This page is designed to provide quick access to the passages and definitions quoted in the studies on this web site
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21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (NIV)
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1And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 2And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
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"19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 21 They seized the livestock of the Hagrites-fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, 22 and many others fell slain, because the battle was God's. And they occupied the land until the exile. 23 The people of the half-tribe of Manasseh were numerous; they settled in the land from Bashan to Baal Hermon, that is, to Senir (Mount Hermon). 24 These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. 25But they were unfaithful to the God of their fathers and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara and the river of Gozan, where they are to this day."
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13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (NIV)
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13"Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" 14"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" 15The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so." Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, &ldquoAre you for us or for our enemies?&rdquo &ldquoNeither,&rdquo he replied, &ldquobut as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.&rdquo Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, &ldquoWhat message does my Lord have for his servant?&rdquo The commander of the LORD&rsquos army replied, &ldquoTake off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.&rdquo And Joshua did so. (NIV)
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20"But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock."
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"2This is what the LORD says- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants."(NIV)
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" 4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. 7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. 8 Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. 9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people."
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"Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles."
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15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
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"21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds."
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"1It is good to praise the LORD and make music
to your name, O Most High, 2to
proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3to the music of the
ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. 4For
you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the
works of your hands. 5How great
are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts! 6The senseless man does not know,
fools do not understand, 7that
though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers
flourish, they will be forever destroyed. 8But
you, O LORD, are exalted forever. 9For
surely your enemies, O LORD, surely your enemies will perish; all
evildoers will be scattered. 10You
have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been
poured upon me. 11My eyes have
seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of
my wicked foes. 12The righteous
will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of
Lebanon; 13planted in the house
of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14They will still bear fruit in
old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15
proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there
is no wickedness in him."
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10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him
belongs eternal praise.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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24 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, 25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you&mdash 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 &ldquoThen they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. 29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, 30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.&rdquo (NIV)
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"Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention that you may gain understanding, For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. When I was a son to my father, Tender and the only son in the sight of my mother, Then he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you." (NCV)
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10 &ldquoThe fear of the LORD is the beginning
of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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7 Good people will be remembered as a blessing,
but evil people will soon be forgotten. (NCV)
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26 A lazy person affects the one he works for
like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes. (NCV)
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25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes
others will himself be refreshed.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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"The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
but the prayer of the upright pleases him."
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23 When the wicked accept money to do wrong
there can be no justice.
24 The person with
understanding is always looking for wisdom,
but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.
25 A foolish son makes his
father sad
and causes his mother great sorrow.
26 It is not good to punish
the innocent
or to beat leaders for being honest.
27 The smart person says very
little,
and one with understanding stays calm.
28 Even fools seem to be wise
if they keep quiet;
if they don&rsquot speak, they appear to understand. (NCV)
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"Many curry favor with a ruler,
and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.
A poor man is shunned by all his relatives-
how much more do his friends avoid him!
Though he pursues them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found."
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9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he
shares his food with the poor.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a hill
and sat down. His followers came to him, 2
and he began to teach them, saying: 3
&ldquoThose people who know they have great spiritual needs
are happy, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 4 Those who are sad now are happy,
because God will comfort them. 5
Those who are humble are happy, because the earth will belong to
them. 6 Those who want to do
right more than anything else are happy, because God will fully
satisfy them. 7 Those who show
mercy to others are happy, because God will show mercy to them. 8 Those who are pure in their
thinking are happy, because they will be with God. 9 Those who work to bring peace are
happy, because God will call them his children. 10
Those who are treated badly for doing good are happy, because the
kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 11
People will insult you and hurt you. They will lie and say all
kinds of evil things about you because you follow me. But when
they do, you will be happy. 12
Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward waiting for
you in heaven. People did the same evil things to the prophets
who lived before you.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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33 The thing you should want most is God&rsquos
kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you
need will be given to you. 34 So
don&rsquot worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have
its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother&rsquos eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, &lsquoLet me take the speck out of your eye,&rsquo when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother&rsquos eye. 6 "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." (NIV)
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16 I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. 18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 &*quot;A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! 26 "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (NIV)
