Before salvation each man’s conscience bears them witness (Rom. 2: 15). Our conscience tells us the sin we love is wrong and if we get caught we will be in trouble. Our conscience implores us to live within the parameters of the law so as to not cause great harm to ourselves. The Spirit is not the conscience. The Spirit draws out repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). Repentance hates that sin which the conscience only wants to suppress.

​The conscience sees the law and hides the sin (Rev. 3: 1). The Spirit sees the law and hates the sin (Rom 7: 24-25). What the conscience can do in admitting guilt is only a shadow of what the Spirit does in repentance through a change of heart (John 14: 26). To the conscience the law is a burden to be kept point by point and deed by deed. But to the Spirit the law reveals we not only lied but we are liers. We not only disobeyed our parents we are disobedient lovers of self and rebels to authority. We not only used Gods name in vein we dishonor God with our words and our life.

A conscience longs to avail itself from its guilt by confessing and hiding sin. Yet it is not the sin which holds it captive it is the sinner. Guilt from the conscience is different than guilt from the Spirit. The job of the conscience is to call the sinner to work in drawing away from the sin they love towards the law they dread. These acts never flow from the heart and never succeed until ultimately the conscience is dulled. The acts of the Spirit flow from the heart whereby the law is a friend and sin is not desirable (Heb. 9: 14). True confession must come from the spirit in repentance. The conscience can never do what the Spirit does. True salvific repentance is a work of God (John 6: 63).

-Vanessa

​


—————————————————————--

“in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭


“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:63‬


““To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3: 1


“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:10‬


“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9:14‬ ‭


“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:26‬ ‭

--Philippians 2:5-9
“5)Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6)who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7)but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8)Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9)For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,”


As we read this passage it becomes so clear that Christ’s life, death , and exaltation is an example to us of what is required as fellow heirs with Him for salvation. We are to, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” How can a person be saved? Believe the Bible... of course. Faith in Jesus... of course. Repent of sin... of course. But what does that look like really? What must a man do to be saved? Let’s look at Christ’s example in Philippians 2: 5-9 when He left His place of honor, submitted Himself as obedient servant then to be raised up as the Name above every Name.


Christ- “did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped” (verse 6)
How many ways are there to heaven? How many ways do we count ourselves worthy of God? Can a Holy, all present, creator God be grasped by our feeble hands and clung to in hopes that we make it into the afterlife? We could spend our days feeding the homeless, building hospitals and curing diseases but we won’t be equal to God. Our problem is not in achieving enough good but that we have sin counted against us. All the good we do doesn’t take away the bad. It doesn’t work like that in court, it doesn’t work like that with God. He is a righteous and good judge. But this is good news. What a burden it would be, like all other religions, to work and achieve salvation... to live your whole life never knowing if you were good enough, you’re not. God knows equality with Him could never be grasped so He sent His Son, our Lord, a perfect sacrifice, as a ransom, to pay the fine, the debt we owe against sin. “But he (Christ) was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah‬ ‭53:5‬

Christ- “emptied himself” (verse 7)
I’ve attempted to explain salvation to my children many times but a useful analogy they can understand which also fits here is this... We are like a cup. Our cup is full of everything that makes us who we are. We fill ourselves and our lives with family, hobbies, self care, anger, selfishness, love, religion, pain, anything, and all that we are is in our cup. Then we meet Jesus. We believe in Him. We want heaven and all that He has to offer. So now we try to add Him to our cup... but He doesn’t fit, He won’t. Unfortunately, we often walk around this world with the illusion that Jesus is in our cup, in our life, but we are self deceived. Christ is all consuming. He will not enter a full life. We must empty our ENTIRE cup before He will fill our lives and give us a new heart. (Luke 9: 57-62, Matt 19: 16-30) “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”-‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:29‬ ‭ “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,”-Colossians‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭

Christ- “humbled himself” (verse 8)
Our perfect savior pleaded for mercy from His Father (Luke 22: 41-44) yet willingly and lovingy submitted His will to God the Father. How much more ought we come to the end of a love for anything in this world. How much more ought we cry out “None of me! All of You!” John MacArthur once said, “If I’ve never mourned over my sin I have no solid ground to rejoice over my Salvation.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:9-10‬ says, “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a Godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” Everything we do before salvation is sin because we didn’t do it to serve and glorify God. We loved our life more than the God who gave it to us. We took the gifts and cursed the giver. Until we have come to hate the sin which we aloud to come between us and our savior we have not experienced repentance from a humbled heart. But Praise God, Christ has not come to take the world from us but to be our world, to give us new eyes to see His good gifts, a new heart to love more purely, new righteous affections and desires... all for His glory and our good.

