Salvation

Life and Death

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I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto Him: for He is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20

These final words of Deuteronomy 30 are written for the people of Israel when they are getting ready to enter the land of Canaan – the Promise Land. God has given to them His law, statutes, commandments, and He calls for their obedience to every one of them. They will have life if they obey Him. They will choose death if they  disobey Him.

Which do you choose today? Will you choose life, or will you choose death? That is right this is the message for today. The Apostle Paul has written what the Lord says, “For He saith, “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee:” behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Now is the day for your salvation.

When Jesus Christ came into the world, He came to fulfill the demands of the law, and He did. All the sacrifices, all the blood shed from bullocks, rams, lambs, goats were telling us about an ultimate sacrifice; that sacrifice of a perfect Lamb of God, His own Son who would be that Ultimate sacrifice for the sins of Adam kind – for me and for you.

Now, today you have a choice. You are already in the way of death if you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You do not have to, you do not need to stay in death. When you call on the Lord Jesus for salvation, forgiveness and cleansing of all your sins, He will hear you, and through Him You will have eternal life.

I have chosen life over death. I want you to join me, so I can meet you in our eternal home with Jesus.

A Chosen People

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For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face.  Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
Deuteronomy 7-11

They are called an “holy people” and a people who have been chosen to be a “special people unto Himself, above all people on the face of the earth.” What makes these people a special people? It is not because they are good, or holy, or righteous, or because they are worthy. It is because God says He loves them. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The people are not holy because they are good, but because they have been made so by God Himself. They are a people who that the LORD is their God. That He is the faithful God, and that He keeps His promises, and is merciful, and He loves all who keep His commandments. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are not special by their own works; they are special because the LORD keeps His promises, and He declares them a special people. God does not love them because they are worthy of His love; He loves them because He keeps His word.

Where does the Bride of Jesus Christ fit into this? We are part of the Body of Christ because we have been born again through faith in Christ Jesus, and His death on the cross of Calvary, His burial, and His resurrection. Jesus Christ is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and through Him we are a special people, a holy people, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

We were not chosen because we were good, righteous, or holy. We were dying, condemned transgressors of the law of God, yet He loved us, and called unto Himself (Romans 5:8). We also keep His commandments, because we love Him; Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

There is a reason to fear what the end may be for one’s life. It is certain that you will die. It is just as sure and certain, that we will all, one day stand before the Lord, and will be judged by what we did with Jesus Christ. If you refuse Him you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe Him, trusting in Him and loving Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and all your strength, then you will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

Trust Him today, believe His word, His promises, and call on Him in repentance of sin.

By Day, and By Night

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And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
Numbers 9:15-16

The “Tent of the testimony” was completed, the priesthood, was consecrated  to the LORD. All had been done just as the LORD had commanded Moses. At the raising of the “Tent of the testimony” a powerful show of approval from God is seen by all the people.

The LORD God gives His approval by showing up in a cloud over the tent of testimony by day, and a fire by night. Both of these things rested on the tent showing the people of God’s powerful presence.

The cloud by day, and fire by night had been present when they were  fleeing from Egypt. Now the people can see that God is dwelling in their midst. They could know and say, “GOD is with us.” When the cloud or the fire would move from the tent, then the people knew it was time to move on. When the cloud and the fire stayed, even for a week, a month or a year, they would stay.

Today, the follower of Jesus Christ can know that “GOD is with us,” because we trust in the Son of God who is Jesus Christ, who is also Immanuel which means, “God with us.” When we called on the name of the Lord for our eternal salvation He gave us the Holy Spirit who is our earnest payment (2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14) for assurance of God’s presence in us, on us, and around us. He always leads us to continue in fellowship with Christ.

How do we stay in fellowship with Christ? First we must have the Holy Spirit, and be attentive to Him. He is present in the reading, study, and doing of the word of God. He is the One who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). We must have a heart and an ear for hearing the Spirit,  and following His lead. That comes by communicating with Christ Jesus through prayer, and hearing Him through His word; His commandments, statutes, His law, His judgments, His precepts, His total, and trustworthy word. God will do what He says He will do. Not one word will fail.

Are you in fellowship with God. I can tell you with full assurance that if you do not know Jesus Christ for who He is – the Christ, Son of the Living God – believing He died on the cross for you, was buried, and arose from the dead. That you are not in fellowship with God.

