The New life In Christ: “This scripture must have its full meaning. It was written about me, and it is happening now,” said Jesus. Luke 22:37.

“The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinful people,” said Jesus. Matthew 26:45.

“The hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners,” Jesus said. Mark 14:41.

There was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his followers were also invited to the wedding. When all the wine was gone, Jesus, mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

Jesus answered, “Dear woman, why come to me? My time has not yet come.” John 2:1-4.

“You go to the feast. I will not go yet to this feast, because the right time for me has not yet come,” said Jesus. John 7:8. Amen.

The New life In Christ: Faith and Good Works: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35.

“If your neighbor gives you his coat as a promise for the money he owes you, you must give it back to him by sunset, because it is the only cover to keep his body warm. He has nothing else to sleep in. If he cries out to me for help, I will listen, because I am merciful,” says God. Exodus 22:26-27.

If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing. Can faith like that save them? A brother or sister in Christ might need clothes or food. If you say to that person, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and plenty to eat,” but you do not give what that person needs, your words are worth nothing.

In the same way,

Faith that is alone-that does nothing- is dead. James 2:14-17. Amen.

The New life In Christ: “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own evil, ungodly desires. Jude 18.

I am against the prophets who prophesy false dreams, says the LORD.

“They mislead my people with their lies and false teachings! I did not send them or command them to do anything for me.” Jeremiah 23:32.

These people complain and blame others, doing the evil things they want to do. They brag about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. Jude 1:16.

Jude urges the church to get rid of the termites! –“to fight hard for the faith that was given the holy people of God.” (Jude 3)

These false teachers evidently believed that their freedom encouraged them to follow the modern philosophy, “If it feels good, do it…”

These people will be punished by God in the end, the author says.

How should the Christians deal with the false teachers? By being strong in their own faith, Jude says. By praying. By focusing on God’s love. By waiting patiently for Jesus Christ. Amen.

The New life In Christ: “I am the LORD, the God of every person on the earth. Nothing is impossible for me. Jeremiah 32:27.

                                              LIVING WITNESS

The LORD says, “I have chosen you and have not turned against you.”

“All those people who are angry with you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who are against you will disappear and be lost.

You will look for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who fought against you will vanish completely. Isaiah 41:9-12.

“The poor and needy people look for water (worldly support), but they can’t find any.

But I, the LORD, will answer their prayers; Isaiah 41:17.

“I will now give the cup of punishment to those who gave you pain, who told you, ‘Bow down so we can walk over you.’ They made your back like dirt for them to walk on; you were like a street for them to travel on.” Isaiah 51:23.

I will now give the cup of punishment to those who gave you pain …

The LORD will not break a crushed blade of grass or put out even a weak flame.

He will truly bring justice; Isaiah 42:3. Amen.

The New life In Christ: When you come together you do more harm than good. 1Corinthians 11:17.

The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching but will find many teachers who please them but saying the things they want to hear. They will stop listening to the truth and will begin to follow false stories. 2Timothy 4:3-4.

Those people are working hard to persuade you, but this is not good for you. They want to persuade you to turn against us and follow them. It is good for people to show interest in you, but only if their purpose is good. Galatians 4:17-18.

Do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the One I am trying to please. If I still wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10.

Now am I your enemy because I tell you the truth? Galatians 4:16. Amen.

The New life In Christ: “Lord, you can heal me if you will.” Matthew 8:2. This is what you really wanted. Matthew 11:26.

Being a Christian is not a matter of what we do or don’t do. It is a matter of accepting what Jesus Christ did for us.

Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if is possible, do not give me this cup of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” Matthew 26:39.

Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this painful thing to be taken from me, and if I must do it, I pray that what you want will be done.” Matthew 26:42.

Jesus prayed a third time, saying the same thing. Matthew 26:44.

Jesus gave himself for our sins to free us from the evil world we live in, as God the Father planned. Galatians 1:4.  

Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. 2Corinthians 13:5. Amen.

The New life In Christ: Jesus warns against selfishness: Be careful and guard all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns. Luke 12:15.

