Are you Ready for the Wedding

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Tracy K

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My daughter was recently married last year and now my niece is getting married this weekend.  I have always enjoyed weddings.  …The decorations, the food, the decor.    ….Many new faces to see and new people to meet.  …Usually great food is prepared.  ….It is free to attend.  …People seem to be friendly and in a great mood.  A beautiful bride is adorned for her husband.  The Groom is waiting patiently on his bride to walk down the aisle.  Soft music is playing in the background.  Love is in the Air.  Smiles are on the faces;  Laughter can be heard.

As I think of my niece’s wedding, I think of an upcoming wedding.  A wedding that will be most memorable.  A wedding where there will be love, joy, peace for eternity.  A love that will not end. A groom that is waiting patiently on his bride.  He has already made preparations in advance.  He is already built mansions.  He has built a kingdom; with streets of pure gold.  He has talked with his father about his bride.

How excited he must be to receive the bride into his eternal home.  He already loves her and has spent many days getting to know her.  He knows her weaknesses.  He loves her sadnesses and tears.  He knows her trials that she has overcome just to make it to him.  He remembers the day when she first talked to him.  Despite all her mistakes, he has forgiven her.  See his bride is the church, the ones who have chosen him (Jesus) as their groom.  They have chosen to love and honor and cherish him all the days of their lives.

I cannot wait until this wedding.  It will be pure happiness to those who attend.  It is free but by invitation only.  You must have a wedding garment on.  You cannot enter the wedding venue without his approval.  No thieves or robbers are allowed.  He has sent out the invitation to all that would attend, but many have rejected the invitation.  They still have an opportunity until they take their last breath to attend.  But many still refuse.

Matthew 22:2-14- 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 saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye 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 which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither 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.

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Learn to Serve As Jesus Served

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Tracy K

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We are here on this earth to serve others, not live a life of a king or queen.  Our reward as a Christian will be to live in Heaven for eternity.  Jesus sat down with his Disciples and they began to ask him who would be the greatest in Heaven among them.  Jesus said, But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth (Luke 22:26,27). 

Jesus was born in a humble animal stable.  He told him Disciples, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head (Matthew 8:20).  He didn’t live a life on this earth as a king.  He lived a humble life and lived a life of service to others.  He taught his disciples to love others, to care for others and to help them.  Jesus healed the sick, fed the multitude and taught the people about God. 

Mark 6:7-11 teaches us how we are to witness to others about Jesus.   And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Matthew 20:28 says: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Romans 12:1 says: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Ephesians 6:5-8- Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Revelations 2:19- I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

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Jesus’ Compassion for Others

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Tracy K

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Jesus teaches us to have compassion for others.  The Bible shows us how he had compassion for the sick, blind, hungry and poor.   Jesus has compassion and forgiveness for us everyday.  We might not immediately recognize it but he cares for his people.  It is when people are at their lowest that they see his compassion and love for them more clearly.  When a person is at their highpoint in life, they think they don’t need Jesus or his help.  It is the time of troubles and sorrows that people tend to turn more toward Jesus and call upon his help and comfort during their times of distress and  need.

I know Jesus has given me compassion, forgiveness and love in many circumstances in my life.  I know this because I am still here.  I don’t even want to think about where I would be without him in my life.  I rely on his comfort and peace and that is where my hope comes from.  Without Jesus there is no hope.  Let me say that again.  Without Jesus there is no hope.  Jesus is our answer to every kind of happiness in the world.  A few years ago I had to learn this the hard way.  It was at my lowest point in my life where I had to rely on Jesus.  Not that I knew really how to rely on him at first, but I learned how to.  Like I said, it is at our lowest where we learn to trust in Jesus and realize that there is no other peace and comfort in our life other than from Jesus.

We cannot simply have peace alone.  Jesus is our hope, peace and comfort.  The thing is that a sinner doesn’t go to Jesus usually alone.  They have to be guided and shown Jesus.  They have to be told how Jesus is our answer for happiness.  We don’t possess the strength we need in this life without trusting in the Almighty and what he can do for us.  We may think we have everything we need, but no one can fully have peace without Jesus.  With the knowledge and trusting in Christ Jesus our Lord, we can have eternal life.

As a nurse, I recently had a patient who had just been told they had cancer.  It is hard to really comfort a person going through this type of ordeal without mentioning how Jesus can help them. How Jesus can heal.  How Jesus can give us that peace we need.  Showing comfort to those that hear that terrible terminal diagnosis; and trying with everything we can think of to help them realize that Jesus is with them, even when they are on their deathbed taking their last breath.

We should try to show Jesus to the world now.  There are many that are hurting and struggling in this life. I see young girls and guys who have tried to take their life.  All they see is that no longer want to live their life.  …Enough to end it.  I hope we can all try to comfort and show compassion to others.  You never know what someone is facing in their life.  That innocent looking 20 year old that seems fine, may be the one planning on taking her life because they are truly hurting.

If you don’t know Jesus, I highly recommend and suggest to you that you receive and accept Jesus as your Savior now, before you are on your deathbed.  Jesus can give you happiness and peace in your life.  Jesus is the answer.  Pray now and ask him into your life.

