whatever you ask in
My Name. John 16:23
Summary
Jesus provides the best way to obtain anything you need. He will give you a new start
peace, healing, provision, love, family, wisdom. Anything you need is available to you
through receiving the words spoken by Jesus and asking Father God to fulfil them in y
life.
Jesus for Life - WHO IS JESUS THAT I MAY BELIEVE IN HIM?
As we read the Bible, we discover that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father, made man for
our salvation.
God the Son has been with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in one Godhead since the
beginning of time, and Jesus will be our judge at the end of time.
[These three are not three gods, but one God in three persons, which we call the Trinity of the
Godhead.]
Jesus, God the Son, ever was, and is, and ever will be, or as he said of Himself, "I am".
Through Jesus everything in the Universe was created.
____________________________________
Jesus replied to the Jews, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you
claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I
said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father
Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.
"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John chapter 8 verses 54 to 59
I AM WHO I AM
Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The
God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I
say to them?"
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."
And He said,
"Thus you shall say to the children of Israel , 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:13-15 (NKJV)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/85/Life-in-jesus-2-320.jpg)
![speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not
understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the
path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive
the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the
time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as
they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not
mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the
word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 (NIV) From this time many of his
disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?"
Jesusasked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."John
6:66-69 (NIV)
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple
area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will
you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you,
but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not
believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of
my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out
of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created
inChrist Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:7-10 (NIV)
[Notice here, and elsewhere in the Bible, God shows us that faith in Jesus' saving death produces
(leads to) good works, but that good works do not lead to faith in Jesus' saving death. In fact,
such good works lead to faith in one's own righteousness! We are not saved by our works; the
good works which we do are the fruit of our faith. ]
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?
Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies
intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud
butgives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and
wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:4-10 (NIV)
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a
second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no
onecan enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be
born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV)
[Thomas had not been together with the other disciples when Jesus had first appeared to them,](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/85/Life-in-jesus-10-320.jpg)
![after Jesus' resurrection for the dead.]
So the other disciples told him,
"We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put
my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the
doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands.
Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me,
you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:25-29 (NIV)
Jesus for LifeWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS? Matthew 22:37-39)
To really believe in Jesus is not as simple as saying honestly that "I believe that Jesus lived, and
died on the cross and rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven." And, "I believe that
Jesus is the Son of God."
Belief here means much more than that.Belief in Jesus means that we DO what we believe. We
turn around from living life 'our way' to placing our complete trust in Jesus. Belief means that we
trust Him with our life, with our soul; that we trust Him to bring us to eternal life. We come to
recognise that He is our reason for being.
Belief in Jesus as our Saviour means that we no longer want to live our lives in the same way
that we used to live. It means that we want to live our lives, to live in a way which is pleasing to
Him ! This change of heart is called "repentance."
And why do we want to "repent"? Because, suddenly or slowly, we have come to realise how
offensive our lives have been, and are, to God. God Who is so Pure and so Holy.
And then we hear and understand the great news that Jesus died for OUR sins, He died to set us
free from the punishment which is so rightly ours. He died on the cross, He who was without sin,
died for our sins. He came to earth to die, to make it possible for us to come into a right
relationship with God.
At last, we understand !And when, at last, we repent of our sins and turn to Jesus
Christ, when we give our lives over to His control, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who marks
us as belonging to Jesus forever. And He, the Holy Spirit, lives in us and helps us become more
like Jesus, day by day.
We find that following this giving of ourselves, our all, into His care, we grow to
‘Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind’ and to
‘Love our neighbour as ourself’. (derived from Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-39)
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from
first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17 (NIV)
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that
when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very
little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/85/Life-in-jesus-11-320.jpg)
![faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink
back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:35-39 (NIV)
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The
time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark
1:14-15 (NIV)
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he
told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell
along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when
it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns,
which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and
yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He
who has ears to hear, let him hear." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said,
"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I
speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not
understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the
path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive
the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the
time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as
they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not
mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the
word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 (NIV)
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want
to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom
shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One
of God." John 6:66-69 (NIV)
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple
area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will
you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you,
but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not
believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of
my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out
of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:7-10 (NIV)
[Notice here, and elsewhere in the Bible, God shows us that faith in Jesus' saving death
produces(leads to) good works, but that good works do not lead to faith in Jesus' saving death. In
fact, such good works lead to faith in one's own righteousness! We are not saved by our works;
the good works which we do are the fruit of our faith. ]
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/85/Life-in-jesus-12-320.jpg)
![Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies
intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but
gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and
purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to
mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:4-10 (NIV)
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a
second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one
can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be
born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV)
[Thomas had not been together with the other disciples when Jesus had first appeared to them,
after Jesus' resurrection for the dead.]