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25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It&rsquos a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don&rsquot be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it&rsquos you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. (NIV)
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1Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don&rsquot wash their hands before they eat!" 3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, &lsquoHonor your father and mother&rsquo and &lsquoAnyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.&rsquo 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, &lsquoWhatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,&rsquo 6 he is not to &lsquohonor his father&rsquo with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 "&lsquoThese people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.&rsquo" NIV
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21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children&rsquos bread and toss it to their dogs." 27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters&rsquo table." 28 Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (NIV)
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18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)
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"1When some Pharisees and some teachers of the law came from Jerusalem, they gathered around Jesus. 2 They saw that some of Jesus&rsquo followers ate food with hands that were not clean, that is, they hadn&rsquot washed them. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews never eat before washing their hands in a special way according to their unwritten laws. 4 And when they buy something in the market, they never eat it until they wash themselves in a special way. They also follow many other unwritten laws, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law said to Jesus, &ldquoWhy don&rsquot your followers obey the unwritten laws which have been handed down to us? Why do your followers eat their food with hands that are not clean?" 6 Jesus answered, "Isaiah was right when he spoke about you hypocrites. He wrote, &lsquoThese people show honor to me with words, but their hearts are far from me. 7 Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are nothing but human rules.&rsquo ( Isaiah 29:13) 8 You have stopped following the commands of God, and you follow only human teachings." 9 Then Jesus said to them, "You cleverly ignore the commands of God so you can follow your own teachings. 10 Moses said, &lsquoHonor your father and your mother,&rsquo and &lsquoAnyone who says cruel things to his father or mother must be put to death.&rsquo 11 But you say a person can tell his father or mother, &lsquoI have something I could use to help you, but it is Corban-a gift to God.&rsquo 12 You no longer let that person use that money for his father or his mother. 13 By your own rules, which you teach people, you are rejecting what God said. And you do many things like that." (NCV)
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21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
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46 And Mary said:
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three
months and then returned home. (NIV)
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1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register. 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
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3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother&rsquos womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, &lsquoYou must be born again.&rsquo 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel&rsquos teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven&mdashthe Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God&rsquos one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 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."
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.
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31 So Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, "If you continue to obey my teaching, you are truly my followers. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." 33 They answered, "We are Abraham&rsquos children, and we have never been anyone&rsquos slaves. So why do you say we will be free?" 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, everyone who lives in sin is a slave to sin. 35 A slave does not stay with a family forever, but a son belongs to the family forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be truly free. 37 I know you are Abraham&rsquos children, but you want to kill me because you don&rsquot accept my teaching. 38 I am telling you what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you." 39 They answered, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said, "If you were really Abraham&rsquos children, you would do the things Abraham did. 40 I am a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like that. 41 So you are doing the things your own father did." But they said, "We are not like children who never knew who their father was. God is our Father; he is the only Father we have." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were really your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come by my own authority; God sent me. 43 You don&rsquot understand what I say, because you cannot accept my teaching. 44 You belong to your father the devil, and you want to do what he wants. He was a murderer from the beginning and was against the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he shows what he is really like, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you don&rsquot believe me. 46 Can any of you prove that I am guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don&rsquot you believe me? 47 The person who belongs to God accepts what God says. But you don&rsquot accept what God says, because you don&rsquot belong to God."
48 The Jews answered, "We say you are a
Samaritan and have a demon in you. Are we not right?" 49 Jesus answered, "I have no demon in me. I give honor to my
Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I
am not trying to get honor for myself. There is One who wants
this honor for me, and he is the judge. 51 I
tell you the truth, whoever obeys my teaching will never
die." 52 The Jews
said to Jesus, "Now we know that you have a demon in you!
Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say,
&lsquoWhoever obeys my teaching will never die.&rsquo 53 Do you think you are greater
than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died, too.
Who do you think you are?" 54
Jesus answered, "If I give honor to
myself, that honor is worth nothing. The One who gives me honor
is my Father, and you say he is your God. 55 You don&rsquot really know him,
but I know him. If I said I did not know him, I would be a liar
like you. But I do know him, and I obey what he says. 56 Your father Abraham was very happy
that he would see my day. He saw that day and was glad." 57 The Jews said to him, "You
have never seen Abraham! You are not even fifty years old." 58 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was
even born, I am!" 59
When Jesus said this, the people picked up stones to throw at
him. But Jesus hid himself, and then he left the Temple.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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The Apostles Heal Many
12 The apostles did many signs and miracles among the
people. And they would all meet together on Solomon&rsquos
Porch. 13 None of the others
dared to join them, but all the people respected them. 14 More and more men and women
believed in the Lord and were added to the group of believers. 15 The people placed their sick
on beds and mats in the streets, hoping that when Peter passed by
at least his shadow might fall on them. 16
Crowds came from all the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their
sick and those who were bothered by evil spirits, and all of them
were healed. (NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas: Word
Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 &lsquoFor in him we live and move and have our being.&rsquo As some of your own poets have said, &lsquoWe are his offspring.&rsquo"
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14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul&rsquos message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. (NIV)
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1 Since we have been made right with God by our
faith, we have peace with God. This happened through our Lord
Jesus Christ, 2 who has brought
us into that blessing of God&rsquos grace that we now enjoy.
