As a sinner I could not please God, I could not neutralize or pay for my own sin. But when God justified me by His grace He went on record declaring me righteous. He didn't wave a magic wand and declare me to be innocent. His holiness would not permit it. A basis for declaring me righteous was needed. The ground upon which my justification is built is the substitutionary death of His son, Jesus Christ. The shedding of blood demonstrates the righteousness of God 'that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus' (Rom. 326 NKJV). What a marvelous plan Man's plan of salvation by good works is offensive to God and to anyone who has been saved by God's grace.
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Isaiah 61:1:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
(NIV)
THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Rom. 10:15.](AMP)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
(KJV)
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Through His redemptive work we are 'justified from all things' (Acts 1338,39) and now rejoice in 'the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace' (Eph. 17), a position in Christ at God's right hand (Eph. 24-6), 'all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ' (Eph. 13) and 'the hope of the glory of God' (Rom. 52), to be fully realized when we are 'caught up together...to meet the Lord in the air' (1 Thess. 417). Then will be fulfilled the desire of God's loving heart 'That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus' (Eph. 27).
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Defeated enemies in battle have to confess the superiority of their captors, but this does not give them citizenship in that country. This is why as ambassadors for Christ we beseech people to be reconciled to God by faith in Christ now. If they confess Him as Lord with a heart of faith--now, while the doors of salvation are wide open, they will be saved (Rom. 109,10). Later they are forced to confess His Lordship to vindicate Christ's righteous judgment of them and the worthiness of their eternal doom. Confession does not bring the confessor salvation. It is too late, for the 'accepted time' for salvation has forever passed.
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Creation and redemption are the spheres in which these glories are displayed. In creation we see the eternal power and deity that belong to God alone (Rom. 120) while a deeper and richer glory is unfolded in the wondrous cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. There God is fully revealed, not only in terms of His dominion and deity, but in His holiness, love, and grace. At the Cross I learn what creation could never tell me--who God is and what He is to me, a guilty sinner. God is love therefore, He is both light and life. A Savior-God What marvelous grace and glory.
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Genesis 15:6:
Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
(NIV)
And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God). [Rom. 4:3, 18-22; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23.](AMP)
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
(KJV)
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Psalms 19:1:
For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
(NIV)
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. THE HEAVENS declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork. [Rom. 1:20, 21.](AMP)
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
(KJV)
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It has been said that God's gift is also indescribable because of the grace by which it is given. God, who is rich in mercy, gave the world the gift of His dear Son while we were at enmity with Him. Paul says 'But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us' (Rom. 58). Therefore, in Him we are freely given all things redemption, forgiveness of sins, righteousness, peace, hope, wisdom and knowledge.
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Habakkuk 2:4:
'See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright – but the righteous will live by their faithfulness – '
(NIV)
Look at the proud; his soul is not straight or right within him, but the [rigidly] just and the [uncompromisingly] righteous man shall live by his faith and in his faithfulness. [Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11.](AMP)
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
(KJV)
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Jeremiah 1:5:
'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.'
(NIV)
Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. [Exod. 33:12; Isa. 49:1, 5; Rom. 8:29.](AMP)
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
(KJV)
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Joel 2:32:
And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
(NIV)
And whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered and saved, for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the remnant [of survivors] shall be those whom the Lord calls. [Acts 2:17-21; Rom. 10:13.](AMP)
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
(KJV)
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Isaiah 52:7:
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'
(NIV)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, Your God reigns! [Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:14-16.](AMP)
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
(KJV)
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Each of us, as members of the Body of Christ, has been given at least one spiritual gift. Besides this, there are the natural abilities with which God has endowed us. He intends these to primarily be used for the edification of the Body of believers. There is no such thing as a private gift (Rom. 126-8).
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Psalms 14:1:
For the director of music. Of David. Fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.
(NIV)
To the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David. THE [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable deeds; there is none that does good or right. [Rom. 3:10.](AMP)
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
(KJV)
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Leviticus 17:11:
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.
(NIV)
For the life (the animal soul) is in the blood, and I have given it for you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement, by reason of the life [which it represents]. [Rom. 3:24-26.](AMP)
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
(KJV)
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Ezekiel 18:4:
For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child – both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
(NIV)
Behold, all souls are Mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is Mine; the soul that sins, it shall die. [Rom. 6:23.](AMP)
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
(KJV)
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Psalms 1:2:
But who delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night.
(NIV)
But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. [Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 3:1-29; II Tim. 3:16.](AMP)
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
(KJV)
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Romans 8:9:
You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but are in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
(NIV)
But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. [Rom. 8:14.](AMP)
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
(KJV)
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Leviticus 19:18:
'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.'
(NIV)
You shall not take revenge or bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. [Matt. 5:43-46; Rom. 12:17, 19.](AMP)
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
(KJV)
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When one finds himself in a hole of his own making, it is a good time to examine the quality of workmaniship.
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Isaiah 1:9:
Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
(NIV)
Except the Lord of hosts had left us a very small remnant [of survivors], we should have been like Sodom, and we should have been like Gomorrah. [Gen. 19:24, 25; Rom. 9:29.](AMP)
Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
(KJV)
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Exodus 20:14:
'You shall not commit adultery.'
(NIV)
You shall not commit adultery. [Prov. 6:25, 26; Matt. 5:28; Rom. 1:24; Eph. 5:3.](AMP)
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
(KJV)
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Psalms 51:5:
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
(NIV)
Behold, I was brought forth in [a state of] iniquity; my mother was sinful who conceived me [and I too am sinful]. [John 3:6; Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:3.](AMP)
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
(KJV)
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Malachi 1:3:
'But Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.'
(NIV)
But [in comparison with the degree of love I have for Jacob] I have hated Esau [Edom] and have laid waste his mountains, and his heritage I have given to the jackals of the wilderness. [Rom. 9:13, 16.](AMP)
And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
(KJV)
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Isaiah 53:1:
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
(NIV)
WHO HAS believed (trusted in, relied upon, and clung to) our message [of that which was revealed to us]? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been disclosed? [John 12:38-41; Rom. 10:16.](AMP)
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
(KJV)
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