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said: "Unless I see the
nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I
will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with
them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be
with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it
into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then
Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have
not seen and yet have believed." John 20:25-29 (NIV)
Jesus for Life WHAT NOW?
As we have moved through these pages, we have learnt a number of things. A summary of these
discoveries might be Sin is the failure by mankind (the created) to truly seek our Creator’s rule over our
lives.
To repent is to turn around from trying to run our own lives, to asking Jesus, rightfully, to rule our life.
To be righteous is to be in a right relationship with God our Holy Creator through the one way God has
provided— through the sin-free life and death of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead.
Salvation is deliverance from eternal condemnation to the sure faith in our eternal life. Mercy is not
receiving what we deserve. Grace is receiving what we don't deserve. Christ came to Earth to pay a
debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.
__________________________________
Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? Acts 26:7-8 (NIV)
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/85/Life-in-jesus-13-320.jpg)
![Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.'"
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
Jesus said:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of
a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law
until everything is accomplished.
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these
commandments and teaches others to do the same will
be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but
whoever practices and teaches these commands
will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the
law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)
[Here, Jesus is telling us that if we want to be saved by
keeping the Law, our righteousness needs to be impossibly outstanding!]
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good,
your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:22 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like
pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words.
Matthew 6:7 (NIV)
So do not worry, saying,
'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or
'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of
my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on
that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name, and in your name drive out demons and perform
many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly,
'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:32 (NIV)
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/85/Life-in-jesus-30-320.jpg)
![Prayer
Jesus said: I assure you,
most solemnly I tell you,
that My Father will grant
you whatever you ask in
My Name. John 16:23
Summary
Jesus provides the best way to obtain anything you need. He will give you a new start
peace, healing, provision, love, family, wisdom. Anything you need is available to you
through receiving the words spoken by Jesus and asking Father God to fulfil them in y
life.
Jesus for Life - WHO IS JESUS THAT I MAY BELIEVE IN HIM?
As we read the Bible, we discover that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father, made man for
our salvation.
God the Son has been with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in one Godhead since the
beginning of time, and Jesus will be our judge at the end of time.
[These three are not three gods, but one God in three persons, which we call the Trinity of the
Godhead.]
Jesus, God the Son, ever was, and is, and ever will be, or as he said of Himself, "I am".
Through Jesus everything in the Universe was created.
____________________________________
Jesus replied to the Jews, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you
claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I
said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father
Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.
"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John chapter 8 verses 54 to 59
I AM WHO I AM
Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The
God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I
say to them?"
And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."
And He said,
"Thus you shall say to the children of Israel , 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:13-15 (NKJV)](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/75/Life-in-jesus-2-2048.jpg)
![speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not
understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the
path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive
the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the
time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as
they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not
mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the
word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 (NIV) From this time many of his
disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?"
Jesusasked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."John
6:66-69 (NIV)
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple
area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will
you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you,
but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not
believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of
my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out
of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created
inChrist Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:7-10 (NIV)
[Notice here, and elsewhere in the Bible, God shows us that faith in Jesus' saving death produces
(leads to) good works, but that good works do not lead to faith in Jesus' saving death. In fact,
such good works lead to faith in one's own righteousness! We are not saved by our works; the
good works which we do are the fruit of our faith. ]
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?
Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies
intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud
butgives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and
wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:4-10 (NIV)
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a
second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no
onecan enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be
born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV)
[Thomas had not been together with the other disciples when Jesus had first appeared to them,](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/75/Life-in-jesus-10-2048.jpg)
![after Jesus' resurrection for the dead.]
So the other disciples told him,
"We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put
my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the
doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands.
Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me,
you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:25-29 (NIV)
Jesus for LifeWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS? Matthew 22:37-39)
To really believe in Jesus is not as simple as saying honestly that "I believe that Jesus lived, and
died on the cross and rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven." And, "I believe that
Jesus is the Son of God."
Belief here means much more than that.Belief in Jesus means that we DO what we believe. We
turn around from living life 'our way' to placing our complete trust in Jesus. Belief means that we
trust Him with our life, with our soul; that we trust Him to bring us to eternal life. We come to
recognise that He is our reason for being.