Jesus used stories to tell these things to the people; he always used stories to teach them.

This is as the prophet said:

“I will speak using stories;

I will tell things that have been secret since the word was made.” (Psalm 78:2)

Matthew 13:34-35.

Jesus told this story: “There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and bigger ones, and there I will store all my gain and other goods. Then I can say to myself, “I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!”

“But God said to him, ‘Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21. Amen.

The New life In Christ: The Lord himself will give you a sign. Isaiah 7:14. –Living Witness.

The people who trust the LORD will become strong again.

They will rise up as an eagle in the sky;

they will turn and not need rest;

they will walk and not become tired. Isaiah 40:31.

“So don’t worry, because I am with you.

Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.

I will make you strong and will help you;

I will support you with my right hand that saves you.” Isaiah 41:10.

“People will see these things and understand;

they will think carefully about these things

and learn that

the LORD’s power did this,

that the Holy One made these things.” Isaiah 41:20. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Try to find out what is pleasing to the LORD. Ephesians 5:10.

How terrible it will be for those who make unfair laws, and those who write laws that make like hard for people. They are not fair to the poor, and they rob my people of their rights.

They allow people to steal from widows and to take from orphans what really belongs to them. Isaiah 10:1-2.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27.

Be the doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. James 1:22. Amen.

The New life In Christ: If you show partiality, you commit sin. James 2:9.

Do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?

For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one who wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. James 2:1-6.

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: Mercy triumphs over judgment. James 2:13.

A lawyer, wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “A man fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

Now by a chance a priest was going down that road, and when he 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 and 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 denaril, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of hi; 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 10:29-37. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Faith apart from works is barren. James 2:20.

“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:11.

What good is it, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?

If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat you fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead. James 2:14-16.

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: A New Covenant: You shall be a sign to them; and they shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 24:27.

No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; Jeremiah 31:34 & Hebrews 8:11.

(Instead) Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though that malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. 1Peter 2:12.

For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 1Peter 2:15.

In speaking of “a new covenant,” he has made the first obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: For the Father seeks such as these to worship him. John 4:23.

Those who walk righteously and speak uprightly,

who despise the gain of oppression,

who wave away a bribe instead of accepting it,

who stop their ears from hearing of bloodshed

and shut their eyes from looking on evil,

they will live on the heights; their refuge will be the fortresses of rocks;

their food will be supplied,

their water assured. Isaiah 33:15-16. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: “Let anyone with ears listen!” Matthew 13:9.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21.

“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother,” said Jesus. Matthew 12:50.

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Romans 2:13.

“On the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.” Romans 2:16. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Romans 9:15.

While Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

 They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.” John 8:1-11.

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance, said Jesus. Luke 15:7. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Teach Sound Doctrine: It is not as though the word of God had failed. Romans 9:6.

As for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. Romans 2:1.

Show yourself in all respects model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that can not be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say for us. Titus 2:7-8.

Hold to the standard of sound teaching, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 2Timpthy 1:13.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 2Timothy 3:16-17. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: For we are not ignorant of the designs of Satan; 2Corinthians 2:11.

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter (devil of temptation in our sufferings) came and said to him, “If you the Son of God, command these stones to become loves of bread.”

But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil (devil of testing the power of God) took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,

so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’’

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil (devil of worldly desires) took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away with you Satan! For it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Then the devil left him… Matthew 4:1-11. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: That testimony is true. Titus 1:13.

For a bishop, as God’s steward, must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with the sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what is not right to teach. Titus 1:9-11.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. Titus 1:16.
But they will not make much progress, their folly will become plain to everyone. 2Timothy 3:9. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth,” the woman said to Elijah. 1Kings 17:24.

The son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!”

Elijah cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you bought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?”

Then he stretched him-self upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.”

The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 1Kings 17: 17-22.

If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the LORD has not spoken. Deuteronomy 18:22. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may be come blind,” said Jesus. John 9:39.

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.

Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.

If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”

He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.

Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains. John 9:31-41. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Those who believe without seeing me will be truly blessed. John 20:29.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead, Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.

