DO VS. LOVE

I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help us grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith and I also want to be encouraged by yours. How wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with us. His kindness is intended to turn us from sin and back to Him. God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin. The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break. In our faith, Christ has brought us into a place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. How dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship (HIS Manifested Presence) with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. We live in the freedom of God’s grace and the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. We have been released from the law, for we died to it (the law) and are no longer captive to its power. Now we serve God in the new way of living in the Spirit. There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we have and in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. The Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will and God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. If God is for us, who can ever be against us? I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love for us that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How beautiful are the feet of the messengers who bring the good news. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think, learning to know the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God in your life. All authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Accept other believers and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. I am sure that when we visit, Christ will richly bless our time together.