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/////////////////////////////////// function clickIE4(){ if (event.button==2){ alert(message); return false; } } function clickNS4(e){ if (document.layers||document.getElementById&&!document.all){ if (e.which==2||e.which==3){ alert(message); return false; } } } if (document.layers){ document.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN); document.onmousedown=clickNS4; } else if (document.all&&!document.getElementById){ document.onmousedown=clickIE4; } document.oncontextmenu=new Function("alert(message);return false") // --> </script> <META HTTP-EQUIV="imagetoolbar" CONTENT="no"> <div class=Section1 style="width: 98%" div align="justify"><ul> <center><font size=7 font face=papyrus><font color="#008000"><b> The Body of Christ:<br> <font size=5 font face=papyrus>What it means to be Called; Chosen; Elect; Sanctified; a Saint! </b></font></font></font></font></center> <p><font size=3 face=arial><b> My Lord and Master: I am nothing; I have nothing; I want nothing; I'm finished; I surrender! Lord, if You want to take me today, then today is a good day to die; I'm ready to come home: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain! I only want to be where You want me to be Lord; I only want to do what You want me to do: I have no dreams or goals of my own; I long to serve You now and forever. I am not free, nor do I want to be; I'm Your bondslave; I am Yours, and will endure anything to remain so. I serve You with my life, not my leftovers! I'd rather die today, than to live another day outside of Your perfect will. Indeed, I would consider it the ultimate honor, to die for You; because of You. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who Loved me, and gave Himself for me. I lay all that I love, at the alter of sacrifice, and I pray for the strength to sacrifice it all, unto You my Master. My contentment and my joy, comes from knowing that I have been chosen to serve You, and there is nothing else I'd rather do! I will take what You give me, as all that I need, and I will never want or ask for more! I am eternally thankful just for belonging to You; to be a part of the Body of Christ; a child of the Living God; the wheat in Your barn: That's my all-in-all, and the whole world (and everything in it) cannot compare to it, or compete with it! In the Light, we are confronted with our ugliness, and in that Light, we are shown our true beauty! May our lives reflect only You!</b> <hr> The Body of Christ are the Elect of God; predestined chosen ones that are (or will be) Indwelled by His Holy Spirit; to be born again: Saved. The Body of Christ yearns to yoke; to bond with one another. Our eternity is here/now: Unity is our priority; our passion; our joy! We seek each other out, we do not find excuses to divide, or get paranoid. There are many who are not true believers; not truly Christian: the Godless-religious! They believe in playing both sides of Corporeality; and yet, God does not inhabit them while in this state (indeed, if they remain there long enough, God will harden them). These are Prophetic Matthew Seven Christians; those who use religion and the whole concept of God, to help them become better at their earthly existence; to be successful in the face of men. They mistakenly believe that if you have a foot in each door, and then, this whole "God/Heaven" thing turns out to be true, they got their ticket; they've honored traditions/ordinances, made their verbal professions of faith, paid their tithes, and was even assured by the Minister. If conversely, we just cease to exist for all infinity, then hey, we toiled for a superior earthly life, and though we squandered & squeezed Earth in the doing; it will not matter, for life is meaningless anyway! We of the Indwelling, are fearful for these people; we do not feel any kind of Spiritual superiority over them (or anyone: all are precious in Gods sight: John 3), and yet, we can see them as the fulfillment of Jesus' Prophesy: We know it must happen, and it will, but it's still upsetting to live in the end times, watching the egotistic toil in vain for self-importance through power, and power through material wealth. The Godless-religious scripturally solicit "Santa-god" like a pimp; all in Jesus' name. But The Indwelling does something entirely different within us: we do not speak in tongues, but in truth; we do not cast out demons, but our own sinful nature; we do not become more religious, but more Jesus: we are transported from darkness to Light! The Godless-religious view Christianity like every other thing, in the competitive mindset; the divisions and isolations bear witness to this: They're offended if referred to as an unbeliever because they've already decided they're Christian; they've joined the religious club! But the Godless are interested in the image they present to other humans (to blend-in and be accepted by the culture they too, consume) more so than they are, totally surrendering this life in order to know Jesus Christ intimately; internally; utterly. The Lord said; the world <i>will know that you are My Disciples</i> (as opposed to all other's), <i>by your Love, one to another. As I have Loved you, so you Love one another.</i> Our Love for God is witnessed only in our Love for one another here/now. Human-to-human relationships is the mirror of our relationship with Christ, who said; <I> as you have done it unto them, you have done it unto Me.</i> Understanding the totality and fullness of Gods Love, as opposed to mere fickle human emotion, is the ultimate divider of humanity (now & Forever)! Gods Love never ends/fails: All emotions end/fail: Time is the test! The Godless-religious seek familiarity, whereas the Godly seek the change that comes with transformation. The Godless-religious prove to the rest of the world, that Christ is not real to them, via their lifestyles, which is the fruit Jesus taught us to look for. <br><br> Humans are either a priority in our life, or, they're a means to some materialistic end; a sales commission; a step on a corporate ladder; a lover; a pew warmer; a supplier of some earthly thing: In short, a resource; Or they're an obstacle to that resource; in either case, they will be treated likewise (abandoned when finished with, like a used paper plate). The opposite of Love is indifference: the Godless blow-off those they see no earthly rewards in; be it in relationships, be it in religion! But for those of the Indwelling, humans are worth far more than the prince of this world has to offer; the Indwelled will not compromise anything therein. Forgiveness is relational glue: Jesus said: <i>If you forgive not, men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.