1 John 5:20-And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
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The Greatest Love

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Tracy K

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The one most important thing to all of us is to feel loved. I know of one who truly loves you more than you can ever know.  To say that a person loves us is something that we all hold dear to us.  Jesus, the son of the most high God loves you with an overwhelming love.  …A love that we can not fully grasp.  ….A love beyond measure. …A love that protects us, feeds us, guides us, shields us.  …A love that is willing enough to die in our place.  ….To become the everlasting sacrifice.

Jesus is the son of the most high God.  He is the king of kings.  He was in the beginning with God.  He had no worries.  He was protected in his own kingdom.  He was an eternal king.  ….The richest king that had everything.  ….Including love.  He left his kingdom to come to an earth full of sorrow, troubles, hardships.  Why?  Because he had a love that not one of us can truly know until we see the Father.  See God the Father is the very definition of love.  He created us in his own image.  He loves his own creation.  He wanted fellowship with his creation in the beginning.  He made Adam and he talked with Adam and gave him a help-meet; a woman named Eve.  Until one day sin entered the world through the disobedience of man.  Sin separated him from walking with man, so he sent his only begotten son to become the sacrifice; the atonement for sin.   God tells us in his word, the Bible, that without shedding of blood is no forgiveness.  Hebrews 9: 22-without shedding of blood is no remission.  So Jesus became the sacrifice on the cross.

Jesus suffered a lot on the cross; he suffered excruciating pain in our place.  See Jesus didn’t die for himself; he died for us.  We are the ones who have sinned.  We are all guilty. 1 John 1:8 says: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  John 3:16  says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We can have that everlasting life if we trust in Jesus as our Savior. Acts 4:12 says:  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Revelation 1:5 says:And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

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Poem: Be Nice, Loving and Kind

Posted on March 10, 2019 by Tracy K

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Be nice, loving and kind,
For one day you may find,
that how you treat others
will return back unto you.
God’s word teaches a great deal
such as not to lie, steal or kill.
And that what you sow,
will be what you reap or bestow.
Speak to others in a kind way,
For it really does matter what you say,
Words can harm and cut very deep,
Causing others to cry and weep.
Never talk down to someone else,
It may cause their heart to melt,
Changing the way they act,
Returning the behavior in a reenact.
Showing love instead is so much better,
Spreading goodness as a trend-setter.
For we must be a Christian in word and deed,
Sowing the word of God and spreading the seed.
Telling others about Jesus our Lord,
Defending the faith and sharing the word.

 

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Be Careful How You Treat Others

Posted on March 1, 2019 by Tracy K

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Have you ever looked at someone else and thought, how can they act that way if they are a Christian.  Recently I have noticed that there are a lot of people who really don’t seem to care how they might affect someone else’s life.  Perhaps they bully them, talk down to them, hurt their feelings or belittle them in some ways.  This has really gotten to me lately.  I recently heard about a nurse who had jumped from her job at a local hospital.  I really don’t know all the details but I know that people are hurting.  Either it is their job that has been difficult to bear; perhaps it is a coworker or classmate that has bullied someone else; perhaps its financial.  There are so many things that depress us and stress us.

So recently I saw a woman talking down to someone else and I wondered how she could do that and not have some regret about it.  Then today we ordered some food from the restaurant and the order was completely messed up.  The waiter didn’t listen to any of the instructions we had given and top it all off, the food was not fresh.  Probably had been made for someone else and they had decided against it.  So I got really upset and told the waiter that I didn’t appreciate getting old food and my order was completely wrong, etc… I know the waiter didn’t make the food, perhaps it was the cook that misprepared the order.

Then as I sat there starting to eat my food, I realized that I had done the very thing, that I had noticed the other person doing.  I had talked down to the waiter because I was upset by my wrong order.  Then I realized that I was just taught a lesson.  I had become the person who I didn’t like.  The person who had made someone feel bad.

Be careful how you treat others because “You Reap What You Sow!”  However you treat someone, it will come back to you.  It doesn’t feel good being on the receiving end.  Probably 99.9% of people have been bullied or critized one time or another in their life.  Probably 99.9% of people have bullied someone else.  So stop it!  You can hurt someone by your words, actions.  Learn to love others and treat others with the same respect you would want to be treated.  Watch the words you speak, and also the tone you say things.  Tone can sometimes mean much more than the words you say.  Show kindness, thank people for their service.

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Is Your Name Written in the Book of Life

Posted on February 24, 2019 by Tracy K
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I just read a great post about a wedding where a guest was turned away.  She forgot to send in the RSVP.  She was the singer at the wedding so she thought that made her automatically get into the wedding reception.  She was wrong.  This story made me think of the wedding in Heaven.  The reception of the saints of God.  Without a wedding garment on, the guest will be turned away.  You cannot work your way into Heaven.  Riches and Fame can’t pave your way.  The only way is through Jesus.  Matthew 22:12 says: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  He was speechless because he didn’t know the groom.  He tried to crash the wedding, but he was turned away.