And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing
God&rsquos glory. 3 We also
have joy with our troubles, because we know that these troubles
produce patience. 4 And patience
produces character, and character produces hope. 5
And this hope will never disappoint us, because God has poured
out his love to fill our hearts. He gave us his love through the
Holy Spirit, whom God has given to us. 6
When we were unable to help ourselves, at the moment of our need,
Christ died for us, although we were living against God. 7 Very few people will die to save
the life of someone else. Although perhaps for a good person
someone might possibly die. 8 But
God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us
while we were still sinners. 9 So
through Christ we will surely be saved from God&rsquos anger,
because we have been made right with God by the blood of
Christ&rsquos death. 10
While we were God&rsquos enemies, he made friends with us
through the death of his Son. Surely, now that we are his
friends, he will save us through his Son&rsquos life. 11 And not only that, but now we
are also very happy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through
him we are now God&rsquos friends again.
(NCV)The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas: Word
Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don&rsquot you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin&mdash 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves 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 evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (NIV)
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"19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. "
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"1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (KJV)
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24"But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" (NIV)
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1Therefore, since through God&rsquos mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man&rsquos conscience in the sight of God. (NIV)
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16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men&rsquos sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ&rsquos ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ&rsquos behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (NIV)
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"1As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
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1 Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin, too. 2 By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is important when he really is not, he is only fooling himself. 4 Each person should judge his own actions and not compare himself with others. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. 5 Each person must be responsible for himself. 6 Anyone who is learning the teaching of God should share all the good things he has with his teacher.
7 Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. People
harvest only what they plant. 8
If they plant to satisfy their sinful selves, their sinful selves
will bring them ruin. But if they plant to please the Spirit,
they will receive eternal life from the Spirit. 9
We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our
harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up. 10 When we have the opportunity to
help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special
attention to those who are in the family of believers.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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5 Because of his love, God had already decided to
make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he
wanted and what pleased him, 6
and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God
gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves. 7 In Christ we are set free by the
blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich
is God&rsquos grace, 8 which
he has given to us so fully and freely. God, with full wisdom and
understanding, 9 let us know his
secret purpose. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it
through Christ. 10 His goal was
to carry out his plan, when the right time came, that all things
in heaven and on earth would be joined together in Christ as the
head. (NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas: Word
Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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15 "For this reason, ever since I heard about
your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I have not stopped giving
thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious
Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that
you may know him better. 18 I
pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order
that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches
of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19
and his incomparably great power for us who believe. " NIV
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1 In the past you were spiritually dead because of
your sins and the things you did against God. 2
Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the
ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same
spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God. 3 In the past all of us lived like
them, trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things
our bodies and minds wanted. We should have suffered
God&rsquos anger because of the way we were. We were the same
as all other people. 4 But
God&rsquos mercy is great, and he loved us very much. 5 Though we were spiritually dead
because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life
with Christ. You have been saved by God&rsquos grace. 6 And he raised us up with Christ
and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those
in Christ Jesus 7 so that for
all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace
by being kind to us in Christ Jesus. 8
I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You
did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 It was not the result of your own
efforts, so you cannot brag about it. 10
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do
good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives
doing.
(NCV)The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas: Word
Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
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7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
8 This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men."
9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh&mdash 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ&mdashthe righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. (NIV)
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9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. (NIV)
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"1Since, then, you have been raised with
Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated
at the right hand of God. 2 Set
your minds on things above, not on earthly things."...
23 Whatever you do, work at it
with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will
receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord
Christ you are serving. (NIV)
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"16 All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. 17 Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work." (New Century Version)
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14"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright." (KJV).
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"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
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15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. (NIV)
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6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. (NIV)
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13 But we ought always to thank God for you,
brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose
you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and
through belief in the truth. 14
He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed
on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 16 May our Lord Jesus Christ
himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us
eternal encouragement and good hope, 17
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and
word. (NIV)
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2 Thessalonians 3:6
6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone&rsquos food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (NIV)
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12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world&mdashthe cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does&mdashcomes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist&mdashhe denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us&mdasheven eternal life. 26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. 27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit&mdashjust as it has taught you, remain in him. 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. 29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. (NIV)
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1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. (NIV)
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1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God."
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"3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
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The New International Version,
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
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"... 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come
in and eat with him, and he with me. 21
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my
throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his
throne. 22 He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (NIV)
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5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars&mdashtheir place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (NCV)
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