</i> Forgiveness is like Love (a verb), it's an action, not mere words. Though I Fellowship corporately, Spiritual Transformation has zero to do with going to church; with self-beliefs, obeying religious rituals, traditions, prayer or even Bible study! Many attend church for different reasons; to meet someone who will (hopefully) not cheat on/abandon them; to be around others due to loneliness; to indoctrinate their children; to please friends/relatives; to feed their ego; to find customers; to be told they're OK; even to hide from God! Satan (the seed snatcher) tempted Jesus shortly after His Holy Spirit Baptism, with the material things of this world: Jesus went alone into the wilderness (not the temple), and buffeted His flesh; He prayed and fasted, bonding with the Father. He understood that, to defeat evil, one must demonstrate a genuine disinterest in the physical world; therein we gain power over it; to be un-manipulated by it: The Word expounds on this fact many times. Only the Godless consume the products of the Godless (be it lifestyle, culture, church or media). Our empowerment is NOT to become better at navigating this life; it is to utterly conquer it; to NOT be controlled by the material; the emotions; the flesh: <i>Not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed</i> into Spirit-centric beings. God is most glorified in you, when you are most satisfied in Him! But there are Godless people who claim to be Christians; some even have religious businesses and large following's. But Jesus said <i>you will know them by their fruits:</i> The blind cannot see fruit; they know not what it looks like, even when it's in front of them. Summarily...there are no greedy, materialistic, Spiritually/emotionally immature, divisive...Saved people: These are the fruits of Godlessness! The power of the Indwelling is to live and Love as Christ; everything else is a clanging cymbal to those with ears to hear: We are what we do, and no more! <br><br> The Godless world appeals to the carnal human: the anger; the violence; the hunger; the drama; the sex; the competitivism. This is the world; this is what the world participates in, invests in, creates and maintains. The Godless-religious are just like them! To be "born again" is a transformation that is so radical, so profound, that the idea of remaining where you were; who you were before the Indwelling Holy Spirit converted you, is simply unthinkable. Conversely, the Godless, and the Godless-religious, live in Spiritual emptiness; darkness, and thus, each group tries to fulfill that emptiness with the physical world (w/corporeality); with materialism; with talismans; with religion! But the Spiritual life is a completely different existence; a completely different level of consciousness; It is centered on God and Gods creation, not on human creations and fickle emotions. The Indwelling illuminates our Soul, and thus our mind, and we no longer look at life the same way again: we become mature; we become wise; we become aware; we become content! Life becomes so big that the smallness around us, fades into oblivion; the superficiality becomes bitter in our mouth! And yet, we take joy in the simplest things. We realize that time, space and matter are not immutable; that the grandeur of corporeality is but a speckle in Gods grander Creation. We become Spirit-centric; Christ-centric, and our directives in this life become a mere extension of our eternal state. We of the Indwelling, regularly pray to God, not to give us more than we need; not to put the temptations of this life, in our lives, to distract us from our Spirit-centric life in the here & now: <i>And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil!</i> Thus, we live more like Jesus Christ lived: That living example for us to attempt to copy! Jesus never carried coins; He never had possessions that He could not carry: He trusted in the daily provisions from His Heavenly Father, and we live much that way too! We want to remain free from the baggage of this world, so we may follow Christ wherever He leads us (we're mere pilgrim's of this life). We do not take more than we can (either) carry, or give away; it is this act that demonstrates our true faith in Gods daily provisions. Therefore, we intentionally live simple upon the Earth; we become faithful stewards of Gods creation, not participating full-bore in the industrialization of it, but rather, the fruition with it symbiotically. Yoking with the rest of the Body of Christ, becomes our mission; our longing, knowing that the team is incomplete without them. Our transformed life becomes an apprenticeship; a fellowship; a discipleship; a stewardship! <br><br> In the Body of Christ, there is unity, togetherness, openness, accountability and confession. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing, and not doing. This is not only an acceptable situation, but a desired one. In the Godless world, its all about denial, blame shifting, deception, lies, bearing false witness, making up stories designed to mislead about another's character. Why? Because the Godless, and the Godless-religious, live as unto the faces of men; they try to impress other humans, because they live a Spiritless life, and are thus, unaware of God watching them and judging them based on their actions/inactions. Thus, they like/seek privacy, secrecy and denial as a way to navigate the physical world; to gain advantages over other's. The Godly care only what God thinks of them, and are otherwise oblivious to what other mere mortals think! This was the core of Jesus' teachings: Live your life as unto God, and care nothing about what mortals think, because you will not be judged (in the end) by these mortals. When we live our lives within Gods directives, the multitudes will not accept us; will not like us; will not be attracted to us! We will be out of place, un-indoctrinated and strange. This is one important way that we know that we're in Gods will to begin with. If you/I are most acceptable in the eyes of the world, we know that this emulation is our worship; our purpose in this life. When we interact with the worldly, we become subject to the deceptions and the ruses; we may inadvertently be cast as a villain in someone's play. This is why we are instructed to be unspotted by the world; not to yoke with unbelievers. We of the Indwelling, are the Body of Christ, the Fellowship of Yahshua Messiah, and we long to be with one another, serving each other in Love and with purpose. We know Gods calling, and we also know who are Gods children and who are not! We are content with what God provides us, and seek balance in the necessary resources to support life. We know of the great and awesome responsibility that comes with being chosen, and we live our lives as a reflection of that reality. Remember, there were humans who actually, physically touched the Lord: one touched the hem of His garment and was healed, another took Him by the throat and beat Him. The chosen know instantly when they are in the presence of Love, but the multitudes will have an eternity in the abyss, with nothing whatsoever to interupt their pondering of this reality! <br> <center><i>CARPE DEUS!