1Jhn2:1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. - NIV
1Jhn2:27But the anointing that you received from him abides in you,
and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches
you about everything--and is true [real] and is no lie [not counterfeit], just as it has taught
you--abide in him. 28And now, little [dear] children, abide
[continue] in him, so that when he appears we
may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. 29If
you know that he is righteous, you may be sure [you know] that everyone who practices
righteousness [does what is right] has been born of him. - ESV
1Jhn3:1How 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. 2Dear 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. 3Everyone
who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. - NIV
1Jhn4:7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does
not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God
showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but
that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear
friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No
one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love
is made complete in us. 13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his
Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his
Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that
Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we
know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love
lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete
among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this
world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love
drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is
not made perfect in love. 19We love because he first loved us.
20If anyone says,
"I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does
not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And
he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. - NIV
1Pet2:18Servants, be subject [submit] to your masters with all respect, not only to
the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious
[commendable] thing, when, mindful of
God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you
endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious [commendable] thing in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an
example, so that you might
follow in his steps.
22"He committed no sin, neither was deceit found
in his mouth." (Isa53:9)
23When he was reviled [insulted], he did not revile in
return [retaliate];
when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him
who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the
tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have
been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now
returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - ESV
1Pet3:13Now who is there [going] to harm you if you are zealous for
[to do] what is good?
14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be
blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts
regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense [give an
answer] to
anyone who asks you for a [to give the] reason for the hope that is in you;
16yet
do it with gentleness and respect, having a good [keeping a clear] conscience, so that, when you
are slandered, those who revile3 your good behavior in Christ may be put to
shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing
good, if that should be
God's will, than for doing evil.
18For Christ also suffered
once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,
that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit [by the
Spirit], - ESV
Rm13:7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay
taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love
one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The
commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder,"
"Do not steal," "Do not covet,"
and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule:
"Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the
fulfillment of the law. 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for
you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when
we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost
here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let
us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in
sexual immorality and debauchery1, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather,
clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think
about how to
gratify the desires of the sinful nature. - NIV
1Pet4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery [painful] trial when it comes upon
you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But
rejoice insofar as [that] you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and
be glad when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted for the
name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory
and of God rests upon you. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer
or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as
a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that [he bears
that] name.
17For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it
begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of
God? 18And
"If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (Pro11:31)
19Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust
their souls to a [their] faithful Creator while doing [continuing to do] good. - ESV
1 - debauchery: indulgence in pleasure that lacks moral restraint, extreme
indulgence in sensual pleasure. ^
3 - revile: to denounce with abusive language. ^
Also see: Renewing
Our Mind
Challenge: True Life