http://sonlifetv.com/watch.html
Outdoor's Sounds
January 4th Your Daily Bible Study:
Genesis 4 of the Expositor's Study Bible:
Proverbs 4:
Hebrews 10:35 - 12:5 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Romans 8:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Outdoor's Sounds
January 4th Your Daily Bible Study:
Genesis 4 of the Expositor's Study Bible:
CHAPTER 4
(4003
B.C.)
CAIN AND
ABEL
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife (is the Biblical connotation of the union of husband and
wife in respect to the sex act); and she
conceived, and bore Cain (the first child
born to this union, and would conclude exactly as the Lord said it would, with
“sorrow”), and said, I have gotten a man
from the LORD (by Eve using the title
“LORD,” which means “Covenant God,” and which refers to the “Seed of the
woman,” [Gen. 3:15], she thought Cain was the Promised One; she evidently
didn’t realize that it was impossible for fallen man to bring forth the
Promised Redeemer).
2 And she again bore his brother Abel (“Abel” means “vanity;” Cain being the oldest, this
shows that Eve by now had become disillusioned with her firstborn, undoubtedly
seeing traits in him which she knew could not be of the Promised Seed; she was
losing faith in God). And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was
a tiller of the ground (both were
honorable professions).
3 And in process of time it came to pass (the phrase used here refers to a long indefinite period), that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering
unto the LORD. (This was probably the first offering that he brought,
even though the Lord had explained to the First Family the necessity of the
Sacrificial System, that is, if they were to have any type of communion with
God and forgiveness of sins. There is
evidence that Adam, at least for a while, offered up sacrifices. Cain knew the type of Sacrifice that the Lord
would accept, but he rebelled against that admonition, demanding that God
accept the labor of his hands, which, in fact, God could not accept. So we have, in the persons of Cain and Abel,
the first examples of a religious man of the world and a genuine man of Faith.)
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of
his flock and of the fat thereof (this is what
God demanded; it was a blood sacrifice of an innocent victim, a lamb, which
proclaimed the fact that Abel recognized his need of a Redeemer, and that One
was coming Who would redeem lost humanity; the Offering of Abel was a Type of
Christ and the price that He would pay on the Cross of Calvary in order for man
to be redeemed). And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his
offering: (As stated, this was a Type of Christ and the Cross, the
only Offering which God will respect.
Abel’s Altar is beautiful to God’s Eye and repulsive to man’s. Cain’s altar is beautiful to man’s eye and
repulsive to God’s. These “altars” exist
today; around the one that is Christ and His atoning work, few are gathered,
around the other, many. God accepts the slain
lamb and rejects the offered fruit; and the offering being rejected, so of
necessity is the offerer.)
5 But unto Cain and to his offering He had not
respect (let us say it again, God has no respect
for any proposed way of Salvation, other than “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified”
[I Cor. 1:23; 2:2]). And Cain was very angry, and his countenance
fell (that which filled Abel with peace
filled Cain with wrath; the carnal mind displays its enmity against all this
Truth which so gladdens and satisfies the heart of the Believer).
6 And the LORD said unto Cain (God loves Cain, just as He did Abel, and wishes to bless
him also), Why are you angry (Abel’s Altar speaks of Repentance, of Faith, and of the
Precious Blood of Christ, the Lamb of God without blemish; Cain’s altar tells
of pride, unbelief, and self-righteousness, which always elicits anger)? and why is your
countenance fallen (anger, in one form or
the other, accompanies self-righteousness, for that is what plagued Cain; God’s
Righteousness can only come by the Cross, while self-righteousness is by
dependence on works)?
7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted (if you bring the correct sacrifice, and thereby place
your faith)? and if you do not
well, sin (a Sin-Offering) lies at the door (a
lamb was at the door of the Tabernacle). And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall
rule over him (the Lord promised Cain
dominion over the Earth of that day, if he would only offer up, and place his
trust in, the right Sacrifice; He promises the same presently to all who trust
Christ [Mat. 5:5]).
Cain
murders abel
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the
field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and killed him (the first murder; Cain’s religion was too refined to
kill a lamb, but not too cultured to murder his brother; God’s Way of Salvation
fills the heart with love; man’s way of salvation inflames it with hatred;
“Religion” has ever been the greatest cause of bloodshed).
9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel your
brother? (Adam
sins against God and Cain sins against man.
In their united conduct, we have sin in all its forms, and that on the
first page of human history.) And he said, I know not:
Am I my brother’s keeper (He
showed himself a “liar” in saying, “I know not”; “wicked and profane” in
thinking he could hide his sin from God; “unjust” in denying himself to be his
brother’s keeper; “obstinate and desperate” in not confessing his sin)?
10 And He (God) said, What have you done (this concerns man’s sins, the fruit of his sinful nature)? The
voice of your brother’s blood cries unto Me from the ground. (There
is some Scriptural evidence that Cain cut his brother’s throat. Thus, with the first shedding of human blood,
that ominous thought sprang up, divinely bestowed, that the Earth will grant no
peace to the one who has wantonly stained her fair face with the life-stream of
man.)