</i></font></center> <hr> <p><font size=3 face=times new roman> Matthew 20:1-16 | 22:1-14 <font color="#800000">For the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them: you also, go into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them: Why stand here all the day idle? They say unto him: Because no man has hired us. He said unto them, you go also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive. So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward: Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more: they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, saying: These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said: Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny? Take what is yours, and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is your eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen. | The kingdom of Heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying: Tell them which are bidden; Behold, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then said he to his servants: The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. You go therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man that did not have on a wedding garment: And he said unto him: Friend, how did you get in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants: Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. </font> <br> <br> Mark 13:3-27 And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked Him privately: Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say: <font color="#800000">Take heed lest any man deceive you: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And when you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows. But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues you shall be beaten: and you shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the Gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what you shall speak, nor premeditate: whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that you speak; for it is not you that speak, but the Holy Spirit. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when you shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that read understand,) then let them that be in Judea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither entering therein, to take any thing out of his house: And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! And pray you that your flight is not in the winter. For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation, which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the Elect's sake, which He has chosen, He has shortened the days. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: For false Christ's and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the Elect. But you, take heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then shall He send His angels, and shall gather together His Elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. <br> Verily, verily, I say unto you; except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Who so eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from Heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eats of this bread shall live forever.</font> These things He said in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of His Disciples, when they had heard this, said: This is a hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in Himself that His Disciples murmured at it, He said unto them:<font color="#800000"> Does this offend you? What if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. </font>For Jesus knew from the beginning whom they were that believed not, and who should betray Him. And He said: <font color="#800000">Therefore I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it was given unto him of my Father.</font> From that time many of His Disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve: <font color="#800000">Will you also go away?</font> Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them: <font color="#800000">Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? </font> John 6:53-70 <br><br> John 13:1-20 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come; that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having Loved His own which were in the world, He Loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray Him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God and went to God; He rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin, and began to wash the Disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded. Then He comes to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto Him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him:<font color="#800000"> What I now do you know not; but you shall know hereafter.</font> Peter said unto Him: You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: <font color="#800000">If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.</font> Simon Peter said unto Him: Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him;<font color="#800000"> he that is washed needs not, save to wash his feet, but is clean everywhere: you are clean, but not all.</font> For He knew who should betray Him; therefore He said: <font color="#800000">You are not all clean. </font>So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them: <font color="#800000">Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen, but that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is coming to pass, you may believe that I am He. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receives whomsoever I send receives me; and he that receives me receives Him that sent me. <br> I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears no fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word, which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a withered branch, and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my Disciples. As the Father has Loved me, so have I Loved all you: continue in my Love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my Love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His Love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment: That you Love one another, as I have Loved you. Greater Love has no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you Love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own, but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you: The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they do not know Him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; but now they have both seen and hated, both my Father and me. But this comes to pass that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law;  They hated me without a cause . But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father, he shall testify of me, and you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.