Call on the name of the Lord, believing Him, and He will hear you and deliver you from all your sins. Will you do that today?

Fire From God

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And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.  And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:23-24

A few years ago; maybe four or five; a pastor/evangelist friend of mine was preaching in a church for a revival service, and while he was preaching a bolt of lightening hit the church steeple, and it caught on fire. Some of us told him, joking like, that he had preached the fire of God down.

The good news concerning the church building is the fire department got there and was able to save the building.

Now to the verses above.

The event was the first of the burnt offerings offered by the Aaronic priesthood, and they had did all, built the tabernacle in accordance to God’s direction according to Moses. They had built  all the pieces of the furniture, utensils, and all that God had told Moses, just as he had been told by God. The priestly garments made as God had said. All that God had said for them to do they had done.

Now, was the day of reckoning. The sacrifices were to be offered, and they were offered according to the direction God had given, and “the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people,'” and the LORD answered with fire, consuming the offering on the altar. This was evidence of God’s approval. The reaction of the people was a proper one. They shouted, and fell on their faces in awe and worship of the LORD Most High.

Many Christians today, myself included, would like to see such a thing. It does every time a lost soul comes to faith in Jesus Christ. Do we realize what takes place when someone comes to Christ Jesus? That is the most awesome thing God does. To save a wretch like me from my sin is why Jesus came to earth to live with with us, and then to die for us – in our place.

I do not need to see fire come down from heaven to consume an offering. I want to see the fire of God’s word touch (Jeremiah 23:29) your heart convicting you that you also are a wretched sinner in need of a Savior, and that Savior is the one and only only begotten Son of God who is Jesus Christ.

God loved you so much He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever ( that means you too) believes in Him should not perish, but will have eternal life.

 

Glory On The House

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Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Exodus 40:34-38

Moses had led the people of Israel at this point for about one year. Life in the wilderness was tough, rough, dry, and a learning experience for Moses and the people.

They had received the LORD’S Ten Commandments, and Moses had broken the stone tablets which the LORD had cut out and written with His own hand; and Moses had gone back to the top of Sinai, and cut the stone out at the LORD’S instruction, and then he was instructed to cut out the Ten Commandments, as the LORD gave them.

They had spent time, given offerings of gold, silver, brass, precious stones, blue, purple, and scarlet and linen, and other things for the building of a portable tabernacle in the wilderness.

The above verses tell us what happened after the tabernacle was finished, and at God’s instruction set up.

Moses cannot even enter it because the glory of GOD is on the house. He is well pleased with it.

What does all of this mean for a Christian in today’s world? It is for our learning, even our sanctification, and strengthening of our faith assuring us that God will do what He says He will do.

Everything about the tabernacle in the wilderness is a shadow, a type, a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice of His own blood for the redemption of all who will come to Him.

There is a problem though, in that, the way into the presence of the LORD is guarded by a veil. The veil was between the table, and  the lampstand (the Menorah), incense altar and the Ark of the covenant, and mercy seat which set on top.

In many years there was a temple built which was destroyed in Jerusalem, and rebuilt, and in the time of Jesus when He died on the cross we are told that the veil of the temple was torn apart from top to bottom according to Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, and Luke 23:45. Thus telling us that Jesus is the way into the presence and glory of God, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

Jesus’s death fulfilled all the law concerning atonement, redemption, and sanctification. In His burial He carried all our sins away and when He rose from the dead He defeated sin, death, and Hell.

Now what will you do with Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, God the Living Son?

According To The Pattern

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“…And let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it…”
Exodus 25:8-9

According to what pattern? The pattern from that which is in the presence of God in glory.

God has told Moses to receive an offering from the people in the wilderness. Those offerings are to consist of gold, silver, brass, precious stones, special materials, such as blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen. It was also to include certain animal skins, oil, spices, and incense. As well as a few other items and a certain wood.

What is all of this about? It is God’s plan of salvation for His people. The plan has included blood sacrifices, of goats, and lambs, and bulls; even a red heifer. It comes from God’s pattern in glory. The earthly tabernacle was for God’s desire to dwell among His people. All of these shadows, types, and pictures are only likenesses of the true, which is in heaven. They all point to a Savior who will come several centuries later, and His name is Jesus.

The blood of goats, lambs, bulls, nor a red heifer can take away sin. The reason for daily sacrifices shows that, and the annual sacrifice on the day of Atonement needed repeated again and again, because they were still guilty of sin.