Belief in Jesus as our Saviour means that we no longer want to live our lives in the same way
that we used to live. It means that we want to live our lives, to live in a way which is pleasing to
Him ! This change of heart is called "repentance."
And why do we want to "repent"? Because, suddenly or slowly, we have come to realise how
offensive our lives have been, and are, to God. God Who is so Pure and so Holy.
And then we hear and understand the great news that Jesus died for OUR sins, He died to set us
free from the punishment which is so rightly ours. He died on the cross, He who was without sin,
died for our sins. He came to earth to die, to make it possible for us to come into a right
relationship with God.
At last, we understand !And when, at last, we repent of our sins and turn to Jesus
Christ, when we give our lives over to His control, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who marks
us as belonging to Jesus forever. And He, the Holy Spirit, lives in us and helps us become more
like Jesus, day by day.
We find that following this giving of ourselves, our all, into His care, we grow to
‘Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind’ and to
‘Love our neighbour as ourself’. (derived from Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-39)
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from
first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17 (NIV)
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that
when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very
little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/75/Life-in-jesus-11-2048.jpg)
![faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink
back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:35-39 (NIV)
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The
time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark
1:14-15 (NIV)
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he
told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell
along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when
it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns,
which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and
yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He
who has ears to hear, let him hear." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said,
"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I
speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not
understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the
path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their
hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive
the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the
time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as
they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not
mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the
word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 (NIV)
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want
to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom
shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One
of God." John 6:66-69 (NIV)
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple
area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will
you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you,
but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not
believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of
my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out
of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:7-10 (NIV)
[Notice here, and elsewhere in the Bible, God shows us that faith in Jesus' saving death
produces(leads to) good works, but that good works do not lead to faith in Jesus' saving death. In
fact, such good works lead to faith in one's own righteousness! We are not saved by our works;
the good works which we do are the fruit of our faith. ]
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/75/Life-in-jesus-12-2048.jpg)
![Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies
intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but
gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and
purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to
mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:4-10 (NIV)
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born
again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a
second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one
can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to
flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be
born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV)
[Thomas had not been together with the other disciples when Jesus had first appeared to them,
after Jesus' resurrection for the dead.]
So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said: "Unless I see the
nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I
will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with
them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be
with you!"
Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it
into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then
Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have
not seen and yet have believed." John 20:25-29 (NIV)
Jesus for Life WHAT NOW?
As we have moved through these pages, we have learnt a number of things. A summary of these
discoveries might be Sin is the failure by mankind (the created) to truly seek our Creator’s rule over our
lives.
To repent is to turn around from trying to run our own lives, to asking Jesus, rightfully, to rule our life.
To be righteous is to be in a right relationship with God our Holy Creator through the one way God has
provided— through the sin-free life and death of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead.
Salvation is deliverance from eternal condemnation to the sure faith in our eternal life. Mercy is not
receiving what we deserve. Grace is receiving what we don't deserve. Christ came to Earth to pay a
debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay.
__________________________________
Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? Acts 26:7-8 (NIV)
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/75/Life-in-jesus-13-2048.jpg)
![Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.'"
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
Jesus said:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth
disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of
a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law
until everything is accomplished.
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these
commandments and teaches others to do the same will
be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but
whoever practices and teaches these commands
will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the
law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)
[Here, Jesus is telling us that if we want to be saved by
keeping the Law, our righteousness needs to be impossibly outstanding!]
"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good,
your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:22 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like
pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words.
Matthew 6:7 (NIV)
So do not worry, saying,
'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or
'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things, and
your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of
my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on
that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your
name, and in your name drive out demons and perform
many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly,
'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also
acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
Matthew 10:32 (NIV)
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/lifeinjesus-130920105507-phpapp02/75/Life-in-jesus-30-2048.jpg)
Uploaded byPius Thuruthiyil
Life in jesus
Jesus provides many statements throughout the gospels that directly or indirectly claim that he is God. He refers to himself as "I am" which is the name God gave to Moses. He accepts worship, forgives sins, and makes statements like "before Abraham was, I am" that imply his eternal existence and deity. While avoiding a direct public claim to be the Messiah to prevent a political uprising, Jesus' statements to his disciples and in private frequently point to his divine identity as the Son of God.