Christ- became “obedient to the point of death” (verse 8)
A preacher once told his congregation of an encounter with a man whom he was sharing the gospel with. This man acknowledged Gods existence but wasn’t ready or willing to submit his life to the Lord’s authority. This story ignited gasps of judgmental shock from the congregation and that was exactly what the preacher was hoping for. How dare a person believe in God yet not turn from all sins and submit their whole life to Him? As I looked around I knew that likely many of the gasps and shocked reactions were coming from men and women who were privately doing the same as that very man, yet in denial, just as I once was. “And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.” -Ezekiel‬ ‭33:31.‬ “And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,” -Isaiah‬ ‭29:13‬ ‭(Matthew 15: 7-9) So which man is closer to Christ? The first in open rebellion to God or the self deceived church goer? It doesn’t matter. Christ was obedient to the point of death and if we are to be saved we must be also.
A very smart and law abiding man once noticed how special Jesus was. Jesus said to Him, “You must be born again.”
“But how?” the man questioned. How can anyone be born again? What must we do to be saved? Die to self. Christ became obedient to the point of death. “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.” Luke 23:46 Jesus said, “It’s the Spirit Who gives life.” To be born of the Spirit you must die to your own spirit. Do you have this new life, or do you, like that man, acknowledge Jesus is special? Maybe you even recognize Him as God but already have a life you’re not willing to lay down? If Jesus isn’t everything to you then He’s not yours at all. Don’t be fooled by religion, behavior, or friends. You must be born again… obedient to the point of death.

Christ- was “highly exalted” (verse 9)
God highly exalted the One Who brought Himself low. Heaven is perfect and only perfection gets in. “He (God the Father) made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21. To be made right in the eyes of God is life changing. The work of the Holy Spirit is not only our seal for heaven but it is the process of being conformed into the image of Christ here and now. We are highly exalted in Christ not at death but at salvation. Have you experienced this change in desire, change in direction? Once we loved our sin and battled to seek for God. Now we hate our sin and long for Christ. Don’t confuse God’s endless forgiveness with your love of sin. A new heart dwells in abounding overwhelming love for the one who has come to live inside you. You were dead and now alive. God draws and draws His Spirit in you, to Himself… not for heaven’s sake but for holiness sake. Has He exalted you? Has everything in you changed because of Him? Because He loved you first. Is love too passive a word for the consuming fire in your heart for Him? Is He everything you need and all you desire? Is this world desperately empty because you long for more and more of Him?
Or... Have you created an image of God alive in you where He is not? Are you content with the world in your heart and God as an add on, an extra? Is sin regular, comfortable, needed? Is your hope in heaven not in Christ?… A false assurance to appease your fears.
John Owen once said, "As a traveler, in his way meeting with a violent storm of thunder and rain, immediately turns out of his way to some house or tree for his shelter; but yet this causeth him not to give over his journey; so soon as the storm is over he returns to his way and progress again. So it is with men in bondage to sin:the law meets with them in a storm of thunder and lighting from heaven, terrifies and hinders them in their way; this turns them for a season out of their course; they will run to prayer or amendment of life, for some shelter from the storm of wrath which is feared coming upon their consciences. But is their course stopped? Are their principles altered? Not at all; so soon as the storm is over... they return to their former course, in the service of sin again.”
God is not an extra. He is not a fix to our problems. He’s not a rehab or psychiatrist or a long walk on the beach. He’s not new and exciting. He’s Holy. We don’t take Him on. We don’t accept Him in when we’re feeling down. He ends our life and all that we cling to for the sake of exalting Himself in us. He chose us. He makes the foolish things of this world nothing by making those who He makes nothing the righteousness of Christ. He calls us out and we fall before His throne and cast down our filthy rags as He clothes us in the precious blood of Jesus. God lives in those whom He saves. Don’t believe that He would accept mediocrity of Himself. If you have been saved you are a slave now to righteousness. You are not your own. He is alive in you and He lives for His glory. This is the best part. We are bound in Christ. Loved by and loving forever in truth the One who is our life. Humbled yet exalted. Awaiting the day we see our savior face to face.