When Jesus came, sent from the Father as the “Only begotten Son of God,” then God was dwelling among His people. The religious leaders rejected Him; many of them did, and that led to the sacrifice of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. His one sacrifice is sufficient to save all who will call on His name.

Hear what the writer of Hebrews says,

“Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, “See,” saith He, “that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 8:5

Christ Jesus is the One and only who can take away our sins. He has paid the sin debt that was owed to God the Father. The debt has been paid, and Jesus paid it with His life, giving His blood for our redemption.

Only one sacrifice. Only One Savior. His name is Jesus who is the Son of the Living God. Call on His name today and be delivered from the bondage of sin and darkness.

The Great Work of the LORD

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Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.  And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and His servant Moses.
Exodus 14:30-31

The LORD who is the Almighty God, Creator of all that is; both seen and unseen is All Powerful. There is nothing too hard for God. With Him nothing shall be impossible.

In the above verses for today we find Israel out of Egypt, and the Egyptian army decimated, drowned in the Red Sea. Some may wonder, “Why would God destroy so many people?” and the answer to that is “That they might know that I am the LORD.”

At least  twice that phrase is used in chapters 11 through 16. Do you know that the LORD He is God, and that there is no other? One day you will. Either on this side of eternity or on the other side.

God has made a way for all who will come to Him, to come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ who paid the sin debt for all the world. Only those who believe Him can come to Him. Jesus died on Calvary’s cross taking the wrath of God for sin, becoming sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), He was buried carrying all our sin, shame, condemnation, and guilt away, then, He arose and came out of the grave alive forever more, interceding for all who have come to Him at the Father’s right hand.

One day soon Jesus will return, and all who have come to Him will go and be with Him forever, and those who have not believed Him will stand before a great white throne and be judged according to their works, will be found guilty, and cast into the Lake of Fire.

Believe Him, and be saved. He has paid the price of your redemption.

Do All Those Wonders

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And the LORD said unto Moses, “When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, ‘Thus saith the LORD, ‘Israel is My son, even My firstborn: and I say unto thee, ‘Let my son go, that he may serve me:’ and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.’ ”
Exodus 4:21-23

When GOD sent Moses back to Egypt to deliver them from bondage, He gave him some signs; some wonders; that would get the attention of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and all the Egyptian people.

Today, God equips His people with gifts of service for the saving of souls, delivering His people from the bondage of darkness, death, and sin. Since God calls His people to do His will He also gives us what we need to do the ministry He has given us.

It all comes because His Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and on the third day He rose again. When we through faith call on the name of the Lord He hears and will deliver all who call. When we have surrendered to His will for our lives He gives us what we need for serving Him.

God Has A Plan For His Wayward People

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Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
“Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.  For I will set Mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.  And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.’ ”
Jeremiah 24:4-7

When They Go Out From Us

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Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1 John 2:18-19

The One Sacrifice For Sin

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But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, “Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared Me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure.” Then said I, “Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:3-7

The Remaining Glory

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But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious?  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
2 Corinthians 3:7-11

The Children Of Abraham

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“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, ‘They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.’  For this is the word of promise, ‘At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.’ ”
Romans 9:6-9

The Marvelous Work Of God

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Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.
Acts 13:38-41

Delivered To Die

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And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles: and they shall mock Him, and shall scourge Him, and shall spit upon Him, and shall kill Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Mark 10:32-34

You Be Ready

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“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
“Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:35-40

Place Of Worship

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The woman saith unto him, “Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” Jesus saith unto her,
“Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.”
John 4:19-23

For My Name’s Sake

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As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; “Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto Me: but pollute ye My holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.  For in Mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” saith the Lord GOD, “there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve Me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up Mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel,” saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 20:39-44

The Mouth Of The LORD Has Spoken

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“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the LORD: “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword:” for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 1:18-20

Fear the LORD, and Serve Him

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Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
1 Samuel 12:23-25

We Have Sinned

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Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against Thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.” And the LORD said unto the children of Israel,
“Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken Me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, “We have sinned: do Thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto Thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.”  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
Judges 10:9-17

Revealing the Children of God

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Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:7-10

Free As Servants of God

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Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.  Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
1 Peter 2:11-17

The Word Of God Is At Work In You Who Believe

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For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Redemption Through The One Who Made All Things

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In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Colossians 1:15-20