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Life in jesus
- 1. Life in Jesus Jesussaid, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by Me." John 14:6 Jesus said: I came that they may have and enjoy LIFE, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows. John 10:10 Here is Jesus' own teaching about many of our most important needs, including a new start, healing, peace of mind, spiritual growth, wisdom and most of all how to live an abundant life. The Bible Jesus said "The words I speak are not my own but the Father's. John 8:28 The Bible contains the life changing words of God! Faith of God Jesus said, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain be thou removed and be thou cast in to the see he shall have whatsoever he saith". Mark 11:23 KJV Wisdom of God Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall". Mathew 7:28.29 New Start Jesus said "You must be born again" John 3:10. A new start Begins with believing that Jesus is the son of God and accepting him as your personal savior. All other blessings from God start with the New Birth. Forgiveness God the Father said:"This is My Son... Listen to Him!". Matthew 17:5 Peace of God Jesus said: My peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you...Do not let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 Divine Healing Jesus does: He drove out the spirits with a word and restored to health all who were sick. Mathew 8:16b. God's Provision Jesus said: But seek first of all His kingdom and His righteosnes, and all these things taken together will be given you besides. Mathew 6:33.
- 2. Prayer Jesus said: Iassure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name. John 16:23 Summary Jesus provides the best way to obtain anything you need. He will give you a new start peace, healing, provision, love, family, wisdom. Anything you need is available to you through receiving the words spoken by Jesus and asking Father God to fulfil them in y life. Jesus for Life - WHO IS JESUS THAT I MAY BELIEVE IN HIM? As we read the Bible, we discover that Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father, made man for our salvation. God the Son has been with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in one Godhead since the beginning of time, and Jesus will be our judge at the end of time. [These three are not three gods, but one God in three persons, which we call the Trinity of the Godhead.] Jesus, God the Son, ever was, and is, and ever will be, or as he said of Himself, "I am". Through Jesus everything in the Universe was created. ____________________________________ Jesus replied to the Jews, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John chapter 8 verses 54 to 59 I AM WHO I AM Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel , 'I AM has sent me to you.'" Exodus 3:13-15 (NKJV)
- 3. As soon asJesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Mat. 3 verses 16 and 17 Jesus said to the Samaritan woman by the well.............. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." John chapter 4 verses 23 to 26 (NIV) After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ..... While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:1-5 (NIV) Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour' ? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. John 12:23-29 (NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5 (NIV) At daybreak the (Jewish) council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. "If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" Jesus replied, "You are right in saying I am." Luke 22:66-70 (NIV) Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John chapter 19 verses 28 to 30 (NIV)
- 4. He who wasseated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Revelation 21:5-8 (NIV) Paul said to the men of Athens in the meeting of the Areopagus "....now God commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." Acts chapter 17 verses 30-31 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31 (NIV) Jesus for Life DID JESUS REALLY SAY THAT HE WAS GOD? Throughout the Gospel accounts of Jesus' time on earth, we read that Jesus was very careful to avoid any public confession of His messiahship. This is because He knew that the expectation that the people had of the coming Messiah was that the Messiah would be an earthly King like David was, and would free Israel from the oppression of the Roman Empire. As a consequence, Jesus' public references to His messianic person were always oblique and indirect. If the people understood Who He was, they would most certainly want to make Him King, and so interfere with His sacrificial mission of salvation. (For example: "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." John 6:15 (NIV))
- 5. When Jesus cameto the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." MATTHEW 16:13-17 (NIV) "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." JOHN 4:19-26 (NIV) "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." JOHN 6:33-38 (NIV) Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." JOHN 7:14-18 (NIV) "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
- 6. I told youthat you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." JOHN 8:23, 24 (NIV) "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." "You believe at last!" Jesus answered. "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." JOHN 16:25-33 (NIV) I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. JOHN 3:12-13 (NIV) The high priest said to Jesus, "I charge you, under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matt 26:63-64 Jesus for Life DID JESUS REALLY SAY THAT HE WAS GOD? Throughout the Gospel accounts of Jesus' time on earth, we read that Jesus was very careful to avoid any public confession of His messiahship. This is because He knew that the expectation that the people had of the coming Messiah was that the Messiah would be an earthly King like David was, and would free Israel from the oppression of the Roman Empire. As a consequence, Jesus' public references to His messianic
- 7. person were alwaysoblique and indirect. If the people understood Who He was, they would most certainly want to make Him King, and so interfere with His sacrificial mission of salvation. (For example: "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." John 6:15 (NIV)) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man,but by my Father in heaven." MATTHEW 16:13-17 (NIV) "Sir," the woman said, "I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth." The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." JOHN 4:19-26 (NIV) "For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." JOHN 6:33-38 (NIV) Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.