Do not doubt but believe.”

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” John 20:24-29.

For we are walk by faith, not by sight. 2Corinthians 5:6. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: “In the last times there will be people, following their own evil desires which are against God.” Jude 1:18.

Serving God does not make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We bought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, f we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people. The love of money causes all kinds of evil. 1Timothy 6:6-10.

The time will come when people will not listen to the true teaching but will find many more teachers who please them by saying the things they want to hear. They will stop listening to the truth and will begin to follow false stories. 2Timothy 4:3-4.

The person who sins breaks God’s law. Sin is living against God’s law. 1John 3:4. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: The teaching I gave you is the same teaching I received from the Lord: 1Corinthians 11:23.

“In the things I tell you now I do not praise you, because when you come together you do more harm than good.

First, I hear that when you meet together as a church you are divided, and I believe some of this.

When you come together, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. This is because when you eat, each person eats without waiting for others. Some people do not get enough to eat, while others have too much to drink.

You can eat and drink in your own homes!

You seem to think God’s church is not important, and you embarrass those who are poor.

Should I praise you? I do not praise you for doing this,’” said Paul. 1Corinthians 11:17-22. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: “According to your faith let it be done to you.” Matthew 9:29.

There was a leper who came to Jesus and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.”

Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:3.

A woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”

And instantly the woman was made well. Matthew 9:20-22.

Two blind men followed Jesus, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to him, “Yes, Lord.”

And their eyes were opened. Matthew 9:27-30.

…serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me… Acts 20:19. –LIVING WITNESS. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Being right with God: “I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives,” Jesus answered. Luke 5:32.

Jesus told this story to some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else.

A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the temple to pray.

The Pharisee stood alone and prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people who steal, cheat, or take part in adultery, or even like this tax collector.

I give up eating twice a week, and I give one tenth of everything I get!’

The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even look up to heaven. But he beat on his chest because he was so sad. He said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not.

“All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great.” Luke 18:9-14. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Obey God’s Law:

God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Anyone who says cruel things to his father or mother must be put to death.

But you say a person can tell his father or mother, ‘I have something I could use to help you, but I have given it to God already.’

You said that person not to honor his father or his mother.

You rejected what God said for the sake of your own rules.

You are hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he said about you:

“These people show honor to me with words,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me is worthless.

The things they teach are nothing but human rules.”

“Stay away from the Pharisees; they are blind leaders. And if a blind person leads a blind person, both will fall into a ditch.”
Matthew 15:4-9&15:14.

Comparison of God and His Law

	God is:	God's law is:
love	1 John 4:8	Matt 22:37-40
truth	John 14:6	Psa 119:142
holy	Isa 6:3	Rom 7:12
spiritual	John 4:24	Rom 7:14
righteous	1Cor 1:30	Psa 119:172
perfect	Matt 5:48	Psa 19:7
good	Luke 18:19	Rom 7:12
just	Deut 32:4	Rom 7:12
pure	1John 3:3	Psa 19:8
forever	Psa 90:2	Psa 111:7-8
unchangeable	Jam 1:17	Matt 5:18

Amen.

The New Life in Christ: You are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. Matthew 13:16.

My teaching will drop like rain;

my words will fall like dew.

They will be like shower on the grass; they will pour down like rain on young plants. Deuteronomy 32:2.

God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Hebrews 4:12.

The same thing is true of the words I speak. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen, and they succeed in doing what I send them to do. Isaiah 55:11. Amen.

The New Life in Christ: Should we take only good things from God and not trouble? Job 2:10.

“The one whom God corrects is happy, so do not hate being corrected by the almighty.

God hurts, but he also bandages up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

He will save you from six troubles; even seven troubles will not harm you.” Job 5:17-19.

Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; Job 13:15.

But God knows the way that I take,

and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold. Job 23:10.

He will do to me what he said he would do, and he has many plans like this. Job 23:14.

I will see him myself;

I will see him with my very own eyes. Job 19:27.

The LORD blessed the last part of Job’s life even more the first part. Job 42:12. Amen.