INTRODUCTION

Over 30 years ago in approximately 1986 my wife and I were presented a 3-page handout entitled, “CHRISTIAN TO BE HOLY”, by our pastor. The Author is really Jesus Christ because it was filled with God’s Holy Word using the NASB (New American Standard Bible) which is the version that I read. The font was probably 8, very small, so throughout the years I have gradually added Scriptures to over 21 pages, and increased the font to 18 so while on the treadmill I could devour God’s Holy Word.
My wife, Dani, and I were married in a Catholic Church on 8-13-1983. We both had no relationship with Jesus Christ at the time of our marriage. Eventually, through a series of events, we both said the sinner’s prayer and were baptized by a well-known Pastor in about 1985. We attended Calvary Chapel, but were not true believers or followers of Jesus Christ. We fought like cats and dogs. We were rapidly on our way to a divorce when, by the grace of God, we met a man who led us to Jesus Christ. We both experienced the life exchange with His Holy Spirit as we completely surrendered our lives to Him by grace though faith as Scripture depicts.
He taught us the definition of love: “The commitment to promote the good of another for no selfish interest”. We learned that we must no longer allow our experience (tried/failed, tried/failed) to become our standard, but to allow God’s Standard, Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit, to become our standard. We were taught and believed that we must surrender completely to Jesus Christ before He could fill us up with His Holy Spirit. We were taught John 8:36, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” as absolutely true. We used God’s Holy Word like 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” and Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” to help us maintain our walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.

I developed the acronym H.O.L.Y.:
Humbly & Honestly
Obedient to God
Loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves & our enemies
Yielded to the Truth we know and the willingness to yield to the truth we come to know as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
H.O.L.Y. does not mean:
Haughty
Obstinate
Lustful
Yielded to the lustful desires and demands of our flesh

We realize that 1 Corinthians 15:10 will keep us in check to put no confidence in our flesh, but only in the Holy Spirit as we keep believing and receiving His awesome grace through faith in every trial that comes our way:

1 Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me”. We are simply presenting these Holy Scriptures for the freedom that God will impart to any who will receive and believe them.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING HOLINESS:
Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)
[1] Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
[2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Thessalonians 2:10 (NASB)
[10] You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 (NASB)
[3] For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
[4] that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
[5] not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

1 Thessalonians 4:7,8 (NASB)
[7] For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
[8] So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Titus 2:11-15 (NASB)
[11] For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
[12] instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
[13] looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,
[14] who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
[15] These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority Let no one disregard you.

Colossians 3:1-8 (NASB)
[1] Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
[2] Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
[3] For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
[4] When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
[5] Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
[6] For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,
[7] and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.
[8] But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

1 Peter 1:13-16 (NASB)
[13] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
[15] but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
[16] because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

1 John 5:6-8 (NASB)
[6] This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
[7] For there are three that testify:
[8] the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

2 Peter 1:2-11 (NASB)
[2] Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
[3] seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
[4] For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
[5] Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
[6] and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
[7] and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
[8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[9] For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
[10] Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
[11] for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Ezekiel 36:25-29 (NASB)
[25] Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
[26] Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
[27] I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
[28] You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.
[29] Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.

2 Peter 3:3-4,11-14 (NASB)
[3] Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, [4] and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
[11] Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
[12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
[13] But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. [14] Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

Revelation 21:7 (NASB)
[7] He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING SIN:
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)
[1] Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
[2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Galatians 6:1-4 (NASB)
[1] Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
[2] Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
[3] For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
[4] But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

1 Timothy 5:20-22 (NASB)
[20] Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.
[21] I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
[22] Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

2 Peter 2:20-22 (NASB)
[20] For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
[21] For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
[22] It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

Hebrews 10:26-29 (NASB)
[26] For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
[27] but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
[28] Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
[29] How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NASB)
[4] For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
[5] and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
[6] and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

1 John 5:17-19 (NASB)
[17] All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
[18] We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.
[19] We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1 John 1:5-10 (NASB)
[5] This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
[6] If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
[7] but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
[8] If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
[9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 John 2:1-6 (NASB)
[1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
[2] and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
[3] By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
[4] The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
[5] but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
[6] the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 John 3:3-10 (NASB)
[3] And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
[4] Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
[5] You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
[6] No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
[7] Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;
[8] the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
[9] No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
[10] By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

1 Corinthians 15:17-19 (NASB)
[17] and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
[18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
[19] If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Jeremiah 31:27-30 (NASB)
[27] “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast.
[28] As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.
[29] “In those days they will not say again, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
[30] But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.