- 8. The Jews wereamazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him." JOHN 7:14-18 (NIV) "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." JOHN 8:23, 24 (NIV) "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kindof language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions.This makes us believe that you came from God." "You believe at last!" Jesus answered. "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." JOHN 16:25-33 (NIV) I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. JOHN 3:12-13 (NIV) The high priest said to Jesus, "I charge you, under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matt 26:63-64 (NIV) Jesus for Life WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS? To really believe in Jesus is not as simple as saying honestly that "I believe that Jesus lived, and died on the cross and rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven." And, "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God."Belief here means much more than that.
- 9. Belief in Jesusmeans that we DO what we believe. We turn around from living life 'our way' to placing our complete trust in Jesus. Belief means that we trust Him with our life, with our soul; that we trust Him to bring us to eternal life. We come to recognise that He is our reason for being. Belief in Jesus as our Saviour means that we no longer want to live our lives in the same way that we used to live. It means that we want to live our lives, to live in a way which is pleasing to Him ! This change of heart is called "repentance." And why do we want to "repent"? Because, suddenly or slowly, we have come to realise how offensive our lives have been, and are, to God. God Who is so Pure and so Holy. And then we hear and understand the great news that Jesus died for OUR sins, He died to set us free from the punishment which is so rightly ours. He died on the cross, He who was without sin, died for our sins. He came to earth to die, to make it possible for us to come into a right relationship with God. At last, we understand ! And when, at last, we repent of our sins and turn to Jesus Christ, when we give our lives over to His control, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who marks us as belonging to Jesus forever. And He, the Holy Spirit, lives in us and helps us become more like Jesus, day by day. We find that following this giving of ourselves, our all, into His care, we grow to ‘Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind’ and to ‘Love our neighbour as ourself’. (derived from Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-39) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17 (NIV) So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:35-39 (NIV) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:14-15 (NIV) While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said,"The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I
- 10. speak in parables,so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 (NIV) From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesusasked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."John 6:66-69 (NIV) Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created inChrist Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:7-10 (NIV) [Notice here, and elsewhere in the Bible, God shows us that faith in Jesus' saving death produces (leads to) good works, but that good works do not lead to faith in Jesus' saving death. In fact, such good works lead to faith in one's own righteousness! We are not saved by our works; the good works which we do are the fruit of our faith. ] You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud butgives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:4-10 (NIV) Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no onecan enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV) [Thomas had not been together with the other disciples when Jesus had first appeared to them,
- 11. after Jesus' resurrectionfor the dead.] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:25-29 (NIV) Jesus for LifeWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE IN JESUS? Matthew 22:37-39) To really believe in Jesus is not as simple as saying honestly that "I believe that Jesus lived, and died on the cross and rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven." And, "I believe that Jesus is the Son of God." Belief here means much more than that.Belief in Jesus means that we DO what we believe. We turn around from living life 'our way' to placing our complete trust in Jesus. Belief means that we trust Him with our life, with our soul; that we trust Him to bring us to eternal life. We come to recognise that He is our reason for being. Belief in Jesus as our Saviour means that we no longer want to live our lives in the same way that we used to live. It means that we want to live our lives, to live in a way which is pleasing to Him ! This change of heart is called "repentance." And why do we want to "repent"? Because, suddenly or slowly, we have come to realise how offensive our lives have been, and are, to God. God Who is so Pure and so Holy. And then we hear and understand the great news that Jesus died for OUR sins, He died to set us free from the punishment which is so rightly ours. He died on the cross, He who was without sin, died for our sins. He came to earth to die, to make it possible for us to come into a right relationship with God. At last, we understand !And when, at last, we repent of our sins and turn to Jesus Christ, when we give our lives over to His control, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, who marks us as belonging to Jesus forever. And He, the Holy Spirit, lives in us and helps us become more like Jesus, day by day. We find that following this giving of ourselves, our all, into His care, we grow to ‘Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind’ and to ‘Love our neighbour as ourself’. (derived from Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37-39) For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:17 (NIV) So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by
- 12. faith. And ifhe shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:35-39 (NIV) After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:14-15 (NIV) While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.' "This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15 (NIV) From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:66-69 (NIV) Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:22-30 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:7-10 (NIV) [Notice here, and elsewhere in the Bible, God shows us that faith in Jesus' saving death produces(leads to) good works, but that good works do not lead to faith in Jesus' saving death. In fact, such good works lead to faith in one's own righteousness! We are not saved by our works; the good works which we do are the fruit of our faith. ] You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?