The picture of Christ, the perfect sacrifice in Philippians, is an illustration to us who are far from perfect. We are not equal with God. In fact we’ve sinned against Him and deserve punishment not heaven. We must plead for for a clean heart as we are humbled before this holy God. Nothing between my soul and the Savior. The love in our heart for this world must die as we see the glory of salvation in the face of Christ. Then, He gives life. Life more abundant than we ever fathomed. Nothing we ever wanted before and everything we’ve ever needed. His love is true joy and peace. Exalted with Christ. Salvation is a gift. Do not be deceived we can not exalt ourselves. We do not invite ourselves into His kingdom. We are born rebels and enemies of God (Isaiah 1: 27-28) until His Spirit makes us new. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” -Romans‬ ‭5:10‬. There is no man centered decision to be made. No isle to be walked. No repeated prayer which offers eternal life, no baptism, no good works. No, If God has so worked in your heart as to bring you to the end of yourself, if He has caused a turning from all this world has to offer, if you could do no other than flee your sin and run into the restful hands of Christ, then you know, you have experienced divine repentance unto salvation. Follow Christ in His Word. God saves. In the end faith isn’t what we know, faith is Who we know. So, read the words of the Bible... do you believe them? But more importantly, do you love the One who gave them?


-Vanessa



…………………

“and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:17‬ ‭


“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭


“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:3-10‬ ‭


“As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7:9-11‬ ‭
​

Parents sometimes have a rule for their children: When a new toy comes in an old toy must go out. Christmas is coming up in our home and I thought this may be a good rule to implement this year. Drawers are becoming harder to close and shelves are overflowing with nick-nacks and random treasures. But I’m not sure how my children will respond to this demand. What is a free gift worth to them if it’s to be received at a cost? I’ll simply tell them… “I bought something for you because I love you. Clean away a special place for it. Make room. This will be much more special than what your holding on to. I want you to have it. Take it. It’s for you.” Yet still, I’m sure this will be a hard thing for them to do. A brand new baby doll to take the place of a dirty, never played with, stuffed animal. Or a brand new Lego set as an old unused toy car makes its way out. Saying goodbye to things they know and have loved for a long time will be hard. It’s hard for us all.

Like a Father to a child the Bible says that God also offers us a free gift. The gift has been paid for but is there anywhere for you to put it? This gift God offers can’t be added to the rest of your treasure. This gift is special. It’s so special that you need to clear away not one small spot but every shelf and every drawer. Our shelves aren’t filled with toy cars and baby dolls, no, our valuables aren’t always kept in drawers. The social media you cling to, make room. The money that helps you sleep at night, make room. The family you couldn’t live without, make room. The vanity, the pride, the immorality…. make room. Nothing can be left behind. God has a gift for you. You see, this gift is not like the rest. This gift is His very Son. We are guilty of breaking Gods law because we love His creation more than Him the Creator. We honor our life but not the One who gives us life. But God in His grace and love sent His Son to pay the penalty we deserve. Christ willingly died for sinners and rose again in three days for us. He purchased our forgiveness with His own blood. God offers the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus. Make room for this gift. Christ died that we might live. Make room for Christ. Make room for a new life with your Father. I can imagine God might say what I’ll be saying to my children, “I bought something for you because I love you. Make room. This will be much more special than what your holding on to. I want you to have it. Take it. It’s for you.”


-Vanessa






For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
— Romans 6:23

​

Jesus is God.
He lived a perfect life.
We didn’t.
He died on the cross
to pay the punishment we deserve
because we are sinners.
He rose from the grave in 3 days,
so we can rise from death to eternal life.
When you turn from your sin
and trust in Him you will be saved.
We’ve earned punishment and death.
Jesus offers forgiveness and life.


John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."



