The New Life in Christ: No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13.

Go and learn what this means, “‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” Matthew 9:13.

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people; thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: A lawyer wanted to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 10:29.

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when saw him, he passed by on the other side.

So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’

“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:30-37.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them. Isaiah 55:7.

The king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor they shall drink water.

Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands.

Who knows?

God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.”

When God saw what they did, how turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Jonah 3:6-10.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the GOD of Israel will not forsake them.

So that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One has created it.

Isaiah 41:17 & 41:20.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: The one who is righteous shall surely live, says the LORD. But who is such righteous?

If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right - if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not take advance or accrued interest, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between contending parties, follows my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances, acting faithfully

-such a one is righteous; he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 18:5-9.

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. James 2:10.

 Amen.

The New Life in Christ: The Worship God Demands.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. Isaiah 55:8.

Is not this fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:3-9.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: The Worship God Demands.

Thus says the LORD:Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place?

Isaiah 66:1.

When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand?

Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile;

Incense is an abomination to me.

New moon and Sabbath and calling of convocation- I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.

Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. Isaiah 1:12-14.

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:16-17.

Amen.