11 And now are you cursed
from the Earth (Cain
repudiated the Cross, murdered his brother, and is now cursed by God; this is
the first curse leveled by God against a human being), which has opened her mouth to receive
your brother’s blood from your hand (was the beginning of what has proven to be a saturation;
from then until now, the Earth has been soaked with the blood of innocent
victims);
12 When you till the ground, it shall not henceforth
yield unto you her strength (presents the fact
that Cain had polluted man’s habitation, and now, when he tilled the soil, it
would resist him as an enemy); a fugitive
and a vagabond shall you be in the Earth (presents
the search, not of a better lot, but under the compulsion of an evil
conscience).
13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is
greater than I can bear (Cain did not see the
enormity of his sin, but the severity of his punishment; in other words, there
was no repentance).
14 Behold, You have driven me out this day from
the face of the Earth (Adam’s sin brought
expulsion from the inner circle, Cain’s from the outer); and from Your face shall I be hid (to be hidden from the Face of God is to be not regarded
by God, and not protected by His Guardian care); and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the Earth (a wanderer); and it
shall come to pass, that everyone who finds me shall (seek to) kill me. (The reference by Cain to other individuals proves that
in the some 100 plus years since Adam and Eve were created, the first parents
had other children. By this time, there
could very well have been several thousands of people on the Earth, and no
doubt were.)
15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever
kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold (Cain was allowed to live in order that he might be a
perpetual warning to others that the blood of their fellowman must not be
spilled; however, very few heeded, as few presently heed). And the LORD set a
mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him (we aren’t told what the mark was, but evidently, all
knew).
The
first civilization
16 And Cain went out from the Presence of the LORD
(those in rebellion against God do not at all
desire His Presence, and for all the obvious reasons), and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden (“Nod” means “wandering;” the majority of the human race
“wander,” because they don’t know God and, therefore, have no peace).
17 And Cain knew his wife (Biblical terminology for conception); and she conceived, and bore Enoch: and he built a city (actually means “was building” or “began to build;” the
idea is, it was not finished; and so it has been, and is, with the human race;
nothing is ever quite finished with the unredeemed, simply because what is
built doesn’t satisfy), and called the
name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch (carries the idea, due to the meaning of the name Enoch,
that this city would be a place of education and learning — but it was
education and learning without God).
18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat (fathered)
Mehujael:
and Mehujael begat Methusael: and
Methusael begat Lamech (all of this was
three hundred or more years after the creation of Adam and Eve).
19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of
the other Zillah (the first instance of polygamy
recorded in the Bible).
20 And Adah bore Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents,
and of such as have cattle.
21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the
harp and organ (it seems that Jubal was the
originator of musical instruments; man’s ear is now filled with other sounds
than those which issue from Calvary, and his
eye is filled with other objects than a Crucified Christ).
22 And Zillah, she also bore Tubal-cain, an
instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah (Tubal-cain was the first one to begin to work with
metals; the name of “Cain” was probably added to show that these were
“Cainites;” “Naamah” means “beautiful”).
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and
Zillah, Hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a
young man to my hurt.
24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly
Lamech seventy and sevenfold. (This is the first recorded poem in human history. Like so much poetry ever since, it glorifies
immorality and murder, and denies coming wrath.
Man has attempted to deny judgment ever since; nevertheless, judgment
one day is coming [Rev. 20:11-15].)
The
spiritual seed renewed
25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bore a
son, and called his name Seth (after dealing
with Cain’s line in the beginnings of corruption of violence, Moses goes back
some years to the birth of “Seth;” the Holy Spirit will single out “Seth,”
because he was in the lineage of Christ; the name “Seth” means “appointed
substitute”): For God, said she, has appointed me another
seed instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.
(When “Cain” was born, Eve said, “I have
gotten a man from the LORD,” indicating that she believed in the Covenant of
Genesis 3:15. Now she uses the term
“God,” in effect stating that she has lost faith in the Covenant. As stated, this “seed” would be the one
through whom Christ would come, but because of faithlessness, Eve did not know
or believe this.)
26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son;
and he called his name Enos (the name “Enos”
means “sickly, mortal, decaying man;” the awful results of the Fall are now
beginning to sink in): then began men to call upon the Name
of the LORD (probably refers to contempt; quite
possibly the family of Cain, knowing that Seth had now taken the place of Abel,
as it regards the “firstborn” or “appointed one,” contemptuously refers to them
as the “God people,” or the “Lord people”).
Psalm 4:
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.
Hear
me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I
was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. O ye sons of
men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love
vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. But know that the LORD hath set
apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto
him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your
bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put
your trust in the LORD. There be many that say, Who will shew us any
good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast
put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and
their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for
thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Proverbs 4:
Hear,
ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know
understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I
was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words:
keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it
not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and
she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is
the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get
understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring
thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head
an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear,
O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be
many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right
paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou
runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her
not go: keep her; for she is thy life. Enter not into the path of the
wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it,
turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done
mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they
know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine
ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in
the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them,
and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for
out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth,
and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and
let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy
feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand
nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
I Cor. 13:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Hebrews 10:35 - 12:5 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Romans 8:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
