Justification Through Faith.
Romans 3:23-31
23. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood for the remissions of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
29. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also
30. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumision through faith.
31. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
A Plea For Mercy
Psalm 6:1-10
1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.
3. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?
4. Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies sake.
5. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?
6. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.
7. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.
8. Depart from me, all ye working of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping .
9. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.
10. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.
Thomas Sees Jesus
John 20:26-31
26. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, and believing.
28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name..
The Lord's Good And Mercy Endureth For Ever
Psalm 118:1-9
1. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.
2. Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
3. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
4. Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.
5. I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.
6. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
7. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
9. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Praise And Bless The Lord
Psalm 113:1-9
1. Praise ye the Lord, Praise, O ye servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
2. Bless be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore.
3. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised.
4. The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in the heaven, and in the earth!
7. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8. That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.
In The Body Of Christ
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30. Have all the gift of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
A Crown Of Glory And Honour
Hebrews 2:1-7
1. There we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5. For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6. But one in certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the Son Of Man, that thou visitest him?
7. Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crowned him with glory and honour.
God Abundantly Pardons
Isaiah 54:1-7
1. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travial with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3. For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4. Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame.of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5. For thy Maker is thy husband; the Lord of host is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
Mighty Weapons of Warfare
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
1. Now I Paul myself beech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent and behold toward you:
2. But I beech you, that I may not behold when I present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be hold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but might through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exhalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6. And having in readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Samson Pray To God For Strength
Judges 16:28-31
28. And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.
30. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.
31. Then his brethern and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.
God's Righteousness
Psalm 72:1-8
1. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.
2. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.
3. The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
4. He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.
5. They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
6. He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.
7. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth
8. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the rivers unto the ends of the earth.
Plans For Hope And Future
Jeremiah 29:11-15
11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end.
12. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
15. Because ye have said, The Lord hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;
Be Kind And Compassionate To One Another
Ephesians 4:29-32
29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with malice:
32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Psalms 51-1-10
1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me thoughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me know wisdom.
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
God's Is Faithful To Forgive Us For Our Sins
1 John 1:5-10
5. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declared unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sins.
8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 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.
The Lord is My Shepherd
Psalm 23:1-6
1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Resurrection Of The Dead
1 Corinthians 15:12-22
12. Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you there is no resurrection of the dead?
13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so that the dead rise not.
16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
Defending Your Faith
1 Peter 3:8-
8. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethern, be pitiful, be courteous:
9. Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrarwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing
10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensure it.
12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14. But and if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that askest you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16. Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Saved By Gods Grace
Ephesians 2:3-10
3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus;
7. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ.
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Rest For Your Soul
Matthew 11:28-30
28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
When Thomas Believes In The True Son Of God
John 20:26-31
26. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless but believing.
28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing might have life through his name.
Keeping Yourself In God's Love
Jude 1:20-21
20. But ye, beloved people, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Trust In The Lord Shall Be Safe
Proverbs 29:25
25. The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.
When Trying Of The Faith Worketh Patience
James 1:2-6
2. My brethern, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4. But let patience have her perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.
6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a waver of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Hello from Houston
Grace member 2009 to 13
“When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” This suggests that your endurance can’t grow without your faith being tested. Much like a runner training to run a marathon. No athlete would just show up on the day of the race without having trained his body to withstand the grueling physicality of a 26 mile marathon. The same goes for our faith being tested. The more we are tested, the more endurance we can withstand. The farther we can go in our faith. If you can’t find joy in that truth, as James says, then what is your faith really in?
Tuesday, July 21 2020-It is not a matter of "if" trouble comes, it is always a matter of "when". So, knowing me & my desire for comfort & pessimistic tendencies, how do I live in the tension of knowing I will be tested by troubles & not knowing when or how? I believe "joy" is the answer or at least a key. Jesus looked forward to the "joy" set before Him, past the trouble of the cross, despising its shame & He received all that is promised to us in these verses - perfection, completion & fullness. Lord, I thank You for Your example, Your Spirit & Your Word.