Lesson
4: And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord
I
believe in God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And
in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord;
Who
was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born
of the virgin Mary,
Suffered
under Pontius Pilate,
Was
crucified, dead and buried.
He
descended into hell,
And
on the third day he rose again;
He
ascended into heaven,
Where
he is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty,
Whence
he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe
in the Holy Spirit,
The
holy, catholic church,
The
communion of saints,
The
forgiveness of sins,
The
resurrection of the body,
And
the life everlasting.
Amen.
John 11:27
She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to
believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the
world.”
CHRIST
THE ANOINTED; an appellation given to the Savior of the World, and
synonymous with the Hebrew Messiah. It was a custom of antiquity to
consecrate persons to the sacerdotal and regal offices by anointing
them with oil.
"christ." Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the
English Language. 2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/christ
(23 November 2014).
LORD
1. A master; a person possessing supreme power and authority; a
ruler; a governor.
"lord." Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the
English Language. 2014. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/lord
(25 November 2014).
The Main
Points for This Lesson:
The purpose of this
series of lessons is, using the Apostles' Creed, to teach the
essential teachings of the Christian faith and what it means to
believe them. To state it simply, the goal is to teach what we
believe and what it means to believe it.
The Apostles' Creed
has three main sections. The second section concerns Jesus Christ,
God's only son. In this lesson we will learn about the first part of
this second section: “...And in Jesus Christ, his only son, our
lord.”
Jesus. This is the name told to Mary and Joseph by the angel. The
name Jesus means “The Lord saves.” The angel spoke to Joseph,
“You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his
people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). God has declared that there
is no other name given among men by which we must be saved (Acts
4:12), and has exalted the name of Jesus above every name
(Philippians 2:9).
Christ. While it is often used thus, this is not a name. It is who
Jesus is. Christ and messiah (in the Old Testament Hebrew language)
both mean “anointed one.” In the Old Testament, men were anointed
with oil when they were given a position of authority, such as king,
or priest, or sometimes prophet. Saul and David were anointed with
oil to be king (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:1). Aaron was anointed
with oil to be high priest. In one sense, all of these were christs
or messiahs, that is, they were anointed ones (see 1 Samuel 26:9). In
another sense, they were only a picture of THE Christ, who would be
anointed by God with the Spirit of God. The prophets before Jesus
spoke of the coming Christ (the coming anointed one) who would bring
God's salvation to his people. Jesus is the Christ. He is the one
anointed by God to be the savior and ruler of the world (Psalm 2;
Acts 7:35).
His only son. At his baptism, God the Father spoke from heaven about
Jesus, saying, “This is my son in whom I am well-pleased.” Again
on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-9), the Father spoke to the disciples
this same word, adding to it, “Listen to him.” Jesus was obedient
to his Father. His perfect and willing obedience opened the way for
those who repent and do the will of his Father in heaven to be
adopted into God's family, to become sons of God, and brothers of
Christ Jesus. The one who believes that Jesus is God’s only son
will listen to the son of God who teaches us to turn from
disobedience and turn to willing obedience to his Father in heaven.
Our lord. Jesus is God's Christ (God's anointed one). He is also
God's only son. Jesus is OUR
lord. If we believe that Jesus is God's Christ, and that he is God's
only son, then we will obey him willingly and humbly as our lord. It
is good to confess with our mouth that Jesus is the Lord and our
lord. Such a confession with our mouth must also (and always) include
a true obedience from the heart, or we will hear the great and mighty
lord ask us (Luke 6:46), “Why do your call me Lord, Lord, but do
not do what I say?”
What does it mean to
believe this? If we believe that Jesus is God’s Christ, God’s
anointed one, then we will look to him alone for salvation,
deliverance and rule, for it is not himself, or man, but God who has
made Jesus both lord and Christ. If we believe that Jesus is God’s
only son, then we will close our mouths and open our ears and hearts
to hear and obey what God’s only son has to say, for the Father has
commanded us to “listen to him.” Furthermore, how could we expect
to please God the Father if we mistreat, malign, or even just ignore
his only son, his well-beloved son (Matthew 21:33-42; Mark 12:1-11).
Those who love the Father will love his son also. If we believe that
Jesus is our lord, we will do what he says. We will walk according to
the laws and ways of his kingdom, not in word or in tongue only, but
it deed and in truth.
Suggestions:
Open each lesson
with prayer for the teacher and the students and this class time.
Remind the children
that we are using the Apostles' Creed to teach the essential
teachings of the Christian faith, that is, what we believe and what
it means to believe it. Read through the Apostles' Creed with the
children.
For the purpose of
these lessons, we have broken the creed into twelve parts. Let the
children know that today we will talk about the second part: ...And
in Jesus Christ, his only son, our lord.