The Wedding garment signifies a covering that was precisely given to the guest of the wedding.  But without the blood covering of the Lamb of God (Jesus), no one will be able to enter the wedding of God.  No one will be allowed into Heaven without this sin atonement.  In case you don’t know how to have the blood applied to your sin atonement, you must accept Jesus.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  Why?  Because it is his blood that became a sacrifice for your sins on the cross.  It is by his blood alone that allows you to have forgiveness and acceptance of God.

  • 1 John 1:7- But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
  • Colossians 1:14-In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Revelation 17:8-The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.  Revelation 20:15-And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The wedding is soon!  Don’t delay or you might miss the wedding.   Get your invitation and RSVP now!  Repent and ask Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior!  He can save you!  Read more here on Salvation!
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Live For Others

Posted on February 10, 2019 by Tracy K

helping When things look bad around us we don’t turn to God like we should, we dwell in our self pity.  Coming home the other day from work, something hit me pretty hard at work and I was upset by the circumstance.  I started praying and asking God to help me to change my outlook on life.  I asked God to help make me a better person, a better Christian.  I wanted to change how I was living, acting, and even talking to people.  Sometimes we don’t even realize how we carry ourselves in front of others.  We might see ourselves one way but others see us completely different.

So I asked God to help me change where people could see me as a devoted Christian, kind, humble and loving.  I wanted to learn how to change to be a better person.  I didn’t want to just dwell on myself and how I was offended or how things affected me.

See everyday we get in our cars and we drive to work.  We might get offended at other drivers who jump in front of us, wondering how they had the nerve to get in front of us.  Or someone offends us somehow and we snap back at them, trying to defend ourselves.  We worry how things affect us….  How someone will look at us…… How late we are going to be…. How someone treated us….  We worry about us and self, more than others.

Christ wants us to be humble, loving and kind.  He wants us to care about others.   He wants us to look at how we can help others.  He wants us to have compassion for others.  How do I know?  Because he wants us to be like him.  Christ died for mankind.  He was innocent but he took our sins on his body at the cross.  He had compassion for the sick.  He had love for others and helped their needs.  He didn’t dwell on how people talked to him or how they treated him.  People spit on him, mocked him, whipped him and what did he say?  Luke 23:34 says: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

This life is not about how much money we can make.  It isn’t about what great job we can get.  It isn’t about how big a house we live in.  This life is about caring about the souls of mankind.  Jesus sent out twelve to carry on his mission.  He wanted people to know him and that he died for them on the cross.  We are to continue this mission; to share the gospel.  The gospel that Jesus Christ died on the cross and that he can save those that turn to him and seek them with their whole heart.  John 3:3,16,17  says: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

 

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Our God the Almighty

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Tracy K

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As I sit here this morning reading God’s Holy Word, I am of awe of how Great and Almighty our God is.  Not only did he create the universe and mankind, but just his movement upon the earth and his voice shakes mountains and the wilderness. God was always here and had no beginning.  He can stop time and keep the sun from shining.  He can do things that man cannot even comprehend.

God is able to deliver us from death and the grave.  He has an overwhelming love that we cannot fully grasp upon this earth.  His mercy is great and plentious and is everlasting.  God loved the world so much that he gave his only son for the sins of the world so that we could have eternal life with him.

God is powerful that he can create and speak from the whirlwind.  He can calm the sea and storms.  He can keep the sea in its place and keep it from overflowing.  He creates the treasures of the snowflake, not one is alike.  He created the stars of Heaven and keeps them in their place.  He feeds his people and the animals upon the earth.

The Lord is great and powerful, who can know how great his power truly is.  Job talked with God of all his wonderful works, but Job knew he could not answer how great God was.  Job said: I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.  God knows the heart of man. He is able to make even the vilest sinner free and cleanse him from his sins.

Psalm 68: 8-The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

Psalm 29:8-The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
Isaiah 12:2- Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
Psalm 68-17-20-The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
1 Kings 8:23- And he said, Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:
Deuteronomy 7:9-Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Psalm 103:8-The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Exodus 6:3-And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.
Job 38:1,22-Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail.
1 John 1: 9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 51:2-Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Revelation 1:7,8- Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelations 4:2-6-And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

 

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Comfort from the Holy Spirit

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Tracy K

dove5There have been times in everyone’s life that they need some comfort; whether it is from a death in the family, losing our jobs, a tragedy in our lives or poor health.  There are just too many to name.  Last week I need a little comfort in my life.  I was Depressed, tore apart emotionally and in despair.  I don’t want to go into much detail but I felt unloved.  It wasn’t too long after praying for God’s help in my life that I felt his comforting hand upon me.  I felt his peace dwelling all around me.  The tears that I shed upon my bedside suddenly stopped and I felt release.  It always feels good to cry when you are upset but God’s love can bring you an overwhelming peace. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

The next day I attended the Wednesday night service at my church and heard a sermon about the Holy Spirit.  When we have tribulations in our lives it is for our purpose and strength.  God is working out something in our lives for the better.  Romans 5:1-12- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

The Holy Spirit is a comforter that God gives us to comfort us in times of need or sorrow. John 14:16,17,26-27 says: And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

1 John 4:2,6-15-  –Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

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