The New Life In Christ: Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.) Ephesians 5:8-9.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27.

…find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:10.

…understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:17. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most high, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:27-35. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.) Ephesians 5:8-9.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27.

…find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 5:10.

…understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:17. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 1Samuel 30:6.

David was in great danger; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in spirit for their sons and daughters…

David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them? He answered him, “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

…David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day…

…David brought back evening.

Then all the corrupt and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, “Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except the each man may take his wife and children, and leave.”

But David said, “You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us…

For the share of the one who goes down into the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike. 1Samuel 30: 6-24. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:22.

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Luke 3:8.

If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God. What does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:2-4.

…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:21-24. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified…He has risen…go quickly and tell his disciples’ ‘He has risen from dead…’ Matthew 28:5-8.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

…His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified… He has risen…go quickly and tell his disciples’ ‘He has risen from dead…’

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  Matthew 28:1-9.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee…When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

Then Jesus came to them and said…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:16-20. Amen.

The New Life In Christ: He (John) himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. John 1:8.

The true light that gives light to everyman coming into the world. John 1:9.

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12.

This is verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35.

It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. John 6:45. Amen.