</font> John 15 <br> <br> Acts 1:1-11 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He, through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, He says, you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. When they therefore came together, they asked of Him, saying: Lord, will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them: <font color="800000">It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power. But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit comes upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. </font> And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said: You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven. <br> <br> Acts 9:10-22 And there was a certain Disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision: Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him: <font color="800000">Arise, and go into the street that is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: behold, he prays, And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. </font> Then Ananias answered: Lord, I have heard by many, of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem: And here, he has authority from the chief Priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said unto him:<font color="800000"> Go your way, for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. </font> And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said: Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me that you might receive your sight; be filled with the Holy Spirit! And immediately there fell from his eyes, as {if} it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then certain days, Saul was with the Disciples, which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief Priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews, which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the very Christ. <br> <br> Romans 1:1-7 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of God, (Which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy scriptures,); Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name: Among whom, you are also the called of Jesus Christ; To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. <br> <br> Romans 8:28-9:26 And we know that all things work together for good to them that Love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him, also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's Elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter". Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that Loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. <br>I say the truth in Christ; I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh, Christ came; who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen. Not as though the word of God has taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children, but: In Isaac shall your seed be called. That is: They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise: At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him that calls;) It was said unto her: The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written: Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For He says to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that showed mercy. For the scripture says unto Pharaoh: Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, He has mercy on whom He will have mercy, and whom He will, He hardens. You will say then unto me: Why does He yet find fault? For who has resisted His will? Nay, O man; who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed, say to Him that formed it: Why have you made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had before, prepared unto glory; Even us whom He has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he says also in Hosea: I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them: You are not my people; there, shall they be called the children of the living God. <br> <br> Romans 11:1-28 I say then, Has God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people, which He foreknew. Do you not understand what the scripture says of Elias? How he makes intercession to God against Israel, saying: Lord, they have killed your prophets, and tore down your altars; I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what says the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then, at this present time there is also a remnant according to the election of grace. {election: Divine selection; chosen; Elect} And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seek for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written: God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David says: Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always. I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall, salvation came unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. Now, if the fall of them were the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them, the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness? For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them, which are my flesh, and might save some of them. For, if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches are broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partakes of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bear not the root, but the root, you. You will say then: The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest He also not spare you. Behold therefore, the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you shall also be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? {Natural branches: the Jews} For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written: There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away Godlessness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the Gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. <br> <br> Romans 12:1-21 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. For even as we have many members in one body, and all members do not have the same function, so we the many are one body in Christ, and each one members of one another. Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in the ministry; or he who teaches, in the teaching; or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who shares, in simplicity; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy, shrinking from evil, cleaving to good; in brotherly love to one another, loving fervently, having led one another in honor. As to diligence, not slothful, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in affliction, steadfastly continuing in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless, and do not curse. Rejoice with rejoicing ones, and weep with weeping ones; minding the same thing toward one another, not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly. Do not be wise within yourselves. Repay no one evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as far as is in you, being in peace with all men. not avenging yourselves, beloved, but giving place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord." Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed him. If he thirsts, give him drink. For in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. <br><br> Romans 15:13-17 Now, the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that you also, are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge; able to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I have therefore, whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things that pertain to God. <br> <br> 1st Corinthians 1:1-31 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God, which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything you are enriched by Him: in all utterance and in all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you says, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us that are saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent". Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish, the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written: "He that glories, let him glory in the Lord". <br> <br> 1st Corinthians 10:16-17 | 12:12-27 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, the many, are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. | For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If all the body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If all hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where would be the body? But now indeed many are the members, yet only one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. But much rather the members of the body seeming to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we put more abundant honor around them. And our unpresentable members have more abundant propriety. For our presentable members have no need, but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member having need; that there should be no <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schism_%28religion%29" onclick="NewWindow(this.href,'FAQ','900','500','yes','random');return false" onfocus="this.blur()">Schism in the Body</a>, but that the members should have the same care, one for another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. And you are the body of Christ, and members in part. <br> <br> 2nd Corinthians 5:1-10 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our dwelling-place out of Heaven; if indeed in being clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; inasmuch as we do not wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed, so that the mortal might be swallowed up by the life. And He who has worked in us for this same thing is God, who also is giving to us the earnest of the Spirit. Then being always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are away from home from the Lord; for we walk by faith, not by sight; then we are confident and we are pleased rather to go away from home out of the body, and to come home to the Lord. Therefore we are also laboring to be well-pleasing to Him, whether at home or away from home. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to that which he has done, whether good or bad. <br><br> Galatians 5:13-18 For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only, do not use liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by Love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another. This I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you would. But if you are led of the Spirit, you are not under the law. <br> <br> Ephesians 1:1-14 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ: According as He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; Wherein He has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself: That, in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him, in whom also, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will: That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. <br> <br> Ephesians 4:1-25 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in Love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling: One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all {the Indwelling}. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he says: When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it, but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That henceforth, we are no longer as children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in Love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in Love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who, being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ; If so be that you have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: That you put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, every man, speak truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. <br> <br> Colossians 1:13-29 For He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son; in whom we have redemption through His blood, the remission of sins. who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation. For all things were created in Him, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead, that He may be pre-eminent in all things. For it pleased the Father that in Him all fullness should dwell. And through Him having made peace through the blood of His cross, it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself through Him, whether the things on earth or the things in Heaven. And you, who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish, and without charge in His sight, if indeed you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard and which was proclaimed in all the creation under Heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister, who now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and I fill up the things lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh, on behalf of His body, which is the church; of which I became a minister, according to the administration of God given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God; the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. For which I also labor, striving according to the working of Him who works in me in power. <br><br> Colossians 2:8-17 Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power, in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross. Having stripped rulers and authorities, He made a show of them publicly, triumphing over them in it. Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths. For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. <br><br> Colossians 3:9-17 Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision or un-circumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the Elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one Body; and you, be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. <br> <br> 1st Thessalonians 1:1-6 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians that is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit! <br> <br> 2nd Thessalonians 2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is