​-Vanessa

What do you teach children about the King?
Are we training soldiers for His army?
His battle rages..
Against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness..
Against spiritual wickedness in high places..
Against this crooked and perverse generation..
Against the prince of the power of the air.
What do you teach your children our King would have them do for Him?
Be nice?
Obey?
Talk sweet?
Dress proper?
The war rages on.
The King calls for His soldiers.
Will they follow Him into battle?
Will they fight to death?
What will they do when the evil one rises up?
“Bow or burn,” that wicked one says.
“Bow or burn!”
Then will our children be nice, obey, talk sweet, bow..
Will they bow,
Or will they burn?
My son..
My son will burn and live.
Yours will bow and die.



Fight for your King soldier.
-Mom
———————————————————————--


Daniel‬ ‭3:14-18‬ ‭
“Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.””
‭‭

Revelation‬ ‭13:7-10‬ ‭
“Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”


Isaiah‬ ‭6:8-13
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive; Keep on looking, but do not understand.’ Render the hearts of this people insensitive, Their ears dull, And their eyes dim, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their hearts, And return and be healed.” Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate, The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. Yet there will be a tenth portion in it, And it will again be subject to burning, Like a terebinth or an oak Whose stump remains when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump.””
‭‭‬

Luke‬ ‭22:35-37
“And he (Jesus) said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.””‬ ‭


‭‭2 Corinthians ‬ ‭4:17-18‬, 5:1-9‬
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”
‭‭‭
‭‭

Do you trust Him in a place you don’t trust? Do you trust Him among people you don’t trust? Do you trust Him with with those who are praised for loving sin and shunning righteousness? Do you trust Him with family who claim His name but hate His life? Do you trust Him when your children are being taught inaccurate ideas about Him? Do you trust Him when trust separates you from everything and everyone? Do you trust Him when your own sinful reflection can’t bear to see it’s image? Do you trust Him when trust feels so desperately lonely? Do you trust Him when your heart’s being broken? Do you trust that His love is sufficient to fill? Do you trust that He in you is fullness of joy? Do you trust that with Him alone life is complete? Do you trust that He causes all things and will sustain you with peace? Do you trust Him with a courage which obeys even when you can’t see? Do you trust Him because you love to offer up a fraction of what He offered up for you? Do you trust that you are merely a vessel of His grace? Do you trust Him enough to show grace no matter what? Do you trust Him enough to surrender all?
​
-Vanessa
​

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:11-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Church has been different for many people lately. For some, church online has always been normal. For many, irregular attendance due to life’s chaotic circumstances were to be expected. For some, government regulations in other countries have always been a barrier to attending worship services. But what has God taught us about Church in His word?
A holy day was established at creation on the seventh day of rest and was enacted in God Himself. It was given to us in the ten commandments and then confirmed in the New Testament. It is not a day for ourselves but a day for His honor and glory. It is for us to worship Him, commune in rest with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and to be nourished by His word and the sacraments. It is a day to gather together and to set apart... A day to make our highest priority. Some people don’t care for these things and that’s alright. Some Christians now days set other examples but people are not our role models. We have the word of God to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us in righteousness. We are the Church and the Church is Gods, not ours. We are His people the sheep of His pasture. Church is Gods people leaving the world and coming to worship and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior. Church is not our means of evangelism. Church is not a place to fill empty seats with unsaved souls. “…make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean,” Leviticus‬ ‭10:10‬.
From the first ‘tent of meeting’ established by God to the first churches in the New Testement, our Lord called His people out of the world for the purpose of worship, sacrifice, and fellowship. We then go into the world proclaiming the gospel to the lost. We know, however. that in all congregations there will be some who visit or who regularly attend who have not been saved and we all are sensitive to them but we don’t change our worship according to the lost. Rather, we worship according to the Lord.

The closest thing we have to heaven on earth is Church. What a joy to praise our King together. Let’s remember our salvation and remember that we are only His church because He is in us. We return to our Lord in service and praise only by His grace. We must never neglect the God who saved us. Fight the sin which keeps you from giving Him all glory and honor and power forever and ever Amen.


-Vanessa


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VERSE REFERENCES...


“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬




“And the Lord said to Moses, "You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭31:12-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬




“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬




“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:14-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬


“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:15-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