Galatians 5:19-21 (NASB)
[19] Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
[20] idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
[21] envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING DECEPTION:
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NASB)
[33] Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
[34] Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God I speak this to your shame.

Romans 7:11 (NASB)
[11] for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

2 Peter 3:17-18 (NASB)
[17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
[18] but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

2 Corinthians 10:12 (NASB)
[12] For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

Psalm 12:1 (NASB)
[1] Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

Revelation 20:10 (NASB)
[10] And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 18:23 (NASB)
[23] and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

Titus 3:3-7 (NASB)
[3] For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
[4] But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
[5] He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
[6] whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
[7] so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2 Timothy 3:13-17 (NASB)
[13] But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
[14] You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
[15] and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
[16] All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
[17] so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Galatians 6:7-8 (NASB)
[7] Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
[8] For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NASB)
[3] But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NASB)
[9] Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
[10] nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
[11] Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NASB)
[1] But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
[2] by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
[3] men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.
[4] For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;
[5] for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 (NASB)
[10] and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
[11] For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,

Colossians 2:8 (NASB)
[8] See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.

James 1:16-18 (NASB)
[16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
[17] Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
[18] In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

1 Timothy 2:14-15 (NASB)
[14] And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
[15] But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING HIS PURPOSE:
1 Peter 2:21-25 (NASB)
[21] For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
[22] WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
[23] and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
[24] and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
[25] For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24 (NASB)
[14] We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. [15] See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
[16] Rejoice always;
[17] pray without ceasing;
[18] in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
[19] Do not quench the Spirit;
[20] do not despise prophetic utterances.
[21] But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
[22] abstain from every form of evil.
[23] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[24] Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

1 Peter 4:1-2 (NASB)
[1] Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
[2] so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)
[9] The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Acts 17:11 (NASB)
[11] Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Revelation 19:7-10 (NASB)
[7] Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
[8] It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
[9] Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
[10] Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (NASB)
[54] But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
[55] O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”
[56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
[57] but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NASB)
[7] For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
[8] So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NASB)
[11] and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
[12] so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING LOVE:
Philippians 1:9-11 (NASB)
[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
[10] so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
[11] having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NASB)
[12] and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
[13] so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

1 Peter 1:22-25 (NASB)
[22] Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
[23] for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
[24] For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,
[25] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER ” And this is the word which was preached to you.

1 John 5:2-4 (NASB)
[2] By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.
[3] For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
[4] For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NASB)
[14] For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
[15] and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
[16] Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
[17] Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
[18] Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
[19] namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

[20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
[21] He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Ephesians 5:25-30 (NASB)
[25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
[26] so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
[27] that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
[28] So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
[29] for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
[30] because we are members of His body.

Jude 1:17-25 (NASB)
[17] But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[18] that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”
[19] These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.
[20] But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
[21] keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
[22] And have mercy on some, who are doubting;
[23] save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
[24] Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
[25] to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Galatians 5:5-10 (NASB)
[5] For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
[6] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
[7] You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
[8] This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
[9] A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
[10] I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

1 John 3:16-24 (NASB)
[16] We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
[17] But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
[18] Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.
[19] We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him
[20] in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
[21] Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
[22] and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
[23] This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
[24] The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)
[8] Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NASB)
[14] Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NASB)
[1] If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
[2] If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
[3] And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
[4] Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
[5] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
[6] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
[7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
[8] Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
[9] For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
[10] but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
[11] When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
[12] For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
[13] But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

John 15:10-12 (NASB)
[10] If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
[11] These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
[12] “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
GOD’S WORD REGARDING FOLLOWING CHRIST:
Philippians 2:1-11 (NASB)
[1] Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
[2] make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
[3] Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
[4] do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
[5] Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
[6] who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
[7] but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
[8] Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
[9] For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
[10] so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
[11] and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Galatians 5:16-18,22-26 (NASB)
[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
[18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
[23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
[24] Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
[25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
[26] Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