- 13. Anyone who choosesto be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:4-10 (NIV) Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' John 3:3-7 (NIV) [Thomas had not been together with the other disciples when Jesus had first appeared to them, after Jesus' resurrection for the dead.] So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But Thomas said: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:25-29 (NIV) Jesus for Life WHAT NOW? As we have moved through these pages, we have learnt a number of things. A summary of these discoveries might be Sin is the failure by mankind (the created) to truly seek our Creator’s rule over our lives. To repent is to turn around from trying to run our own lives, to asking Jesus, rightfully, to rule our life. To be righteous is to be in a right relationship with God our Holy Creator through the one way God has provided— through the sin-free life and death of Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. Salvation is deliverance from eternal condemnation to the sure faith in our eternal life. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. Grace is receiving what we don't deserve. Christ came to Earth to pay a debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt we couldn't pay. __________________________________ Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead? Acts 26:7-8 (NIV) We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our
- 14. Lord Jesus Christ,but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 2 Peter 1:16-18 (NIV) "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." Isaiah 45:22 (NIV) What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Deuteronomy 4:7-8 (NIV) The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 1 Peter 3:8-12 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7 (NIV) Jesus prayed to God for His disciples: "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. John 17:20 (NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:9-11 (NIV) "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:22-25 (NIV) Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;save me because of your unfailing love.Psalm 6:4 (NIV) Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;be merciful to me and answer me. Psalm 27:7 (NIV)
- 15. Have mercy onme, O God,according to your unfailing love;according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.Psalm 51:1-2 (NIV) Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;save me and I will be saved,for you are the one I praise. Jeremiah 17:14 (NIV) 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' Luke 18:13 (NIV) Don't let anything whatever keep you from turning to Jesus, here and now, immediately, wholeheartedly, even now as you read these words. In fact, God invites you to do so. We suggest that you pray to God, asking him to call you to be one of his children. If God has shown you your need, and you do want to be saved, then you "must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21). You must repent, and you must have faith in Jesus Christ. This means that you accept that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16) and that 'Christ died for the ungodly' (Romans 5:6) - and that YOU are one of these ungodly ! It means that you believe that in his power and love Christ is able and willing to save you. And it means that you actually do put your trust in Jesus, relying upon him and him alone to make you right with God. Your proud sinful nature will fight against abandoning trust in your own 'goodness' or religion. Yet you have no alternative. You must stop trusting in anything else and trust only in Christ, who is "able to save completely those who come to God through him" (Hebrews 7:25). You need to talk to God. Ideally, pray aloud to him. Confess that you are a guilty, lost and helpless sinner, and with all your heart ask Jesus to save you, and to take his rightful place as Lord of your life, enabling you to turn from sin and to live for him. Such a prayer might be - _______________________________________________ Dear God, I have failed to honour you and failed to live your way. Please have mercy on me, a sinner. Thank you for sending your Son to die for me, so I can be forgiven. Please help me to live as a follower of Jesus for the rest of my life. Amen. _______________________________________________ We encourage you join a Bible-based Christian group and carefully study God's word to the world, Who will go to heaven? Good people? No. Bad people, who have asked God for forgiveness —these are the people who will go to heaven. Luke chapter 18 verses 9 to 14 and Luke chapter 5 verses 31 and 32
- 16. which is theBible. Continue to pray to God, your heavenly Father. You will hear him answering your prayers through his word the Bible, as you read it day by day. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) You will find a new sensitivity to sin in your life and the power to resist this sin - this is God's Holy Spirit working in you. Work with the Holy Spirit in destroying the evil in your life. This battle will take the rest of your lifetime. Finally, keep trusting in Jesus. It's only because of Jesus (and his death and resurrection) that you can be forgiven and put right with God. You'll need to keep returning to this again and again, because as you begin to live God's new way, you will still fail and do the wrong thing. We all do. We all need to keep looking to the death of Jesus on the cross as the only grounds for our forgiveness. We must never stop relying on Jesus - and Jesus alone - as the means by which we are forgiven and granted eternal life, and this totally by God's grace. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him,and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:7 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.John 6:37 (NIV) I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.John 6:47 (NIV) If you don't yet own a modern translation of the Bible, we recommend that you obtain of a copy of the New International Version of the Bible (NIV), and read one of the Gospels - say Mark, or John. After that, we suggest that you read another Gospel and then read the Acts of the Apostles,Galatians and Romans. Then Genesis, Exodus, and Deuteronomy. Why did Jesus come? Remember that God warns us against the dangers of delay: Do not boast about tomorrow,for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1 (NIV) Seek the LORD while he may be found;call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6 (NIV) I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV) "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:15 (NIV) ____________________________________ If you know full well that you have not yet taken these steps, and that you are still an