Briefly talk with
them about the name Jesus. This is the name of God's son. It means
God saves. You could ask them why they think God would choose that
name for his son.
Explain to them what
Christ means. It is not a name. It refers to someone who has been
anointed by someone else to do or be something. David was anointed
with oil by Samuel the prophet to be the king of Israel. Read Luke
4:16-21 with the children. Ask them, based on the story, why they
think Jesus is called Christ. With what was he anointed? What was he
anointed to do?
Talk with the
children about Jesus being God's son. He has always been God's son
and always will be. You could ask the children some questions: Was
and is Jesus an obedient son? Is God pleased with his son, Jesus
Christ? How does God want us to treat his son? Read the parable Jesus
told in Mark 12:1-12. After the story, ask again, How does God expect
us to treat his son? How did the men in the parable treat the son?
What did the father do?
Ask the children
what the word “lord” means. Explain to them simply that it means
master or the person in charge, the person who has authority over
those who call him lord. Ask the children questions, such as: Why do
you think Jesus is called lord? Whose lord is he? If he is our lord,
what should we do? Explain that all God's children must call Jesus
their lord. If we call him lord, what does Jesus expect from us? Read
Luke 6:46.
Close the lesson
with prayer related to the subject and the students. Pray the Lord's
Prayer together.
Stories:
Luke 4:16-21
[16] He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered,
as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood
up to read. [17] The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He
opened the book, and found the place where it was written, [18] “The
Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the
blind, to deliver those who are crushed, [19] and to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord.” [20] He closed the book, gave it back
to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were
fastened on him. [21] He began to tell them, “Today, this
Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Mark 12:1-12
[1] He began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a
vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a pit for the wine press, built
a tower, rented it out to a farmer, and went into another country.
[2] When it was time, he sent a servant to the farmer to get from the
farmer his share of the fruit of the vineyard. [3] They took him,
beat him, and sent him away empty. [4] Again, he sent another servant
to them; and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and
sent him away shamefully treated. [5] Again he sent another; and they
killed him; and many others, beating some, and killing some. [6]
Therefore still having one, his beloved son, he sent him last to
them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ [7] But those
farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s
kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ [8] They took him,
killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. [9] What therefore will
the lord of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers,
and will give the vineyard to others. [10] Haven’t you even read
this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same
was made the head of the corner. [11] This was from the Lord, it is
marvelous in our eyes’?” [12] They tried to seize him, but they
feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spoke the parable
against them. They left him, and went away.
[see also Matthew
21:33-46; Luke 20:9-19]
Luke 6:46 Why
do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I
say?
More Stories
and Examples:
Numbers 27:12-23
[12] Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and
see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. [13] When
you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron
your brother was gathered; [14] because in the strife of the
congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin,
to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are
the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) [15] Moses
spoke to Yahweh, saying, [16] “Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits
of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, [17] who may go
out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead
them out, and who may bring them in, that the congregation of Yahweh
may not be as sheep which have no shepherd.” [18] Yahweh
said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is
the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. [19] Set him before Eleazar the
priest, and before all the congregation; and commission him in their
sight. [20] You shall give authority to him, that all the
congregation of the children of Israel may obey. [21] He shall
stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the
judgment of the Urim before Yahweh. At his word they shall go out,
and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the children of
Israel with him, even all the congregation.” [22] Moses did as
Yahweh commanded him. He took Joshua, and set him before
Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. [23] He laid
his hands on him and commissioned him, as Yahweh spoke by Moses.
It
must be understood that the Old Testament Hebrew name “Joshua” is
equivalent to the New Testament Greek name “Jesus.” It is not
uncommon that prophecies in the Old Testament have two fulfillments,
one around the time of the prophecy, and a second and greater
fulfillment at the fullness of time. In this case of Moses’ prayer,
we find two fulfillments as well. Moses asked God to appoint a man to
shepherd God’s people. God said that Joshua/Jesus (Hebrew/Greek)
would be that man.
Psalms 2:1-12
[1] Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing? [2]
The kings of the earth take a stand, and the rulers take counsel
together, against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
[3] “Let’s break their bonds apart, and cast their cords from
us.” [4] He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have
them in derision. [5] Then he will speak to them in his anger, and
terrify them in his wrath: [6] “Yet I have set my King on my
holy hill of Zion.” [7] I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said
to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father. [8]
Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, the
uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. [9] You shall break
them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a
potter’s vessel.” [10] Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be
instructed, you judges of the earth. [11] Serve Yahweh with fear, and
rejoice with trembling. [12] Give sincere homage to the Son,
[or Kiss the Son,] lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for
his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take
refuge in him.
This
Psalm gives us some idea of what it means to confess that Jesus is
the Christ, the son of the living God. It means that we must humbly
submit to and serve the Son. It means that we must take refuge in him
alone.
