WHAT WE BELIEVE a 6-Part series

Transcription

1 WHAT WE BELIEVE a 6-Part series ECCLESIA

2 Part 1 Jesus Christ: Mediator of a New Covenant Jesus death put the New Covenant in effect. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. What is the New Covenant? Hebrews 9:16, 22 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:8-12 The New Covenant makes us holy. First He said, Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor were You pleased with them (although the law required them to be made). Then He said, Here I am, I have come to do Your will. He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Hebrews 10:8-10 The New Covenant provides a better hope. The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:

3 The Old Covenant is now obsolete. By calling this covenant new, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. No one could keep the Old Covenant. Hebrews 8:13 For if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people. Hebrews 8:7-8 Changing the line of priests means changing the covenant. If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. Hebrews 7:11-12 Jesus is the mediator of a superior Covenant. But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which He is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15 The New Covenant is a promise made by God to Jesus. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but He became a priest with an oath when God said to Him The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: You are a priest forever. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:

4 New Covenant salvation is complete, permanent, and forever. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:23-25 Jesus Christ s sacrifice cleansed us once, not repeatedly. The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. Hebrews 10:1-3 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. 1 Peter 3:18 Jesus Christ took away all our sins once. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. Hebrews 10:4-5 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God s presence nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 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:

5 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 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 9:28 But you know that He appeared so that He might take away our sins. And in Him is no sin. 1 John 3:5 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 defense Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the One who turns aside God s wrath, taking away our sins, and not only ours, but also the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2 Jesus Christ sat down after making you perfectly cleansed. 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 the holy ones. Hebrews 10:11-14 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 Jesus one and only death on the cross is enough! 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:

6 How should we respond to the New Covenant message? Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest. Hebrews 4:1, 9-11 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23 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 4:16 6

7 Part 2 Jesus Christ: Lamb of God You have been forgiven- past tense. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. 1 John 2:12 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 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 10:17-18 No judgment and no condemnation remains for us. For God did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not judged, but whoever does not believe stands judged already because he has not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. John 3:17-18 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 We were redeemed and forgiven at the same time. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God s grace. Ephesians 1:7 7

8 For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 We have been reconciled to God through Christ. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:19-22 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation. Conclusion: It is finished! Romans 5:11 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 8

9 Part 3 Jesus Christ: Our Death in Him Through Adam, we were born spiritually dead and condemned. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. Romans 5:15 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. God delivered us by placing us in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:22 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son. Colossians 1:13 Your old self died and you became alive in Christ. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. Romans 6:3-6 9

10 Even when we were dead in our transgressions, (He) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:5, 6 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3,4 Why we still struggle: the flesh. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. 1 Corinthians 1:26 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Galatians 3:3 For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel. As to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; a Hebrew of Hebrews, of the tribe of Benjamin; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. Why we still struggle: the power of sin. Philippians 3:3-6 Sin is lurking at the door; its* desire is for you, but you must master it**. Genesis 4:7 For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that it is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which indwells me. 10

11 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. For I joyfully concur with the Law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:15-25 Good news: You have been freed from sin s power! Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with (made powerless), that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:6-7 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts. Romans 6:11-12 Summary: Old Man / Old Self the person I was in Adam GONE The Flesh attitudes & mindsets / independence from Christ STILL HERE Sin a personified power at work in my body not me! STILL HERE Conclusion: you are not fighting an inner civil war with yourself! 11

12 Part 4 Jesus Christ: Full of Grace The Law is for the unrighteous. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 The Law shuts everyone up. 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 3:19-20 The Law shows us that we are prisoners of sin. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come... But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. The Law cannot justify a person. Galatians 3:19-24 Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16 12

13 The Law cannot impart life. Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. Galatians 3:21 No one will ever keep the Law. You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. Matthew 5:27-29 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, Raca, is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, You fool! will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:21-22 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10 The Law actually arouses sin! For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. Romans 7:5 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Romans 7:8 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 13

14 What about living by rules? Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. The Law curses and condemns men. Colossians 2:20-23 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Galatians 3:10 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 2 Corinthians 3:7-9 Jesus, born under Law, fulfilled it for us. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Galatians 4:4-5 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. Matthew 5:17-18 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the 14

15 righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Law and faith do not mix. Romans 8:3-4 Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. Galatians 3:24-25 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Those in Christ have died to the Law. Galatians 5:18 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:4-6 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. Don t look to the Law! Galatians 2:19 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Galatians 3:1-3 15

16 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. Galatians 5:2-4 Grace, not Law, teaches us to live godly lives! For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14 But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ s power may rest on me. Christ wants us to enjoy freedom! 2 Corinthians 12:9 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 16

17 Part 5 Jesus Christ: His Life in You We were dead, in need of life. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. Ephesians 2:1 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. The Law could not meet our need. Colossians 2:13 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. Galatians 3:21 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. Romans 7:10 Jesus understood our real need. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 The life we have is eternal. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God s wrath remains on him. John 3:36 17

18 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 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 God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Eternal life is Christ s life. Hebrews 13:5 For if, when we were God s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by His life! Romans 5:10 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. John 14:19 Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. Having eternal life is about knowing a Person. John 14:6 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 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 3:7-9 18

19 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life. John 5:39-40 Because you have Him, you have His righteousness and fullness. 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. Therefore, as it is written: Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 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 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. Colossians 2:9-10 The Spirit of God gave birth to us, making us alive. 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 In reply 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. John 3:3-6 19

20 Christ in you is your only hope of glory. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27 Conclusion: Continue just as you started with Jesus. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him. Colossians 2:6 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 20

21 WHAT WE BELIEVE (Part 6) Jesus Christ: Our Motivation Because you are a new creation Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. Colossians 3:9-10 Because of your identity and your forgiveness For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:8-10 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32 Because you are now dead to these things Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Colossians 3:5-8 Because you are a slave of righteousness, obedient from the heart What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin 21

22 resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:15-18 Because Christ is our life 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 5:25-26 Because you represent the name of Jesus... Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 Because we belong to one another Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Ephesians 4:25-27 Because we build one another up Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 Because immorality is not a good fit for you But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is fitting among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Because sinful deeds are unwise and unprofitable Ephesians 5:3-4 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things that are done by them in secret Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:

23 Because the flesh is only destructive You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Because whatever you invest in yields a return Galatians 5:13-15 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10 Conclusion: Walk by the rule of the new creation. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:13-16 Because Jesus Christ is our motivation! 23