- 17. unforgiven rebel, thenyou need to do something about it. You are at a fork in the road. It's the choice that we all face. There are only two ways to live Jesus for Life SELECTED PASSAGES FOR PRAYERFUL MEDITATION We are all different, yet we seem to be assailed by many similar thoughts and concerns. The following selection of passages from the Bible may provide you with material for further deep thought and consideration. We suggest that you do pray to God that He will open the eyes of your understanding, so that you may truly understand what He is saying to you here. ___________________________________________________ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (NIV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 1 John 2:1 (NIV) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 1 John 3:14 (NIV) And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11 (NIV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NIV) Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." 1 Kings 18:21a (NIV) See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (NIV) Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;
- 18. whether the godswhich your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:14-15 (KJV) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 1 Peter 1:8 (NIV) … you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion , a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who donot believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," 1 Peter 2:5-7 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."1 Peter 2:21-22 (NIV) Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, …. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 (NIV) The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?For we are the temple of the living God.As God has said:"I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be mysons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV) Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
- 19. Therefore I willboast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9 (NIV) For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 (NIV) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9- 12 (NIV) …. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NIV) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NIV) .... while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived 2 Timothy 3:13 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV) After Jesus said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here lookinginto the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will comeback in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Acts 1:9-14 (NIV) And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (NIV) But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:19-20 (NIV) Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! Acts 5:29 (NIV) God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel . Acts 5:31 (NIV) So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7 (NIV)
- 20. Then Philip beganwith that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. Acts 8:35 (NIV) The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. Acts 9:11 (NIV) He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." Acts 10:43 (NIV) All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 16:30-31 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11-12 (NIV) But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen - that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles." Acts 26:22-23 (NIV) See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3 (NIV) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:15-16 (NIV) Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. And the LORD directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, Deuteronomy 4:12- 16 (NIV) There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3 (NIV) … he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will Ephesians 1:5 (NIV) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephesians 2:1-2 (NIV)
- 21. …. built onthe foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20 (NIV) But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ - even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) "You shall have no other gods before me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments." Exodus 20:3-6 (NIV) Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV) Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:21-24 (NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light Ephesians 5:8 (NIV) Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:24 (NIV) For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. Galatians 1:13 (NIV) But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles - only James, the Lord's brother. Galatians 1:15-19 (NIV) I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21 (NIV) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Genesis 3:7 (NIV) The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)
- 22. For the wordof God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25 (NIV) Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:27 (NIV) In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 (NIV) Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:26-28 (NIV) And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:10-18 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists
- 23. and that herewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:1-11 (NIV) But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24 (NIV) Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Hebrews 13:4 (NIV)
- 24. Jesus Christ isthe same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15 (NIV) "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Isaiah 43:25 (NIV) The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint. The carpenter measures with a line and makes an outline with a marker; he roughs it out with chisels and marks it with compasses. He shapes it in the form of man, of man in all his glory, that it may dwell in a shrine. He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak. He let it grow among the trees of the forest, or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow. It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm; I see the fire." From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, "Save me;you are my god." They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand. No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, "Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" "Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.