Luke 7:18-23
[18] The disciples of John told him about all these things. [19]
John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus,
saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for
another?” [20] When the men had come to him, they said, “John
the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or
should we look for another?’” [21] In that hour he cured many
of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind
he gave sight. [22] Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the
things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their
sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
[23] Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
Matthew 17:1-9
[1] After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his
brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. [2]
He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his
garments became as white as the light. [3] Behold, Moses and Elijah
appeared to them talking with him. [4] Peter answered, and said to
Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s
make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for
Elijah.” [5] While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud
overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
[6] When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were
very afraid. [7] Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and
don’t be afraid.” [8] Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one,
except Jesus alone. [9] As they were coming down from the mountain,
Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw,
until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”
Luke 5:17-26
[17] On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees
and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village
of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him
to heal them. [18] Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and
they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. [19] Not finding a
way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the
housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the
midst before Jesus. [20] Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man,
your sins are forgiven you.” [21] The scribes and the Pharisees
began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who
can forgive sins, but God alone?” [22] But Jesus, perceiving their
thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
[23] Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you;’ or to
say, ‘Arise and walk?’ [24] But that you may know that the Son
of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (he said to the
paralyzed man), “I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to
your house.” [25] Immediately he rose up before them, and took up
that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying
God. [26] Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They
were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”
1 Samuel
9:1-10:27
This
is the story of the anointing of Saul as king over God's people,
Israel. God instructed Samuel to anoint Saul to be the ruler (1
Samuel 9:15-16). Samuel then anointed Saul, pouring the oil on his
head, (1 Samuel 10:1), declaring him to be God's choice as prince
over his people.
1 Samuel 16:1-13
This
is the story of the prophet Samuel being sent by God to anoint David
as king of Israel.
Other Verses:
JESUS
Matthew 1:21
She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for
it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Luke 1:30-33
[30] The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have
found favor with God. [31] Behold, you will conceive in your womb,
and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’
[32] He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, [33] and
he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end
to his Kingdom.”
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments
of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
CHRIST
1 Samuel
26:9 David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him; for who can
stretch out his hand against Yahweh’s anointed, and be
guiltless?
1 Samuel
26:9 [CPDV] And David said to Abishai: “You shall not kill him.
For who may extend his hand against the Christ of the Lord,
and yet be innocent?”
Matthew 16:13-20
[13] Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he
asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of
Man, am?” [14] They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some,
Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” [15] He said
to them, “But who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter
answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
[17] Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for
flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in
heaven. [18] I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I
will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail
against it. [19] I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in
heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in
heaven.” [20] Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell
no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
Luke 4:16-21
[16] He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered,
as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood
up to read. [17] The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He
opened the book, and found the place where it was written, [18] “The
Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the
blind, to deliver those who are crushed, [19] and to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord.” [20] He closed the book, gave it back
to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were
fastened on him. [21] He began to tell them, “Today, this
Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Isaiah 61:1-9
[1] The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has
anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to
bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
release to those who are bound; [2] to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s
favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
[3] to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland
for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the
spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified. [4] They shall
build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and
they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many
generations. [5] Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and
foreigners shall work your fields and your vineyards. [6] But you
shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men will call you the ministers
of our God: you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will
boast in their glory. [7] Instead of your shame you shall have
double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy
shall be to them. [8] “For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery
with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I
will make an everlasting covenant with them. [9] Their seed shall be
known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all
who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which
Yahweh has blessed.”
These
words of Isaiah tell of the blessings that the coming Christ (the
coming anointed one, the coming Messiah) would bring. The prophet
wrote not of an anointed one, but of THE anointed one, who would
bring to God's people joy and gladness, glory and honor. In the
synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read these words of Isaiah, and then
declared that he was and is the fulfillment of the prophecy. He is
THE Christ.
Isaiah 42:1-7
[1] “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul
delights— I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice
to the nations. [2] He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause
it to be heard in the street. [3] He won’t break a bruised reed. He
won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring
justice. [4] He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set
justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law.” [5]
Thus says God Yahweh, he who created the heavens and stretched them
out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he
who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.
[6] “I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold
your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people,
as a light for the nations; [7] to open the blind eyes, to bring the
prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of
the prison.
Here
is another description of the Christ, of the Anointed One. The
anointing oil was really a picture of the true anointing: “I have
put my Spirit on him.” He will bring justice to the nations, and
God will make him a covenant for the people. Isaiah
11 also tells of this
Anointed One, of the one upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rests.
