By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
FOR GOD …
Is the great “I AM” and in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He is worthy to receive glory and honor and power because He created ALL things and by His will they exist were created.
SO LOVED …
God is love and He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness,” and He created mankind, both male (Adam) and female (Eve) and He gave us dominion over all the earth and all the creatures on the earth. He blessed us with His promise so we could be fruitful and multiply.
THE WORLD …
Adam and Eve doubted the goodness of God through the deceptive lie of a fallen angel, Lucifer (Satan).
As a result, sin (rebellion) entered into our world and along with this came death, our separation from God in the Spirit. Satan gained control over mankind and all creation. We were held captive by the enemy of God. But God already had a plan in place.
THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON …
For unto us a Child is born, (Jesus Christ of Nazareth)
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
For to which of the angels did He ever say:
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?
And again:
“I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM …
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
… that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
SHOULD NOT PERISH …
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.
Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me has everlasting life.
For God so loved … you.
Do you believe?
(John 1:1-3, 3:16, 6:47, 17:3; 1:3:13-13, Gen. 1:1, Ex. 3:14, Rev. 4:11, Gen. 1:26, Gen. 3:1-24, Isaiah 9:6-7, Heb. 1:5, John 1:1-3, Psalms 103:1-4, Luke 24:3-7, 6:4-7; 1 John 4:8)