- 25. Return to me,for I have redeemed you." Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel . "This is what the LORD says -- your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: Isaiah 44:13-24 (NIV) "Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none but me. "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. Isaiah 45:20-24 (NIV) …. provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour. Isaiah 61:3 (NIV) I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 (NIV) All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;
- 26. we all shrivelup like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 (NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV) But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that - and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:18-24 (NIV) But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. Jeremiah 10:10 (NIV) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV) He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:8-13 (NIV) Jesus' mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." John 2:5 (NIV) Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. "For Godso loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed
- 27. in the nameof God's one and only Son. John 3:14-18 (NIV) Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14 (NIV) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24 (NIV) I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. John 6:47 (NIV) The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. John 6:63 (NIV) He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." John 6:65 (NIV) If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God orwhether I speak on my own.John 7:17 (NIV) I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." John 8:24 (NIV) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32 (NIV) So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 (NIV) You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NIV) He replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I wasblind but now I see!" John 9:25 (NIV) "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me John 10:14 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 (NIV) - and the Scripture cannot be broken - John 10:35b (NIV) Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; John 12:42 (NIV) There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. John 12:48 (NIV) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14 (NIV) But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 (NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and
- 28. he will tellyou what is yet to come. John 16:13 (NIV) Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. John 17:3 (NIV) When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NIV) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31 (NIV) The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." John 21:17 (NIV) And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour" Luke 1:46-47 (NIV) Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. Luke 6:22-23 (NIV) If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:26 (NIV) "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." Luke 10:16 (NIV) As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Luke 11:27-28 (NIV) Jesus said to the Phasisees: "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering." Luke 11:52 (NIV) Jesus answered. "No one is good - except God alone. Luke 18:19 (NIV)
- 29. "He replied, 'Itell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. Luke 19:26 (NIV) Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27 (NIV) Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 (RSV) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Mark 13:31 (NIV) He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:15-16 (NIV) "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Mark 2:7 (NIV) (Jesus continued) "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, 'Honour your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." Mark 7:6-13 (NIV) "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
- 30. Matthew 1:21 (NIV) Jesusanswered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus said: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV) [Here, Jesus is telling us that if we want to be saved by keeping the Law, our righteousness needs to be impossibly outstanding!] "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22 (NIV) And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7 (NIV) So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32 (NIV) "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the
- 31. earth. I didnot come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34 (NIV) "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; Matthew 10:37 (NIV) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you." He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." Matthew 12:46-50 (NIV) For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 (NIV) Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes'? Matthew 21:42 (NIV) "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. Matthew 23:8-10 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Philippians 3:8-9 (NIV) I want to know Christ and the power of his
- 32. resurrection and thefellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3:10 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 (NIV) The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalms 18:2 (NIV) In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalms 18:6 (NIV) The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalms 19:9-11 (NIV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalms 23 (NKJV) Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Psalms 27:10 (NIV) He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Psalms 40:2-3 (NIV) No man can by any means redeem his brother, Or give to God a ransom for him-- For the redemption of his soul is costly,
- 33. And he shouldcease trying forever-- That he should live on eternally;That he should not undergo decay. Psalms 40:2-3 (NAS) He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalms 62:6 (NIV) Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. Psalms 69:4 (NIV) I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; Psalms 69:8 (NIV) Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. Psalms 69:12 (NIV) The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." Psalms 110:4 (NIV) Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Psalms 119:164 (NIV) ...the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -- the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalms 146:6 (NIV) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 (NIV) Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them." Revelation 14:13 (NIV) "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 15:3-4 (NIV) I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the
- 34. saints, the bloodof those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Revelation 17:6 (NIV) Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Revelation 18:4-5 (NIV) I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1:16-17 (NIV) "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12 (NIV) But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26 (NIV) What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."
- 35. "The poison ofvipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes." Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Romans 3:9-20 (NIV) Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." Romans 4:4-8 (NIV) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. Romans 4:11 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NIV) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5 (NIV) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. Romans 6:9 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my
- 36. sinful nature. ForI have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans 7:18 (NIV) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:8 (NIV) For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Romans 8:15-16 (NIV) …. creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:21 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29 (NIV) Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 (NIV) Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and
- 37. richly blesses allwho call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:1-17 (NIV) And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6 (NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit., Titus 3. 4-5 Jesus for Life .WHAT KIND OF LIFE IS A "GODLY" LIFE? Paul wrote the following lines in his letter to the saints (Christians) living in Philippi (in North Eastern Greece/Macedonia today). If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-
- 38. even death ona cross ! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. Philippians Chapter 2 Verses 1 to 16a (NIV) ... the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV) . Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV) We do well to read and recall Matthew 18:21-35 where Jesus tells us a parable about forgiveness. God has forgiven us an enormous debt, and we should be so grateful that we ought to have no difficulty forgiving others their tiny debts to us. "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents* was brought
- 39. to him. Sincehe was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, cancelled the debt and let him go. "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii**. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatlydistressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:22-35 (NIV) * Ten thousand Talents is equivalent to $10,000,000 today - we are all like this debtor, before God ** 100 denarii is equivalent to $2 today - our neighbours owe us this comparatively small amount. - It is not 'good' people who will get into heaven, but bad people - people who have asked for and received God's forgiveness. Then Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: 'I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, 'O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honoured." Luke 18:9-14 (NLT) - Jesus taught us to pray: "Father, may your name be honoured. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us our food day by day. And forgive us our sins-- just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. And don't let us yield to temptation." Luke 11:2-4 (NLT)
- 40. Therefore, as God'schosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) Jesus taught us: So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" Luke 17:10 (NIV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:23-25 (NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said,
- 41. "All authority inheaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Psalm 73:23-24 (NIV) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------