Acts 2:36-38
[36] “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God
has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
[37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said
to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we
do?” [38] Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every
one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins,
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4:7-12
[7] When they had stood them in the middle of them, they inquired,
“By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” [8] Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of
the people, and elders of Israel, [9] if we are examined today
concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man
has been healed, [10] be it known to you all, and to all the people
of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man
stand here before you whole. [11] He is ‘the stone which was
regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head
of the corner.’ [12] There is salvation in none other, for
neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among
men, by which we must be saved!”
1 John 5:1-13
[1] Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of
God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of
him.
2 John 1:8-11
[8] Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have
accomplished, but that we receive a full reward. [9] Whoever
transgresses and doesn’t remain in the teaching of Christ,
doesn’t have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has
both the Father and the Son. [10] If anyone comes to you, and
doesn’t bring this teaching, don’t receive him into your house,
and don’t welcome him, [11] for he who welcomes him participates in
his evil works.
HIS ONLY SON
Matthew 3:11-17
[11] I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes
after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He
will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. [12] His winnowing fork is in
his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will
gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with
unquenchable fire.” [13] Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan
to John, to be baptized by him. [14] But John would have hindered
him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
[15] But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is
the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he
allowed him. [16] Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly
from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw
the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. [17]
Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.”
Luke
3:15-22,23,38 [15] As the people were in expectation, and all men
reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the
Christ, [16] John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with
water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose
sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy
Spirit and fire, [17] whose fan is in his hand, and he will
thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat
into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
[18] Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the
people, [19] but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for
Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which
Herod had done, [20] added this also to them all, that he shut up
John in prison. [21] Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus
also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened, [22]
and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him; and
a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my beloved Son. In you
I am well pleased.” [23] Jesus himself, when he began to
teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was
supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, … [38] the son of Enos, the
son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
John 1:14 The
Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory
as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and
truth.
Romans 1:1-7
[1] Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set
apart for the Good News of God, [2] which he promised before through
his prophets in the holy Scriptures, [3] concerning his Son,
who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, [4] who
was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the
Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus
Christ our Lord, [5] through whom we received grace and
apostleship, for obedience of faith among all the nations, for his
name’s sake; [6] among whom you are also called to belong to Jesus
Christ; [7] to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be
saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
1 John 5:4-13
[4] For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the
victory that has overcome the world: your faith. [5] Who is he who
overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of
God? [6] This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ;
not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the
Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. [7] For there
are three who testify: [8] the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and
the three agree as one. [9] If we receive the witness of men, the
witness of God is greater; for this is God’s testimony which he has
testified concerning his Son. [10] He who believes in the Son of
God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn’t believe God
has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony
that God has given concerning his Son. [11] The testimony is this,
that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
[12] He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn’t have
God’s Son doesn’t have the life. [13] These things I have written
to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may
know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to
believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:20
We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an
understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is
true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal
life.
Ephesians 1:5
having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
Jesus
Christ, God's only son, was always God's son, in his nature, his
being, his will. In this way (at
least), he is God's only son. God's
people were not always his children. Once we were enemies of God. We
were children of the devil (John 8:44) and
children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3).
Through repentance and new birth in Jesus Christ, God adopts us into
his family.
OUR LORD
Luke 6:46-49
[46] “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the
things which I say? [47] Everyone who comes to me, and hears my
words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. [48] He is like
a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation
on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house,
and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. [49] But
he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on
the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and
immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Acts 10:34-43
[34] Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God
doesn’t show favoritism; [35] but in every nation he who fears him
and works righteousness is acceptable to him. [36] The word which he
sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus
Christ—he is Lord of all— [37] you yourselves know what
happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from
Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; [38] even Jesus of
Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the
devil, for God was with him. [39] We are witnesses of everything he
did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also
killed, hanging him on a tree. [40] God raised him up the third day,
and gave him to be revealed, [41] not to all the people, but to
witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank
with him after he rose from the dead. [42] He commanded us to preach
to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God
as the Judge of the living and the dead. [43] All the prophets
testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him
will receive remission of sins.”
Ephesians 6:5-8
[5] Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are
your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart,
as to Christ; [6] not in the way of service only when eyes are on
you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the
will of God from the heart; [7] with good will doing service, as
to the Lord, and not to men; [8] knowing that whatever good
thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord,
whether he is bound or free.
Philippians
2:5-11 [5] Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ
Jesus, [6] who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider
equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself,
taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. [8]
And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming
obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. [9] Therefore
God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is
above every name; [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the
earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Colossians
3:22-25 [22] Servants, obey in all things those who are your
masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as
men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. [23] And
whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men,
[24] knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. [25] But he who does
wrong will receive again for the wrong that he has done, and there is
no partiality.
2 Timothy 2:19
However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord
knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the
name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
Revelation 17:14
These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for
he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with
him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
[see also
Revelation 1:5; 11:15; 19:16; 1 Timothy 6:15]