John 15:5-8 (NASB)
[5] I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
[6] If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
[7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
[8] My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (NASB)
[10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING SALVATION
Hebrews 10:36-39 (NASB)
[36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
[37] FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
[38] BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.
[39] But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

1 John 5:12,13 (NASB)
[12] He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.
[13] These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Colossians 1:21-23 (NASB)
[21] And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
[22] yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-
[23] if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

Titus 3:3-7 (NASB)
[3] For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.
[4] But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
[5] He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
[6] whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
[7] so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

John 17:3 (NASB)
[3] This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)
[16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
[17] For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (NASB)
[13] But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
[14] It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[15] So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
[16] Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
[17] comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

Hebrews 12:14-15 (NASB)
[14] Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
[15] See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

GOD’S WORD REGARDING FREEDOM:
John 8:31-36 (NASB)
[31] So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
[32] and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
[33] They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ”You will become free”?”
[34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
[35] “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
[36] “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NASB)
[13] No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Galatians 5:1 (NASB)
[1] It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:13-14 (NASB)
[13] For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
[14] For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING JUDGING:
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NASB)
[14] But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
[15] But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
[16] For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Galatians 4:16 (NASB)
[16] So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

1 Peter 4:7 (NASB)
[7] The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

Matthew 7:1-6 (NASB)
[1] “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
[2] For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
[3] Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
[4] Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
[5] You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
[6] “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (NASB)
[1] It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife.
[2] You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
[3] For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
[4] In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
[5] I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
[6] Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?
[7] Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.
[8] Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
[9] I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;
[10] I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
[11] But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-not even to eat with such a one.
[12] For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
[13] But those who are outside, God judges. Remove THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.

1 Corinthians 6:2-5 (NASB)
[2] Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts?
[3] Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
[4] So if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church?
[5] I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,

Proverbs 27:5-6 (NASB)
[5] Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.
[6] Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

2 Chronicles 19:6-7 (NASB)
[6] He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment.
[7] Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

Leviticus 19:15,17 (NASB)
[15] ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
[17] ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.

Luke 12:57 (NASB)
[57] “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?

Ezekiel 3:18-19 (NASB)
[18] When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
[19] Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.

GOD’S WORD REGARDING HIS ARMOR:
Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)
[12] For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Ephesians 6:10-20 NASB
[10] Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
[11] Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
[12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
[13] Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
[14] Stand firm therefore, having GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING put ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
[15] and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
[16] in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
[17] And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
[18] With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
[19] and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
[20] for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Romans 13:12 (NASB)
[12] The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Romans 13:14 (NASB)
[14] But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

Psalm 18:32-35 (NASB)
[32] The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless?
[33] He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, And sets me upon my high places.
[34] He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
[35] You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great.

Zechariah 4:6 (NASB)
[6] Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.

Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
[13] I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB)
[12] Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Peter 1:5 (NASB)
[5] who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Proverbs 30:5 (NASB)
[5] Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

2 Corinthians 6:7 (NASB)
[7] in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NASB)
[8] But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

LET’S TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT ROMANS CHAPTERS 6, 7, AND 8 TO DISCERN WHAT GOD’S HOLY WORD IS SHOWING US:
LET SCRIPTURE SPEAK!!!

Romans 6:1-23 (NASB)
[1] What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
[2] May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
[3] Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
[4] Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
[6] knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
[7] for he who has died is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
[9] knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
[10] For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
[11] Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
[12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
[13] and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
[14] For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
[15] What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
[16] 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 resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
[17] But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
[18] and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
[19] I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
[20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
[21] Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.
[22] But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7:14-25 (NASB)
[14] For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
[15] For what 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.
[16] But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.
[17] So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
[18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
[19] For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.
[20] But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
[21] I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
[22] For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
[23] 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.
[24] Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
[25] 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 8:1-39 (NASB)
[1] Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
[3] For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
[4] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
[5] For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
[6] For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
[7] because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
[8] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
[9] However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
[10] If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
[11] But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
[12] So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-
[13] for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
[14] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
[15] For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
[16] The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
[17] and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
[19] For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
[20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
[21] that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
[22] For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
[23] And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
[24] For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
[25] But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
[26] In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
[27] and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
[28] And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
[29] For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
[30] and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
[32] He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
[33] Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
[34] who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
[35] Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] Just as it is written, “For YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
[37] But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
[38] For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
[39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.